Laughing Stock by Talk Talk

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I searched but found no C/D thread for Laughing Stock.

I should imagine many of you will protest at the adoration this record recieves from it's fans, not least myself.

― Stupid (Stupid), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'M not going to. There's a fair amount of discussion on the recently revived Talk Talk thread, though.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 02:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't see that.

*smacks forehead*

― Stupid (Stupid), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 02:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Search them archives! Woo.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 02:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I did, I did, but I wanted a Laughing Stock C/D thread and I'll be damned if I don't get what I want.

― Stupid (Stupid), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 02:59 (twenty-two years ago)

very klassik.

better?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 03:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Completely classic. But it's a grower, so I try not to push it on people with too many raves.

― Chris Dahlen (Chris Dahlen), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 05:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Classic. I've said more than enough about TT over the last 18 months.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

On first listen, bone dry, till about halfways through then come the end you'll want to put it on again and again and again.

― mzui, Wednesday, 21 January 2004 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

when it comes down to it i brought "spirit of eden" with me but not "laughingstock" but that doesn't mean i don't adore the latter with nearly equal fervor

however ultimately there's a portentousness in both that remains a very slight problem for me

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I much prefer Spirit of Eden, but Laughing Stock is still a towering achievment.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i went to a wedding last year where the DJ played myrrhman during dinner!!!!!

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Fucking hell.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Mind you I remember reading an article in some pub/food trade mag ages ago suggestign that slow music in dining areas = less spillage on the floor!

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I have an album by a band Laughingstock, similiar to Talk Talk and David Sylvian. This is their second.

http://gd.times.lv

― Dainis, Friday, 23 January 2004 22:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"New Grass" = RIDICULOUS!! How do they get such a cool jazzy drum sound? He's not using brushes, is he?

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 23 January 2004 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't make much of a distinction b/w this album and Spirit of Eden, they're both amazing.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 23 January 2004 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

They miked (sic?) the drums from 40 feet away.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Friday, 23 January 2004 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Boringgggggggggggggg Dud all the way. Sold it many moons ago.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Friday, 23 January 2004 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, an exception! I'm honestly amazed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 23 January 2004 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't make much of a distinction b/w this album and Spirit of Eden, they're both amazing.

Yeah, having listened to both of them about ten times each now, I'm impressed that they're both so solid. Laughing Stock gets mentioned so often with reference to post-rock that I just assumed I would like it better, but Spirit of Eden strikes me as equally "progressive."

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 23 January 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

(And equally good!)

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 23 January 2004 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Better!

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Friday, 23 January 2004 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

is it out of print?
i've never been able to find it

― robin (robin), Friday, 23 January 2004 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"is it out of print?
i've never been able to find it
-- robin"

I couldn't for yonks. I finally got it off Insound.com.

― Stupid (Stupid), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, polydor didn't remaster/re-release it like EMI did, too bad. You can probably find it off of www.musicstack.com or www.gemm.com or that slsk thing

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i have too much to say about it so i cant say anything. I love it.

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

say it say it!

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

load of old cobblers.

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

dae it dae it!

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:49 (twenty-two years ago)

It was definitely reissued however a couple of years ago by the Pondlife label, who then followed up with the great Missing Pieces collection -- that compiles the various released outtakes from LS which surfaced on singles around that time.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 24 January 2004 00:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i still haven't heard this album either. i can never find it on cd nor vinyl. i have one track, 'ascension day' which is quite stunning. reminds me a little of do make say think. i'm not sure i quite yet like talk talk but i think i could.

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 24 January 2004 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i always see all of their records at tower. laughing stock is classic. i like mark hollis solo record more though.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 24 January 2004 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

that missing pieces thing is worthwhile?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 26 January 2004 11:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say so but essentially it's just an adjunct to Laughing Stock -- mostly alternate takes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

What is essential is "John Cope".

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

ok ned

i probably wont buy it then if its just outtakes

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone else love "It's Getting late in the Evening"?

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Me!

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Me three.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

am, how is portentousness a bad thing? Not saying you're wrong, I'm just interested in what you mean.

― Clarke B., Monday, 26 January 2004 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought missing pieces was really disappointing, the alternate takes sounded just like the final takes but the fidelity was worse.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Monday, 26 January 2004 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i agree with that.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 26 January 2004 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Me, too. I wanted more. It's not really worth much.

Did anybody pick up that live record? Somewhat curious about that one...

― Broheems (diamond), Monday, 26 January 2004 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

i wonder if the first long fin killie record will receive this sort of talk talk-esque adulation in 5 years time? it should.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe if it was easier to find? I've been patiently waiting to stumble across a Long Fin Killie album for, oh, five or six years now.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh really, Mr. Finney. I can help you there.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Who the fuck are Long Fin Killie and how much do I need to know? I'm assuming the answer is going to be 'lots'.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 09:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I hate you. I've just been to Allmusic - Amazon recommended the Bows album to me last week so now I've got to get that and the Long Fin Killie stuff. Bastards bastards bastards all.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 09:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I hate loving music. I could, like, go on holiday and shit if I didn't care.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 09:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 10 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I recently downloaded two sides of Mark Hollis talking about the making of. A promo, maybe? Makes an interesting companion piece to those old Tape Op articles on the same subject.

― dlp9001, Wednesday, 29 December 2004 02:47 (twenty-one years ago)

eee gads - i need to hear that!

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 02:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that's the interview which can be heard here:

http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/Real.htm

The description provided is:

"Mark Hollis talks about Laughing Stock (RealMedia) -- Interview with Mark Hollis from Verve promo tape."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 02:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Let me also hype up these two Melody Maker articles from late 1991, which I transcribed. ;-)

http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/IntMM070991.htm

http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/IntMM261091.htm

The second is a technical interview with both Hollis and Phill Brown, and makes for excellent reading.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 03:00 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks ned!

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 03:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Yez is welcome.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Did he end up winning the case against EMI over the remix album?

― haitch™ (haitch), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 04:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think I've ever heard this! Ned, help me!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 06:25 (twenty-one years ago)

this link http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/Real.htm ned posted above spencer - in your excitement you skipped right past it!

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I think he means either the original album or Missing Pieces! Which, Spencer my friend, I'll be more than happy to share with ya.

I'm not sure what the result of the court case was, Haitch, but as the various repackagings have continued over time I think that answers that. This said, I don't believe a remix album is currently in print. (Pretty much all you need from the EMI days are -- the first four albums, the A-Sides/B-Sides double disc comp and the Live 1986 disc if you're really obsessed.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahah -- I've just realized that the interview done with Hollis and Brown that I linked to a few posts back was conducted by Cliff Jones! Too bad he didn't ask them something like, "Now, when I eventually form my crap band Gay Dad, should I shoot the drummer before he starts writing anything?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 15:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I listened to Laughingstock for the first time yesterday. I liked it. This is kinda ridiculous, but it reminded me of Xiu Xiu, I guess mainly in the vocals.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 15:22 (twenty-one years ago)

At last, ILM gives this album the praise it deserves.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

At last? Read the other Talk Talk thread! We've been going on about this and them since 2001. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

(Then again perhaps you are being flip, in which case I salute you.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

(aye-aye, cap'n...)

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

ah, i see!

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Would I like Xiu Xiu then? I've said this to you before, but I always assume that I won't like any of these new bands that have a touch of the avant-garde about them. I guess I assumed that about Animal Collective, though, too, and I like Sung Tongs a lot.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I lost my (burned) copy of Laughing Stock, so I ordered a real one on Amazon a couple weeks ago. Then I worried that I hadn't gotten my brother enough of a Christmas gift, so I gave it to him instead. Which means I have to order it again now. (He will probably now read this and realize I am a schmuck.)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

"realize" = "confirm his belief that"

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I've only heard older Xiu Xiu, but you might like it. It's very melodramatic, to the extent that it's a little bit funny, and the music is interesting but pretty.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Where do you go after Laughing Stock? There isn't anywhere, is there? Even the Hollis album isn't quite enough.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 20 April 2006 19:18 (twenty years ago)

I just listened to Laughing Stock at some considerable volume, cried, shook, stood up and kind of twitched a bit, sat in a crumpled heap, and listened intently. It was rather good. I'm now playing Music For Airports because there's nowhere to go after Laughing Stock, nowhere at all.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 20 April 2006 19:29 (twenty years ago)

I recommend going to the corner 7-11 for a Slurpee, it'll revive your will to live

― Brakhage (brakhage), Thursday, 20 April 2006 20:10 (twenty years ago)

or grab some disco

― Brakhage (brakhage), Thursday, 20 April 2006 20:14 (twenty years ago)

This is an excellent question, and one that I don't have an answer to. It sounds like pretty much nothing else out there (that I've heard, anyway), and it definitely isn't "post-rock", no matter how many rock critics try to convince you otherwise.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 21 April 2006 03:07 (twenty years ago)

Yes, Laughing Stock is several notches above almost everything called 'post-rock.'

― Freud Junior (Freud Junior), Friday, 21 April 2006 03:23 (twenty years ago)

In the Mojo article it's said that a lot of Stock arose from improvisation, that a lot of what made it great was that it was 'unrepeatable'. I thought that was interesting since so much of what I like about the album is the jarring bits of noise or odd phrases that pop in suddenly.

I remember being very disturbed by the fact that the lyric sheet in the CD was incomprehensible (maybe only to me) - it didn't really assist you with deciphering what Hollis was singing. I think that made it all the more powerful as a listening experience.

― Brakhage (brakhage), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Thks for Mojo article

― Mart, Saturday, 22 April 2006 09:05 (twenty years ago)

It is proto-postrock tho--- a clear line of influence from the last 2 talk talk albums on the early UK postrock of Bark Psychosis....

― gekoppel (Gekoppel), Saturday, 22 April 2006 19:18 (twenty years ago)

I think on Hex Bark Psychosis took their cues from Spirit of Eden more than Laughing Stock. Hex is a lot cleaner and, um, "designed" than Laughing Stock, albeit also darker and more claustrophobic. Also Bark Psychosis always have that 4AD ethereality to their guitar and keyboard work, whereas the beauty in Talk Talk, and especially Laughing Stock, sounds a lot more organic, warm rather than cool.

I guess though that if you listen to Hex and 'O'Rang's Herd of Instinct and split the difference you get something approaching Laughing Stock.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 22 April 2006 22:45 (twenty years ago)

i never got that thing about talk talk being the first post-rock band neither. they are completely of their own, an island in the landscape of music. what really knocked me off my post-rock trip in the late 90s was this post-rock formula bands like mogwai, godspeed or do make say think employed. starting with almost silence and then soaring and soaring to the loud climax. talk talk don't do this. there is much more silence and space in between in their songs. there is cacophony but not in a progression-like way.

with hex i often have a problem with that so totally inoffensive voice. most of the time it drives me nuts as it totally lacks emotion. in a way that projects back on the music. there seems to be something wishy-washy about it. nice sounding but i don't feel the depth i feel in laughing stock or spirit of eden. it's a little like a body without blood.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Sunday, 23 April 2006 17:20 (twenty years ago)

alex in Mainhattan totally, completely OTM.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 24 April 2006 05:25 (twenty years ago)

Agreed. I love BP, obviously, but Hex is definitely a cold, urban record, sheet glass and concrete. Laughing Stock is something else.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 24 April 2006 09:00 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TALK-TALK-Rare-Promo-Laughing-Stock-Wooden-Pencil-Case_W0QQitemZ390063733119QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Music_Music_Memorabilia_LE?hash=item5ad19c397f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1687|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

― d90 (D90), Friday, 3 July 2009 15:57 (sixteen years ago)

How very random. Nice, though.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 3 July 2009 17:28 (sixteen years ago)

wow! I need a new copy of that CD as it turns out.

― akm, Friday, 3 July 2009 17:31 (sixteen years ago)

It was mentioned on that other TT thread that not many women were posting on it. Well, if it helps, SoE got me through several hours of labour with my second son. It goes very well with gas and air.

Haven't heard LS, though -- I love love love SofE so will check it out.

― Meg (Meg Busset), Friday, 3 July 2009 22:32 (sixteen years ago)

Or you can save it for your next labour? j/k

Like someone else upthread, I love Laughing Stock and Spirit of Eden equally, so enjoy.

― Lostandfound, Friday, 3 July 2009 23:03 (sixteen years ago)

He's stopped making music?

― djh, Saturday, 4 July 2009 12:21 (sixteen years ago)

nine months pass...

Talk Talk fans, I insist you listen to Movietone's The Blossom Filled Streets. It's like Laughing Stock yet somehow even prettier and dreamier.

― Davek (davek_00), Saturday, 10 April 2010 20:37 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

http://www.badabingrecords.com/products-page/talk-talk-mark-hollis/

"Laughing Stock" and "Mark Hollis" re-released on LP, next month.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 09:06 (fourteen years ago)

I spend a fucking fortune (well £80) on my copy of 'Laughing Stock' a few years ago. Will probably pick up the reissue nonetheless. The Mark Hollis album I found second hand for something stupid like £6.

― AnotherDeadHero, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 09:26 (fourteen years ago)

I got a promo CD of the solo album, back when it was (untitled).

I can't remember a thing about it.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 10:16 (fourteen years ago)

five months pass...

Shake my head
Turn my face to the floor
Dead for respect
So respect for be born
Lest we forget
Who lay

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 February 2012 21:24 (fourteen years ago)

four years pass...

http://thequietus.com/articles/06963-talk-talk-laughing-stock

“There’s no way at the point when we go in (to the studio) that we know what this album will sound like,” Hollis commented in an interview recorded for a promotional cassette by journalist John Pidgeon for Verve around the album’s release. “All you ever know – and this would be true of the previous album – is you just go in knowing what the attitude is you want and that’s it. There’s no way I think you can go wrong on that because there is no right or wrong; the right and wrong is an internal thing.”

Does this cassette exist anywhere online?

― Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Tuesday, 30 August 2016 23:26 (nine years ago)

Yup

http://withinwithout.dk/Real.htm

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 August 2016 23:39 (nine years ago)

Thank you, Ned!!!

― Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Wednesday, 31 August 2016 22:41 (nine years ago)

three years pass...

that tectonic bass in “After the Flood”

― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Monday, 6 April 2020 13:02 (six years ago)

I went so long before I even really noticed it was there.

― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 6 April 2020 13:10 (six years ago)

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Laughing Stock by Talk Talk - C or D?