| Author | Message | ||
     Bob Mail Member Username: Bob Post Number: 19 Registered: 03-2006 |
Mentioned this in another thread, Wondering what folks think of the FOW. I think they are superb song smiths. Ok "stacy's mom" maybe the novelty hit but they have cracking tunes and some very very well observed lyrics etc thoughts? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 215 Registered: 03-2006 |
Completely agree, Bob. They are vastly underrated songsmiths who crank out these perfect little pop gems...excellent melodies, production and the lyrics: beautiful, slyly observed vignettes, featuring everyday guys and their foibles...reminds me a little of Ray Davies in that sense: the narrative drive and the insight into what makes ordinary folks tick... And, it would be a shame if they were pegged as a novelty act based on Stacey's Mom, because that album it's from, "Interstate Mgrs." is their best yet - not to slight their other two excellent ones at all... You just know the protagonist of "Bright Future in Sales" is going to have anything but...and I think the GBs themselves would be appreciative of the folkish beauty of "Valley of Winter Song"...great stuff... Vague GBs connection: the offshoot group, Ivy, featuring one of the members of FOW, covers "Streets of Your Town" on one of their discs.. | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 104 Registered: 07-2005 |
Yeah played that CD alot last year or was it 2004.The songs are gems perfect pop, catchy tunes- agree with you on that Hardin. | ||
| Bob Mail Member Username: Bob Post Number: 21 Registered: 03-2006 |
Agree with your comments Hardin. Yes Mr Davies would find alot to relate to in the FOW lyrical style. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 317 Registered: 05-2005 |
they good? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 227 Registered: 03-2006 |
Very good, but I'd recommend listening to some samples on the Net before you buy, in case they're not up your alley... | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 275 Registered: 10-2004 |
So, you guys are serious? This band has created worthwhile music? What songs or albums would you guys suggest to check out first? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 228 Registered: 03-2006 |
Serious as the proverbial heart attack, Jeff, but with this caveat: you have to like power pop. If you do, though, man o man...they're your boys... Since there is such a divergence of taste on this board on issues of taste, such as poppiness, slickness, commerciality, etc., I'm reluctant to say "rush out and buy it". Sadly, their big, breakthrough single, Stacey's Mom, about a MILF (may not translate outside So Cal), has the taint of novelty about it...it even had the obligatory glossy video with the comely Rachel Hunter starring in the title role. The rest of the album it's from, "Welcome Interstate Managers" is just brilliant. These guys have a real knack for limning the neuroses and hopes and dreams of typical guys...real classically American stuff (UK too, for all I know) about aspiring middle managers and failed athletes... All three of their albums are great, though...I just looked on Pitchfork and they, alterna-dweebs they are, gave the first, eponymous one, an 8.9, which they almost never do...high for them... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 258 Registered: 05-2005 |
Absolute arse for the most part. Almost as annoying and overrated as the Dandy Warhols. | ||
| Bob Mail Member Username: Bob Post Number: 24 Registered: 03-2006 |
Padraig, Cannot agree with your assessment re FOW. I can concur re the Dandy Warhols but I think FOW are in a totally different league. Ok so they are not Joy Division :-) but for the area they operate in - power pop- I believe they are masters -up their with Matthew Sweet amongst others- Have you heards their three albums or are you judging them on the the "hit"? | ||
| Pat Boland Member Username: Pat_boland Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm definitely in the pro-FOW camp. I was totally knocked-out by the first album although, in hindsight, about a third of it hasn't aged too well. While I was initially disappointed with the second album (Utopia Parkway) it has grown on me over time to the point where I'd rate it on a par with their debut. 'Welcome Interstate Managers' is more of the same and the B-Sides Comp. 'Out of State Plates' is, as you'd expect, a fans-only affair. I saw them in the Ambassador a couple of years ago and they were superb. On the I-River: Radiation Vibe Barbara H I've Got a Flair Sick Day Please Don't Rock Me Tonight Denise Hat and Feet Fine Day for a Parade Amity Gardens Senator's Daughter Mexican Wine Bright Future in Sales Hackensack Valley Winter Song Halley's Waitress | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 243 Registered: 03-2006 |
Yeah, what Pat said... Padraig, how can I put this delicately and sensitively? Let's see...you are wrong wrong wrong! And comparing FOW to the Dandies is way misguided and off base. Totally different kinds of music, styles - FOW write carefully crafted vignettes about working stiffs (sort of like an American Ray Davies, or maybe a Squeeze - the level of character observation is the same. In fact, they remind me of Squeeze, in that their stuff is deceptively humorous, but there are always some harsh truths underlying it). The Dandies lyrics are just little slabs of attitude and sloganeering...FOW's stuff is just way more crafted. Same for the music: way more lovingly crafted, excellent melodies (or compared to the Dandies, just saying they have melodies would suffice), precision, ace playing... Also, how you can then give big ups to relatively lightweight, lame-o piffle like the Thrills and Hal really is beyond me...I'm all too aware of the need for "caveat emptor", but I bought an import copy of the Hal disc, based on the drippingly adoring reviews it go in one of those Brit mags, and boy, did I rue that decision...it remains on my shelf, totally neglected since its sole, initial listen. I only hope and pray Second Spin will give more than a buck for it, since it will be, to them, obscure... I guess what I'm trying to say is: I really like those FOW guys.  | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 279 Registered: 05-2005 |
absolute arse - that made me laugh padraig! heard some album by them, something about interstates? didnt care for it much to be honest. there are better "power pop" artists out there, or from the past. the posies (frosting on the beater was a classic of the genre) velvet crush matthew sweet flamin groovies etc etc ... and not forgetting the masters - Big Star | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 247 Registered: 03-2006 |
Welcome back, Kev...know this is shocking, but I disagree with you. The Posies, at least to me, ain't all that - I don't get them at all. And in fact, they really piss me off, because that reconstituted Big Star album, the one that included several of the Posies, sucked royally...Pretty much ditto for the Velvet Crush, who made one good album, but as for the rest of their output: bupkes. I like Matthew Sweet, but as for the groovies, I know they have hipster cred, but I haven't heard anything particularly memorable by them, apart from that one great song ("Action")... As for Big Star, you got me there. FOW are no Big Star, but then who is? Hey, how were the Truckers? | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 285 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yeah Hardin, agree with you about that Big Star album from last year - although I thought the first half had some pretty decent songs. Drive by Truckers were awesome,loudest gig Ive ever been to for ages, my ears were still ringing 24hrs after the gig. The only gigs I can remember that could match that level of noise were Sugar(when they toured Copper Blue) and Primal Scream around the time of Xterminator. They have obviously decided to put on a pure rock n roll show, which means that most of the slower, reflective songs dont get a look in. The show was split in two halves - for the first 90 minutes they mostly played tracks from the current album and Dirty South - highlights for me were Carl Perkins Cadillac, The Day John Henry Died, Where The Devil Dont Stay, Feb 14 and Space City. For the closing hour they played older stuff from Southern Rock Opera and Decoration Day, and also ended with a few punk rock tracks which I assume were from the really early albums. My only regret was that they didnt have a pedal steel/keyboard player which might have allowed them to play the gentler stuff. But for the kind of show that they put on, I think the only expression to use is "incendiary" | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 298 Registered: 03-2005 |
The Thrills sure come in for some brickbats on here. I still can't figure out from this thread if I want to check out Fountains. I've never been able to get much out of Matthew Sweet. He gets caught in my bland filter. I didn't know anybody considered the Flamin' Groovies "power pop." I see them as just simple retro types. Hardin, also check out their "Slow Death." Most people rate the early Roy Loney period stuff the best. Very funny post though, thanks. I tried one Velvet Crush record, the one with a cover of Gene Clark's "Why Not Your Baby." I remember a few things stuck out for me but there was no super-lasting impression. It was a borrowed copy; I didn't buy. I never bothered to try out the "new" Big Star. I assumed it would have to be crap. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 252 Registered: 03-2006 |
Randy, yes, the new Big Star record was unadulterated crap, served straight up (save for a decent Chilton tune or two)...call me gullible, credulous, "caveat emptor" definitely should have been in effect. I guess I just wanted to believe so bad (reminds me of Mulder's posters in the X-files that read, "I want to believe")...And, I have an inordinate fondness for Alex Chilton who I've followed a bit and who has gigged a lot around N.O. (where he lived and just narrowly escaped after Katrina, by the way. He was completely lost for a day or two) and B.R. Kevin, that show sounds like the shit. Color me envious. I'll have to check their itinerary to see when they'll be back in the Colonies. I have a deep seated fascination for pedal steel - it could be my favorite instrument. I dabble in guitar, am decent, at least sound good to people who don't know anything about guitar, but seeing people play pedal steel well...man, my hat's off to them. It looks just absurdly complex -don't know if I'd ever have the innate musical juice to ever pick it up... I would imagine though that, with 3 guitar players, they could take that slack up pretty well... Some guys have all the fun! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 266 Registered: 05-2005 |
Bob, I've heard very little of their stuff but really disliked what I have heard. Sometimes I just decide I hate a band if only to stop me from going out and spending my mad money on all their records ... See the Does size matter thread for further details. I love Big Star. I thought last year's record was good, better than I'd expected anyway. I love Frosting On The Beater. In fact I think it's a classic. But none of the other Posies records live up to it. The one they had out last year has some terrific songs on it though; definitely their best since Frosting. |