While clearing my garage the other day I came upon an old issue of Mojo with a cover story on REM. It was a 2003 issue and the band were deep into recording what was to become Around the Sun. They talked about the difficulty of recording after Bill Berry left and their hopes for the future.
At that stage they had plenty of songs (as usual) and they were trying to “keep things loose.” Around the Sun came out and I hated it. It was the kind of dislike that actually made me doubt the band and my enjoyment of their music prior to Around the Sun. It broke our relationship and I had only regrets.
I had a slightly similar experience with Van Morrison with his sequence of 90’s albums. I stopped being interested in anything he did and even the albums I liked had the whiff of his misanthropy. I distrusted him.
I’m wondering what album has broken your relationship? Bowie’s ‘Tonight’ perhaps? Joni Mitchell’s Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm? Street Legal?
Please explain why the relationship was broken. This can be a community of healing, too. Undoubtedly, some kindly folk will attempt to mend the relationship, point out wrong doing on both sides and hope for a reconciliation. I won’t ever like Around the Sun but I can listen (almost) to Out of Time.
Almost Simon says
Smashing Pumpkins – Adore (1998)
I adored the band, bought everything, went to all the live shows in London, Reading Festival, Glastonbury. Mellon collie was a gem. A band at peak of their powers. Then the drug death, drummer sacked (who was a HUGE part of their sound. The. Adore came out. Still can’t bear to listen.
Eric Clapton – Pilgrim (1998)
Electric drums. Awful production, couldn’t bear it. Loved pretty much everything up to that point. Didn’t work for me and gave up on subsequent albums. I listened again earlier this year, wasn’t quite as bad as I remembered but not really for me.
There must be others but they’re the two biggest offenders I can recall.
Colin H says
Is that the one where he sings like Cliff Richard? Ghastly.
Bingo Little says
Ooh – Adore. I’m sort of with you on that one.
I loved (and still LOVE) Siamese Dream, was mildly disappointed with Mellon Collie, (although I’ve since grown to appreciate it) and was hoping Adore would be a return to the multi-tracked guitar Valhalla thing, which quite obviously it was not.
That said, it does have “To Sheila” on it, which I really, really like. It has this weird chirping crickets noise in the background, which is the sound of a warm Summer evening. Not coincidentally, the record came out at the end of my first Summer at university, so it’s probably a sense memory thing. I also really like the line “Lately I just can’t seem to believe/discard my friends to change the scenery”. Something about that really resonates with me.
I agree that the band pretty much ended when they sacked Jimmy Chamberlain, although I guess they didn’t have a great deal of choice in the circumstances, which were grim indeed.
That said, the next record did have This Time and Stand Inside Your Love on it, both of which were great. They were always a weird band.
JustB says
Mellon Collie was where I got off the Pump Train. As much as I like 2/3 of it, it’s way too long, and signalled Billy Corgan’s descent into thinking he had ideas to share that really bore scrutiny.
Needless to say, these days he’s the full Icke.
Basically the minute an artist starts to think they’re A Thinker of Important Thoughts, it’s all over.
See also PJ Harvey. I bailed at Let England Shake, which I maintain is legitimately embarrassing sixth-form bollocks and musically dull AF. (And not just because she doesn’t understand that you can’t use “maketh” with a plural subject noun like “words”. That song is called, effectively, “The Words That Makes Murder” and not only does she not know that, she can only have decided to use “maketh” to try and look clever, which is a real cringe.)
Bingo Little says
There’s a really good single album in Mellon Collie, but there’s just too damn much of it, in too many different styles. The fact that it has not one but four final tracks tells us all we need to know – some judicious editing was required.
There are some absolutely magnificent tunes on there, but – for me – it just didn’t hang together as an album, and what I really loved about Siamese Dream is how albumy it is. The whole thing sounds of a piece, without being samey, and it’s the precise middle point between My Bloody Valentine and Grunge, which is a bit of a sweet spot as far as I’m concerned.
I know you can’t just expect a band to keep doing the same thing over and over again – it has to get boring. But it was the first record they made that I didn’t immediately fall in love with. Wonderful cover though. And this was great…
JustB says
The thing about MC is that when it’s good, it’s bloody magnificent, which is why it’s such a frustrating listen. Zero, for me, is peak Pumpkins: it’s basically just an absolutely vast pair of riffs roughly arc-welded together and then layered up with another 422 guitar overdubs. And it’s perfect.
Bingo Little says
Totally agree.
I really didn’t like it at the time, but I also need to give props to Tonight Tonight. It was exactly what I didn’t want them doing, but it’s pretty ace – particularly that last insane gallop from 3’15 onwards. One of those rare rock songs where getting a string section in actually works. Great video to boot.
JustB says
Yeah. The great thing about TT is that the strings are an integral compositional part of the song, not a Be Here Now add-on from the Lego box marked “epic”.
davebigpicture says
No love for Zwan here?
Bingo Little says
I very nearly mentioned them in a post above, but figured they’re technically a different band.
Honestly is a great song, as is this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZrT0_35CLI
Almost Simon says
You can get the best of Mellon Collie on an 80 minute CDR. I do love that album, I took the day off work when it was released (23rd Oct 1995 – Yes, i am THAT fucking sad :o) )
Knock off the weakest 5 tracks of your choice and its wonderful. For me anyway.
I have 2 cd versions, the cassette version, 2 versions of the original triple vinyl (neither has been on a turntable, one still sealed with a Tower Record Kingston yellow price sticker of £10.49 on the front,) oh yes, and the multi cd boxset.
I dont even listen to it that often but it has a place in my heart. Obviously.
JustB says
Just watched that video for the first time in years. It’s really great. That pseudo Victorian look really suits their music.
Tony Japanese says
Sir, I have just finished listening to that very album by Polly Jean and think it’s fantastic. You obviously have cloth-ears and listen to ABBA, I bet. Pfft.
Tiggerlion says
I agree with Bob for both of the reasons he states (6 form bollocks & musically dull) plus an earnest worthiness that I find repulsive. Let England Shake disappointed me & I haven’t been back since.
Absolutely adore everything up to that point, especially White Chalk. I like my PJ defiant and exposed, personal and vulnerable, brave and with a core of steel.
JustB says
Me too Tiggs. High five. 🤚
Tiggerlion says
✋
Tony Japanese says
Sirs, i respectfully disagree with your opinion. The only PJ albums I’ve disliked are her collaborations with John Parish (i.e. Dance Hall at Louse Point and A Woman, A Man Walked By).
Black Type says
Well, she is from the West Country, arr!
fentonsteve says
I gave up on Pee J when Is This Desire? came out.
I bought Dry, Rid of Me and To Bring You My Love on day of release and saw each tour at least once. Got both CD singles and all that.
By Stories From The City etc, I thought she’d turned into Patti Smith. I’ve heard everything since, but usually only once.
Neela says
Adore is the only SP album I still listen to. Mellon Collie is just too much work. Lots of great stuff, but also quite a bit of not so good stuff. Should perhaps give Siamese Dream a spin. Haven’t heard it in maybe twenty years.
And I seem to recall I liked the first Machina album.
JustB says
Siamese Dream is still insanely good. As much as being James Iha and D’Arcy Wretzky at that point can’t have been much fun, subsequent SP albums suggest that – musically at least – their input wasn’t doing anyone any good and that Corgan was dead right to be the band’s very own baldy Stalin.
Almost Simon says
D’arcy and James dont play at all on Gish and Siamese. In effect they’re recorded by a duo of Billy and Jimmy. Corgan playing all guitars and bass. They do however all play on Mellon Collie.
JustB says
I know. That was my point.
bungliemutt says
REM’s Up did it for me, although Around The Sun comes a close second. I acknowledge that some people think Up is a fine piece of work, but to me it’s awful. I forgave them though, and their last two albums weren’t at all bad.
Almost Simon says
I like Up. As an album its way too long at over an hour, but you cant fault Suspicion, Diminished, Parakeet, At My Most Beautiful. They are all worthy of going back for another listen, love them, The rest of the album? Yes, i could say not stunning but there’s a halfway decent 40minute album in there.
Colin H says
For me, Jethro Tull had a series of tough-to-love albums after ‘Broadsword’, which I would still regard as the last album of the Great Years or however one would wish to refer to the 1968-82 period.
‘Under Wraps’ in 1985 – programmed drums, etc. But lots of interesting songs – including some of the non-LP stuff from around the time; it seems better in retrospect. If only it were remixed with real drums added…
‘Crest of a Knave’ 1988 – the ‘Dire Straits’-alike album, both vocally and guitarwise. A few songs that became classics, though the big one, ‘Budapest’, never appealed to me.
Everything after that, especially ‘Rock Island’… I’ve hardly listened enough to be able to comment…
Moose the Mooche says
The Drift was brilliant but after a few listens I realised I was merely doing my duty rather than listening to it because I wanted to. Reading the descriptions of the music he’s made since… I think it’s great that he can make the music that he wants to make. But I don’t want to listen to it.
Who says that for a record to be good you have to want to play it again forever?
Black Type says
I guess it’s time for one of my periodic defences of Around The Sun. As I have argued on here several times, it’s unfairly maligned and not half as bad as received wisdom would suggest; indeed, there is more than half of a decent album, with some really good, affecting songs. I must say I prefer the more reflective side of REM, and as such I rate it a lot higher than the much-lauded ‘return to form’ Accelerate, which aside from a clutch of standout tracks, I find a bit of a mess.
JustB says
There’s nothing post The Great Beyond which is worth anyone’s time. I will die on this hill.
Lemonhope says
Shirley you mean you don’t like anything after Great Beyond…
fishface says
My oft quoted love of Van Halen came to a shuddering halt on the release of their (not even sure about this) 4th album with Sammy Hager…the not at all good Balance.
What seemed like a fresh start after the fallout with DLR had ended up in to my ears at least, a band lost in time.
Grunge held sway and their brand of bombastic, flashy erm, flash was very much out of date.
Secretly I hoped Eddie would break up the band and do a Gary Moore…tone down the (as Frank Zappa refered to Steve Vai) stunt guitar and go a bit bluesy.
Oh course, the least said about VH 111, the abortion recorded with ex extreme singer Gary Cherone the better.
I has SUCH high hopes for return of DLR a few years back but bloody hell….the game was up.
Shit voice, shit album, shit gigs.
But the icing on the cake had to be a live performance on U.S. chat show with Jimmy Kimmel.
All DLR had to do was screech and gurn through the old stuff with possibly a halfarsed scissor kick.
But no..the twat comes on stage with his twirly batton and promptly twonks himself on the nose.
Bust nose, lots of blood…Eddie stunts and divebombs making time through gritted teeth before Dave returns to the stage with cotton wool protruding from his nose….very rock n’ roll.
Hawkfall says
I think Van Halen’s albums give diminishing returns after the first one. The first Van Halen album is probably the first 80s album, which is impressive because it was released in 1977. Van Halen II is also pretty good, Dance the Night Away is bottled sunshine, but after that they sort of stopped writing songs.
dai says
I guess I fell out with REM late 90s, the albums were becoming dreary and they were washed up as a (vital) live band. In the last year or so I have fallen back in love with them at least tor the Murmur to New Adventures period (but I don’t play Monster).
Vulpes Vulpes says
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps).
Which is a bit sad, because the subsequent Let’s Dance has a few stonkers. But I came to that album via the 12 inch single releases of the title track and China Girl and the fab Cat People, which were monsters of brilliance. You can keep the rest of it though; I can’t even remember what the other songs were.
The horror dream that is Scary Monsters was my getting off point. I was knocked completely off track by its un-listenable howl. Too many drugs old bean. Too many bad drugs, come to that. Go away and rediscover your sense of fun Dave; back to the Arts Lab for a coffee and a fag, ‘ave a breather fer Gawd’s sake. I felt dirty, harassed and disturbed after the first time I heard it, which is not what I wanted 5 minutes before going down the pub. Put me right off it did. Too much like hard work. Never really got back on board (those slightly later 12 inch singles aside).
Diddley Farquar says
I love most of Scary Monsters (though the writing’s on the wall on side 2) and some of Let’s Dance. It was when I saw the video for Blue Jean on The Tube that I thought no, he’s lost it properly now. This was like a parody, such an ordinary tune being sold by some preposterous, drawn out little movie that attempts to distract from the shortcomings of the tune, and this is supposed to be a great, significant cultural event when clearly he’d run out of ideas.
Billybob Dylan says
I clearly remember buying the Jam’s second album and being incredibly disappointed after ‘In The City.’ I returned it to Boots and had to claim it was a bad pressing because in those days you couldn’t just return something because you changed your mind. I never bought another Jam record after that. I bought the Style Council albums, though, and several of Weller’s solo LPs.
Tiggerlion says
What??! Not even Setting Sons?
Billybob Dylan says
No, not even Setting Sons. I’ve never heard it, apart from Eton Rifles.
Yes, I bought three Style Council albums. And no, I’m not mad (I don’t think). I don’t know if the trouser comment was aimed at me, but for the record, my trousers are of the perfect length for my legs.
ruff-diamond says
Never mind setting sons, what about All Mod Cons, or Sound Affects?
Vulpes Vulpes says
Christ, you invested in The Cappucino Kid’s witterings? Are you mad, sir?
Colin H says
I’m always concerned that his trousers are too short.
Neela says
The obvious winner in my life as music nerd would be Be Here Now. The party was obviously over. Good morning, hangover.
Tony Japanese says
My relationship with that band ended at Heathen Chemistry, although it only started at SOTSOG. I was too young to go out with them at their peak and bought their earlier albums between the release of the 4th and 5th albums.
Neela says
I did hear and enjoy Don’t Believe The Truth after the fact. I was no longer a fan at that point, but it struck me as a good rock album. The Importance Of Being Idle being a particular favourite.
Rigid Digit says
Iron Maiden – the “affair” ended after Fear Of The Dark and the departure of Bruce.
It returned many years later with The Final Frontier.
I have since explored the “lost years” (wasted years?) and can confirm that without Bruce, it wasn’t as good.
Almost Simon says
I saw Maiden live in 1993, the last UK tour with Bruce, the band was definitely not getting on. Janick had a meltdown at Wembley, and issue with his amp, he stormed off stage. Never seen a band soap opera on stage before but i wonder if there’s film footage and how they explain that and the tour when they finally cover that era in their retrospective look back at their career.
I was in the fanclub, went to see the final show with Bruce at Pinewood Studios, “Raising Hell” again you could tell they were not happy with him leaving, tensions for sure.
I bought the first single release with Blaze, not bad but his voice? Hmmmmm!
Never bought those 2 Blaze albums until this year. They aint great. So finally 24 years later i saw them again at the 02 this year, sound was awful, the 02 I hate intensely. Good to see them again, in fact it was great but thats all for me in a live sense with Maiden. As for the albums the Bruce records since 2000 with Bruce and Adrian have in the main been very good, no complaints.
Hawkfall says
They’re a different band since 2000, a prog metal band really, and you get the feeling that they’re enjoying themselves being that. They come across as a band that are very comfortable in their own skins.
Almost Simon says
Indeed. I dont mind the prog to be honest. Long may they continue but wanted to see them this last tour just in case they call it a day soon. Not many tours left for sure, they seem to concentrate on festivals in the UK anyway.
Rigid Digit says
Never been taken with Steve Hogath-era Marillion.
Definitely in the Fish camp.
Rigid Digit says
Metallica
… And Justice For All did it for them.
Plodding, drawn out, badly mixed.
MAster Of Puppets is a highpoint never surpassed – they have come close (Black Album, last years Hardwired…To Self-Destruct) but never reached that high again.
fishface says
But..But, Blackened, And Justice for All title track AND the mighty mighty One.?
The album is worth its price for these three tracks alone.
You are of course correct regarding the production, I remember the band defending its sound at the release. They said the mids were “scooped”.
JustB says
Yeah, Justice is fine. Some moments of real greatness rescue it. And I like the Black album a lot.
No, for me it was Load where I stopped buying. They won me back at Death Magnetic (horrible sounding and clipped though it is, the songs rock), and Hardwired is ace.
Rigid Digit says
Load and ReLoad add little to Metallica’s greatness.
You almost feel they knew this, so went away an did Garage Inc
LesterTheNightfly says
Good call!
Got into Metallica just after the death of Cliff Burton. Bought “Master Of Puppets”,loved it and went back and got the previous 2 lps.
Saw them at Donington 87 and,even though the sound was crap,loved them.
“And Justice For All” was purchased on release day and I tried to like it but it was a struggle.
Have to admit by the time “The Black Album” came out I was losing interest.
“Enter Sandman” was obviously a classic but the rest of the album?
Not for me I’m afraid!
By the time “Load” came out I’d moved on.
Saw them at Reading 97 though and they were still a fantastic live act.
I have picked up the later albums when seen for a couple of quid but they’ve been played a couple of times max.
Tahir W says
Led Zeppelin III. Awful Plant songs.
I tried again with Zep IV. Only slightly better, hopelessly marred by Stairway to Heaven.
Never tried again. Don’t know a damn thing about the albums after that. But Zep I and Zep II I can still dig
Vulpes Vulpes says
You’re missing out on some fine stuff old son.
Rigid Digit says
Presence is definitely worth a listen
slotbadger says
I’ve grumbled about this before but in the mid 90s, to me, Stereolab could do no wrong. Then came a fairly swift about turn, in 97’s ‘Dots and Loops’ from deep space Moog-saturated trance pop to endless, samey, bland, dull tinkling tunes, aimless ba-ba-ba’s and a total sense of letdown.
Pessoa says
Yep, me too.
The Good Doctor says
Ah see I really liked Dots and Loops – the first of the noodly, exotic synthy ones, and ‘Cobra and Phases’ is really good too that’s worth a revisit – trouble is after that the noodly stuff became the norm and I prefer the more economically produced, giddy pop thrills of the early stuff – and they were never quite the same after Mary Hansen died – understandably.
Still love ’em though. Tim’s band Cavern of Anti-Matter are good fun and veer toward the soopy grooves of the early stuff.
Freddy Steady says
Hmm…weren’t they like the Wedding Present…all the songs sounded the same?
The Good Doctor says
Yes but it was a very good song
pawsforthought says
Spiritualized’s insistence to keep making the same record got me at ‘Songs in A&E.’ Nothing to see here, move along please, move along.
Moose the Mooche says
Amen. I’m glad he’s still alive and everything but… dude, time for a rethink?
SteveT says
Talking Heads- True Stories. Loved everything that preceded it but this was a pile of shit from a band going through the motions. What crowned it for me was the single Wild Wild life – dreadful.
Loved David Byrne solo and Tom Tom Club after the band finally split.
dai says
Agree about TS, but they bounced back with Naked (to a degree). I have found David Byrne to be a terrible disappointment solo (apart from Rei Momo).
Tiggerlion says
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again. Talking Heads best single is Love For Sale.
Play it loud.
dai says
Better than this one (amongst many others)? Hmmm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98AJUj-qxHI
Black Type says
I love True Stories! Side Two in particular is just ace, and City Of Dreams is possibly my favourite TH song.
Although…it has to be said that this album is responsible for Radiohead 😒
hubert rawlinson says
Think of it as a soundtrack to the film.
Freddy Steady says
Checking in , checking out….ace!
Leicester Bangs says
Eels. Too prolific, too samey. I got off the bus.
Almost Simon says
U2 – Got into them for Joshua, i still love Rattle and Hum (yes, would have been a great single album, film shit but some great tunes.) Achtung is superb. Then? Well, the law of diminishing returns. I guess Zooropa was the start, Pop was bye bye! Although i did enjoy the Passengers CD with Eno inbetween. Has 2 great songs in Miss Sarajevo and Your Blue Room which stand up with the best of U2s songs.
They’ve had “hits” since but really i couldnt care less after 1992. 25 years and counting, i dont expect to return.
JustB says
Pop is one of my favourite U2 albums. I don’t care for them much, but Achtung, Zooropa and Pop are the only ones I find particularly interesting.
Declan says
Enjoyed mid-period U2 as well, these D.Bob albums, plus Unforgettable Fire, minus large swathes of R+H. The Everything album was it though, never heard anything since.
Tales Of Topographic Oceans is where Yes and I parted company, succinct before, sloppy after. And Weather Report, still good up to Night Passage. Billy Cobham, 3 albums worth hearing, mightn’t have bothered after that. Joni Mitchell, last quite good album was Mingus.
Then there’s “late”-period Stones (mid 70s and counting), Pink Floyd (good up to Animals), Neil Young (nothing for ages now), Led Zeppelin (Physical Graffiti was half-and-half). Genesis and Talking Heads too, eventually.
More recently, Steven Wilson with Hand. Cannot. Erase. I mean, fuck me, who told him he could sing?
Bartleby says
Rush – Exit Stage Left and Moving Pictures. Pretty much everything afterwards leaves me completely cold.
Morrissey – loved almost everything up to and including Maladjusted. The Quarry comeback and beyond just sounds like dirgy sludge to me. Spell broken.
John Martyn – the 80s and beyond. I can barely feel closer to an artist than JM in the 70s. Then he meets Phil Collins and tries to become a Poundshop Clapton. Ew, as my daughter would say.
Hawkfall says
Nooo Bartle, Moving Pictures is probably their best album! It’s Vital Signs isn’t it? I never used to like it but now think it’s great.
I jumped off the good ship Rush in 1985 after hearing The Big Money. Didn’t buy a new Rush album for 20 years. I’ve since gone and filled in the GAP and guess what? I didn’t miss much. Rush in the 90s were a competent and slightly dull rock band. Something that doesn’t get mentioned in the documentaries.
Freddy Steady says
For me it was the follow up to Power Windows (which still sounds ok), Hold Your Fire (which was lame apart from that track with Aimee Mann).
Your description of 90’s Rush is spot on. I have a couple of them but would be hard pushed to name a track off them.
Hemispheres to Power Windows for me.
Bartleby says
@Hawkfall what I meant was that I bailed after Exit. Everything before is fantastic. Everything afterwards… not so much. I’ve tried with the ‘highlights’ they’ve put on the live albums, but Subdivisions, Red Sector A, Distant Early Warning, Big Money etc seem to be a different band to me. Not so much Canadian prog discovers Talking Heads as the Thompson Twins played at the wrong speed.
Freddy Steady says
@bartleby
The Thompson Twins! That’s fighting talk. Moving Pictures is ace…so is Signals, give it a proper go! Very synthy it’s true but very melodic too.
Bartleby says
Blimey – an actual TT fan on the Afterword?! Like dogging, I didn’t think it was something one admitted to in polite society.
Listening to Signals now at your request FS. First track sounds… ok. Like a rejected Moving Pictures demo they never got round to adding guitars to.
Freddy Steady says
@bartleby
I’m not a TT fan at all, in fact they’re a bit of a pet hate. I do like Rush though. If you’re not enjoying Subdivisions then I’m not sure there’s too much hope for you! But I like your description of it.
Bartleby says
Thank God for that. I gave it a go. Sounded like undercooked Moving Pictures leftovers and I meant to try again, but then Hamburger Concerto came on and I didn’t have to try and like that. Mmm Focus…
Freddy Steady says
@bartleby
Try Power Windows again! I think it’s their indie album.
Bartleby says
Go on then, I will. I’d love to find more Rush to like.
LesterTheNightfly says
“Signals” is OK “Grace Under Pressure” is the one that I bailed at.
Bought “Power Windows” in the Woolworths sale for £2.99 but didn’t buy a new Rush lp until “Snakes And Arrows” and that’s only because I was going to see them on tour.
Like Hawkfall I’ve gone back and bought the missing lps but they don’t add anything to the canon.
Freddy Steady says
@bartleby
I’m listening to Signals as I make tea….flipping ace album!
Bartleby says
I will try, promise!
Black Type says
Kind of agree on Mozzer, although I’d argue that Vauxhall is his absolute peak as a solo artist, and he’s only had a handful of decent singles since (Elvis Costello’s quip springs to mind). I still enjoy his live shows, although it occurs to me that the last one I saw was six years ago *gulp*. Even if the music became disappointing, we could always rely on him to be witty and incisive in his interviews and various pronouncements, but now he’s just your embarrassing, bigoted old uncle.
Bartleby says
Agree on Vauxhall as a peak. Possibly his lifetime album peak for me. Any best of I put together for the car would have a few tracks pre and post tho. Like this beaut:
Arthur Cowslip says
For me it was DJ Shadow. I fell head over heels for him based on those early Mo Wax EPs. Then the Endtroducing album in 96 was just majestic.
The lack of a quick second album made him seem almost legendary. And the little stuff he did release over the next few years (collaborating on the UNKLE album, the High Noon single, remixing DJ Krush and Handsome Boy Modelling School) were majestic.
But that second album proper, when it eventually appeared. Ugh. Horrible clean sound with ugly 80s stylings.
Time has healed things a bit. I can appreciate the best bits of that second album. And I kind of respect his vocal unwillingness to do an ‘Endtroducing 2’ (he’s right – it would have cheapened it).
Now he’s kind of unrecognisable from the crackly mood merchant he once was. And fair play to him. To reference one of my favourite lines from The Thick Of It, he needs to keep moving forward… like a shark… or Bob Dylan.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Agreed. Endtroducing was earth-shatteringly brilliant. I can still remember the first time I listened to it, slack jawed and grinning, whereupon I immediately played the whole darn thing again, even louder. I sooooooooo wanted there to be a volume 2, and I still think it might just happen, though it won’t be called that or anything like it. But it needs a decade or more of uninterrupted crate digging before anyone can expect anything like it to emerge from his decks again.
Black Celebration says
About a year after this record’s release, I saw it – new! – in a bargain bin for 50p.
As I waited to pay, I had a good look at it and decided that I will, very probably, play it just the once and never again – just like all the other ones since the late 80s that I bought out of loyalty and because I was a fan. I put it back with all the others. Prince – Emancipation.
Junior Wells says
A personal favourite that I still play. Mansion on the Hill is a classic.
Junior Wells says
Jackson Browne. Hold Out
First , Everyman, Late for the Sky, Pretender, running on Empty then came Hold out. Even the title track is so so. I’ve seen him a few times since then, got some boots and played a few on Spotify but the muse has well and truly left the building.
duco01 says
Hold Out certainly is an unpardonable copper-bottomed stinker, Mr Wells. I agree there.
But after Jackson’s muse left the building, it turned around a few years later and re-entered the building, in the form of “Lives in the Balance” and (particularly) “I’m Alive”.
Junior Wells says
Yeah they’re better than Hold Out but not nearly as good as the predecessors.
Hamlet says
Suede’s album Head Music was just awful. The dark glamour of the first two albums had already been replaced with a poppier sound on Coming Up, but for the band who recorded The Wild Ones to stoop so low as to release She’s in Fashion as a single…it still hurts.
In fairness, some of the material since they reformed has been good.
Moose the Mooche says
But they weren’t the band who did The Wild Ones. No Bernard! (Or, if you’re American, B’narrrrd!)
Sewer Robot says
All true, but I recall being prone on my sitting room floor having a multiple braingasm having watched Suede tear Glastonbury a new one on my tv a couple of years back and the most startling part was that they had saved She’s In Fashion as one of the encores and it… just…. worked….
Moose the Mooche says
The first tour they did without him in 1994-5 was pretty incredible for many reasons. See the Introducing The Band film for evidence.
Hamlet says
Yes, you’re all right about Bernard having left, but they were still Suede. I wonder if Brett ever regrets not calling it a day when wee Bernie scarpered?
Almost Simon says
I like later period Suede, Headmusic is too long, another album that would be a lot better if you cut it down to 40minute vinyl length. I actually like the last album they did before the split. I saw the fanclub show at Electric Ballroom for that, they played it in full. Again, its not stunning BUT has some great tracks.
I have the 2 reformation albums but havent actually listened to them yet, shamefully. A bit like my early love for Smashing Pumpkins i cant quite find the same love for those records 20 years on. Perhaps in time it will happen, in fact i know it will. But not just yet. Too soon.
MC Escher says
You should really give Night Thoughts a go, it is for the most part pretty wonderful.
Moose the Mooche says
Coming Up was their biggest selling album and gave them five top ten hits… so I think not.
Personally I regret Suede getting back together permanently, because BA’s solo records, after a shaky start, were getting better and better.
Neela says
But did they pay his bills?
Moose the Mooche says
Nope.
nigelthebald says
Well thank the Lord we finally have an answer!
Moose the Mooche says
I had to wait for his accounts to be published.
nigelthebald says
Prudent.
Moose the Mooche says
Even better – strong and stable.
nigelthebald says
Who died and left you in charge?
(I went to bed early and haven’t checked the news yet this morning. Fingers crossed…)
Tiggerlion says
My kids loved Head Music. It wasn’t long before I was smitten too. Pure Pop rather than Art Wank, not that I mind a bit of Art Wank now and then.
Moose the Mooche says
Paul Simon wasn’t so keen.
minibreakfast says
This is why Tigger has a lifetime ban from the Tate Modern, everyone.
Everygoodboydeservesfruita says
I know this is not school…and perhaps I wasn’t very clear because I did say that I could listen to Out of Time but the sensation for me was that I actually doubted that REM were ever good. I could only hear what I didn’t like about Around the Sun in everything they ever did. So I didn’t like Stipe’s singing nor Buck’s guitar etc. I could only hear in Morrison’s voice a falseness and a self-righteousness. So a bit different from just thinking that an album was bad.
Interesting that Junior mentioned Hold Out. I totally agree. I came to really hate his voice – his wavering, thin voice, the total absence of humour, nothing resembling a funky rhythm. So I came to dislike everything he did. I ended up feeling The Pretender was also a failure.
Junior Wells says
I go back to those earlier records regularly and often reflect on how good they are – the even quality, the wonderful turn of phrase, the thoughtfulness and the musicianship. Pretender is still a good un in my book but always disliked Linda Paloma.
duco01 says
Oh yes, “Linda Paloma” is the “Jazz Police” of “The Pretender”
Junior Wells says
On that double CD tribute to JB Springsteen chooses LP of all songs to cover. And it doesn’t sound much better.
ClemFandango says
Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for Deaf is an absolutely brilliant album from start of finish. Went back to Rated R and the first album which were almost as good
Lullabies to Paralyse was overlong – a grower that never grew, bailed after the next one
Also Public Enemy
Everything up to and including Fear of a Black Planet fantastic. Lost it a bit on Apocalypse 91. Bailed when the punning album and songs titles took hold (Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age,
New Whirl Odor etc)
Moose the Mooche says
Spot on about Public Enemy. I bailed after Greatest Misses… what a dog’s breakfast that was.
Fear… seems to get bigger every time I listen to it… one of the best examples of what duzzent kill yer meks yer stronger.
Sewer Robot says
Oh man, the first hour of Moose Sick is awesome! Can’t see how you wouldn’t love it, you arbitrary-cutoff-point-requiring nutter..
Moose the Mooche says
I heard that album when it came out and thought it was tragic, like a group trying to be Public Enemy. Chuck sounded so… tired.
Thankfully there hasn’t been an hour of Moose Sick since the early hours of New Year’s Day 1991.
Pessoa says
Goldie’s early work with Metalheadz and Rufige Cru was great when the jungle scene was really exciting and something I still heard via club nights and mixtapes, but if the debut album Timeless seemed a bit overdeveloped, then Saturn Returnz ( with the orchestras and 60 minute track) really was dreadfully pretentious and marked a change in direction. He seems happy and respected now, but I wonder about what he might have otherwise done.
Bingo Little says
This is a really good one. If memory serves he went off to be an actor for a bit shortly after Saturnz Return, so it was definitely a bit of an end point. He has done some decent stuff since, though nothing to match up to the very early days.
I do still love Timeless though.
fentonsteve says
I worked with his producer/co-writer in the Metalheadz days. Bob was a placid bloke but he and Clifford Price fell out and he quit the deal. At which point Goldie became a household name but couldn’t follow it up, and Bob set up Moving Shadow. I often wonder how much of Goldie’s early success was down to Bob’s musicianship.
I doubt Bob regrets leaving his job at the factory. He was driving a brand new Merc by the time he did.
pawsforthought says
Another one that comes to mind. Flaming Lips totally went off the boo with Embryonic. Should’ve guessed with that title as the songs were pretty much demos, and not at all fit for human consumption. Just to probe that the band were ‘down with the kids’ they had Karen O on the album. However she is LITERALLY phoning it in, as in she didn’t even bother turning up. Bloody lame, I tells ya!
Almost Simon says
Weller solo? Might’ve been mentioned above but for me after Stanley Wood i struggled. Both that and Wild Wood were sooooo good. I have gone back and bought most of the subsequent releases as and when i see them cheap in Fopp. I dont quite get how all the later albums seem to get a great review. Even 22 Dreams, i have bought it but i dont quite get it like most others do. Its like Stanley Road was my goodbye. Maybe in time, i’ll force myself to listen to them again. The last song of his i truly liked was Peacock Suit. I do try, honest!!
Rigid Digit says
As Is Now is at least the equal of Stanley Road (honest!).
I might be alone with that thought. Mind you, I prefer Heavy Soul over Wild Wood.
And Sonik Kicks the pick of the later years
chilli ray virus says
I think Crack-up as done me for the Fleet Foxes. Helplessness Blues was the last CD I bought without hearing any of the tracks. Thankfully I checked out Crack-up on Spotify and thought it was a mess. I think maybe I just lost interest.
Neela says
True. A shame Robin seems to be ashamed of his beautiful melodies. Crack-Up is hard work, which isn’t necessarily what I want music to be.
Moose the Mooche says
“hard work, which isn’t necessarily what I want music to be” – oh dear, I’m not sure you belong on the Afterword.
Neela says
I’ve spent quite some time realising it’s the wrong kind of hard work, ie just not good enough.
Moose the Mooche says
….at some point you have to say, “It’s not me, it’s you”.
Aaaaand we’re back to the OP.
Neela says
I do support and appreciate artists not wanting/trying to do the same thing over and over again. But in this particular case I didn’t enjoy the result. Points for the level of ambition though.
Maybe next time.