| Author | Message | ||
     spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 312 Registered: 05-2005 |
This Mortal Coil Cocteaus Pixies My favourite album on 4AD, was their biggest flop. i think it sold 10 copies. It was The Happy Family, The Man on Your Street - ex Josef k and some of their roadies, fronted by Nick Currie (cousin of Justin Currie Del Amitri), who is now Momus. theres a lovely song on it called March in Turin that is very European/4AD and beautiful, the album is heavy going very wordy and literate, but also strangely dark. A mix between the anaesthetic/cool (Wolfhgang Press/Cocteaus) of 4AD and the very heavy/rough side of the label (Birthday Party/Modern English). | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 214 Registered: 03-2006 |
An easy one for me: the Pixies! | ||
| Rob Robinson Member Username: Rsub8 Post Number: 55 Registered: 05-2005 |
pixies | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 264 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hmmm, I'll make a list (NO! NOT ANOTHER LIST!!!) starting with some of my favorites: -Cocteau Twins -Colin Newman (some people forget his excellent "Not To" album was on 4ad) -Bauhaus -Modern English (I'm guilty of really liking After the Snow and Ricochet Days) -Dead Can Dance (mainly their 80s work) -This Mortal Coil (mainly for that lugubrious but beautiful first album) -Happy Family (spence - i love this record!) -Dif Juz -Pixies -Wolfgang Press -Birthday Party -Lush | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 249 Registered: 04-2005 |
Tie: Throwing Muses/Kristin Hersh Pixies Honorable mention: Birthday Party, Lush, Dead Can Dance (agree, Jeff...the early stuff), Breeders | ||
| Mark Tuffield Member Username: Mark_t Post Number: 34 Registered: 05-2005 |
Throwing Muses every time, (strangely never got the Pixies), followed by in no particular order:- Colourbox AR Kane Lush Pale Saints Though technically not a group I also like the solo efforts of Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelley, especially the latter’s “Love Songs for Underdogs”. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 267 Registered: 10-2004 |
oh, i forgot the breeders. i quite like their first album, "pod." | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 316 Registered: 05-2005 |
folks, cool, that's wrapped up AD then! Jeff, you bought the other copy then of Happy Family!!! Pod was great wasn't it!? The sleeve art was great, the whole 4AD look was visionary. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 274 Registered: 10-2004 |
This thread prompted me to find a complete 4ad discography online, and it's pretty amazing to see just how eclectic and diverse the label actually was. Everyone came to associate 4ad with that chorus-laden Cocteau Twins sound, but they did so much other stuff. And yes, the sleeve art, on the whole, was amazing. Totally different stylistically, but every bit as cool as Factory was with their aesthetic. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 283 Registered: 03-2005 |
4AD sleeve art is what induced me to buy my first Cocteaus album, the antho "Pink Opaque." I knew nothing about them. I'm probably the only person on here who's never explored the Pixies. I didn't even know they were a 4AD act. I saw them play at the Greek Theatre on their recent reunion tour but I was there for the opening act, Ireland's Thrills. Who I love. The f'g Pixies fans yakked right through the Thrills' set. If you like the sound of the Lovin' Spoonful, check out the Thrills. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 232 Registered: 03-2006 |
What fiendish suckah devised THAT bill? Can't imagine two more diametrically opposed groups... Reminds me of the time I saw Jerry Jeff Walker (kinda fratboy country) and he had Stephen Bishop (very gentle sweet-natured pop) as his warm-up act. I like both artists, but those two definitely don't mix. There were actual cries of "Get that sissy boy off the stage!"... | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 278 Registered: 10-2004 |
Randy, that wasn't the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, was it? My girlfriend and I went to that very show, with the Thrills opening. I hadn't heard the Thrills before, but I thought they were decent. The Pixies were fun to see, but I generally can't stand seeing shows in large outdoor arenas. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 256 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, if you like The Thrills, check another Dublin Beach Boys-type band, Hal. They are even better. Pixies are the 4AD band for me and Doolittle is my favourite of their albums. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 284 Registered: 03-2005 |
Jeff, the Greek Theatre I went to is in Los Angeles near Griffith Park. Maybe it's a chain. We probably had exactly opposite reactions to the two respective bands. I don't like outdoor either, particularly at the Greek with its crappy sound system, but that was the opportunity presented. Whereas I am already slated to see Belle & Sebastian in July and Neko Case in September at the Hollywood Bowl. Since its rebuild, the Bowl's sound system is fabulous and my one and only friend with proper music taste has a subscription to a box there. So you can actually see the performers, sort of. Padraig, I'll check out your Hal recommendation. While the Thrills clearly have a Beach Boys component to their sound, that's not the part that draws me. It's more the vague California pop country and Lovin' Spoonful elements that work for me. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 259 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yeah, there's a lot more to both the Thrills and Hal than just being "The Blackrock Beach Boys". YOu can hear Hal at http://www.halmusic.com/ | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2005 |
A lot of good bands on 4AD. If I had to choose one it would be Pale Saints. A brilliant album and a very good live act. Never seen the Thrills, but their first record is fine. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 318 Registered: 05-2005 |
I really love brass band music, its so evocative, The Pale Saints on their 2nd album many moons ago on 4AD released a free 7inch wihich was brass band covering 2 of their songs, very 4AD!! Pixies Doolittle is the best for me. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 101 Registered: 05-2005 |
Easy...Cocteau Twins. | ||
| abigail law Member Username: Abigail Post Number: 67 Registered: 06-2005 |
not wanting to be rude but the thrills are awful - what accent is the leader singer singing in? they sound like a piss take band from father ted. pixies & pale saints for me too and early lush | ||
| XY765 Member Username: Judge Post Number: 45 Registered: 01-2006 |
Pixies for me and i'd pick Surfer Rosa over Doolittle. Should the Thrills not be in the guilty pleasures thread? | ||
| Eke Member Username: Ekewebb Post Number: 58 Registered: 05-2005 |
MARRS gave them their only number 1 UK single so deserve a mention for that at least. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 235 Registered: 03-2006 |
Count me in the "Doolittle" camp - their other stuff is all good, but I think everything gelled on that album, and it has most of my favorite songs by them... Question for Randy, re: Logistics at the Hollywood Bowl: In other words, how big of a pain in the butt is it to see concerts there, how bad is parking, or do you park offsite, etc.? This is totally the wrong board to mention this on, but I may be going to the Playboy Jazz Festival there....You probably live close enough to take a taxi, huh? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 289 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hardin, I could take a taxi but that wouldn't solve the matter of getting back. If I was feeling energetic I could even walk from my house but it's probably about two miles so might lose its appeal in the return trip. There are special busses you can take which you pick up at some more accessible point. Or you can park in a nearby area in Hollywood and walk some of it. Considering how enormous it is, the official parking isn't so bad, but you have thousands and thousands of cars stack-parked and I avoid it. For normal events, my recommendation is that you scope out the general area on a day when you are NOT actually going and find a zone where you could park and plan on doing some walking. Be on the lookout for permit parking neighborhoods, though. There are lots of them around the Bowl. Then come fairly early to your event. In the case of the Playboy, I'd seriously consider finding out where the various Hollywood Bowl busses pick people up and go there. My guess is that the Playboy will be a bigger hassle than most events. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 244 Registered: 03-2006 |
Thank you, sir. Good info. My girlfriend, a longtime Angeleno, tells me it's a great, "kickback", kind of festival: you can bring coolers in, people are friendly, convivial,even... Scoping out a place to park and walking in sounds like a great option, were it not for the fact that several in our contingent will balk at the walking part (basically out of shape & carrying a few extra lbs...hopefully there's no way they'd be reading this)...I'm going to research and see if there's some place you can park and take a shuttle in, as you suggest... Must be cool to live in Hollywood - no shortage of fun stuff to do. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 280 Registered: 05-2005 |
Pixies, Throwing Muses and Colin Newman My good friend Colin was employed by 4AD through most of the 80s and 90s, he worked with many of the bands mentioned, including the mighty Pixies. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 297 Registered: 03-2005 |
"Always the traffic, always the lights." | ||
| Mark Sweeney Member Username: Domestique Post Number: 7 Registered: 04-2005 |
Although I've been playing huge amounts of Cocteau Twins lately, I'd have to pick Throwing Muses, before Tanya Donelly left. They lost something significant when she went. And that first album is still an uncomfortable listen, no matter how many times I play it. Hardin, the first half of Doolittle is one of the most exhilirating things I've ever heard in my life, but isn't side two quite dull in comparison? Apart from "Hey". | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 237 Registered: 01-2005 |
I would call it a five way tie between Throwing Muses, Pixies, Lush, This Mortal Coil and The Cocteau Twins. I loved them all from the mid 80's until the early 90's. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 645 Registered: 04-2005 |
Another thread back from the grave! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 238 Registered: 01-2005 |
4AD was my favorite label during that time period without a doubt. What a line up. Current favorite is Yep Roc. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 120 Registered: 04-2005 |
Dif Juz were absolutely stunning live: I saw them supporting the Cocteaus at Sadlers Wells. Amazing. Their recordings unfortunately seemed to bear little resemblance to their performance that night. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 858 Registered: 03-2006 |
Wow, this is an oldie...perusing it I see that my pal, Hardin, never responded to Mark Sweeney. Sorry, he didn't notice the post. Yes, he thinks side two of Doolittle is great, too. No. 13 Baby and Gouge Away rank amongst his favorite Pixies songs... | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 164 Registered: 11-2004 |
Cocteau Twins Red House Painters Rema Rema Scott Walker Dead Can Dance Bauhaus Birthday Party | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 781 Registered: 05-2005 |
It is right and proper that Scott W is looked after by someone (albeit not the old crew at 4AD) like 4AD, but he doesn't fit the 4AD mould, he's not a 4AD artist as far as I am concerned, he vastly overshadows the 4AD label. Like the rest tho donat! | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 167 Registered: 11-2004 |
Did v23 do the cover for Scott's 4AD album? Will have to dig it out and check.. this'll prove his 4AD-worth. But yeah Spence, 4AD isn't what it used to be - a bit like Rough Trade. My, how times change. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1075 Registered: 05-2005 |
On a slightly similar subject, there is a two page article in this months Mojo magazine where there is a list of the top 10 records ever released on Rough Trade. Not sure if this is voted for by writers or readers. Nice to see that my favourite Fall album, Grotesque, is the number 1 in the list. 1. Grotesque - The Fall 2. The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow 3. Young Marble Giants- Colossal Youth 4. The Strokes - Is This It 5. Antony and The Jonsons - I am a bird now 6. Scriiti Pollitti- Songs to Remember 7. The Libertines - Up The Bracket 8. Galaxie 500 - On Fire 9. SLF - Inflammable Material 10. The Raincoats - The Raincoats | ||
| Aidan Brewer Member Username: Uptowninvisible Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2006 |
A.R. Kane... they were always a bit too noisy for me, but I really loved Alex Ayuli's vocals. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 430 Registered: 10-2004 |
Too bad Before Hollywood didn't make Mojo's list. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1082 Registered: 05-2005 |
B H'wood should come in at No3 if you ask me Jeff. Can't disagree with first 2 positions. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 62 Registered: 08-2006 |
Here's a weird bit of trivia: Lucinda William's third album, the self-titled one, was initially released on Rough Trade, at least here in the States. I don't want to get all Little Keith on you, but I'd put that on the list before some of Mojo's other picks. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1073 Registered: 03-2006 |
As Whitney Houston would put it, "oh hell to the yeah!" | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 6 Registered: 07-2006 |
cocteaus then... it'll end in tears (a bit indifferent to the rest of TMC's stuff) ar kane lush breeders - safari is still one of my favourite songs | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 300 Registered: 01-2005 |
Anybody ever listen to Heidi Berry? She was on 4AD for awhile. Layed back, but very excellant. Hey, I finally reached 300 posts! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 918 Registered: 05-2005 |
Michael Yep heidi I used to listen to, very beautiful voice, and very pretty too. Her time is now, not then. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 800 Registered: 05-2005 |
Here's how I reviewed her best of in The Irish Times Michael and Spence. Good call on her time being now Spence. You can read more of my reviews at http://www.myspace.com/padraigcollins Oh, Spence, I ordered your album from Amazon yesterday. Looking forward to hearing it. Heidi Berry *** Pomegranate - An Anthology 4AD Listening to Heidi Berry's self-titled third album eight years ago I tried my best to like it but failed and put it away, never to be played again... It was a shock then to hear the four songs from that record on this compilation - they sound like old friends in whose absence you've grown fonder of. Her brand of English folk is an acquired taste, but songs such as Only Human, Mercury, an inspired cover of Husker Du's Up In The Air and her brother Chris' beautiful string arrangements on Little Fox and others make it worth the effort. A lovely surprise. www.4ad.com | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 922 Registered: 05-2005 |
Great will take a peek PAdraig. thanks. You are too kind ordering our album, thank you. Hope you like it. Its flawed in all the right places, but Tuiton were so kind in taking us on, it gets my backing, they are lovely people those Germans! Gonna buy some Heidi me thinks. Padraig, sorry when you on the radio? |