| Author | Message | ||
     skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1166 Registered: 10-2008 |
yes really - due september/october this year according to an article in Mojo. no title yet, but songs for the album include "hello mr curtis"," physics" and "holy dotage" according to devoto they are at "the writing and demoing stage" devoto,formula,doyle and noko came up with 6 songs at noko's studio where "formula's original arp odyssey keyboard, now restored, was on hand to lend original-recipe magazine synth textures" now the bad news, and you knew there had to be some!! barry adamson wasnt part of the process above and has left the band. according to devoto "barry was directing his first film...., delays understandable..., but eventually barry,sadly, felt he had to leave the band". Groove Armada bassist stan white has stepped in at the recommendation of formula. "so far 2/3rds of an album has been prepared, recording due this summer" questioned on what it sounds like devoto winces slightly and says "maybe like correct use of soap.... there's a lightness of touch thats not dissimilar" | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2176 Registered: 10-2004 |
Interesting! As long as it's better than Luxuria, I'll buy it. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2634 Registered: 03-2005 |
I haven't commented on this because I'm afraid of it. I'll buy it of course but I think they should have stopped the project until Barry Adamson was available. I don't think his role is an optional one. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1169 Registered: 10-2008 |
yeah randy, that's why i said "now the bad news, and you knew there had to be some!!" actually, such was the unique brilliance of this band its probably not outrageous to say devoto, formula, adamson and mcgeoch were all irreplaceable. no offence to john doyle, even though he fitted like a glove in the band i dont think he falls into the irreplaceable category, not many drummers do. noko did a decent job of replicating mcgeoch's sound in a live setting, my worry is that in the songwriting stakes he will be unable to replace him. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2178 Registered: 10-2004 |
See, if Mcgeoch was still alive, I wouldn't wince so much at the thought of Adamson's absence. But with two pieces of the puzzle gone, and with Noko on board, it seems like it should be billed as Luxuria featuring David Formula, not Magazine! At the end of the day, I don't care if they want to make an album - I just hope they're feeling genuinely inspired and that they bring some good songs to the table, and that they're not doing it simply for cynical financial reasons. Anyone remember that horrible Shelley/Devoto album from several years ago? Ugh... | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2635 Registered: 03-2005 |
Yes, Jeff, I got it. It seemed like such a great idea and then I heard it. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2636 Registered: 03-2005 |
And no, Kevin, it's not remotely outrageous to say that Devoto, Formula, Adamson and McGeoch were all irreplaceable. While "Magic, Murder & the Weather" is a lot better than it tends to get credit for, they lost a bit of life when McGeoch left. I can't imagine something purporting to be Magazine without the Adamson bass sound. In latter days I've gotten very much into their second album "Secondhand Daylight" and I cannot see how you can do without the man who concocted the bass line to "Feed the Enemy." Adamson went on to do film music: perfect for the mental visuals of Magazine. Was it McGeoch who said the band was essentially a prog-rock band doing post-punk? It's true. Magazine is the ONLY prog rock band I've ever loved. And I do. So I hate to think of them screwing up the legacy. I really want to hear that wooly Adamson bass sound and whatever else he'd come up with nowadays. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2180 Registered: 10-2004 |
Yeah, you take too many people out of the equation, and it's just not the same thing. A perfect example: I have nothing at all against Adele and Glenn , but to me the Go-Betweens v2.0 was never the same without Lindy and Robert Vickers. Yes, they did make at least one great album (Oceans Apart), but in reuniting with a new rhythm section, they underestimated how integral Lindy and Robert's contributions were to the band. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1361 Registered: 10-2008 |
"More concrete good news. Magazine to tour the UK in November. Wednesday August 17th 2011 – 8:54 am Yes. It cannot be denied. Magazine are to don their rock star outfits and kick up some Autumn leaves come November time. Light the blue touch paper at arms length and stand well back. The UK tour coincides with the release of the band’s fifth studio album, ‘No Thyself’. The first new material recorded since 1981. The 9 dates are : Nov 1 : Bath Komedia Nov 2 : Cambridge Junction Nov 3 : Hatfield Forum Nov 4 : Manchester Academy Nov 5 : Glasgow ABC Nov 7 : Newcastle Academy Nov 8 : Birmingham Institute Nov 9 : Sheffield Plug Nov 10 : London Shepherd’s Bush Empire All tickets are priced £22.50 (plus the usual booking fee mularkey) except London, which is £25.00. Tickets go on general sale on Friday, the 19th of August." | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1366 Registered: 10-2008 |
you can order the album now from the website, shipping early october. not in retail outlets till end october. http://www.wire-sound.com/shop/ | ||
| cosmo vitelli Member Username: Cosmo Post Number: 353 Registered: 05-2005 |
Sorry but it just isnt Magazine without Barry Adamson, the reunion shows were glorious but I wont be going to the new shows, the venues are small and it looks like dimishing returns (swiftly followed by death throes?) to me. Will listen to the album but have no sense of excitement for this project. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2251 Registered: 10-2004 |
But see, if it was billed as simply Howard Devoto featuring Noko and some of the guys from Magazine, or Luxuria + Formula + Doyle, we'd probably view the whole thing a bit differently. But then it probably wouldn't receive nearly as much attention from the music press. I'll keep an open mind until I hear it, but it does seem a bit of a stretch to call it Magazine without Adamson. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1370 Registered: 10-2008 |
my thoughts are the same as jeff, i too have an open mind. although i'm ready to be disappointed! its worth bearing in mind this project started off with barry a involved, hence it being called magazine, it's just his other commitments got in the way. any straws left to clutch? :-) | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1371 Registered: 10-2008 |
i just found some more straws... most bands can afford to lose the bassist - obvious exceptions off the top of my head being new order(hooky),motorhead(lemmy, with him also being the vocalist of course), and the stranglers (jj burnel). just shows how special barry a was that we are a bit sceptical about this, however ultimately it will all come down to the songs. if the songs hold up it will make the loss of barry a easier. devoto hinted in a mojo interview that he was happy with the standard of the songs, i could be wrong but i dont think he's so desparate for this to be a success that he would lie about it. i've always had a feeling that dave f and devoto were the real creative lynchpins in this band, if they can somehow come up with the goods it might just exceed all our expectations. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2731 Registered: 03-2005 |
Ok, as before I've been avoiding comment here. I do think the absence of Barry Adamson is a serious problem. As one of the founding members I think it's reasonable to guess that he'd have a certain amount of veto power with the material. Considering what he's done since Magazine, it can be assumed he's no lightweight. PLUS, he co-wrote the music on "Parade," "Rhythm of Cruelty," "I Wanted Your Heart," "Believe That I Understand," and on "Correct Use of Soap" and the fantastic "Upside Down" they didn't bother to separately credit the writers with all of the members credited with the music including Adamson. He then co-wrote "Vigilance"--probably the best track on the final album--with Devoto and contributed to the writing of "Great Man's Secrets," "This Poison" and "Naked Eye." Consider his bass contribution on a song he didn't co-write: "Permafrost." I truly believe that Devoto and Formula and Doyle should have stopped the project until Adamson was ready. Unless the real story is that he didn't like what he was hearing and so he decided to get out in a diplomatic fashion. I know you're not seriously discounting the importance of Adamson, Kevin. I'm just highlighting what he brought to Magazine. Luxuria was a product of Devoto and Formula. I like it well enough but Noko always lacked subtlety as a guitarist and, well, Luxuria just ain't Magazine. But, sure, I definitely look forward to being proven wrong. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1373 Registered: 10-2008 |
randy, i just read back my comment and i didnt get my point across very well, although i think you probably interpreted what i was cack handedly attempting to say. but just in case -when i said "most bands can afford to lose the bassist" i wasnt meaning that the reformed magazine could afford to lose barry, far from it. songwriting talents aside, i feel he is as crucial to magazine as hooky etc are to their bands, but that didnt come across clearly (also i wasnt highlighting hooky etc as "great" bassists, just that their bands music would be unrecognisable without them). i guess i'm just hoping that the music, which lets not forget we have still to hear, is good enough to withstand the loss of his incredible talents. (and lets also highlight that he wrote his own bass parts in the bad seeds too - for me barry is up there with the great bass players in jazz, soul and reggae, and i cant think of a better bass player in rock music) | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2252 Registered: 10-2004 |
If there's one thing I'm skeptical about, it's Noko, to be honest. He imitates McGeoch perfectly in the live reunion footage that I've seen on youtube, but how does he stack up creatively? Noko is certainly a competent guitarist, but McGeoch was a creative genius. Considering that Devoto and Noko were the creative nucleus of Luxuria, and considering that I disliked and sold *both* Luxuria albums, this doesn't bode well for Noko's creative input in Magazine. But then again, who knows? Those Luxuria albums were done a long time ago, and maybe things will go differently this time with the great Dave Formula's creative input. Regardless of whatever skepticism I have, though, I'm still damn curious about how this album's going to turn out (although I'm keeping expectations low). | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 1075 Registered: 08-2004 |
Funny the missing bass player thing came up the same week as this: http://www.thecmuwebsite.com/article/new -order-reform-sans-hook-for-charity-show s/ I suppose this is all fair enough since Hooky went out touring Joy Division LP's with his own tribute band. They're his basslines & he'll play 'em if he wants to. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1380 Registered: 10-2008 |
the reformed,reformed,reformed,reformed new order were crap enough, without hooky its cabaret time. they really should have packed it in after republic. i'm a massive fan, but they've been mostly irrelevant for well over a decade now. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 1076 Registered: 08-2004 |
Hooky's take on things: http://louderthanwar.com/blogs/exclusive -peter-hook-statement-on-new-order-situa tion | ||
| cosmo vitelli Member Username: Cosmo Post Number: 355 Registered: 05-2005 |
Japan had a fairly irreplaceable bassist I just thought. Listened to Secondhand Daylight last night, no Barry no Magazine I say | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1396 Registered: 10-2008 |
here's a trailer for the new album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiuKlxTei Gg | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2258 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hmm. .. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1412 Registered: 10-2008 |
Got the album direct from the website today. Nice digipak, first impressions are at least its not crap :-) Far too early yet to say whether its got any really good songs, but the playing is exemplary and its sounds great. No producer credits, just says recorded by Dave Formula and Noko. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1419 Registered: 10-2008 |
Listening to BBC6 at work and they are playing the song Luxuria from a Luxuria BBC session, surprisingly good version with a funky bassline and a particularly excellent Howard vocal, singing in that slightly bored tone that he sometimes uses. It was then followed by Happening In English, one of the standout tracks from the new Magazine album. This album is really growing on me, its obviously not a patch on the first 3 albums, but to me is at least as good as the 4th album. My only criticism is it is Magazine by numbers, but lets face it they didnt have a massive catalogue of songs to begin with so I for one need these songs. I sent some interested parties from this board a couple of songs, and on reflection I sent the wrong ones. I sent them the same day I got the album so hadnt digested the songs properly, so took a guess that the opening track and the single might be inspired choices. Turns out they are two of the weaker tracks, although the opening track (Do The Meaning) is one of those songs that you really can't get out of your head after a few listens. Anybody else heard the album yet? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2746 Registered: 03-2005 |
Kevin, I haven't gotten the album yet. It's not yet officially released in the States. Perhaps I should do as you did and order direct. Concerning the two tracks you sent, I should listen again. I was annoyed by how far forward Noko was in the mix. The guy is a good guitarist but more flashy than inspired and-well-back him off in the mix, please. I was astonished how much his sound overtook Dave Formula's. I did enjoy the bass which is either by Barry himself or a good imitator. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2747 Registered: 03-2005 |
Ok, I've listened to them again and pulled them into my iTunes database (which I should have done originally). I'm hoping that my crappy little laptop speakers are distorting the impression of the mix because IF Noko were turned back in volume from what I'm hearing, everything would sound pretty damn good. One of the proper attributes of the classic Magazine is that the keyboards were always pretty far forward even as Formula would sometimes play things that drove me crazy with their cheesiness. That was part of the band's charm: Devoto's brilliant lyrics with arch delivery and Formula's circus fun house arrangements. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1420 Registered: 10-2008 |
Can't say I find Noko to high in the mix Randy, its maybe your speakers. He does do some uncanny reproductions of John McGeoch's sound on the album, he actually goes as far as to imitate the guitar sound that McGeoch used with Siouxsie and The Banshees on the opening track Do The Meaning. Stand out tracks for me so far are Other Thematic Material, Of Course Howard (1979) and the bonus track Blisterpack Blues which is only available on the CD which is ordered via the website. Why this should be a bonus track is a mystery. Firstly it is great, it is in a similar vein to Thankyoufalettinmebymyselfagain from Correct Use of Soap, and secondly this only bumps the album up to 11 tracks, its hardly a lengthy album to begin with. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2748 Registered: 03-2005 |
Of course once you told me about the exclusive bonus track, off I went to the wire website to purchase. Sucker that I am for such things, I also bought the bio book. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 4079 Registered: 05-2005 |
Finally listening to the two tracks you sent Kevin. I like them both, especially the guitar wig-out that is Hello Mr Curtis. It sounds like P.I.L. to me, which fits right into you saying it sounds like McGeoch. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1429 Registered: 10-2008 |
Howard interviewed at Quietus http://thequietus.com/articles/07193-mag azine-howard-devoto-interview | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2752 Registered: 03-2005 |
Thanks for that link Kevin. I'll have to read it later. My copy of the "Real Life" DVD came yesterday and I watched it. superb. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1430 Registered: 10-2008 |
probably one of the worst (and by that i mean useless) reviews i have ever read! http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/magazi ne-no-thyself | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1432 Registered: 10-2008 |
that's better http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct /20/magazine-no-thyself-review | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 283 Registered: 05-2005 |
Magazine recording, New Order touring, Stone Roses reforming, Manchester reviving... | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1433 Registered: 10-2008 |
not got a web link but mojo gives a very positive 4 star review, this is from the closing paragraph. "no thyself arrives, and in 10 crisp,playful songs restores the exalted standards of the bands legend". | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1434 Registered: 10-2008 |
early thoughts of the fans http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/ B005L8XUVM/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=U TF8&showViewpoints=1 | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 4090 Registered: 05-2005 |
Blisterpack Blues really is a great song. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2761 Registered: 03-2005 |
I'm only on the second listen to "No Thyself." Kevin, if you'd sent me "Holy Dotage" as one of the tempters you would have had me right there. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2266 Registered: 10-2004 |
So, one of the first things I did when I got back from Italy over the weekend was to buy the new Magazine album (it sounds weird saying "new magazine album," doesn't it). Since I don't think Slovakia has a single record shop that would carry it, and wasn't sure when I'd have time to go into Vienna and see if they have any decent record shops, I got it off iTunes (something I ordinarily would never do). That means I did not get this Blisterpack Blues (what a title!) bonus track everyone's talking about (although if anyone wants to send it along...). At any rate, I went in with lowered expectations, but I'm finding I really like this album. The first four songs are all great, imo, and I also quite like "Happening in English" and "Of Course Howard (1979)." Regardless of the absence of some key players, it still sounds very much like Magazine. And that's not just because of Devoto, but the band itself really sounds, plays, and feels like Magazine. Overall, I'm hearing good melodies and well-crafted songs with a lot of nice, intricate shifts and flourishes, which become more noticeable with repeated listens. I like that Formula is still using similar analog synth sounds to what's on the original four albums. It gives the songs a familiar color. Noko does a commendable job of channeling McGeoch. Would he be playing this way, using these same guitar effects, if wasn't playing with Magazine? I don't know, but the guitars definitely have a McGeoch kind of vibe to them. Stan the bassist fits in just fine. I can't really find anything wrong with his bass playing; everything he plays is appropriate, and at times I hear parts that stand out as being quite good. Devoto's lyrics are good - amusing, wry, thoughtful, etc.. His singing and delivery are still very Devoto. I do think the album loses momentum toward the end. The last two songs sound less memorable to me. But overall, I'm impressed. Is it as good as the original four albums? I'm not sure, but it's definitely not bad. Will I still it like a year from now? Time will tell. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1450 Registered: 10-2008 |
jeff, check your mail for the bonus track. your summing up pretty much ties in with my own thoughts, although i do prefer the last few songs over tracks 2 and 3, but that's not to say they are bad songs. regarding devotos's lyrics - yes i agree with your descriptions, but you can also add pornographic to that list - check out the lyrics of "other thematic material" - shocking really :-) | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1451 Registered: 10-2008 |
I can't for the life of me understand why Blisterpack Blues is only a bonus track, its one of the three best songs on the album. A 21st century reworking of Thankyou falletin me be mice elf again. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2773 Registered: 03-2005 |
I'm nearly finished with my fifth hearing of this album. Not being 22 years old I don't really like to play the same record day after day so it's taken me a while to get to play number five. I've ameliorated my sonic gripe with the simple expedient of bumping up the treble a notch on the pre-amp. (Hope I remember to turn it back down for everything else.) I must say that this album is holding up very well. But I can't share everybody else' enthusiasm for "Blisterpack Blues." Bear in mind, however, that I was also never a fan of the Sly Stone cover. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1460 Registered: 10-2008 |
It is a very "flat" sounding recording isn't it Randy? I just thought it was my new CD player which I acquired at the same time as the album, then I heard Hello Mr Curtis in the car and it still sounded lacking in top end. Stick with Blisterpack Blues Randy. I think the album in general is a very deceptive listen in the first plays. Initially I didn't care for Do The Meaning or Hello Mr Curtis, now after 20 or so listens they are obvious stand outs. |