Saw the vinyl at my record store yesterday
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Saturday, 13 April 2013 22:26 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, it's about. went for the dbl cd instead, mostly due to half the price.
― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Sunday, 14 April 2013 00:05 (eleven years ago) link
love the long screams in "a tooth for an eye", the way they slowly burn through the almost robotic restraint with which karin typically sings to become these jarringly physical, full-throated shrieks. kind of exhilarating.
― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Sunday, 14 April 2013 00:12 (eleven years ago) link
Just annoying that I pre-ordered the vinyl, it's in stores, and they say it won't be shipped until the 22nd.
― the so-called socialista (dowd), Sunday, 14 April 2013 08:56 (eleven years ago) link
I pre-ordered the vinyl sometime late in the week before the street date and they shipped UPS and it got to me on Wednesday. Where did you pre-order? Mine was through the Mute webstore FWIW.
― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Sunday, 14 April 2013 13:58 (eleven years ago) link
Mine was as well- bought through Mute, fulfilled through Insound, arrived on Wednesday. Maybe the vinyl delay mentioned upthread is only for the Rabid or Brille releases and not the domestic US on Mute?
― muus lääv? :D muus dut :( (Telephone thing), Sunday, 14 April 2013 16:04 (eleven years ago) link
I think mine was through Rabid Records?
― the so-called socialista (dowd), Sunday, 14 April 2013 16:08 (eleven years ago) link
First four songs on this album make up my favourite opening sequence in a long time, but I'm not gripped by the rest so far. Working on it.
― bananas are my preference (seandalai), Monday, 15 April 2013 01:51 (eleven years ago) link
listened a couple more times. "full of fire" is starting to feel really damn long. it wants to end at about seven, seven-and-a-half minutes, but cannot. the poor creature's desperation is pitiable, and yet there is nothing i can do to assuage it.
― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Monday, 15 April 2013 02:02 (eleven years ago) link
I'm on my fourth or fifth listen now, and I think "Full of Fire" gets longer every time.
― cwkiii, Monday, 15 April 2013 15:39 (eleven years ago) link
I still love it!
Think 'Without You My Life Would Be Boring' may be my absolute highlight of this after several listens.
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Monday, 15 April 2013 15:50 (eleven years ago) link
I was looking at this today. The single cd is a tenner, dbl is thirteen quid, so I'll be paying three quid for a nineteen minute drone piece. Do I really want that? I was hoping this thread might help but seems the song is question had divided people. (Thought - maybe I should get the single cd and download the drone track from Itunes? Wouldn't that be cheaper?)
― Rob M Revisited, Monday, 15 April 2013 16:08 (eleven years ago) link
Was in same quandary but convinced to buy double by this:
Double.― they all are afflicted with a sickness of existence (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:59 AM (4 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkNot that the 19-minute drone is essential, or whatever, I just think it makes sense. Two 45-ish minute blocks being easier to take in, perhaps.― they all are afflicted with a sickness of existence (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:59 AM (4 days ago)
― they all are afflicted with a sickness of existence (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:59 AM (4 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Not that the 19-minute drone is essential, or whatever, I just think it makes sense. Two 45-ish minute blocks being easier to take in, perhaps.
― they all are afflicted with a sickness of existence (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:59 AM (4 days ago)
― Eyeball Kicks, Monday, 15 April 2013 16:17 (eleven years ago) link
what are these "CDs" you people are dithering over
― flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 15 April 2013 16:21 (eleven years ago) link
o yes i remember they're the things i have to import into itunes before listening to
― flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 15 April 2013 16:22 (eleven years ago) link
lol you use itunes
― Number None, Monday, 15 April 2013 16:27 (eleven years ago) link
easiest program to work by far
― flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 15 April 2013 16:29 (eleven years ago) link
Easier than a CD player?
― they all are afflicted with a sickness of existence (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 15 April 2013 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
yes
― flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 15 April 2013 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
duh
― Evan, Monday, 15 April 2013 16:52 (eleven years ago) link
listening to this for the first time right nowWas expecting to not like it after a few minutes. All other Knife albums except TIAY are among my favourites but I've been anticipating an unlistenable mess - happily this isn't it.'Wrap your arms around me' is good although I'm a little embarrassed to admit that when the vocals started it reminded me of the cover of 'tomorrow never knows' from the Sucker Punch soundtrack
― kinder, Monday, 15 April 2013 17:50 (eleven years ago) link
The Sucker Punch soundtrack is the most weirdly compelling unlistenable mess
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 15 April 2013 17:54 (eleven years ago) link
I never knew there was a version of this released as a single disc without the long drone piece. I can't think of any other albums that have been released normally and also in a truncated form (bonus track editions aside).
I'd go for the double disc version Rob. Not only is it the complete album as the band intended but I think it's probably a bit more digestible over two instalments.
My vinyl copy turned up today. This thing is a beast. Weighs a tonne. 3 LP's plus both the CD's and 12" size spazzy artwork for £19 seems like a great deal to me.
― Internet Alan, Monday, 15 April 2013 17:54 (eleven years ago) link
i picked my vinyl up for $25 or so, considering everything it comes w/ esp compared to other overpriced vinyl i was p pleased.
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Monday, 15 April 2013 17:56 (eleven years ago) link
so i got my copy in the mail. i paid $7.99 for the single CD edition. they wanted $10 for the second disc with a 19 minute song i did not want.
so for those who were asking, the single CD edition is in a card board case. not a jewel case as i suspected. so i think it is just like the 2CD edition but with one less song.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 20 April 2013 03:17 (eleven years ago) link
correction: they wanted $10 more for the deluxe edition. or $17.89 for the added song.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 20 April 2013 03:20 (eleven years ago) link
cd edition flips open craftily crabwise and contains two large posters. which doesn't add much to the listening experience, but dr. tra lala is kind of cartoon hott.
― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Saturday, 20 April 2013 03:23 (eleven years ago) link
^ the double cd version, but yeah
― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Saturday, 20 April 2013 04:11 (eleven years ago) link
Ilike the drone but Idon't think every album should have 19 mins of drone in the middle
― paolo, Saturday, 20 April 2013 12:53 (eleven years ago) link
Also I never really got Silent Shout but this album totally fucking rules
'full of fire' is absolutely crushing on speakers, soundstage is immense, extremely disorienting
― 乒乓, Saturday, 20 April 2013 13:55 (eleven years ago) link
Loving every ounce of this, but know that I'd never heard so much as a lick of Knife before now.
(Will def remedy soon)
― Raymond Cummings, Sunday, 21 April 2013 18:45 (eleven years ago) link
Second listen - thinking this is epic and genius.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Sunday, 21 April 2013 18:54 (eleven years ago) link
I'm getting a similar vibe off this as I do The Seer by Swans. Jarring, arty, large scale. some really catchy parts ensconced in jarring extended instrumental workouts. The apocalyptic political outlook. The use of exotic instruments to tap it all neatly into the 'fourth world'. I'm really interested in this kind of music right now: long, dark albums with a lot of variety and experimentation - post rock, but only in the sense that rock instruments and arrangements rarely feature at all. Prog done properly? Maybe. Scott Walker, Om, Swans and now the Knife have all released albums recently that could fit into this and I'm loving them right now.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Sunday, 21 April 2013 19:09 (eleven years ago) link
The comic strip that came with it was pretty funny. Kinda self deprecating in a way. I like the way the solution to extreme wealth seemed to be simply 'plant a tree'.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Sunday, 21 April 2013 19:12 (eleven years ago) link
For those, like myself, with only digital downloads, the artwork/comic strip is available here.
The theknifefans tumblr also featuring some useful guides like:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/ee69b525a7371c94b951e5215812c5a8/tumblr_ml9drbhSxU1s1r55zo1_500.png
― Me So Hormetic (Sanpaku), Sunday, 21 April 2013 19:24 (eleven years ago) link
Damn I want my record. I think tomorrow is the shipping day...
― the so-called socialista (dowd), Sunday, 21 April 2013 19:42 (eleven years ago) link
Raging Lungs isn't available on Spotify and you can't buy it as an mp3 by itself from either iTunes or Amazon. Guess I won't be hearing it until maybe Christmas time.
― Moodles, Sunday, 21 April 2013 19:46 (eleven years ago) link
Ha, totally, I was just about to recommend a "Seer" vs. "Habitual" poll.
― Raymond Cummings, Sunday, 21 April 2013 20:59 (eleven years ago) link
Okay, I've been listening to this all day and I'm ready to say it's the best thing they've ever done. Better than Silent Shout, or at least very different. The drone track isn't just worth having, it's essential; it wouldn't be the same album without it. I listen to this album as one piece and the drone tracks is really an extended outro/intro for the two sides - it works as apiece to the other songs. Don't really see why people can't get behind it, but then The Captain was always my favourite off SS.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Sunday, 21 April 2013 21:41 (eleven years ago) link
Comparing it to The Captain seems silly in terms of length, structure, vocals, lyrics,... I realize you didn't do it directly here, but someone did upthread.
― azaera, Monday, 22 April 2013 05:41 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah I don't think they're very similar at all really, but as you say people were comparing them upthread. This record feels very very different to Silent Shout. Coming out 6-7 years after, it feels contextually different too. So much has happened in the intervening time, so many records taking direct influence from SS too that this one makes a lot of sense coming from outside all that.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Monday, 22 April 2013 07:36 (eleven years ago) link
Listening again. Think this is fast becoming album of the year so far for me. I'd really like to talk more about 'Old Dreams Waiting To Be Realised' because it's sort of frustrating me that so many people are getting perturbed by this album for being a little bit avant garde and having a 20 minute 'drone' track on it. It's 2013, this is the Knife, you're all music fans - what's going on? It's not a useless track, it's not really a drone track either. Plenty going on in it, lots of changes and bits creeping in, some interesting acoustic artefacts too - isn't it supposed to be an amplified recording of a building or a corridor or something? An the Fracking track was made with a bed spring allegedly. It's cool stuff and it works really well as part of the album too.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Monday, 22 April 2013 17:25 (eleven years ago) link
I totally get it if electroacoustic soundscapes aren't whoever's thing but I'm just surprised by the reaction, almost as though the Knife had decided to include 20 minutes of silence just to fill the album out or provoke people. It's not that big a deal. I'd argue it's the duck's eye of the album, but also just as worthwhile as the other tracks here. Had some pretty cool auditory hallucinations while drifting off with it on, especially when that bizarre whacking noise came in. Earlier on I was listening to it in the kitchen, my housemate came in and started talking to me and after about three minutes he goes 'what's that noise?' In a slight panic. When I explained I was playing a record he told me he'd thought it was a plane until it had just kept getting louder and louder.
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Monday, 22 April 2013 17:53 (eleven years ago) link
LET'S TALK ABOUT GENDER BABYLET'S TALK ABOUT GENDER BABYLET'S TALK ABOUT GENDER BABYLET'S TALK ABOUT YOU AND ME
― 乒乓, Monday, 22 April 2013 23:57 (eleven years ago) link
this album is working out okay for me. there are times when i think, "this is a flying lizards record where all the songs are ten minutes long", but other times, it's like listening in on conversations between electrical outlets in a david lynch movie. leonard is giving me a nerve pinch, i guess is what i'm trying to say.
― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Tuesday, 23 April 2013 01:50 (eleven years ago) link
am I missing it, or has this album failed to start much of a critical or political discussion?
― caek, Tuesday, 23 April 2013 09:46 (eleven years ago) link
if u want to have a go, feel free
― flamenco drop (lex pretend), Tuesday, 23 April 2013 09:52 (eleven years ago) link
i have nothing to say. it's impenetrable to me.
― caek, Tuesday, 23 April 2013 10:13 (eleven years ago) link
There was some good commentary about fuel for fire on songmeanings of all places
― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Tuesday, 23 April 2013 10:24 (eleven years ago) link