A Dam of Vast Proportions Will Break Over Hawkswmoor: Ersatz GB discussion

[edison]

Thoughts on the new Fall album?

Though I'd agree with Stewart Lee's claim that it makes other current rock music seem suddenly ridiculous, I am still a bit ambivalent, not to say frustrated, about the choice of such muddy production (there's even a handwritten note by Smith on the back cover informing us that there are cleaner version of the songs, but we can essentially fuck off if we want to hear them), which doesn't do justice to the breathtakingly huge wall of sound that this band creates live. That said, once you've cranked this up very loud, the songwriting is as strong as ever, and that Greek metal cover ("Greenway") is the icing of the cake and an absolute hit.

[Good Intentions]

Well, today is payday and I might just have to pass by the record story, financial problems be damned.

[dieblucasdie]

Wait, wait wait.  This album has a song about Nate from Gossip Girl?

[Nick Ink]

2.2 on Pitchfork, I notice!

[edison]

Wait, wait wait.  This album has a song about Nate from Gossip Girl?

Supposedly. I suspect "about" might be a little misleading, but I have never watched any Gossip Girl, so for all I know, he's barking out episode recaps. But somehow I doubt it.

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, several of the things he says (like the bit about the maid) are actual GG plot points.

That 2.2 review was weird.  I mean, I can see disliking the album, but 2.2 is extremely low for pfork, and the review doesn't really articulate what the reviewer's beef is, aside from a couple snide comments about "generic hard rock riffs" (Zah?  Has he listened to any Fall albums from the last 8 years?).  It's too bad, I would actually be interested in reading a well-put-together case against late-period Fall.  

[edison]

My theory is that he didn't crank up the volume high enough

(I will admit that the album isn't faultless, but 2.2 also seems extremely harsh to me)

[edison]

Also, The Fall are playing in Paris in March!

T&P, are you going? I certainly am. I gather from the website that the tour that just ended started disastrously and ended fantastically.

[Trousers and Pat]

I hope we catch the tail=end of the tour then 
If I'm still living here (and current trends point to somewhere, anywhere else, please!) I am so down.

Although attempts thusfar to approach the album have been discouraging sometimes these things just take time. I'm sure some day I'll like this weird growly voice he's doing now.

[milly balgeary]

if pitchfork says its a 2.2 then i'm sorry but it's a 2.2. do you guys like nmh?

[Babar]

if pitchfork says its a 2.2 then i'm sorry but it's a 2.2. do you guys like nmh?

I'm assuming you've checked out nmh since we had this interaction 3 weeks ago

who is jeff mangum?

He was the lead-singer of now defunct indie-rock group Neutral Milk Hotel. They released two albums, the last one in 1998. He hasn't played a lot of concerts since the group broke up so when he does it's a big deal.

So to answer your question, yes I really like Neutral Milk Hotel. Glad to see you've come around and I recommend you check out some more releases from Elephant 6, which was a collective of bands and musician that Neutral Milk Hotel was a part of.

[milly balgeary]

oh babar, dearest one.