― maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 15:30 (10 years ago) Permalink
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 15:33 (10 years ago) Permalink
I adore that album.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:53 (10 years ago) Permalink
― hstencil, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:53 (10 years ago) Permalink
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:55 (10 years ago) Permalink
― hstencil, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:55 (10 years ago) Permalink
― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 17:03 (10 years ago) Permalink
When I ran for vice president of my high school, I started off my speech (to the entire student body) by explaining what the Burroughs quote "Language is a virus from outer space" meant. Despite this, I still got elected! No lie. I also dressed up as Laurie on the Big Science cover for "Dress up as your favorite musician" day at school (liquid paper applied to sunglasses).
The 2-CD anthology looks like a rip. I think there's only one rarity on it ("Walk the Dog").
― Ernest P. (ernestp), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 17:09 (10 years ago) Permalink
her tracks on 'you're the guy I want to spend my money with' (split with william burroughs and john giorno, both contributing spoken word) is even weirder than 'big science', worth hunting down for sure. the song 'dr. miller' is brilliant. I love the 'united states' box set but it's not something you throw on every day.
After that, things just get dull. 'Home of the Brave' is the soundtrack to a concert film, an okay film that compiles the previous 8 years but taken as an album it's sporadic at best. 'Strange Angels', way too overproduced, shame on Mike Thorne. Some nice songs but too much glossy discomfort. 'Bright Red', well as if anyone's expecting Brian Eno to do anything interesting ever again, but even the few things that seem like 'songs' come off a bit pointless. I heard the albums since then have continued the pattern.
― milton, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 17:38 (10 years ago) Permalink
btw i listened to strange angels a couple of days ago. it hasn't aged well. and i loved it so mucu in 89. but the benjamin song is still fucking awesome. especially for the lyrics.
the spoken word record is great afair.
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:13 (10 years ago) Permalink
Thanks, Alex....I guess. My fondness for Killing Joke is admittedly often over-emphasized for comedic effect here on ILM, but I do legitimately adore their music, and there are precious few artists whose music affects me in the same, visceral manner. Moreover, Killing Joke have indulged in more than a few styles along the way, so might I suggest giving them another shot. Just a thought.
Back on topic, Laurie's Ugly One album is not only great listening as a "spoken word" album, but it's also a compelling piece of ambient sound as well, beyond the narrative. Her very voice acts as an instrument. She tends to speak in a meter/timbre that is virtually hypnotic, I find.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:46 (10 years ago) Permalink
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:49 (10 years ago) Permalink
― maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:59 (10 years ago) Permalink
the 'faraway, so close' soundtrack has two wonderful acoustic arrangements of 'tightrope' and 'speak my language', much better than the versions of 'bright red'.
'you're the guy' did make it to CD... if you're into 'big science' you'll really want a copy...
― milton, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 19:06 (10 years ago) Permalink
so many moons ago I was briefly a nanny for a 3 year old, Vivienne. Whenever I put on Big Science she would get up during x=x, walk over to the speakers and start dancing. (this is also a kid whose favorite song that she'd sing while playing with legos or crayons was "Jane Says")
― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 21:00 (10 years ago) Permalink
I also dig Ugly One... and never get on a plane without it if for no other reason than the one about the woman who is flying for the first time and thinks the lights from the cities below are stars.
― rainman (rainman), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:09 (9 years ago) Permalink
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:15 (9 years ago) Permalink
― christoff (christoff), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:29 (9 years ago) Permalink
Was it The State or Kids in the Hall that had a skit about a cheerleader that made cheers Laurie Anderson-style? Also classic.
― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:26 (9 years ago) Permalink
My girlfriend almost left me because I took her to the horrible cheesefest Moby Dick thing on the night she got laid off. Although i suspect that was LA's nadir.
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:38 (9 years ago) Permalink
― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Saturday, 17 January 2004 03:26 (9 years ago) Permalink
― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 17 January 2004 03:32 (9 years ago) Permalink
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 17 January 2004 03:32 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Monday, 14 June 2004 14:13 (8 years ago) Permalink
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 14 June 2004 14:58 (8 years ago) Permalink
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 01:06 (6 years ago) Permalink
Has anybody got the Big Science reissue? How does it sound?
What about the new recording of Big Science on the single with Lou?
In case nobody knows what I'm talking about:
PITCHFORK
Laurie Anderson's art-rock classic Big Science is 25, and to celebrate, Nonesuch are saving the candles and reissuing the thing instead. But that's not all: according to Uncut, Laurie, along with her pals Lou Reed and Antony Hegarty (of "and the Johnsons" fame), recorded a new version of the record's title track for a Big Science 2 EP. The EP also features a remastered version of "O Superman" from the Big Science LP. Both are due in the UK July 16. UPDATE: THEY WILL BE OUT JULY 17 IN THE U.S.
Laurie also has a few tour dates on the way in Spain and Portugal, which we'll get to after the tracklists.
Big Science 2:
01 Big Science [ft. Lou Reed and Anthony Hagerty] 02 O Superman
Big Science:
01 From the Air 02 Big Science 03 Sweaters 04 Walking and Falling 05 Born Never Asked 06 O Superman 07 Example #22 08 Let X = X 09 It Tango 10 Walk the Dog 11 O Superman
Small tour:
07-13 Braga, Portugal - Theatro Circo 07-15 Lisbon, Portugal - Culturgest 07-17 Madrid, Spain - Festival Veranos de la Villa
― flamingrev, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 06:47 (5 years ago) Permalink
I don't like the idea of bonus tracks after "It Tango". Totally beside the point.
― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 08:38 (5 years ago) Permalink
was not into Big Science the first few times I heard it, but it clicked with me big time recently ... suddenly what seemed like self conscious quirk turned into something beautiful and haunting. Not sure how it happened but it did. Curious to know what the context for this was -- did people see her as like, a female David Byrne? Kind of disappointed that this isn't a more expansive reissue -- aren't there a bunch of uncollected pre-BIg Science tunes out there?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 15:46 (5 years ago) Permalink
I hadn't heard any news about the reissue, but that's exciting. I actually just heard this record for the first time a few weeks ago, after finding a used vinyl copy. The spoken word bits put me off at first, but by the end of the album I thought it was all pretty awesome. I had a similar feeling to: suddenly what seemed like self conscious quirk turned into something beautiful and haunting
― Mark Clemente, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 15:50 (5 years ago) Permalink
yeah, it makes me think of the effect David Lynch's best stuff ... Laurie's aesthetic is different obviously, but there's a similar thing going on -- where weirdness is expected but actual emotion and truth isn't. So when that emotion comes through, it's the equivalent of a gut punch. If that makes sense.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 15:55 (5 years ago) Permalink
I think the bonus tracks just play on computer or something like that.
Big Science songs are excerpts from a larger work called United States. This has only been released in a live version that is 4 CD's long. I've always assumed that because part of her job description is Performance Artist, that the live version of this is how it is meant to be heard.
I've never felt compelled to brave a 4 cd Laurie Anderson album.
― flamingrev, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 16:14 (5 years ago) Permalink
You guys are making a strong case for me to relisten to it. Since I don't own Home of the Brave, I gotta say that BS is my least favoritie eighties Anderson: lots of good ideas, fascinating synth textures, and such, but the music and spoken-word stuff rarely interfaces meaningfully. Like I said upthread, Strange Angels is her real masterwork.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 16:17 (5 years ago) Permalink
Oh man, I love this record. It's be nice if Laurie got all trendy or something.
― I know, right?, Friday, 27 July 2007 19:54 (5 years ago) Permalink
It's hard. It's just hard. It's just kinda hard to say.
― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:27 (5 years ago) Permalink
But isn't it?
― I know, right?, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:28 (5 years ago) Permalink
This record was a car staple of ours when I was 8 or 9. 'From The Air' and a couple of others are ingrained.
― Just got offed, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:29 (5 years ago) Permalink
Let X=X
― I know, right?, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:29 (5 years ago) Permalink
Thanks for puttin' on the feed bag
(p.s. the last 20 seconds of 'Let X=X' are phenomenal)
OMG XPOST
let xpost = xpost
― Just got offed, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:30 (5 years ago) Permalink
I'm kind of frightened of hearing these songs in the United States context in case it changes them. I think I would like to be listening to "It Tango" when I die.
― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:30 (5 years ago) Permalink
The dodgy youtube clip of let x=x live is brilliant. The acoustics/dodgy mobile phone recording give it this really nice warmth.
― I know, right?, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:31 (5 years ago) Permalink
my friend Jon went to a Laurie Anderson show a few years back and left halfway through -- apparently after he left, she played "O Superman" and people clapped along(!?)
― Curt1s is coming to Zwinktopia !, Monday, 10 September 2007 05:51 (5 years ago) Permalink
HOW DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT LAURIE ANDERSON THESE DAYS?
― Bimble, Monday, 10 September 2007 05:59 (5 years ago) Permalink
just bought it. xcited if trepidatious. she's always here where i work at our Galas and stuff, with lou reed. i wanna slip her a demo.
o superman is good but a little lazy, no?
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:31 (5 years ago) Permalink
Not really? I dunno: watch the video, and it feels like it's in the perfect spot, every element given just the right amount of weight and space.
― nabisco, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:35 (5 years ago) Permalink
i like the sparseness OK, but i could have done with a little more texture. also, the mother's voice is a cheap effect. not sure what it's supposed to mean, or why the effect wasn't more nuanced...
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
i've seen the video and loved it
I have a lot of love for this, i think it's crappiness adds to it (i mean the clip quality)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_VA3wuNNo0
― I know, right?, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:38 (5 years ago) Permalink
But as far as Strange Angels go, "The Dream Before" is pretty nice.
― Eric H., Friday, 28 December 2007 06:24 (5 years ago) Permalink
Alfred, I'd heard Big Science and Mister Heartbreak prior and I love Strange Angels. I don't know who these crazy people are!
― rogermexico., Friday, 28 December 2007 08:11 (5 years ago) Permalink
For a grander Big Science-era fix, you should really get United States Live next (Strange Angels is also great, but entirely different). Avoid Mr. Heartbreak unless you're a devoted Gabriel/Bush nut.
― Ioannis, Friday, 28 December 2007 09:00 (5 years ago) Permalink
i do feel the possibility of Bush here. and of course, i am a Bush not. As for GAbriel, not so much yet.
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 14:53 (5 years ago) Permalink
i don't know, it doesn't register with me at all. i'd say go for Bright Red before that, it works better on the whole. not that I listen to it that much either (I do like the duet with Lou Reed)
― akm, Friday, 28 December 2007 15:13 (5 years ago) Permalink
oops *Bush nut =)
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 15:15 (5 years ago) Permalink
I wish I had been here for more Laurie Talk. Did anyone mention Bright Red? I stick by Big Science, but that's got some great bits on it. "Did she fall or was she pushed"
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:28 (5 years ago) Permalink
dicks don't have ears
― nabisco, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:32 (5 years ago) Permalink
although I suppose you could hook a little tin one on there
― nabisco, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:33 (5 years ago) Permalink
Why do people always get so abusive on this board. It's not fox hunting y'know. That's right nabisco, turn the other cheek!
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:35 (5 years ago) Permalink
i don't even know what just happened
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:39 (5 years ago) Permalink
I never know what just happened. How're you doin' on the album now?
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:43 (5 years ago) Permalink
this album? it's very good! i'm totally into it. i think my fav song is Ex. 22, not necessarily b/c it's the poppiest, just cuz it's nice and cohesive.
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:49 (5 years ago) Permalink
Mine is Let X=X. This always reminds me of the room I lived in in first year in College, I listened to this and Matmos every time I was going out. Seems a bit weird now.
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:53 (5 years ago) Permalink
love this album. i've been listening to it for like a year now and still am not sick of it, which is pretty rare for me
― n/a, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:34 (4 years ago) Permalink
so weird but still catchy and fun
― n/a, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:35 (4 years ago) Permalink
Lord, but "Let X=X / It Tango" is gorgeous.
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 9 March 2009 00:26 (4 years ago) Permalink
Your Captain says: Put your head on your knees. Your Captain says: Put your head on your hands. Captain says: Put your hands on your head. Put your hands on your hips.
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 11 January 2010 21:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
let x=x is still the sound of the first room i lived in when i went to college
― plaxico (I know, right?), Monday, 11 January 2010 21:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
I haven't done an A/B comparison but my instinct was that all these tracks were better on the huge "United State Live" box.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 02:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
been listening to this alot lately myself for some reason, it seems to always be relevant, somehow
― akm, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 03:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
30 y/o today
― y'tulip, y'pea-brained earwig (donna rouge), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
"Gee you look terrible for your age." -- Rose Nylund
― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
your mouthyour eyesthe wayyou holdyour pensand pencils
i no longer love it
― their private gesture for bison (difficult listening hour), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
in no case is this true
― yuppie bullshit chocolate blogbait (contenderizer), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
probably one of my favorite albums of all time, have yet to hear another laurie anderson album that i really like :/
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
o superman came on from some old mix CD this weekend while i was driving around with my 2 1/2 year old."what is she saying?!" "what is that sound!?"
― tylerw, Monday, 23 April 2012 19:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
neither snow nor rainnor gloom of nightshall stay these couriersfrom the swift completionof their appointed rounds
― tits or kitfo (get bent), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
have yet to hear another laurie anderson album that i really like :/
^^^ what I think about Strange Angels although I like lots of her other albums.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
The Ugly One with the Jewels appeals to the kid in me who still loves storytime.
― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
haven't heard it, but You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With is a great title
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:28 (1 year ago) Permalink
Mr. Heartbreak is mostly killer, a little filler.
Anyway, the O Superman video is sort of shockingly effective to me today given its age and the technology involved: http://vimeo.com/3610524
― Three Word Username, Monday, 23 April 2012 20:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well then, you've forced me to do said comparison!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 23 April 2012 22:12 (1 year ago) Permalink