| Author | Message | ||
     spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 830 Registered: 05-2005 |
Anyone interested, Josef K a group from Scotland around 1980/81 who have really impacted on my life have a best of Entemology out on Domino Records, I have just seen it advertised in The Observer Music mag supplement. Am really chuffed as Domino have bothered to list my Josef K site josefk.net, I started 6 years, ago on the ad! Its a funny wee old site, it starts off very nicely then goes into half finished pages etc etc, I love the fact I think that I haven't updated it for a while or finished it. It states that it hasn't been updated since 2000 butthat's just coz I can't update the flash intro, there's actually some nice mono images of the group up there now if you look. Anyhow thought i'd share that with ye all, its made me feel rather chuffed. Especially as its Monday morning tomorrow. I do love Josef K. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 710 Registered: 05-2005 |
Well done Spence. All good publicity. I got a big buzz the first time I saw one of my reviews quoted in an ad in Uncut magazine. It was for a Stephen Hero album I loved. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1010 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, youre the post punk man! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 832 Registered: 05-2005 |
he hee! Cheers Kev, my knowledge is limited though. Hey Kev where did you post your thousandth? | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 957 Registered: 03-2006 |
Spencinator, you've picqued my interest a bit about Josef K...somehow I completely missed them. Where would be a good place for the novice to start? Would this Entemology comp be a wise move in that direction? | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1017 Registered: 05-2005 |
LK, without a doubt Entomology would be an excellent place to start. Another comp called Endless Soul is also excellent but has a large overlap with Entomology. I liked the description of Endless Soul as "like Wire playing disco" http://www.amazon.com/Endless-Soul-Definitive-Collection-Josef/dp/B000IMLIWY/sr= 8-2/qid=1161041651/ref=sr_1_2/002-7896187-3123261?ie=UTF8&s=music | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 838 Registered: 05-2005 |
LK Entomology is the best place to start really. It has the edge I feel over Endless Soul, although I have loved Endless Soul for so long as a fitting definitive compilation, the sleeve is perfect, the silver and monochrome. The thing about the K is that really their recorded material is so thin on the ground, I don't think I could stand anouther compilation/reissue. I think you'll enjoy it. Stand outs for me are: It's Kinda Funny, Heads Watch, Citizens, Chance Meeting, Pictures (Of Cindy), Fun 'N' Frenzy from the earlyish days, then they funked it up a bit with: Heart of Song, Heaven Sent, and Missionary (production and playing is superb). Syuzen, Malcolm Ross' wife sang the Alice Cooper song Applebush which ends the cd. She used to sing live with Josef K occasionally. I remember her telling me once when she asng with JK at Manchester and MORRISSEY was watching on the front row!! If J K had stuck around for a year or two more I reckon they would have got even better than the last 4 songs on this compilation. Conversations with Malcolm over time suggest that he feels in a way they were at their very best when they split, but had the potential to stke it up as the fires were well an truly burning. I reckon the cover is a play on Kafka, metamorphosis? Even though JosepH K with an H was The Trial.????? | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1076 Registered: 05-2005 |
Nice review of Entemology in this months Mojo - 4 Star review. Spence, also in Mojo, I noticed an advert for an album by Malcolm Ross called Wrong Place/Right Time - a 16 track comp. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 286 Registered: 04-2006 |
endless soul is on marina records, a wonderful german record label with a eclectic taste and attitude. just a look on their back catalogue brings you tears of joy. that's one reason to buy this issue. many years ago a german mag -with a very small print run- named themselves after the fabulous song 'heaven sent'. they wrote about music, arts, films and politics. it was a perfect mix. a perfect magazine, not only because of the name. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 907 Registered: 05-2005 |
Every writer is jumping on th josef k bandwagon, they deserve it though. However the thing is the thng that kicked the poulairt into the press oabout Josef K was the emergence of Franz Ferdianand, who mentioned this 3 years a go in an interview, shame no one released and promote it then. Kev, yeah Malcolm's best of is out on re-Action. Its a nice collection of songs. i have just organised a myspace for Malcolm and you can hear some songs from it. www.myspace.com/malcolmrossuk Andreas. Marina was a lovely label wasn't it. Seems to have been ver very quiet of late, bit bored by it frankly, but its heyday period, '95-2000 it was up there. Still, it released on of the best albums of the decade, for me anyway, James Kirk, you can Boogie. I still adore their Josef k release endles soul, its a cracker, can't wait to get me hands on Entmology or what ever its called. The peel session on entemology is unbelievable, JK were awesome then, slick, cool, top quality, then they split! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1089 Registered: 05-2005 |
This months Uncut gives Entemology a 5 star review Spence. Seems like they could be in for a Gang of 4 or Wire type critical reappraisal. Cue the "new" Josef K style bands next year. These things always seems to go in 15 year cycles dont they, young kids searching through there dads record collection. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1090 Registered: 05-2005 |
maybe my 11 yr old should teach me how to spell "their"  | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 837 Registered: 04-2005 |
I'm really eager to get Entemology, but it's not being released in the U.S. until later in November, unfortunately. I guess I've waited all these years, a few more weeks won't kill me. All I've heard of the group is two or three songs, but they were great. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 911 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yeah Kev Just bought Uncut and Mojo glad to see JK and Malcol Ross getting the stars (stripes) they deserve. Kurt, I think you'll dig it. Let me know what you think of the guitar interplay. In many ways it emulated Verlaine/lloyd but took it off in a completely non-rock way too. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1116 Registered: 05-2005 |
Another rave review for the K. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/josef-k/entomology.htm | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 931 Registered: 05-2005 |
yep nicely written too, thank God they didn't mention Franz Ferdinand, the boys have got their own sound for fuc*s sake! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1174 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, just got my mitts on the official version of Entemology, previously had only heard a dubious leaked MP3 copy given to me by a friend. The sound will blow you away, although the tracks from Only Fun In Town are possibly beyond redemption sound wise - it was always a big disappointment for me. Anyway, any fans of post-punk who have limited or no exposure to Josef K owe it to themselves to buy this - one of the re-releases of the year. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 977 Registered: 05-2005 |
cheers kev! look forward to getting my copy, should be cool, looking forward to the remastered sound. agree with hyour plug, well put. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 188 Registered: 04-2005 |
Review in the Guardian. But it does mention FF. Stay calm Spence. http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/reviews /story/0,,1972204,00.html | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1253 Registered: 05-2005 |
and here http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/re cord_review/40083/Josef_K_Entomology | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1086 Registered: 05-2005 |
Cheers guys. I love JK reviews, they are always the same! Kafka, New Wave, Scratchy, Postunk, myth, grey etc etc. I have yet to see a bad review. The band has finally reached its pinnacle, 25 years down the line, Josef K is dead, long live josef K! PS Ordered a nice Entmology promo poster from ebay, coming from the States, only for the die hard me thinks, the wife shan't be pleased, it'l have to go up in the shed, behind my Kenny Dalglish poster. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1326 Registered: 03-2006 |
The accolades just go on - Entertainment Weekly (can you get it in the UK?) gives Entomology an A and calls it one of their "EW Picks"...No faint praise. I read it every week and they don't hand out As or the "Pick" designation very lightly. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 374 Registered: 04-2006 |
still didn't checked out the difference of entomolgy and endless soul. spence, help! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1103 Registered: 05-2005 |
Andreas buy both! Endless Soul is fab, has 1 track Ent does not, Adoration, their last ever 'new' song, it also has really nice artwork, the booklet is really packed full of facts and piccies. Entomolgu is a bit more comprehensive a represenattion, although thera are a few tracks I would of swapped around/added, there's some nice sleeve notes from Paul Morely, and most of all its remastered, only last night I heard a few things I could never decipher from scratched hard black plastic! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1105 Registered: 05-2005 |
I also love the cd's released on LTM too, Young and Stupid and The only fun in town. TOFIT being their only real album originally released on Postcard mk1. You can still pick these up on ebay and amazon. TOFIT really illustrates to me the ethos of the group, the tinny sound and fast abrasive way in which their songs went along, which was like their live performances. I was thinking the other day, what would of made Postacrd even more special as a label would havebeen if they had released more than 1 album! It would have been wonderful to of had Aztec Camera and Orange Juice release Postacrd albums, and GoBees too. I wonder what it would have been like if Postcard had lasted a couple more years, however, I see that the way everything worked out was the way it was meant to be, esp with line up changes in OJ etc etc, but justthink if postacrd extended its roster to add Jazzateers/Bourgie Bourgie, Memphis to its line up, later on in Postacrd mark II some years layer the did, but it fascinates me the 'what if' question! At least josef K left the world of music on a high and at what was seemingly their peak, hats off to em. i wouldn't like to see the K reform, its a different thing to say Television reforming. I know it soounds daft, but Television didn't play as fast as josef K for example, so a Television reformation is an easier thing to comprehend regardless of the personalities behind the group. In many ways Television were more orthodox than Josef K, which can only add IMHO to the 'seminal' tag that Josef K wear so well. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1265 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, the Paul Haig interview in the Record Collector says that his new stuff will "sound like Josef K if they were still going in 2006" Dunno if this is good or bad | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1106 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kev, thanks, I got that thanks to your recommendation, nice of em to thank me for the pics they nicked! Ho hum. But, The Cathode Ray, Haig's new group are just ok I'm afraid, its not exciting enough. No way would I like to think the K would've sounded like 25 years down the line. The misquoted too as Malcolm's group he has with his wife Buckley's Chance is a country band not a PUNK band!!!!!!!!!!! Never mind its Christmas!! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1107 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kev http://www.myspace.com/thecathoderay Don't get me wrong, I love the Haigo, he's a top man, an inspiration, its just... In fact, him and Malcolm and Davey from the K are such nice people, I used to have a pint with Davey many times in london years ago, he inspired me to wear steel toe cap boots when I was 19! Cool way to go! In '87 people would go to me, why toe caps? And I'd go coz Davey from Josef K wears them!!!! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1266 Registered: 05-2005 |
Oh dear, the two You Tube videos were poor. the first song sounded like a weak version of Lust For Life, the intro to the second song was such a rip off of Sonic Youths quieter guitar moments that I was almost embarrassed for him | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 381 Registered: 04-2006 |
spence, so many thanks for yr. explanation - but i own the endless soul cd (remember our short MARINA discussion a few weeks ago). i also have the original TOFIT postcard vinyl (btw: a bit of jazzateers and bourgie bourgie can be find in my record collection, too.) i am just not sure if i should go out to buy the entomoogy cd, because of the a.m. reasons. but your comment was a help: i think i don't need to buy it really. i like josef k.. for sure, but not with so much heartblood like you. maybe this new cd sounds better because of the remastering, but to own all things double or threefold is not only a storage problem. nevertheless, thanks a lot spence. listened to the cathode ray along with. sounds not bad, but didn#t knock me out. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1108 Registered: 05-2005 |
Very true Andreas, I know what you mean, could be a bit daft buyiing too many copies of the same thing really. I agree with you na dKev re Cathide. Not too impressed really, almost dare I say, best not to do anything at all? The vids are crap, they should of changed the angle or something, obvioulsy done by remote control!! | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 59 Registered: 03-2006 |
if anyone's interested, I have an original Postcard LP of "The Only Fun In Town" which I'm thinking of hocking off in the interests of ridding myself of the inevitable pre-Christmas poverty. I'd by lying if I said it was in mint condition, but it looks pretty good. Anyone know how much it'd be worth? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 456 Registered: 10-2004 |
Lawrence, here's one that recently sold for $20.50 on ebay. Funny, I was just listening to my copy of it last night. I remember finding it at a record swap about 11 years ago, and I probably paid $5 or $6 for it. http://cgi.ebay.com/Josef-K-The-only-fun -in-town-lp_W0QQitemZ230058496210QQihZ01 3QQcategoryZ306QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem If you look on ebay, you'll also notice that the LTM cd, that contains both Only Fun in Town and the aborted Sorry for Laughing album is fetching about $40.00. For some bizarre reason Les Temps Modernes deleted it. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1110 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, they had to delete it because they were contactually obliged to courtesy of Domino and an agreement with the members of jk. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 457 Registered: 10-2004 |
I wonder if Domino will reissue it then. Spence - what's your take on 'Sorry for Laughing' vs. 'Only Fun in Town'? I think Josef K's decision to nix 'Sorry for Laughing' seems a bit odd. Didn't they do that because they thought it was too slick and that it didn't capture their live sound? Personally, I don't think 'Sorry for Laughing' sounds slick at all, it's just a lot more bass-heavy. In the grand scheme of things, it's hardly slick, and could only be called 'slick' when compared to the seriously lo-fi 'Only Fun in Town.' I also think that the sound on 'Only Fun in Town' is a little *too* lo-fi and trebly. The guitars sound great, but there's hardly any bass to balance all the scratchy, brittle treble! But I do think that the song selection on 'Only Fun in Town' is superior. Stuff like 'Forever Drone,' 'Citizens,' 'Revelation,' and 'The Angle' (which were all missing from SFL, or else radically re-worked or re-written) made for a stronger record, as did including re-recorded versions of 'Sorry for Laughing' and 'It's Kinda Funny.' However, I do prefer the SFL version of 'Fun 'n Frenzy.' I dunno - it's kind of interesting to compare/contrast the two albums. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1113 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff I think you're right they felt it was not indicative of the JK sound, which essentially was them in their live capacity. True, its only slick when heard in comparison to TOFIT. I love it actually. Dare I say mastering to vinyl was poor? Entomolgy which lifts a few tracks seems to have restored some brilliance in their TOFITsound.???? Do you like Entomology? I actually love the live at Valentinos CD that came out in 03. When I first heard that taped bootleg (by Alan Laing - the real Josef K historian, I think he's even kept bus tickets on the evening he went to see Josef K for Chrissake!), it blew me away. i probably played that tpae more than any of the vinyl. The sound was beautiful, you caould hear everything and they were at the top of their game. At the end of the day I love it all I suppose. I think the rereleaseing needs to stop and I think Ent is the final chapter, let's celebrate it, then move on. (I'm the wordl's worst st not moving on mind you!) | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 458 Registered: 10-2004 |
Spence - I don't actually have Entomology simply because I already have everything that's on it in some form or other. It looks like a great comp though. However, I can sometimes be woo'd by a cd booklet with nice photos and detailed liner notes. Does Entomology have nice photos and detailed liner notes? I've never heard the Valentinos CD. I reckon that's probably become hard to find? Is the sound quality of the live recording good? | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1117 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, yes it is very nice ,its a digipack type thing, lovely suff! Its the remastered sound that really makes it worthwhile. Valentinos sound is excellent yes. | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 354 Registered: 07-2005 |
Spence,Just bought Entomology as a Xmas present to myself-It is great have it the car with Tom Waits, and CFACP and IIHANYG by robert in the cd changer with it.Fabulous!! by the way whilst browsing my CD's the Winnebago Orchestra are sandwiched between Amy Winehous and Wire (Chairs Missing). Just thought it was a good place to be. | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 355 Registered: 07-2005 |
P.S I note a Spencer Roberts in credited on the Entomology credits!!! along with Franz Ferdinand | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1079 Registered: 04-2005 |
Spence had a lot more to do with making it possible than FF! But unfortunately, his name has just a wee bit less commercial impact. At least for now...maybe 2007 will be the year of Winnebago Orchestra. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1131 Registered: 05-2005 |
Aw schucks you guys are oo much! LOL! No, seriously, Jerry glad you like Entomology, its is a cracker. When Kev, who was fisrt on the block to purchase said it was powerful to listen to he wasn't joking. Being stuck betwwen Wire and Amy, yeah that's no bad thing, I hope Colin newman's feet don't smell! In my itunes we're stuck between Wilco and Winston Tong. Kurt thanks, whatever happens its nice and I feel fortunate to be nmaking music and people supporting us and releasing it, i.e. Andreas and all at Tuition. Having a release on Tuition was an honour made even more special by its roster of Roddy Frame and the GoBees of course. There's plenty of people I know who are much better than us and who deserve it but yet its the same old story, it alludes tham. So I am thankful. We'll tour next year, we're not the kinda band though that's gonna blow the roof off, more like patch it up with gaffa tape whilst listening to Vashti Bunyan! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1278 Registered: 05-2005 |
For anybody still undecided about buying.. http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ josefk/entomology | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1081 Registered: 04-2005 |
I thought highly enough of Entomology to buy a second copy to give as a Christmas gift to a friend who's into postpunk but I'm pretty sure she's never heard of Josef K. Spence, I hope your friends in the band see some of the profits from the release of this anthology! By the way, Kev, I had to keep Hot Chip shrinkwrapped for my nephew; next time I see him, I expect him to give me a CD-R of it. Or no more presents for him... | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 191 Registered: 04-2005 |
Some recent news of Malcolm Ross (and photos)see 13 Dec http://www.kevinwilliamson.blogspot.com/ | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 396 Registered: 04-2006 |
kevin williamson? never haeard about that guy. but that maybe has the simple truth that ia m not a scottish one. but this man seems sympathic. his issues at least. and the baby perry looks cute. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1084 Registered: 04-2005 |
Here's a test to see if Spence is still reading this thread: Has there been any talk of Josef K reforming, even if just for a gig or two or a short tour? Or are they truly men of their word--they said it was over in the early '80s, and it was. But the Pistols, Velvets, GoF, Dinosaur Jr., Stooges, etc., have taught us to never say never regarding reunions. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1138 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hi Kurt. There's been no talk, not that I am aware of. I don't think they are in to it. Malcolm isn't. I think Paul has the Cathode Ray which is probably his only band thing. To be honest, I dontt hink they could play as fast as they used to! Some of JK's tunes were super fast right?! Anyway, they all moved on and have done different things. If the money was there who knows, somehow I don't think the money will ever be there. Josef K are IMHO best remembered on the releases and the pics/vids that exist. Bring on the new generations! Leave the old farts alone! My daughters are gradulaly becoming interested in bashing drum sticks on plastic containers and plucking my acoustic guitar! They are only 21 months too! Looks like I got my backing band sorted! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1289 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, I wwould be disappointed if the K couldnt play fast enough in their mid 40s, never hurt The Stooges who are still bashing them out in their dotage! Although I agree, perhaps the mystique of not reforming would suit them best. Your girls seem to have the music in their blood ,they have probably had a similar upbringing to my two which includes Wilco,New Order,The Go-Bs etc on a loop in the car stereo. Beware though, it gets expensive, they graduate from fake drum kits, and those keyboard, violin, cello and guitar lessons dont come cheap, and getting them to practice is well nigh impossible | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 877 Registered: 03-2005 |
Practice? Is that what I was supposed to do? | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1290 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, you may have a point. Musicians who practice probably turn out like Andrew Lloyd Webber, note perfect but you wouldnt want to listen to their songs. |