Grant McLennan

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In anticipation of the new Go-Betweens album I've been listening to much of their back catalogue, as well as the solo stuff. McLennan's output is more consistent than Forster's, definitely, and not because Forster was less melodic than Mac; Forster seemed more likely to squelch his natural melodic gifts for spiky, Mick Harvey-type stuff for which his talent is unsuited. And Mac's consistency also guaranteed some boredom.

Anyway, "Horsebreaker Star" always struck me as an underrated classic, a minor jangle masterpiece. It may be the most inspired, most energetic Alex Chilton/REM homage ever put to tape. "Watershed" also has some good stuff studded with synths. "In Your Bright Ray" doesn't do anything for me.

Anybody else?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 9 May 2005 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I love all four of his solo records.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Monday, 9 May 2005 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone gave me a copy of Horsebreaker Star long before I ever knew anything about the Go-Betweens. Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore and don't remember much about it, but I'd love to hear it again with new ears.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 9 May 2005 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

It took me years to warm up to Horsebreaker Star but now I like it.

― Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 9 May 2005 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Great feller, good stuff (and let us not forget the grand Jack Frost albums). A tale -- around the time Horsebreaker came out, I interviewed him and towards the end of it asked randomly, "I was wondering, is 'Simone and Perry' about Nina Simone and Lee Perry?" He laughed and said, "No, actually it's two friends of mine -- but I like that idea, I think I might use that!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 9 May 2005 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

He always seemed like one of the more intelligent guys in music: well-read, thoughtful, doesn't suffer fools gladly, can hold his liquor.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 9 May 2005 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude has made so many great hooks

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 9 May 2005 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Like many of you, I bet, I made a pseudo-Go-Between's album alternating McLennan and Forster solo tracks. I must say there were so many terrific songs to pick from by McLennan that it seemed unfair to his bandmate. "Black Mule" from Watershed still finds its way onto many a mix.

― Taylor, Monday, 9 May 2005 22:22 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't mind parts of Watershed but on the whole i find his solo career fairly lame. i think he needs Forzter more than Forster needs him, too.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Monday, 9 May 2005 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I just couldn't get into "Horsebreaker Star" sort of a one-note album. There just wasn't enough variety to it...

The one Grant album I cherish is "In Your Bright Ray..." lots of different texture and great backing from the Died Pretty gang... Easily, the best of all the solo albums for both he and Roberto

― hector savage, Tuesday, 10 May 2005 01:47 (twenty-one years ago)

"Watershed"'s a great record, "Fireboy" had a kinda too clean/seperated production but great tracks (think I sold it, tho,damn) and this "let us not forget the grand Jack Frost albums" is a bitchin call, Ned. I've only got the first s/t one but it is WONDERFUL (mmm "Everything Takes Forever").

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 02:12 (twenty-one years ago)

is Jack Frost his collab with Steve Kilbey? I rather cringe at the thought. How do the two mesh?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

the only JF song i know well is "thought that i was over you". the tune is great, grant's lyrics are fine, kilbey's are just.. awful.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know Kilbey at all, so it just sounds like some guy helping Grant out. There are some pretty poor lyrics, maybe that's his fault. Their voices work nicely together, they're pretty similar (ie. I think they work well cos much of the time I don't really know which is which).

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

"Providence" could/should have been a Go-Betweens song.

― diedre mousedropping and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

One thing I actually like about Horsebreaker Star is how dense it is. I understand the one-note critique but I love that one-note enough that I love throwing it on at random places and letting the distinctions and specific tracks appear to me gradually.

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

He's great of course, but I don't think any of his solo albums are as good as 'Danger In The Past' - although it's a good while since I've listened to them. And on the latest album, I find Robert's contributions better than Grant's - Grant seems to be in a slight rut with his winsome sentimentalism.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Grant's been writing the same song since "16 Lovers Lane," agreed. But on "Horsebreaker Star" and the new Go-Be's album the settings are so gorgeous that I overlook the winsome romanticism (he's never sentimental).

"Danger in the Past" is a great record, probably second to HS in the solo Go-Be's canon.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Have we ever talked on ILM about Grant's obsession with Fire?

Arrow In A Bow (Fire and rock and roll)
It Could Be Anyone - (One look's all it takes to put the fire out)
Was There Anything I Could Do? (Putting out her fire)
Easy come, Easy go (I've seen my friends on fire)
I saw you up there lighting fires
FIREBOY

― diedre mousedropping and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh man if HS is better than DITP I am in sore need of it (I'm pretty dubious tho)

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

He's certainly in love with elemental imagery: lots of air and water too.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

"Coming Up for Air" is as gorgeous as any of his Go-Betweens songs, if a bit sappy; "What Went Wrong" is kind of embarassing, and it never ends. His solo output is better than Forster's, but Grant's "boring consistency" has exposed his weaker tendencies and soured me just a bit to some of his Go-Betweens songs, while somehow Robert comes out completely unscathed (partly because I rarely listen to his solo stuff).

― Curt (cgould), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

My own fave on Horsebreaker Star is "Put You Down."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Presumably he wrote 'Bachelor Kisses'? That is enough.

― the firefox, Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Very true.

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

But imagine sequencing "Cattle & Cane," "Bye Bye Pride," and "Streets of Your Town" back to back on an album (Horsebreaker Star). That's a lot of sugar, and may explain why he sounds more boring than he really is.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Imagine that? It is better than any sequence I have probably heard on any G-Bs LP. Unless it is an actual sequence, that I have not heard.

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

No, I agre with Alfred that all that would get monotonous. A few pinches of Robert is what makes the Go-Betweens records so good. Especially when they're songs like "By Chance" or "I Just Get Caught Out"

― diedre mousedropping and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Robert is getting quirkier as his partner gets more complacent. The new Go-Betweens album is full of songs like "German Farmhouse," "You Tell Me," "Make Her Day," and "I Just Get Caught Out."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, and may I add ... swoon!

― diedre mousedropping and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)

well i only knew that jack frost video where someone was falling - it was their debut song - brilliant 12".

― watershed woman, Tuesday, 10 May 2005 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know which one that is, but I'm listening to Cousin/Angel right now - and even though it sounds like the Church, I love the loudness of it.

― diedre mousedropping and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

I got a text from a friend saying Grant had passed away.

There has been a news posting here:
http://www.go-betweens.org.uk/news.htm

― marianna (mariannapm), Saturday, 6 May 2006 18:56 (twenty years ago)

oh no.

and so soon after nikki sudden, too.

― mike a, Saturday, 6 May 2006 18:57 (twenty years ago)

FUCK

― electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Saturday, 6 May 2006 22:51 (twenty years ago)

Full thread here:

Grant McLennan - RIP

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 6 May 2006 22:52 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

Spun "Watershed" and "Fireboy" for the first time in yonks (been crate digging in my own collection) and they're better than I remembered. "Watershed"s first half is particularly good while "Fireboy"s highs are particularly strong. I feel both are not as consistent as "Horsebreaker Star" and "In Your Bright Ray". In the end, it's all good.

I wonder if there's going to be any posthumous comps of outtakes, demos, etc?

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 14 October 2009 22:38 (sixteen years ago)

just learned that this is coming out soon ... http://www.blackincbooks.com/books/10-rules-rock-and-roll
Looks fun!

― tylerw, Wednesday, 14 October 2009 23:07 (sixteen years ago)

six years pass...

"Easy Come Easy Go."

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 February 2016 01:25 (ten years ago)

Almost ten years gone. Still miss him.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 19 February 2016 03:05 (ten years ago)

saw this a little while ago -- haven't heard anything else though:
Coming 2016: Robert Forster’s Grant & I, the true story of the lifelong friendship & collaboration that gave us one of our most loved bands.

― tylerw, Friday, 19 February 2016 15:10 (ten years ago)

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Grant McLennan - C/D?