Interpol "Our Love to Admire"

going to see them in july

I like the cover - unsettling.

eh, the red, black, and white thing needed to be retired.

i like the cover. the song... i've heard it before.

no i in threesome

the Editors cover is better. the Editors album will probably be better because i think they have a better up side.

can't get excited about new Interpol.

that cover is awesome!

ooh la la.

Last song = speramental

keep it up Interpol. I like it.

They still sound like they have trouble with English. I know several excellent ESOL programs.

The only time I play guitar music is when I'm onstage with Interpol, my band.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/05/why_i_only_listen_to_classical.html

the only time I play guitar music is when I'm onstage with Interpol, my band.

-Carlos D, Old West Bartender

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/05/why_i_only_listen_to_classical.html

What a douche.

l£4ked.

It's on MTV's "The Leak." I like this album. I think it'll grow on me even more over time like their previous efforts.

"My iPod hotel parties are quite a different phenomenon now, I can assure you."

Man, I'm really going to miss his legendary iPod hotel parties of the past.

Ehh, who cares about Carlos D listening Sibelius?
The album is awesome. No outstanding tracks, just the whole is great in it's integrity.

Interpol should only release albums in the fall or winter

Well, I usually love Alfred Soto's posts to ILM, but this review of "Our Love To Admire" on Stylus is not something to be proud of. I really can't understand his point, but maybe I'm stupid.

His point is they suck. Hope this helps.

i think the review is pretty good but does alfred even like interpol?

stylus doesn't exactly shy away from hit jobs (see: dom p. writing about a popular uk act)...

Dom never writes about popular uk acts does he?

I don't know whether he likes Interpol or not, but it looks like just another butcher job. And who cares about the facial hair of the bassist, really?

Why does anyone care about this, when the new Mike Jones album comes out today? (That's my trip to the record store in a nutshell: MJ for me, Interpol for the wife.)

xxxpost never.

i think the review is pretty good but does alfred even like interpol?

No.

to be fair, I didn't like Andy Taylor's MegaMullet circa 1985 or Nick Rhodes' jet-black dye job either.

i tried to listen to this this morning, it's fucking awful

If I never gave two shits about Interpol in the past and found them actively irritating, would this album change my mind?

no

I'm convinced the dude that reviewed this album for Stylus is actually Helen Keller. Jesus, what a piss-poor review. I loathe album reviews that don't discuss music. Not to mention some of the albums this douchebag gave better reviews to...Maroon 5? Ne-Yo?! THE KILLERS?!? He should go back to offering me fries with my burgers.

Maroon 5? Ne-Yo?! THE KILLERS?!?

All these albums are better than the new Interpol, so your point is...?

btw, I love you Alfred.

There is no way any of those albums is better than the new Interpol. Geez...hipster elitists can be so fickle and full of shit. I feel like this is "Wincing the Night Away" all over again.

You are a bot, yes?

Uhh...Maroon 5. Ne-Yo. The Killers. I'm sure music critics have to stick together, but you have to draw the line somewhere, Raggett.

Maroon 5 make me dry heave and the Killers are useless. Alfred's taste is his own and god bless him for it. Sorry if that idea bothers you.

There is no way any of those albums is better than the new Interpol.

I understand music appreciation is subjective and all, but...c'mon, really?

I like the first one and the last one.

I will not listen to this again anytime soon though.

I'm fine with people's opinions on music, but when you stand on your critic's soapbox and use it to decry a band based on their fashion sense or fan-base, I feel it detracts from your journalistic integrity. Sorry if that idea bothers you.

I truly have been schooled.

haha

"Maroon 5? Ne-Yo?! THE KILLERS?!?

All these albums are better than the new Interpol, so your point is...?

-- Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 02:47 (6 hours ago) Link"

Never. Especially not The Killers.

No offence to Alfred though. As I said before, I like his reviews and posts, but this one is a but unconvincing and not correct.

HOW DARE HE SLAG OFF SOME SHITTY BAND YOU LIKE!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Erm... is it for me, Noodle?

Hey, Ned. Didja see my Interpol review?

Here's my Interpol review:

Horseshit.

I have only heard the new Interpol single, but I'm pretty sure the Ne-Yo album is way better than "Our Love to Admire".

I'm convinced the dude that reviewed this album for Stylus is actually Helen Keller. Jesus, what a piss-poor review. I loathe album reviews that don't discuss music. Not to mention some of the albums this douchebag gave better reviews to...Maroon 5? Ne-Yo?! THE KILLERS?!? He should go back to offering me fries with my burgers

I'm going to say this slowly, so that you and others like you understand: editor says, "We got the new Interpol. Why don't you review it?" I say, "Sure." That's how it works. If you think that what a critic reviews has anything to do with his own taste, crawl back into the hole whence you came.

The troll would also be well-served by actually reading said reviews of Ne-Yo, the Killers, and Maroon 5 -- they're all pans!

I just like the idea that preferring some mainstream thing to some indie thing is now "hipster elitist." Chickens coming home to roost?

Nah, I think cockwads have always said "You're just pretending to like [Popular Artist X] to be trendy".

i like the first two albums, but somehow couldn't be bothered jumping on board once again. i'd rather discover something new or something that i missed out on first time round.

Wouldn't it be great if Interpol and The Killers fell into the Grand Canyon?

RIP

you've got a new catchphrase now son.

Doesn't really fit in this thread.

alfred's review should have ended with the phrase "Jokes, bruvs" and given the album an A.

or run my mugshot with Carlos D's 'stache superimposed.

Wouldn't it be great if Interpol and The Killers fell into the Grand Canyon?

...and there was beer?

You don't want to get those guys hammered, Ned.

HONOUR THE KEYSTONE!

I think Ned meant beer for us. To celebrate. Them being dead. And sounding no more.

kids, today

Interpol need swords

then they could change their name to "Norsemen."

I come from the land of coke and blow

that explains a lot

*sniff*

So...um...isn't that new cd by Interpol cool?

Dunno, haven't heard. I do know that everything I've heard by them in the past makes me dislike them.

I only saw them on Letterman so take my review with a grain of Carlos D herpes

My five year old daughter hasn't been commenting on music on the car radio at all lately, but we were talking in the front seat the other day and the "How are things on the west coast?" song comes on and all of a sudden we hear "CAN YOU TURN IT UP, PLEASE?" from the back seat.

It's such a good song, Tim. I can't blame her.

Finally, Tim, someone understands great music! The future is bright!

I like at least two of the first six tracks. A bit. Yay Interpol!

I only review albums my editor thinks my colleague won't like.

"Rest My Chemistry" is a mega-waste of a fantastic riff.

So I should be ashamed for liking this, eh? It's certainly better than the snore-worthy Antics.

Yeah, perhaps it's better than Antics, but the single-worthy songs were better there.

Antics destroys this album. It's okay, but certainly the worst Interpol yet.

so far it seems the consensus is that it is or isn't better than Antics and you might as well just put on Turn on the Bright Lights

or Ne-Yo

or Joy Division?

I liked the singles on Antics more, but this isn't bad. LOL @ 50+ comments on Alfred's review tho.

i don't understand all the negative reviews for this. it's better than antics, in my opinion.

Delicious.

semi-xpost

Wondering aloud: are more moths attracted to a flame of a review such as Alfred's, or something, say more objective and balanced?

In other words, I wonder about the statistical difference in traffic (i.e., eyeballs, page hits, and, I dunno, advertising impressions and click-throughs) attributable to a negative-to-absurd review of a fairly popular artist, versus a positive-to-fawning review of same...

I wandah...

I mean, if talk radio's any indicator, negativity sells.

My review wasn't objective and balanced?

With a mere 10 express/implicit ad hominem attacks and, generously, 1.5 of 5 paragraphs actually, sort of, about the album?

I'd say it was very objective and very balanced.

I'm not sure you can call what Interpol released an "album."

Parry, meet Bob and Weave.

You want fair and balanced reviews? Watch FOX News.

Also, it's over 60 comments now. I'm still lol'ing. I love The Publications Office commentary on the P4k and Stylus reviews.

The hell?

Apparently I'm now a disillusioned indie kid!

You horrible man.

The words "brillantly" and "Paul Banks" should never be used in the same breath.

i've gotta say i don't really understand the central conceit of alf's review.

The album sucks and the band has always sucked.

Shh, you're giving it away!

Bob and Weave, meet Parry.

nah the sexuality part.

You want fair and balanced reviews?

Well, at least you've tacitly admitted that your review was unfair and unbalanced. It's a start.

I like this album. Individual songs aren't sticking out that much, but if they're becoming a parody of themselves then that means there was a unique self in the first place. Vindication!

Alf's review is fine for one by someone who never really dug them CD-wise in the first place.

I'm excited for their <i>Life's Rich Pageant</i> next!

if your boyfriend (or, hell, girlfriend) grew a mustache for your sake, in the hopes that you'd notice, would you love them or laugh?

this should have been the whole review, really.

That would have sufficed, true. But would you've read it in its entirety (i.e., gotten to that last line) had it not been so absurd?

I mean, do you understand the central conceit of alf's review of the album? (I.e., even if we're prohibited, per Sir Alfred's diktat, to call it that...sigh...)

That is, other to glean from his demonstrably ad hominem hit-job on Interpol that his editorial (I'm not sure you can call what Alfred wrote an album "review") is little more than Sir Alfred's venting of pent-up, apparently non-indie rocker, anti-Interpol frustration?

dblcheeksneek won't be satisfied until I wear a hairshirt grow mustache as ugly as Carlos D's.

I'm excited for their <i>Life's Rich Pageant</i> next!

That might work. Except they'd make an album's worth of "Swan Swan H"s.

Although, to follow my original analogy, it's more likely that Paul Banks, Sam Fogarino, and the synth guy will form an Arcadia-esque art-pop trio, while Carlos D and the guitarist hire Chris Cornell and record a version of "Lithium" for their Power Station project.

I would, however, like our focus to shift back to the album itself, as it warrants discussion. The 60 or so comments about the "review" is admittedly a bit (like 60 too many) much, especially when those comments are, in part, precipitated by its shoddiness. But it's nearly impossible to ignore a scribe's effort to make one's "review" really, only, about one's personal, pre-determined bias about an artist.f

As for the LP itself? Its seemingly lazy lyrics aside, "Mammoth" keeps running through my head; "Rest My Chemistry" and "Who Do You Think" would've been at home on either of their first two albums; and, I, personally, like the length of "Pioneer To The Falls" - its your typical Interpol intro (and sometimes outro) track, but stretched out for the depth it carries.

Positives aside, I do miss the skilled interplay between Carlos and Sam so centrally featured on the first two discs.

You do realize that there are other reviews of the album out there, I hope.

It was a bullshit review, Raggett. I hope the next time this idiot grabs a pen to craft a hateful personal attack he accidentally stabs himself in the neck with it.

signed, Internet Hard Man

What's the difference between my statement and dude's review? Or, for that matter, people wanting Interpol to drive into the Grand Canyon? Does that make them "Internet Hard Men," too? Hmm...

Interpol fans are so touchy. Must be all that doom and gloom.

Hahahah...for what it's worth, I find this thread quite humorous. I also see a certain tongue-in-cheek humor in Interpol's music. I mean, Paul Banks is an R. Kelly fan, and I think he lets it show on some of the new songs.

Paul Banks is an R. Kelly fan

ugh

the subway she is a porno, pissing on children's faces

somehow i'm not impressed

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when he and his friends are discussing R. Kelly.

ugh is right.

Hark! Paul Banks is an R. Kelly fan = another arrow in the quiver of Interpol haters the world over! My kingdom for some honest and for true rock and/or roll! I mean, Our Love To Admire certainly ain't no Ultimate Collection* - m i rite!? I mean, Dave Stewart’s goatee just tied his whole ensemble together!

Ah yes, the humor of this thread: in one corner, you have Interpol fans who might prefer to (and might just yet) discuss the merits, be it growth, regression, what-have-you of the new album (sic?). While the other’s occupied by Interpol haters (not music critics, mind you, but visceral, personal haters) that would rather lob Molotov cocktails of snide, herpetic bassline** remarks and take refuge in the safety of circled rock-crit wagons, than admit that they wouldn't take the same or similar potshots of Interpol, in-person.

So yes, I am well aware of (and read) the handful of other reviews available via the Interweb’s series of tubes, and elsewhere.***

My beef is not that someone would have the gall**** to write a negative review of an average record (which, in truth, it is an average record). Rather it's that they would both do it in such a fill-in-the-blank manner, and then breathlessly defend that work as if there weren't something rotten/rotting (i.e., deeply personal, having nothing to do, really, with the album per se) about it.

There exist several other reviews with low marks for this LP that, shocker, actually challenge the directions Interpol’s music takes (or doesn’t) on this LP, whereas only one other (so far anyway, see “bassline” above) has sunk to the depths of Sir Alfred's juvenilia.

So, maybe we'll talk about the album (sic) sometime?

Maybe?

Sometime?

Anyone?

* http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/eurythmics/the-ultimate-collection.htm
** http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Interpol,3769
***http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/interpol/ourlovetoadmire
****please take that as the sarcastic remark - for we mopey, touchy, weepy Interpol fans - it's meant to be.

Have you tried scrubbing floors or done the grocery shopping yet?

Have you, fellow, tireless ILM lurker?

You make LJ seem like RJG.

ugh is right.

Hark! Paul Banks is an R. Kelly fan = another arrow in the quiver of Interpol haters the world over! My kingdom for some honest and for true rock and/or roll! I mean, Our Love To Admire certainly ain't no Ultimate Collection* - m i rite!? I mean, Dave Stewart’s goatee just tied his whole ensemble together!

Ah yes, the humor of this thread: in one corner, you have Interpol fans who might prefer to (and might just yet) discuss the merits, be it growth, regression, what-have-you of the new album (sic?). While the other’s occupied by Interpol haters (not music critics, mind you, but visceral, personal haters) that would rather lob Molotov cocktails of snide, herpetic bassline** remarks and take refuge in the safety of circled rock-crit wagons, than admit that they wouldn't take the same or similar potshots of Interpol, in-person.

So yes, I am well aware of (and read) the handful of other reviews available via the Interweb’s series of tubes, and elsewhere.***

My beef is not that someone would have the gall**** to write a negative review of an average record (which, in truth, it is an average record). Rather it's that they would both do it in such a fill-in-the-blank manner, and then breathlessly defend that work as if there weren't something rotten/rotting (i.e., deeply personal, having nothing to do, really, with the album per se) about it.

There exist several other reviews with low marks for this LP that, shocker, actually challenge the directions Interpol’s music takes (or doesn’t) on this LP, whereas only one other (so far anyway, see “bassline” above) has sunk to the depths of Sir Alfred's juvenilia.

So, maybe we'll talk about the album (sic) sometime?

Maybe?

Sometime?

Anyone?

* http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/eurythmics/the-ultimate-collection.htm
** http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Interpol,3769
***http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/interpol/ourlovetoadmire
****please take that as the sarcastic remark - for we mopey, touchy, weepy Interpol fans - it's meant to be.

-- dblcheeksneek, Saturday, 14 July 2007 22:06 (Yesterday) Link

http://www.fortune-financials.com/images/Animated%20FFS.gif

aaron d.g. otm

Hark! Paul Banks is an R. Kelly fan = another arrow in the quiver of Interpol haters the world over! My kingdom for some honest and for true rock and/or roll!

I don't know if it's possible to come to a wronger conclusion based on one word. R. Kelly is a fantastic singer mired deeply in an unforgivable minstrel show; I have issues with anyone liking him, ergo hoisting Kells as a defense for someone's musical tastes is going to tell me two things:

1) You have a startlingly superficial definition of "broad musical taste" if your biggest data point is "less-popular-but-mainstream guy likes very-popular-and-mainstream guy; WAU!"

2) You have no conception of the depth of tragedy that such a fantastic voice is inside of such a reprehensible person who catalog is filled with way more wildly embarrassing songs than great ones.

Maybe you're the enlightened one because it doesn't really bother you to watch a black man coon it up in the most ignorant manner possible for the benefit of a snottily ironic audience of white 20- and 30-somethings; maybe I'm the enlightened one because I don't want what he does to be used as a reflection on me. Either way, you don't know me and you jumped to the wrong conclusion.

KUDOS

Thread needs Jagger.

What is it about Interpol that inspires discussion revolving them to never really discuss them? (Instead we talk about reviews about them, or social reactions to them, or whether an artist they like is a minstrel act or not.)

POO - Paul Banks: minstrel or witch?

I thought these guys were Muse

What is it about Interpol that inspires discussion revolving them to never really discuss them?

I think it's because they're boring.

I like the new record. Someone who likes it even more than me says they've taken all the good things about the first two records and kinda taken the next step down the road from that, without doing what the Bravery or the Killers did (i.e. gone for stupid "we're ashamed of our former haircuts" hairshirty arena-rock gestures). And that seems about right to me. I'm a fan of incremental development, not big sweeping overhauls of a band's sound. Massive change implies that the group has lost faith in what they did to make themselves popular in the first place. Which raises the question of why we should have liked them back then. I prefer it when bands acknowledge that they think their core concept is a solid one, and then make small adjustments to it. Like death metal bands do. "Maybe a few more wheedly-deedly guitar solos this time out, but otherwise, no major changes."

Dan's last two posts OTM

Hold up.

Did the Enlightened One really just attempt to dress me down (and subtlety imply I'm a racist) via ethically slurring R.Kelly (i.e., that it doesn't really bother me to watch a Black man coon it up)?

Wau and FFS, in spades.

kinda speechless with laughter here over both "ethically slurring" and "in spades"

Lock ILM, no one is ever going to top this.

"In order to show that R. Kelly and Interpol are neither `ethically slurring' or `in spades,' we need to consider the existence of several fascinating theories..."

http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_01_img0248.jpg

lol

Oops, my bad. I forgotted!

Coon (e.g., in reference to a Black man, say cooning it up for a White audience) no longer slurs ethnically - if used as a verb (and/or by the Enlightened One). It's actually, how apropos(!), a term of enlightenment!

KUDOS, Resident Hard Man.

PS, Circled rock-crit wagons (or was that more of a cock block by Sir Alfred? It's a close call these days): duly noted.

PPS, My most sincere apologies for misspelling "ethnically" upthread. Maybe things'd be different if I, like a critic (sic) misspelling the name of a song of an album he's reviewing (sic) could edit said mistake away.

PPSS, Diversionary tactics are fun. To wit, JS' GOP analogy over at the The Publications Office: http://thepublicationsoffice.blogspot.com/2007/07/called-it.html? Dead. Wrong. Unfair, even.

remember that time when JW embedded animations of penises coming out of computers on a bunch of threads?

sometimes i wish he could still do that

or the animated gif of a transsexual anal reverse cowgirl scene

haha, 'ethically' AND 'ethnically'. was one of them a typo? i prefer to think not

In a perhaps (or likely) futile attempt to turn our attention back to the music...

If I've one steady gripe with Interpol (in addition to the recently nascent one where they've de-emphasized and buried their rhythm section on Our Love To Admire) it's that their mastering is pretty damn poor in this day and age of recording technology. They're the only modern artist that doesn't past muster on my iPod's "Flat" setting.

I believe thin's the word.

Whereas the upright bass (arguably inorganic) on "All Fired Up" is a nice, seemingly overlooked, touch.

OTM dblcheeksneek, thin most certainly is the word. Always wondered what dynamic Interpol wound sound like. Having said that, the album is pretty good tunewise, but not as moving/enjoyable as the first two. I've been told the second single will be Mammoth, uergh.

The only song I find to be thin is All Fired Up. God, I wish they hadn't put that song on the album...

i'm wondering, does my collection really require 3 interpol records? they just appear to be one of those bands that have pigeonholed themselves - what are the odds of them doing something completely unpredictable and out of character?

Mammoth is a great choice for second single, most powerful song of the album.

...does my collection really require 3 interpol records? ...what are the odds of them doing something completely unpredictable and out of character?

On this album? The odds were and remain pretty low. So, whether you "really require" a third Interpol record is wholly (albeit admittedly, also very rhetorically) up to you and your expectations.

I like the Interpol, I dig their employ of rhythm and melancholy (even if it tends to be recorded/mastered poorly). Their latest doesn't, for me, hold a candle to TOTBL's urgent momentum, and is a bit of a warmed-over Antics, but if you liked 'em two albums deep, and would like some rock to fill these warm summer months, you'll probably find your toe (or whatever you use to keep time) tapping along approvingly more than a few times in its 47-ish minutes.

In many ways, Our Love To Admire strikes me as little more than live show fodder. That is, I don't disagree that the "E" for effort will not be emblazoned on its long-term report card. There are a few noteworthy-in-general, outstanding-for-Interpol, moments (e.g., "Pioneer to the Falls" and "Pace Is the Trick" and "Who Do You Think") and a few average-in-general, by-the-numbers-Interpol moments (e.g., "Wrecking Ball" and "The Scale" and "Mammoth" [xpost, sorry, but I'm in the more-favorably-impressed-by "Heinrich Maneuver" camp]) that should make their live show more and less interesting (respectively), and might well give (or have already given) past fans sufficient reason to pay the price of admission (or LP acquisition).

I, for one among them, didn't expect or anticipate (or, really, hope) that Our Love to Admire would signal a dramatic change in course. It reliably and predictably sounds like Interpol and that's good enough for me.

EDITORS new album pisses all over it. a fact that i am still taking 1 step at a time.

I liked the first Editors LP, in part, because it reminded me of Interpol (and, naturally, their respective/shared influences) - but pisses all over it? Really?

Not that I'm beholden to "critics" (e.g., see above), but overall there's been even less praise for An End Has A Start, no? Or are you providing yourself a lil' wiggle room with the 1 step at a time disclaimer?

Regardless, my curiosity's re-piqued.

the new editors album is actually good. the new interpol is anything but. so yeah it pisses all over it.

So far (two tracks in) Editors' new one sounds like secondhand Coldplay (right down to the overused snares and cymbals), albeit with different vocals.

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/skeptical-cat-is-fraught-with-skepticism.jpg

So I'm going to see the Interpol/Liars tour in Austin tonight on a friend's wallet (and taking him to see Low in 2 weeks, in return). Seen both live, and definitely more excited for Liars tonight, love their new album, whereas Interpol's newest is just "meh" in general, much like Antics, unfortunately. I really liked Bright Lights, though.

In many ways, Our Love To Admire strikes me as little more than live show fodder. There are a few noteworthy-in-general, outstanding-for-Interpol, moments...and a few average-in-general, by-the-numbers-Interpol moments...that should make their live show more and less interesting (respectively).
-- dblcheeksneek, Thursday, August 2, 2007 3:21 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Link

This was highly OTM for me. Looking forward to two or three of the new songs live, but otherwise, meh.

the new She Wants Revenge is better, ye gods.

I like this album. Better sleeve than the other two, for one thing. Better lyrics too.

Do they <i>still</i> sound like a Joy Division knock-off?

they sound like an Interpol knock-off now.

I don't deny that they're a band with a limited pallette. Like Clinic, sometimes I'm surprised at how long bands are willing/happy to travel the same ground over and over. but that's just me...

they sound like an Interpol knock-off now.

I wonder if one could say the same about, for example, New Order's back catalogue? (...fingers stroking chin...)

I caught Interpol's (and unintentionally missed Liars') Boston show a week or so ago a remembered phrase I once read (here?) about Interpol reared its head: Interpol is too (maddeningly) efficient for their own good. The enjoyment I generally get from attending a show, any show, is hearing an artist go off-script, to take their music somewhere they didn't on record. Musicianship-wise, Interpol was spot-on. But, ironically perhaps, too spot-on. Let's say they didn't stray much from their charts and, for me, it would've been nice to hear them draw one out and/or take an unexpected turn here and/or there.

Fwiw, however, anyone with anything more than a passing appreciation of Joy Division would have retired the tired "knock-off"/"soundslike" nonsense two albums ago. Although, maybe "There's No. 1 in Threesome" (sic) would've fit comfortably betwixt "A Means to an End" and "Heart and Soul"? One can only guess...

Do they <i>still</i> sound like a Joy Division knock-off?

-- I eat cannibals, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:54 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

they never sounded like joy division

Although, maybe "There's No. 1 in Threesome" (sic) would've fit comfortably betwixt "A Means to an End" and "Heart and Soul"? One can only guess...

Let us know.

They still sound like they have trouble with English. I know several excellent ESOL programs.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, June 23, 2007 11:59 PM (nine years ago)

someone on here said this already, but Paul growing up in Spain/all over Europe definitely contributes to the bizarre phrasing and word choices in his brilliant (imo) lyrics. he's easily my favorite lyricist, besides van dyke parks it's not even close.

My god, do you set the bar fucking low.

i forget, do you dig Interpol, turrican? (lyrics aside)

just got the reissue... it is remastered and it sounds A LOT better... more space, much less treble, more low end. the original mix was sooooo top heavy. sounded like a quintessential cocaine record, which is strange because this is the one they made after they all got sober.

It can't sound better because the songs suck.

I'm convinced the dude that reviewed this album for Stylus is actually Helen Keller. Jesus, what a piss-poor review. I loathe album reviews that don't discuss music. Not to mention some of the albums this douchebag gave better reviews to...Maroon 5? Ne-Yo?! THE KILLERS?!? He should go back to offering me fries with my burgers.

― brightscreamer, Tuesday, July 10, 2007

aww

He's right -- I should have discussed the music.

eh, really the only irredeemable song on here is 'All Fired Up imo.' such a piece of shit. 'Mammoth' is a fine, unrelenting rock song but it's not produced properly, it's brickwalled & hurts to listen to. 'Pace is the Trick' and 'Who Do You Think' are up there with TOTBL/Antics material. this remaster makes 'Pioneer to the Falls,' 'Rest My Chemistry,' and 'The Heinrich Manuever' sound a lot better. I think the record suffers from a really weak narrative, it doesn't know what it wants to be. i'd argue this is true for TOTBL as well (even though it's amazing), whereas Antics and the s/t have a very honed narrative & vibe going on.

I really like about 3/4 of this record tbh, always have, despite the kinda crap mixing. curious about the remaster

who was dblcheeksneek

just got the reissue... it is remastered and it sounds A LOT better... more space, much less treble, more low end. the original mix was sooooo top heavy. sounded like a quintessential cocaine record, which is strange because this is the one they made after they all got sober.

― flappy bird, Friday, August 18, 2017 6:23 PM (two years ago)

Wait, a top-heavy mix being a "cocaine record" is a real thing? Apologies, as I've heard jokes about that being why hair-metal had such annoyingly-little low end, but I had no idea that said drug was a legitimate influence on the sonic preferences of the band/producer/record buying public!

yes

low end is more of a weed thing

DUN DUN
DU DU DUN DA DUN DUN
DUN DUN