| Author | Message | ||
     Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 28 Registered: 03-2006 |
I really enjoyed everybody's top 10 song picks. It made me realize that not everybody's take on the GBs is the same as mine, and it really would be interesting if someone could boil all the lists down to one set of 10...I really do love all the songs mentioned, by the way. Reading the lists offered made me want to immediately go pull out all the discs and play 'em... But this made me even more curious, how do the folks on the board rank the albums? Some would probably exclude the "reunion" albums, but I think they are of such great quality, it's only fair that they should be ranked alongside the original six... This really is trainspotting. Even the John Cusack character in High Fidelity wouldn't go this far.. But anyway, here's my ranking of the albums, in ascending order (best at the top, if I used that word correctly): 1) 16 Lovers Lane 2) Tallulah 3) Oceans Apart 4) Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 5) Spring Hill Fair 6) Before Hollywood 7) Friends of Rachel Worth 8) Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 9) Send Me A Lullaby | ||
| gareth w Member Username: Gareth Post Number: 45 Registered: 05-2005 |
We're in agreement on the top 2: 1 16 Lovers Lane 2 Tallulah 3 Before Hollywood 4 Oceans Apart 5 Friends of Rachel Worth 6 Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 7 Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 8 Spring Hill Fair 9 Send Me A Lullaby | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 164 Registered: 04-2005 |
OK, I'll bite. Note that the top three are basically interchangeable to me. They're very different albums that I love equally...but I think I play BH the most often. And OA is knocked out of the #5 spot because of its aural problems (sorry to reopen old wounds). 1) Before Hollywood 2) Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 3) 16 Lovers Lane 4) Spring Hill Fair 5) Tallulah 6) Oceans Apart 7) Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 8) Friends of Rachel Worth 9) Send Me A Lullaby | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 196 Registered: 10-2004 |
1. liberty belle and the black diamond express 2. spring hill fair 3. before hollywood 4. 16 lovers lane 5. tallulah 6. oceans apart 7. send me a lullaby 8. bright yellow, bright orange 9. friends of rachel worth (items 2-4 are kind of interchangeable) | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 209 Registered: 05-2005 |
1 16 Lovers Lane 2 Oceans Apart (version 2.0) 3 Tallulah 4 Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 5 Before Hollywood 6 Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 7 Friends of Rachel Worth 8 Spring Hill Fair 9 Send Me A Lullaby | ||
| kuba a Member Username: Kuba Post Number: 39 Registered: 05-2005 |
1 16 Lovers Lane 2 Tallulah 3 Before Hollywood 4 Spring Hill Fair 5 Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express 6 Oceans Apart 7 Bright Yellow Bright Orange 8 Friends Of Rachel Worth 9 Send Me A Lullaby | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 69 Registered: 05-2005 |
1.Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 2.Oceans Apart 3.Tallulah 4.Before Hollywood 5.Spring Hill fair 6.16 Lovers lane 7.Friends of Rachael Worth 8.Bight Yellow,Bright Orange 9.Send me a Lullaby | ||
| Cichli Suite Member Username: Cichli_suite Post Number: 84 Registered: 08-2004 |
1.Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 2.16 Lovers lane 3.Before Hollywood 4.Tallulah 5.Send me a Lullaby 6.Oceans Apart 7.Spring Hill Fair 8.Friends of Rachael Worth 9.Bight Yellow, Bright Orange | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2004 |
1. 16 Lovers Lane 2. Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 3. Tallulah 4. Spring Hill Fair 5. Oceans Apart 6. Friends Of Rachel Worth 7. Before Hollywood 8. Bright Yellow Bright Orange 9. Send me a Lullaby I knew the first two straight away, but had to think about the rest. After doing this list I was surprised how far down Before Hollywood was. It's just that I love all the albums, and there are six others that I love more. | ||
| Per Stam Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2005 |
Today I feel this: Spring Hill Fair have the strongest individual songs; Before Hollywood is a stronger album. 1. Spring Hill Fair 1. Before Hollywood 3. 16 Lovers Lane 4. Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 5. Tallulah 6. Send me a Lullaby 7. Friends Of Rachel Worth 8. Oceans Apart 9. Bright Yellow Bright Orange | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 21 Registered: 05-2005 |
OK, 1. Tallulah 2. 16 Lovers Lane 3. Liberty Belle 4. Spring Hill Fair 5. Oceans Apart 6. Bright Yellow 7. Friends of Rachel Worth 8. Before Hollywood 9. Send me a lullaby | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2005 |
So after 11 votes the ranking is: 1. 16 Lovers Lane (85) 2. Liberty Belle (77) 3. Tallulah (75) 4. Before Hollywood (65) 5. Spring Hill Fair (58) 6. Oceans Apart (57) 7. Friends of rachel (31) 8. Bright Yellow (27) 9. Send me a lullaby (19) Fairly predictable I guess | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 32 Registered: 03-2006 |
I figured that, for most, 16 LL would be more or less at the top of the list, and SMAL would be at the bottom...the middle spots were anybody's ballgame...Not surprising that Liberty Belle places at the top of so many lists, though - it's a damn strong, beautiful record that shocks me anew with its greatness every time I pull it out and give a listen... | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 198 Registered: 10-2004 |
i'm a little surprised Tallulah made it as high as it did. i'm not knocking it, but just surprised that maybe before hollywood didn't make it as high. but this is only based on 11 votes. results could change dramatically if everyone on this board participates. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 151 Registered: 05-2005 |
16LL - pah! Great songs, but played like f'ckin Deacon Blue 1. Before Hollywood 2. LB and BDE 3. Spring Hill Fair 4. Tallulah 5. Lullaby 6. FORW 7. Oceans A 8. BYBO 9. 16LL | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 228 Registered: 05-2005 |
Agree Kev, well not quite, but the sleeve destroyed it for me... 1. Liberty Belle 2. Oceans Apart/Tallulah 3. Friends of Rachel Worth 4. Bright Yellow Bright Orange 5. Spring Hill Fair 6. Before Hollywood 7. Send me a Lullaby 8. 16 Lovers lane PS does anyone have the chords handy to Rock n Roll friend? Jeff? | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 23 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm beginning to suspect that the latest votes have been a bit harsh on 16 LL due to a (sub) concious desire to re-addrss the balance in favour of Liberty Belle/Before Hollywood. I may be wrong (sorry if I am). The only way to do this really fairly would be to cast votes, blind to other voters. Ideally on the same day - possibly in voting booths. Another interesting angle would be if non-Go-Between aficionados were allowed the vote we may see a different result i.e. 16LL and Oceans Apart would probably win because they're the most accessible and Tallulah/Spring Hill Fair may well do a fair bit worse. Unless, of course, we rigged the vote. So I'm recommending a (marginally corrupt) international referendum on the subject. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 152 Registered: 05-2005 |
apology accepted dusty (no pun intended!) - for me 16LL was simultaneously the most anticipated album of 1988, and the biggest let down. believe me i was gutted, not particularly by the songs as such but by the blatant attempt to "bland out". i know i may be treading on thin ice here but when i compare some peoples votes on this thread, and crossreference it with some of the (imo) MOR artists that they also listen to(as can be seen on other threads) I am not surprised that 16LL has done so well. | ||
| Hugo Member Username: Hugo Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2005 |
I agree that 16LL has fantastic songs but the execution was bland and the production has not aged well. I prefer the acoustic demoes. | ||
| Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 69 Registered: 11-2004 |
I have to agree with the latest sentiments: 1 Liberty Belle 2 Before Hollywood 3 The Friends of Rachel Worth 4 Tallullah 5 Oceans Apart 6 Spring Hill Fair 7 Send Me a Lullaby 8 16 Lovers Lane 9 Bright Yellow Bright Orange | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 75 Registered: 07-2005 |
Kevin your a canny one checking back on other peoples other musical tastes, for my part 16 LL is a great album for the songs not necessarily the production, I can never decide if thats there masterwork or Liberty Belle, which I ve said before has the greatest trio of songs kicking off side 2. Tallulah has always been spoilt by the dog turd of Cut it Out slap bang in the middle of side 1. | ||
| Dusty Member Username: Dusty Post Number: 24 Registered: 05-2005 |
Oh well - looks like a poll of 11 may not be enough for a thorough set of results - looks like 16 LL is heading down down down. Kevin, I partly agree with what you say about the overall blandness - conversely one could argue that it's very lush-sounding and the album stands up well on the strength of its songs too. As usual it's all down to taste and mood - some days I put it on and I find it a bit bland - other days it sounds beautiful. Overall though, it's nice to have one album in the early canon which smooths out the edges I would strongly disagree that it's an MOR album though - still too left-field for that. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 200 Registered: 10-2004 |
i prefer to think of 16LL as lush, rather than bland or overly slick. part of the problem is that most productions in the very late 80s were pretty gross and embarrassing. drum machines were ubiquitous, gated reverb was on everything, half the time bass guitar was replaced by synth bass, and when a band did opt to use real drums, the producer would often replace them with midi-triggered samples. (of course the great irony here was that most albums were still being recorded to tape and digital hadn't really entered the picture yet). i guess my point is, it was hard for a pop band not to make a glossy album in the late 80s. at that point is was exceedingly difficult to get away from that. i mean hell, even the fall and the replacements were making slick, glossy records in the late 80s. that the go-betweens wrote a batch of songs that were able to shine through the gloss is quite a testament to their strengths. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 42 Registered: 03-2006 |
Middle of the road, shmiddle of the road...on his website Graham Parker has a great quote: Rock n Roll is not a tempo: it is an attitude. That sums up how I feel about 16 LL - its lush production in no way lessens its artistic impact, or means that they went soft, or means that they sold out...For me, at the end of the day, it's all about songs, and that's why 16 LL succeeds so splendidly. It's simply the best batch of songs they've ever been able to commit to tape...It's one of the few perfect records I own, and I own thousands (it's a sickness)....I find myself unable to skip any tracks off of 16 LL, no matter how many times I've heard it. Frankly, it’s such a rich, heartfelt, genius bunch of songs, that you could have backing by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra with back up vocals by Mariah Carey and Britney Spears and it would still come off brilliantly… They're all sung in a deeply felt manner - I don't even understand the argument, frankly, as to why they shouldn't sound like a million bucks...It reminds me of something Paul Simenon of the Clash said when they were getting stick for tackling different types of music and using more complicated arrangements: “What are you supposed to do when you learn a new lick, only practice it your bedroom?” If you rule out all lush-sounding, or melodic, music as being a sell out or not punk enough, then you rule out a lot of great music, whether it's the Beach Boys, or Bryan Ferry, or Prefab Sprout or Richard Hawley or Steely Dan... I'm a huge fan of many raucous groups like the Clash, Pixies, Nirvana, Replacements, etc, not to mention tons of hip hop like Eminem, Outkast and Kanye West...so it's not like I'm opposed to rocking out or big, bad noisy music in general…but to me there are only two types of music, good music and bad music….Some may consider Willie Nelson or Frank Sinatra middle of the road, but to me, they’re just good music, and completely vital, bad-ass music at that….it really isn’t, when you boil it down, about tempo, or about strident posturing… I am a longtime Go-Betweens fan, by the way, of probably way too obsessive proportions…I love all their records, just some more than others… | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 158 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, cant fault your enthusiasm or dedication to this record. However, just think how great this album would be if they hadnt blanded out. Imagine if Martin Hannett had bowed down to the members of Joy Division who wanted the album to sound less "weird", and more "rocky". We wouldnt have had the masterpiece that is Unknown Pleasures. Cant agree its all about the songs, have you ever heard Paul Youngs version of Love will tear us apart? 16LL is a good album by most peoples standards, it could however have been a masterpiece with a bit more edginess to the production. oh and by the way, that dumbass quote from Graham Parker, tell that to Iggy Pop. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 234 Registered: 05-2005 |
My opinion is that 16LL is a good collection of songs. Probably, like many albums, maybe the demo's should have been released rather than the polished final versions. I don't feel its an album that hangs together as an album should. And when you have a pedigree of delivering great album after great album like the GB's up to the point of releasing 16LL, I think its inevitable that the time would come when the stork would deliver the unwanted baby. I know that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but the sleeve says and does it all for me. I knew I would struggle to love it even before I'd even ripped the shrinkwrap! If you look at the strategy behind most of the mainstream LP sleeves around '87-'89 in UK, they all ptretty much resembled one another, from Johnny Hates Jazz to Danny WIlson they all had this having the band on the cover thing, bands adorn sleeves purely for the benefit of voyeurs in the mainstream market, but the style of phoography of 16LL, wirthout hindsight is still naff in my opinion. I knew then and I know now. If you would care to imagine Spring Hill Fair wrapping around the vinyl that was and is 16LL, I reckon itr might have swayed my opinion. Shallow I know but there you have my humble opinion! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 222 Registered: 05-2005 |
Why are so many of you so obsessed with the Lovers Lane cover? You sound like a bunch of teenage metal fans debating whether Judas Priest or Black Sabbath covers offered the most demonic representation of hell. (Priest's did, by the way). | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 220 Registered: 03-2005 |
Spence, I've always wanted to know what "naff" means. It's a great-sounding word and I know it's not a compliment, but what does it mean? It never made it to this side of the pond. For me, blandness is more a function of predictability of chord progressions and arrangements, usually coupled with gutless delivery. Applying that standard, I've always found "Head Full of Steam" to be totally unlistenable. Everything that song does can be predicted before it happens and, unfortunately for me, it's not a favored archetype like a lot of Dylan's predictable numbers. It's a college fraternity song. I really hate it. On 16LL, most of the songs escape this fault. "Was There Anything I Could Do" sounds like a blandmeister's feeble attempt to be energetic and propulsive and I share Jeff's disdain for it. I can also understand Jeff's objections to "Quiet Heart." But it doesn't have the bombastic delivery of a typical U2 thing and the lyrics have some wonderful images. Incidentally, I do not accuse U2 of "blanditude"; just bombast. For another example of my concept of "bland," I find "Your Heart, My Home" from FORW so bland as to be nearly inaudible. There's just not much happening there, either musically or lyrically. On the subject of oppressive 80s production formulae, some folks might remember I've knocked "Calenture" for its packaged major-label pop sound. You have a string of very good songs on that album that are clothed as if done by some other group and not the Triffids at all. Seriously, at times "Calenture" sounds as if Tears for Fears or Talk Talk suddenly learned how to write. I don't think 16LL suffers from that defect and that's probably as much as you can ask. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 163 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, from the Oxford English Dictionary - the definition of the word "naff" Unfashionable, vulgar; lacking in style, inept; worthless, faulty. I was going to say some of these definitions could be used to describe 16LL but I think Im in enough trouble already !! | ||
| Alex Bolton Member Username: Alexb Post Number: 24 Registered: 01-2006 |
More and more I think the GBs problem was that they weren't commercial enough. And how often do hear that said about a band? GM and RF are songwriters with so much innate character they can never be bland. 16LL is the record they should have made in 1984. And then... As GB's fans we all find the early sound endearingly ramshackle and unique. But it didn't do the band many favours commercially and certainly may have put many fans off. Try playing SHL fair to a friend and see how they react to the sonic slap in the face that is "Five Words". 16LL is the GB's best record by a country mile. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 167 Registered: 05-2005 |
its all about opinions alex. in my world (and the world of all my music loving friends) you are wrong. i guess I just dont like when (imo) artists compromise their art for the sake of a few bucks. i guess its also why in 2006 I still play The Fall more than is healthy. Thought I would do a spot of research and look at a recent set list to see if it was peppered with songs from 16LL. Out of 21 songs there were but 3(one of which was "the hit",and another the obvious acoustic song to play in the acoustic section before the encore), a paltry amount if you believe some people on here who would have it seen as some kind of pop landmark. This was the setlist at Brighton in May 2005 Finding You Born To A Family I'm Alright Make Her Day Poison In The Walls Streets Of Your Town Darlinghurst Nights The Statue Magic In Here Draining The Pool For You Cattle And Cane German Farmhouse Here Comes A City The Clock Spring Rain -- The Devil's Eye Boundary Rider Too Much Of One Thing -- Part Company Surfing Magazines Bye Bye Pride However, in the interests of balance, I also found this quote from Robert in 1996 in reply to the following question "What your favourite Grant McLennan song?" "I really like 'Love Goes On'. There's nine chords in a row, which he doesn't repeat. It's so him. A lot of his best songs are on '16 Lover's Lane'. And 'Cattle & Cane' is a really good song. It was like 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' or something — a quantum leap, a break-through song." | ||
| Ulrich A. Bayer Member Username: Marenhannes Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2006 |
This is my first message. 01 Tallulah 02 Before Hollywood 03 Oceans Apart 04 Liberty Belle 05 16 Lovers Lane 06 Bgright Yellow Bright Orange 07 Send Me A Lullaby 08 Friends of Rachel Worth 09 Spring Hill Fair | ||
| Peter Collins Member Username: Tyroneshoelaces Post Number: 91 Registered: 05-2005 |
ok, me too. Hard except for first and last I think 1 Liberty Belle 2 Oceans Apart 3 Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 4 16 Lovers Lane 5 Spring Hill Fair 6 Friends of Rachel Worth 7 Tallulah 8 Before Hollywood 9 Send Me a Lullaby | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 223 Registered: 03-2005 |
Welcome aboard Ulrich. Thanks, Kevin. I knew "naff" couldn't be good. I was thinking maybe it was a Briticism for naive, but I see it's even worse than that. | ||
| Alex Bolton Member Username: Alexb Post Number: 27 Registered: 01-2006 |
Kevin, you've missed my point entirely. 16LL is so good because the band DOESN'T compromise its integrity in going for a more accessible sound. I feel a real tendency among fans to romanticise the "early" GBs because the albums are obscure, sometimes difficult, and as aficionados, our secret. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 237 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, naff - schmaff!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 177 Registered: 05-2005 |
Alex, dont over analyze the early albums. They are better just because they are better, nothing complicated about it  | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 47 Registered: 03-2006 |
Actually, I don't think it would improve 16 LL if the sound were roughened up or made more weird...I think, given the collection of songs, they are given the arrangements and production that suits them best, actually perfectly... Ideas like "polished", "slick" and "lush" are simply value judgements, matters of taste...I believe that the vast majority of 16 LL Lovers (say that 3 times fast) are concentrating on a set of beautiful, majestic and deeply felt songs, impeccably played and sung and are not overheating their brains overanalyzing, contextualizing, worrying about when the GBs were coolest...who cares? I'm not sure I even understand the charges of slickness and blandness...most of these arrangements are entirely acoustic, simple, couldn't be more stripped down...is it because there are drum machines (there are on SHF, too), strings and oboe (there are on Tallulah...Liberty Belle even features vibes, for chrissakes) Many overdubbed guitars (Spring Rain features six overdubbed guitars, according to this website)... Rougher, weirder touches would be out of place and stick out like a sore thumb...I'm not even sure how rougher touches would manifest themselves: feedback squalls on Quiet Heart? Maybe Lindy could've kicked Robert in the nuts before he sang I'm Alright...think of the irony...that'd be edgy, huh? Simply put, the GBs, like many bands, evolved...their songwriting made quantum leaps over the course of those six albums, and by the time of 16 LL, they'd come up with their smartest, most evolved, most moving songs, while still retaining the subtlety that makes them so unique... It quite analogous to Talking Heads...I love their early stuff, songs like "Found a Job", "Psycho Killer", but by the time they put out "Remain in Light" they'd definitely grown, definitely evolved, and were operating on a completely different, higher plane.... Before Hollywood's a great record, it has a certain spiky, punky charm, but I truly believe that by the time they did 16 LL, they just had gotten much better...It is, as I said, not an uncommon arc for artists.. By the way though, the GBs think the production on 16 LL, is so horrible, so slick and horrible, that they actually hired the same producer to produce their latest award-winning album...talk about a vote of "no confidence"...they obviously really hate Mark Wallis and the job he did! ps - They've done 9 albums, but devoted one-seventh of their set to 16 LL....hmmm, let's do the math.. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 179 Registered: 05-2005 |
hardin, one seventh is hardly a large percentage of a set. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 50 Registered: 03-2006 |
But considering it's from one-ninth of their albums it's a proportionally higher percentage... Following this (somewhat picayune) school of thought, Before Hollywood is only represented by one song (1/21th) of the set...does that mean it's an inferior album?... Has it really come down to this level of argument?...people like what they like - it ain't a matter of numbers... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 180 Registered: 05-2005 |
I dont know Hardin, has it really come down to you working out percentages? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 52 Registered: 03-2006 |
They're actually fractions, not percentages...I would remind you, too, who typed out the set list... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 181 Registered: 05-2005 |
semantics hardin. and to be pedantic I didnt type the set list, I cut and pasted it. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 229 Registered: 03-2005 |
Children! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 189 Registered: 05-2005 |
Sorry Dad | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 65 Registered: 12-2004 |
Bands tend to play live more songs from their latest album, as the setlist above indicates. If anybody wants to deduct the number of songs from Oceans Apart from the total number of songs in the setlist, then compare the remainder they can. I couldn't be bothered. But I'm pretty sure they now play more songs from 16LL live than any of the other 80s albums. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 248 Registered: 05-2005 |
I want to do a screen dump of the Kevin and Hardin msgs above, with the Randy msg in the middle, and make some t-shirts and give them away to the msg board family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL! | ||
| abigail law Member Username: Abigail Post Number: 52 Registered: 06-2005 |
liberty belle before hollywood spring hill fair tallulah 16 ll bright yellow forw send me a lullaby oceans apart | ||
| Mark Leydon Member Username: Mark_leydon Post Number: 44 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spring Hill Fair Oceans Apart Liberty Belle Before Hollywood Tallulah Friends of Rachael Worth Send Me A Lullaby Bright Yellow 16 Lovers Lane | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 99 Registered: 09-2004 |
Tallulah Liberty Belle Before Hollywood Send me a lullaby Spring Hill Fair 16 lovers Lane Oceans Apart Friends Bright Yellow | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 236 Registered: 05-2005 |
Welcome back Lindy! | ||
| C Gull Member Username: C_gull Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2005 |
16 Lovers Lane Tallulah Liberty Belle Oceans Apart Before Hollywood Spring Hill Fair Friends Send me a lullaby BYBO | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 194 Registered: 05-2005 |
interesting choices by lindy imagine if: topper headon ranked London calling (and billy ficca ranked marquee moon, mo tucker ranked vu and nico, bill berry ranked murmer, mike joyce ranked the queen is dead, david lovering ranked surfer rosa, phil selway ranked ok computer etc etc) as lowly as lindy ranked 16LL in their respective bands canon. I mean,like 16LL,the above albums are those bands masterpieces arent they? | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 254 Registered: 05-2005 |
taste is an interesting thing, the thing for me about Ms Morrison's top 2 is that before I coulkd afford a CD player, I'd always dreamed about owning those two GB's bn CD much more than any thing else in their back catalogue, however the GB's have released some and continue to relase some really great material, which messes with my rankings!!. Lindy ranking 16LL that low says it all for me... | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 237 Registered: 03-2005 |
I would definitely rank "London Calling" that low. One good song and then you put it away. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 196 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, I thought you Americans didnt do ironic. You were being ironic werent you? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 83 Registered: 03-2006 |
Damn kevin, excellent knowledge of drummers - you are a font of knowledge... Actually, I wanted to ask you about the Cocteau Twins - you apparently know a lot about them...Is the singles comp they have out now worth having? I have tons of discs, but nothing by them... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 198 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, without going too deep I never actually liked the Cocteaus music that much - sacrilege I know. I think I have a bit of a downer on female vocalists for some reason which I cannot fathom (apart from PJ Harvey, Siouxie, Neko Case, Mimi Parker(from Low, who strangely enough given what I have just is possibly my favourite ever singer). Anyway back to your point, I didnt care much for the early stuff, but I did really like Blue Bell Knoll. Lovely people by the way, Liz is a real one off. Simon Raymonde is one of the most down to earth guys you could ever meet, although not seen him since late 80s. There are probably a few rabid Cocteaus fans on here, I'm sure they will point you in the right direction | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 84 Registered: 03-2006 |
Thanks man...pretty much my take on the CTs, sort of a subject I've filed away for further research. It's probably old fashioned of me, but as much as I'm intrigued by the vocals, I prefer intelligible lyrics about relatable things...On that note, I have to say Liz's collaboration with Massive Attack was outstanding...wish she'd do a whole album with them... | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 212 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin & Hardin, I just so happen to be one of the few "rabid Cocteau Twins fans" on this message board. 'Treasure' continues to be my favorite album (seems to be a lot of peoples' favorite Cocteau's album), although the band is rather dismissive of it in interviews for reasons unclear to me. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 201 Registered: 08-2004 |
Lindy can't help but choose from a drummers point of view. Her choices seem to be in order of her contribution, Tallulah is a good choice. The drumming & string parts work incredibly well together. I wonder if Robert Vickers would put 16LL nearer the top. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 213 Registered: 10-2004 |
Jerry, you raise a valid point - as far as 16LL is concerned, contributions from Lindy were scaled back considerably, given that she was replaced by a drum machine on many songs. I also recall David Nichols mentioning in his book that Lindy was forced to deal with a lot of personal problems in her life at the time of making 16LL. Both factors could potentially minimize her input and participation in the recording. And maybe these factors have tainted 16LL for Lindy? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 89 Registered: 03-2006 |
Perhaps I'm reading between the lines, or misremembering the GBs book, but I recall there was some acrimony about RF and GM carrying on under the Go-Betweens moniker for the reunion phase...if so, I'd imagine that that would taint those records even further... | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 183 Registered: 04-2005 |
In some of the archived posts from the past couple of years, Lindy wrote about her role on the albums that didn't feature much live drumming, and I remember her objecting to the term "replaced by a drum machine," since she had programmed the electronic drums, which I'd imagine is as much work as creating live drum parts. It wasn't a case of "go sit in the corner while we turn on the Roland drum machine, Lindy." But there must have been something different between her "Tallulah" and "16LL" contributions, as both sound (to my ears) dominated by programmed drums. And my guess is that she did a lot of rhythm arranging on the former and next to none on the latter--which could definitely lead to a much different perception of the album on her part. After all the debate about "16LL" it finally dawned on me what makes it so different than the first five albums, besides the slick production--it's very rhythmically conventional, with the minor exception of "You Can't Say No Forever," which would have fit pretty well on "Tallulah." So maybe she had more to do with that one. This reminds me of "Loaded" by the Velvet Underground, which Moe Tucker was credited on but didn't play on at all. To most of us VU diehards, it's not a "pure" Velvets album since it features conventional session drumming instead of Moe. I can see why people would feel the same way about "16LL" (which I think is a much better album than "Loaded," by the way). Having not heard the "16LL" demos or the tour that followed it, I wonder what the songs from that album were like live back when the original band was still together. My questions to Lindy about that album would be: Do you like the songs on it, and did you like playing them live? Or did the (I'm guessing) lack of involvement in the creation of the arrangements forever taint them for you? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 214 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kurt - I didn't mean to imply Lindy had no role, or was told to "go sit in the corner..." as you put it. I remember these posts you're referencing, about how she was responsible for programming the drum machine, as well as overdubbing cymbal parts. But, that said, programming a drum machine may not be as satisfying artistically as physically playing the drums. I'm sure many drummers have embraced the use of drum machines (and the process of programming them), but I know I would feel stifled. I can't remember specifically how Lindy said she felt about programming some of the drums (as opposed to actually playing them) on 16LL. (I *do* remember her describing the use of drum machines on SHF as being frustrating). Also, I remember David Nichols mentioning in his book that Lindy had some personal matters at the time that kept her away from some of the recording. So, I was basically throwing out the question: is Lindy's lower rating of 16LL due the recording process and things that occurred around that time, or does she simply think it's an inferior collection of songs? (or all the above?) | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 239 Registered: 03-2005 |
Revisiting the Cocteau Twins, this is one of the places where Jeff and I concur. In the mid to late 80s, I was all Cocteaus and the Fall and Nick Cave. I loved "Treasure" and also the antho "Pink Opaque" in particular. "Blue Bell Knoll" is when I started to lose interest, partly because of the slicker major label sound and also because I think they were exhausting their concept. Oh yeah, and there was that lousy live show I attended with loads of pre-recorded sounds. Elizabeth Fraser is a terrific singer. I never cared about the lack of intelligible lyrics because her voice is really the lead instrument in what could almost be regarded as a bunch of instrumental songs and that's how I approach them. You do have to like reverb though. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 76 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love the Cocteau Twins but it all started to go pear shaped for me when Liz actually started to sing lyrics around "Heaven or Las Vegas". To me, Liz's vocals somehow shift how you listen to the rest of the music that's going on. It's as if you hear more of the guitars, keyboards,bass and drums. I think Blue Bell Knoll is as close to hearing the pixies as one can get without being chemically assisted. Although it becomes even more amazing if you are.... | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 125 Registered: 11-2004 |
Send Me A Lullaby Before Hollywood Liberty Belle Tallulah 16 Lovers Lane Spring Hill Fair Many of you have made Send Me A Lullaby your least favourite album - why is that? I personally think it has the best sound. To me, a good production makes or breaks a record. I love a record where if you turn it up loud enough, its as if the band are playing live in your loungeroom. Sure, the songs aren't The Go-Betweens at their most Dylansesque, but this record certainly represents the band at the crossroads between wordy, image-laden songs and that pure '79/'80 Brisbane pop Sound. And that (for me) is The Go-Betweens at the peak of their powers as a 3 piece band - a lot tighter than the later line-ups, more tense and the sound of three instruments racing to the top of the mix. The arrangements of that album are mind-blowing and obviously the end product of many hours of practicing. It's the band trying to keep up with the likes of Orange Juice and The Birthday Party at the same time. Grant and Robert dislike this album and I really don't understand why - maybe I don't want to understand either. Great songs, great cover art, great production, great arrangements and the most pure-sounding album the band ever did/has done. And for all you trainspotters, I speak of the Rough Trade pressing, not the Missing Link one. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 215 Registered: 10-2004 |
Donat, I can't speak for everyone, obviously, (and I should note that SMAL was not at the bottom of my list; it ranked higher than FORW and BYBO), but the reason SMAL isn't higher up on my list is because they hadn't really tapped into the level of songwriting that made later albums so melodic and brilliant. SMAL sounds to me like a pop band that suddenly got caught up in the world of (then fashionable) herky-jerky, disjointed and atonal post-punk. And while I do like some of that stuff, I don't think it always suited the Go-Betweens so well, and I can't shake the feeling that they were struggling to keep up with certain trends. And despite some really great songs on SMAL, ultimately I think that direction would've proven to be an artistic dead end, not to mention as it was, some of the results were really quite awkward or forced sounding to me (stuff like Arrow in a Bow). Some of the results are wonderful, though, like "Careless," "Ride," "One Thing Can Hold Us," and "Hold your Horses." I also love both sides of the "I Need 2 Heads" single. But I guess in the end, for me it comes down to the fact that I'm just more of a "Part Company" or "Unkind and Unwise" kind of person, as far as my musical tastes. To me, SMAL would have benefitted by the inclusion of some poppier numbers that were left off, but which surfaced on Very Quick on the Eye. Like, get rid of the most dischordant songs, and replace them with "Hope," "Serenade Sound," and "The Clowns are in Town," and you'd have a better album, imho. | ||
| gareth w Member Username: Gareth Post Number: 60 Registered: 05-2005 |
It’s an album we rarely discuss here. I’m not a fan – ‘8 pictures’ I love to bits and ‘One Thing Can Hold Us’ is good too but it sounds deliberately obtuse in parts to me. Given what went before (the great singles and ‘The Lost Album’) they seem to be going for a sound / style that is unnatural to them and to which they have never returned. They sound very unconfident which is odd given the strong singles that went before. The leap from ‘SMAL’ to ‘Before Hollywood’ is huge to me. I can’t think of many bands who made such a leap from first to second albums. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 99 Registered: 03-2006 |
SMAL seems like a real "outlier" in the GBs oeuvre (SIC?) Not typical of the rest of the catalog...Whether or not you're susceptible to its charms, it's not really of a piece with the other six or nine...It's not even reconcilable with stuff off of the Lost Album... I agree with Gareth: I think they made a quantum leap in songwriting and musicality by the time they got to BH, which has songs (Cattle, As Long As That, etc.) that hold up to anything they've ever done, imho. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 48 Registered: 01-2005 |
Tallulah 16 Lovers Lane Liberty Belle Before Hollywood Spring Hill Fair Oceans Apart Send Me a Lullaby Friends of Rachel Worth BYBO The double disc version of Tallulah really took my breath away as far as being the best sonically speaking. I'll give 16LL the nod for the best songwriting. Liberty Belle goes third as being more consistent than the other two, but it lacks the songwriting highs of 16LL and the great sound of Tallulah. I always have an urge to rank Spring Hill Fair higher, and indeed the sound of the mid 90's SHF BB reissue is superior compared to the other G-B's albums of that era. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 187 Registered: 04-2005 |
I like the music on SMAL a lot. When I listen to it, it's to enjoy the interplay between the three musicians. I sometimes think "this is Lindy's solo album" as the drums sound like the outstanding feature much of the time. Robert once made a good point in saying that they turned into an interesting trio by working with their quirks and limitations instead of turning up the volume. But the tunes are just not there on the album--no matter how much I play it, I can hardly recall any of Robert's words or melodies. Grant's "It Could Be Anyone" is the album's highlight for me, song-wise; it is very much of a piece with "Hammer the Hammer." So I don't think SMAL is bad, it's just a non-song album by a song band. Honestly, I play it more than FORW or BYBO but I couldn't bring myself to rank it higher than those albums. | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 69 Registered: 12-2004 |
I appreciate SMAL, but it wouldn't have made me a fan had I not heard the other albums. My favourite track from it is One Thing Can Hold Us. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 17 Registered: 05-2005 |
SMAL was the first GB's record I've listened to (rented in a mediatheque). I choosed this lp for the sleeve design and the strange name of the band... I loved this rough and authentic music and this album is still one of my favourites (whith Spring hill fair and Liberty belle). Strangely, the reunion album FORW is the album that I link with SMAL. If I had to choose one album, I think it would be the 1978-1990 sampler. More easy... | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 120 Registered: 03-2006 |
Not as big a fan of SMAL, but love the sampler... Great sequencing...it's interesting how well the earlier, rougher stuff mixes with the later, kinder, gentler GBs...Not sure where "I Need Two Heads" fits in in the catalog, what single or EP it came from, but what a great song! One thing featured on SMAL that I'm glad never reared its ugly head again: the use of a skronky sax riff to propel a song...they must have been listening to a lot of groups like Romeo Void and James Chance and the Contortions... | ||
| Alex Bolton Member Username: Alexb Post Number: 28 Registered: 01-2006 |
Oooh what a suprise. LM has the three post reformation albums at the bottom of her list! 1. 16LL 2. Before Hollywood 3. Tallulah 5. Liberty Belle 6. Oceans Apart. 7. Bright Yellow Bright Orange 8. Spring Hill Fair 9. Frends of Rachel 10.Send me a Lullaby. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 228 Registered: 05-2005 |
which shows she has immaculate taste alex. apart from the fact you have inexplicably chosen OA above SHF, the lower end of your list is not that much different | ||
| Alex Bolton Member Username: Alexb Post Number: 30 Registered: 01-2006 |
Well Spring Hill Fair was a disastrous album for the GB's artistically and commercially. There was momentum and money behind the band, squandered with indifferent songs and harsh production. I also feel the post reformation albums are underrated. Oceans Apart I suspect will come to be seen as one of their finest albums. Sure it's less quirky more polished more singer songwriterly. It's also a matter of how you view Lindy's role in the band. In pure musical terms I think it was minimal; in the broader sense she helped make RF (and possibly GM ) the songwriters they are. I have many non GBs fans who've never heard the band before who absolutely adore OA and BYBO as grown up intelligent quality folk pop. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 205 Registered: 04-2005 |
"Harsh production" on SHF compared to OA? I respect your point of view, but I think to most of us, if the latter-day GoBs could make an album as good as SHF we'd be overjoyed. And I don't say this as a hater of the albums you mentioned--just as someone who would not call SHF a disaster and thinks it has at least four or five of their greatest songs. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 231 Registered: 05-2005 |
cant argue with that Kurt | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 225 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kurt, I agree with you about Spring Hill Fair. I don't understand how the production of that album could be viewed harsh. While it's not organic, to these ears it doesn't even come within the ballpark of harsh. Plus, I think it's got at least 8 exceptional songs. Which is why it sits in my top 3. And it's funny because I feel like the post-reformation albums (except for OA, which I rate pretty highly) are overrated, if anything. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 234 Registered: 05-2005 |
Can I play devils advocate here? Hows about a top10 which is made up of any albums from the Go-Betweens, OR Robert/Grants solo albums? Heres mine: 1. Before Hollywood 2. LB and BDE 3. Danger in the past 3. Spring Hill Fair 4. Tallulah 5. Calling from a country phone 6. Lullaby 7. FORW 8. Oceans A 9. BYBO 10.Horse Breaker Star | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 244 Registered: 03-2005 |
I agree with all the defenders of "Spring Hill Fair." Spring Hill is where Robert finally really took off as a writer, just like "Before Hollywood" is where Grant did. And now, BOTH writers were firing on all cylinders so I have to rate it much higher than "Before Hollywood" on which Robert was still struggling. Though I do really love the band's playing on Hollywood. I've avoided rating the albums up to this point because I will disagree with myself in less than a day but with the above comments, I realize I have to weigh in: 1. Liberty Belle: The perfect combination of awkwardness and melody. I don't expect anybody to understand this, but I've always thought of this album as comparable to the very best 1968 vintage work by the Easybeats. It has that same awkward/melody feel. 2. Spring Hill: Nearly as perfect a combination but maybe still a little bit too much awkward. 3. 16LL: A great commercial record by the same writers but still you find that wonderful gawkiness underneath the sheen. 4. Tallulah: If this were all as good as Robert's songs, it would be above 16LL 5. Horsebreaker Star: Breaks the 10 song rule rather outrageously but the greatest Grant-as-Dylan record ever. 6. Before Hollywood: Weak Forster songs, terrific intricate arrangements. Almost up to the "Liberty Belle" and "Spring Hill Fair" mix of awkwardness and melody. 7. Danger: Excellent string of Forster songs given too much of the Mick Harvey sound. 8. Oceans Apart: Good production, uneven songs. 9. Bright Ray: Cheap production, violates the 10 song rule again but the best 10 beat Grant's more recent work. 10. Country Phone: Great music, frequently embarrassing lyrics. | ||
| Paul Swinford Member Username: Prema Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2005 |
I'm sitting with eight of the nine studio releases in front of me - just amazed that one band could produce such a wonderful body of work. There are so many diamonds here. I guess I never thought of the Go-Betweens in terms of albums. I think of them in terms of songs, which is a tribute to their craftmanship. There are so many wonderful songs that it's hard to imagine they've recorded only nine albums. Do you know what I mean? Of course with the JetSet versions we have the outtakes as well and there are some nice little rubies and sapphires there, too. I came to the reunion recordings through Oceans Apart. I was a little trepidacious about getting any of the reunion material for fear that it wouldn't measure up to Forster/McLennan/Morrison/Brown/Vickers lineup I loved so dearly. While it's not the same, I quite like all of them. The band still writes great songs. So here's my ranking based on the songs. I don't include Send Me a Lullaby because frankly, when I purchased it at the height of my Go-Betweens fervor in the '80s, I filed it after one labored listen. I wanted to like it, just couldn't. Before Hollywood - All the songs are great. A slight nod over Liberty Belle because the b-sides "This Girl, Black Girl", "Hammer the Hammer" and "Just a King in Mirrors" are evidence of a deeply inspired time of writing and compostion. While most bands that are lucky enough to get a second chance struggle in the sophomore doldrums, the Go-Betweens were positively blooming! Liberty Belle - I like it more now than ever. All the songs are great. Tallulah - "Right Here", "You Tell Me", "I Just Get Caught Out", "Bye Bye Pride", "Spirit of a Vampyre", "Hope Then Strife", and from the b-sides of that era - "When People are Dead", "Don't Call Me Gone" and "A Little Romance". Spring Hill Fair - some days this would be #2 on my list. "Bachelor Kisses", "Five Words", The Old Way Out", "Part Company", "Slow Slow Music", "Unkind Unwise", "Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea"; "Second Hand Furniture", "Rare Breed", and the instrumental "Unkind & Unwise" from the b-sides. 16 Lovers Lane - "Love Goes On!", "Quiet Heart", "Love is a Sign", "You Can't Say No Forever", "The Devil's Eye", "Streets of Your Town", "Clouds", "Was There Anything I Could Do?" with "Rock and Roll Friend", "Wait Until June" and "Running the Risk of Ever Losing You" from the b-sides. Masterpiece? Sure! But this is a band of multiple masterpieces... Oceans Apart - "Here Comes a City", "Finding You", "Boundary Rider", "Darlinghurst Nights", "The Statue", "The Mountains Near Dellray". Friends of Rachel Worth - "Spirit", "He Lives My Life", "Going Blind". Bright Yellow Bright Orange - "Caroline & I", "Mrs. Morgan", "Make Her Day". With the reunion albums, I definitely notice the decline in the number of Grant's songs on my list. I still like them. It's just the difference between "very good" and "great". I can be happy with "very good". | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 83 Registered: 05-2005 |
Talking about great individual songs, I remember seeing Grant and Robert "Of the Go Betweens" (as they were titled in '99) at the Basement in Sydney when they must have done "He lives my Life" for the first time. I remember thinking "What a GREAT song!!" Grant, if I remember correctly, says words to the effect of,"And this is another masterpiece from Robert"!!! And it was and is. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 248 Registered: 05-2005 |
Geoff, your quote from Grant reminded me of a time when I saw them play in Glasgow in the mid to late 90s(it was billed as some kind of "anniversary tour", 10 yrs since the split?, or maybe 20 yrs since they got together?, shit I have a hopeless memory). Anyway, Grant spent large parts of the gig just glancing, or sometimes staring straight at Robert with what can only be described as alternately a look of awe, adoration, and "isnt he fantastic". Unrequited love anyone? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 263 Registered: 03-2005 |
Why d'ya think he never got married? | ||
| abigail law Member Username: Abigail Post Number: 61 Registered: 06-2005 |
hmmm, i've often wondered over those tight t-shirts... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 255 Registered: 05-2005 |
are there any hints in the book? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 227 Registered: 04-2005 |
In the book, someone (Lindy or Amanda?) said Grant had been a "woman in every port" kind of guy before getting involved with AB. Obviously, he chooses to keep this sort of thing private. Good for him. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 286 Registered: 05-2005 |
I played Liberty Belle today whilst in bed with man flu (a cold). That album sounds like it was made in the 60's, and it still sounde relevant today. What a masterpiece! I then stuck the DVD acoustic sesh on for feel good factor, it enlightened my day, and my daugfhters were bopping along to Born to a family of all tunes! | ||
| Duncan Hurwood Member Username: Duncan_h Post Number: 38 Registered: 05-2005 |
Here's my list: 1) 16 Lovers Lane 2) Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 3) Friends of Rachel Worth 4) Oceans Apart 5) Before Hollywood 6) Tallulah 7) Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 8) Spring Hill Fair 9) Send Me A Lullaby | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 185 Registered: 03-2006 |
Kevin, enjoyed your theory about the love that dare not speak its name between the GBs...there are no hints in the book though really, but there is some stuff about them being fairly androgynous when they started out (no idea what the cultural signifiers are, which of their heroes they were trying to emulate. Lindy apparently had a hard time getting RF to "get it on" with her, which I think she attributed to his innocence. There is also some stuff about the arrangement being (at least in the platonic sense) a classic triangle,with both GM and Lindy competing for RF's attention.... There was also some stuff about Grant being more of a "man's man", knowing about knives, etc...He, to me, does seem more butch, like he could as easily be a bricklayer (or a villain in a Bond movie) as a musician...whereas Robert seems a little more foppish...when he is shaking those maracas in the DVD, he looks as though he ought to be wearing one of those bolero hats with the little pom poms hanging down...still, it's just part of his wacky charm. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 274 Registered: 03-2005 |
They were both drama students. That explains a lot. | ||
| Elizabeth Robinson Member Username: Liz_the_new_listener Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2006 |
Of the five Go-Betweens albums I have so far: 1. Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express 1a. 16 Lover's Lane 2. Spring Hill Fair 3. Oceans Apart 4. Friends of Rachel Worth You gotta remember that these are the Go-Betweens, who are on the verge of replacing Radiohead as my favorite band. Notice 1 and 1a. 2. is also phenomenal, and 3. is close behind. 1. OK Computer 2. Hail to the Thief 3. The Bends 4. Amnesiac .... 5. Hold Me to This - Christopher O'Reilly 6. True Love Waits - Christopher O'Reilly .... 7. The Eraser - Thom Yorke (sorry, Thom, you need those guitars!) I have not heard Kid A or Pablo Honey. Move over Radiohead, move over. McLennan/Forster rule. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 973 Registered: 03-2006 |
Not that you asked, Ms. Robinson, but here's a suggestion for your next GBs acquisition: Tallulah...btw, my top 4 (or 5) are pretty close to yours, though 16 LL would bump Liberty Belle.... | ||
| John B. Member Username: John_b Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2006 |
1. Tallulah 1. 16 Lover's Lane 3. Spring Hill Fair 4. Friends of Rachel Ward 5. Liberty Belle 16LL is one very few albums overall I love from the first to the last song. Tallulah has some of the best individual songs, especially Pride, Kerouac and Clarke Sisters But to be fair, this list could look very different tomorrow. Elizabeth, I must admit I gave up on Radiohead after OK Computer, it was too much for me. The Bends is my favourite, but OK Computer is very good as well - especially the almost Byrds-like Let Down - and I have always had a soft spot for Pablo Honey. | ||
| John B. Member Username: John_b Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2006 |
oops, sorry, forgot to rank the rest 6. Before Hollywood 7. Oceans Apart 8. Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 9. Send me a Lullaby | ||
| Michael Leach Member Username: Mike_l Post Number: 26 Registered: 05-2005 |
1. The Lost Album! 2. Spring Hill Fair 3. Before Hollywood 4. Send Me A Lullaby 5. 16 LL 6. Liberty Belle 7. Friends of Rachel Worth 8. Bright Yellow, Bright Orange 9. Oceans Apart 10. Tallulah Well, somebody had to do it. And its true. I dig the Lost Album. Reminds me of the bands I was in at that age, in the same town (you can practically feel the quietness and heat of Toowong back streets as static on the Teeki tapes) and all that fun (of course, the early GBs were monumentally superior to those outfits ... but you get me). | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 4 Registered: 07-2006 |
1. liberty belle 2. 16LL 3. tallulah 4. before hollywood 5. spring hill fair 6. OA errr...the others are equal ninth i guess this is seriously too hard and i'm completely non-commital about all my responses. i have long said that 16LL is the greatest australian record i've ever heard and still stand by that....though somehow it's still not my fave GBs record. go figure! i should also add that, for various reasons i have only listened to OA from the new stuff and have never listened to SMAL...even though i own it. i just can't bring myself to listen to it in favour of the invariable rush i get each and everytime i hear the likes of bachelor kisses, i just get caught out, dusty in here, etc. they all represent a different mood or combination thereof for me and i think liberty belle encompasses more than any. i can't believe SFH is second last, given how much i listen to it. this is what thinking too hard about this absurdly divine band does to my head! J. |