Effortless, graceful, radiant, fragile, gorgeous. As much as I like much of their earlier work, this one just blows me away. "Love Goes On," "Clouds," "Was There Anything I Could Do?"... Is there anything wrong with this record?
― Clarke, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 20:08 (5 years ago) Permalink
Not to rain on your parade, but I really don't like it. I didn't want to get it and I regretted it when I did; they'd been my favourite band and this was the last of the original six I got - an unpleasant end to my discovery of the original Go-Betweens. It's just so boring and conservative-sounding. Even on songs about being miserable they don't sound miserable. On their happy love songs they're sickening; I can't identify with it at all, that complacency. Their personalities are buried under layers of polish and quality guitar playing by a guy who didn't even like their music. There are a couple of nice moments but as a whole album it's a lifeless listen.
― verhexen, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 20:15 (5 years ago) Permalink
I can understand why people like it, though. It *is* graceful and lovely-sounding. It all depends whether you see grace as an admirable quality in music. I kind of preferred them when they sounded like they might fall apart at any minute.
― verhexen, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 20:19 (5 years ago) Permalink
Believe me, this is a record that, on paper, doesn't appeal to me at all; I listen to VERY little stuff in this vein. But this is such a complete and convincing work to me, and it just comes together so beautifully.
― Clarke, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 20:44 (5 years ago) Permalink
This is a magnificent record, though I admit it did sound a bit too slick when I first heard it. But I've actually grown to love that slickness. The whole record just shimmers. I have to say, however, "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is my least favorite -- I was always baffled by that one kicking off one of their "greatest hits" comps. But I could listen to everything else here on repeat forever ...
― tylerw, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 20:53 (5 years ago) Permalink
I have to say I kind of like "Was There Anything I Could Do?", but that's really only for sentimental reasons - I got into them through the Bellavista Terrace comp, so it was the first Go-Betweens song I ever heard. It's one of Grant's better songs on 16LL, by virtue of its being a little bit punchier than "The Devil's Eye" or "Quiet Heart".
― verhexen, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:09 (5 years ago) Permalink
I reviewed the reissue a few years ago...
The production is the most genius element! I've never heard a record with such an airy coat-of-many-colors vibe -- certainly the best production job the Go-Be's got until Oceans Apart. Forster's hot streak ("Love is a Sign," "Clouds," "Dive For Your Memory") compensates for a certain rote quality to McLennan's songwriting. And "I'm Allright" is one of their greatest numbers, period.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:12 (5 years ago) Permalink
"Quiet Heart" is U2's "With or Without You" done right!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:13 (5 years ago) Permalink
I think the punchiness of "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is very welcome, very well-placed, and adds a jab of minor-key intensity in a spot where the record needs it. The acoustic guitar figure is a nicely insistent Smithsy jangle, and the emotional content is devastating; the delivery of "I don't know where she's living/ all I got was a card/ a picture of her at the Pyramids/ a knife held to her heart"... I mean, fuck! I feel like I did it to her myself when he sings it!
― Clarke, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:28 (5 years ago) Permalink
"You Can't Say No Forever" is the Smiths-y track.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:30 (5 years ago) Permalink
The intensity of "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is what's missing on the rest of the album, really. Even Robert doesn't sound intense. There's no vocal performances there to match Part Company, Head Full of Steam or the single version of Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea.
― verhexen, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:34 (5 years ago) Permalink
"Streets Of Your Town" is the Prefab Sprout-y track.
― henry s, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
I hear plenty of intensity in "Dive For Your Memory" -- love how he almost throws away the "and I miss my friend" bit; or the Dylan-esque rant in "Love is a Sign" ("you down by the river, and LON-DON no longer EX-ISTS!)
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea
An appalling song title, frankly.
― henry s, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:38 (5 years ago) Permalink
I think the problem is the Go-Betweens had grown up and learned the power of subtlety for 16 Lovers Lane, whereas I still haven't.
How do the other albums compare to 16LL in your view? In what ways is it superior?
― verhexen, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:45 (5 years ago) Permalink
You asking me? I'd rank them: Tallulah-Before Hollywood-Oceans Apart-Spring Hill Fair-16 Lovers Lane-The Friends of Rachel Worth-Liberty Belle-Send Me a Lullaby.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 21:48 (5 years ago) Permalink
great bunch of songs, probably their most consistent, although none of their best songs (i would put 'clouds' in RF's top 5 though)
― electricsound, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 22:53 (5 years ago) Permalink
as for the production, i don't love it, but pretty much all of their records excepting before hollywood and the first two reunion records are produced badly. springhill fair is the worst offender.
― electricsound, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 22:54 (5 years ago) Permalink
the CD pressings of Oceans Apart are famously awful, of course...
― henry s, Wednesday, 6 February 2008 14:08 (5 years ago) Permalink
Beautiful album. I especially like the oboes.
― zeus, Wednesday, 6 February 2008 14:39 (5 years ago) Permalink
the CD pressings of Oceans Apart are famously awful, of course... Yes, but a better pressing was eventually released by Lo Max.
Changing course a bit, saw this on the Yep Roc site: "Go-Betweens co-founder Robert Forster to release new solo album The Evangelist, April 29th on Yep Roc Records" Forster says: "I've written seven of the songs, and three are co-written with Grant. Adele and Glenn from The Go-Betweens are with me. It's not Oceans Apart 2 - it's something else, but with trails going into the past and I'm proud of it." Can't wait.
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 6 February 2008 14:39 (5 years ago) Permalink
this was the first record i got by them and i still love it to death. when my friend told me that jay reatard had done a go-betweens cover on a record of his, he originally thought it was "was there anything i could do?". it turned out to be "don't let him come back", which is a great cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klv9JLjJ4DI). i still think "was there anything i could do?" could stand to be a great punker cover.
― htshell, Wednesday, 6 February 2008 14:41 (5 years ago) Permalink
http://www.sbs.com.au/blogarticle/108260/Episode-1-The-Go-Betweens-i-16-Lovers-Lane-i
The full 50 minute documentary was posted to usenet last night.
― svend, Friday, 19 September 2008 17:53 (4 years ago) Permalink
AC Newman covers "Love Goes On!" live.
"anyone who soens like this song is fucked up in the head"
otm.
― Zeno, Saturday, 22 November 2008 06:27 (4 years ago) Permalink
the 16LL doc is great, especially for lindy going completely bonkers at a couple of points. awesome.
― thereminimum chips (electricsound), Saturday, 22 November 2008 06:31 (4 years ago) Permalink
"soens"?
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Saturday, 22 November 2008 06:33 (4 years ago) Permalink
"doesnt".
it was an awesome show btw.(Newman covered Go Betweens and A-ha's Take On Me for a new Starbucks compilation ("i'll do anything for money"..), but he didnt do the A-ha song live.)
― Zeno, Saturday, 22 November 2008 06:37 (4 years ago) Permalink
I thought it was "doesn't," just fucking around.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Saturday, 22 November 2008 06:48 (4 years ago) Permalink
the other albums aren't like this one are they? i think they'll forever be one of those bands i only like one album by.
― piscesx, Monday, 29 October 2012 19:58 (6 months ago) Permalink
I like Before Hollywood considerably, Considerably, CONSIDERABLY more than this one!
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Monday, 29 October 2012 20:12 (6 months ago) Permalink
if you like 16 lovers lane, just work backwards -- tallulah next!
― tylerw, Monday, 29 October 2012 20:14 (6 months ago) Permalink
They're perfect. Just perfect.
― Mule, Monday, 29 October 2012 21:29 (6 months ago) Permalink
Agreed -- go backwards.
One Week//One Band's recent roundup: http://oneweekoneband.tumblr.com/tagged/the_go_betweens/chrono
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 October 2012 21:31 (6 months ago) Permalink
also, the bonus discs on the last batch of reissues are totally worth everyone's time.
― tylerw, Monday, 29 October 2012 21:54 (6 months ago) Permalink
this album. proper autumn music.
― Jamie_ATP, Friday, 2 November 2012 14:43 (6 months ago) Permalink