just seen in a small but sold-out bar in new york, which is intersting because i don't think any of their records are out in the us. yay internet.
it was a really good (if short-ish) show! i can't remember thinking this about many bands, but it seems like they should become big. they have catchy songs, they can rock out, they're attractive -- and everyone loves the welsh, right?
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 06:58 (3 years ago) Permalink
their 2009 album had a modest but well formed following on ILM.. i for one am v interested in their next one
― journey to the center of fat butt (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 07:10 (3 years ago) Permalink
I think they in (or are soon to start) the process of recording the proper debut LP. That "Greyhounds in the Slips" single bodes well.
But yeah, there are a few of us around who've been championing them to all who would listen.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 08:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
I liked their album more than Passion Pit... I don't know who was first and don't really care. Cutesy gang vocals with synths aren't interesting nor inspiring.
― drainCosmetics, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 08:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
nyctaper.com has mp3 and flac from the piano's show.
― drone/a/sore, Thursday, 14 January 2010 05:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
They're opening for Paul McCartney in Cardiff next month. Kinda shocked by this, they're still 'the band some friends from school are in' to me.
Thought the first album was good but a bit one-dimensional, but I liked the Greyhound single and am really interested in hearing their new album.
― useless chamber, Friday, 11 June 2010 15:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
i had a dream that they asked me to sing for them at their show in chicago, but it was like the next day and they didn't give me any of the lyrics or practice with me or anything. then it was time for the show and they had all these extra musicians and there were stage directions i had to follow where i had to like thrust my arms in the air at a certain point
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 18:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'm really liking the enormous walls of guitars on the new album. Not so sure about the songwriting sadly.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 18:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Realized yesterday that I absolutely HATE what they did to "Whirring" by extending the outro jam to infinity and using double kickdrum hits on it like they're some metal band.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 18:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
the everchanging spectrum of a lie is fucking great.
― Crooked Lust (thebingo), Friday, 13 May 2011 19:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
xpost -- I fucking love the double kickdrum on Whirring! I'm torn between this song and Llaw = Wall as my favorite on this album.
Unfortunately I couldn't make it to their show last month. Hopefully they will come to Portland again soon.
― righteousmaelstrom, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
this big roar is kicking my ass...easily my fav release of 2011 so far.
― Crooked Lust (thebingo), Monday, 16 May 2011 14:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
everchanging spectrum is really awesome, one of my favorite songs of the year. good album but I played it out over three weeks and got tired of it.
― akm, Monday, 16 May 2011 19:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Just saw on facebook that TJF is playing Conan tonight. Wooooo!
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 17 May 2011 18:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Glad there's a thread on this band. They were on GlastoBBC last night. This tiny little blonde thing in a summer skirt and doc martens playing brutal attack rock interspersed with pretty indie breakdowns. What I noticed most were her facial expressions that went from elated gaiety to snarling bitterness from verse to chorus. Sometimes I thought she was going to get blown offstage by the ferocity of their guitar playing. Ones to watch...
― the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Monday, 27 June 2011 11:28 (1 year ago) Permalink
i think i am going to buy this album this week. loving the vocals and wall of sound production.
― mark e, Monday, 27 June 2011 14:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
no coverage on the iplayer of their G set yet though.
I think you can red button their set on tv? maybe... I'd love to see it again. Good to see a front(wo)man with the right levels of gusto as she.
xpost
yes, me too.
i am lazy - what's it called?
― the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Monday, 27 June 2011 14:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
never mind, i just found out and bought it.
― the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Monday, 27 June 2011 14:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
album : the big roar.no access to red button on normal freeview.never realised how diff freeview is for sat/cable viewers then this weekend.normal freeview had nothing on the red button really.booo.
xpost. ha.
― mark e, Monday, 27 June 2011 14:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
I've received The Big Roar in the mail (lovely artwork let down by standard plastic case - should've been a digi-pak). Will be putting my ear quite close to it at lunch and report back.
― can't be gloomy with halloumi (dog latin), Thursday, 30 June 2011 11:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
I like them a lot but I wish the songwriting was as good as their overall sound.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:02 (1 year ago) Permalink
not got this yet. too busy buying/absorbing the hold steady back cat. this week.on my list though.
― mark e, Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
(lovely artwork let down by standard plastic case - should've been a digi-pak)
Yes! At the risk of stirring up yet another debate about the relative merits of each, I'm always a little disappointed when an album comes in a standard jewel case - they should all be digi-paks now.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
My husband likes this band and I was never really inspired to care much until today -- watched a live performance of Whirring and there is something so pleasantly late 80s/early 90s about them. I love her!
― Fa la la (La Lechera), Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
I will admit that I was also put off by their name.
― Fa la la (La Lechera), Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
^^^^ otm
on both counts!
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
I mean, if I was still in high school I would totally have pictures of Ritzy all over my locker and be in a constant state of massive crush.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
^^this
I know it's kind of crude, but I'm a sucker for a band with a cuet singer. And the early-'90s alterna-rock thing only emphasises that. Could see them being included on one of the old Volume compilations.
― can't be gloomy with halloumi (dog latin), Thursday, 30 June 2011 14:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
She's cute, but she also has guts and seems somewhat mature -- she's not cartoonishly cutesy or twee/winky. that's why i like her.
― Fa la la (La Lechera), Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
Exactly, plus she plays a mean guitar.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
I saw them play live a couple of months ago in Cleveland and just stood near the stage and marveled and her and the bass player's pedal rigs. Some of them are labeled for specific songs, some have an effect feeding into another of the same effect with different settings, it's crazy. They're coming back here for a free show at the Rock and LOL Hall of Fame in August, I'll definitely see them again.
― Michael Bay, CEO of Transformers (Phil D.), Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
Definitely a PJ Harvey/Kristin Hersh thing about her.
― can't be gloomy with halloumi (dog latin), Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
― Michael Bay, CEO of Transformers (Phil D.), Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
That's what I mean -- she is skilled! And adorable! I think the super noisy intro/outro are what sold me, tbh.
― Fa la la (La Lechera), Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
*sticks up poster in work locker*
― can't be gloomy with halloumi (dog latin), Thursday, 30 June 2011 15:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
Whoa. Two Line 6 loopers?
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
Not loopers - the gold box is the distortion modeler, the purple box is the filter (modulation) modeler.
― Brooker T Buckingham, Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
I do not know what these things are, but I want them!
― can't be gloomy with halloumi (dog latin), Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
Think the two green pedals in the foreground are a Tubescreamer and a Bad Monkey (excellent cheap Tubescreamer clone)
― B-Boy Bualadh Bos (ecuador_with_a_c), Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Ah, thx. They kind of looked like old loopers but I wasn't totally sure.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
A graphic eq and a tuner pedal there too. Top tip: if you don't like your distortion, try putting an eq before it, can totally change its character.
― B-Boy Bualadh Bos (ecuador_with_a_c), Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
It's been quite while since I heard such a great full-on, blasting, melodic rock record.
― Asamoah Nyan (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 17 July 2011 16:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
Very good album, this. Interviewing Ritzy tomorrow if anyone has a burning question or two...
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 September 2011 16:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
Since buying this, I've had it on my ipod but other than Abacus I couldn't tell you anything about it. Every track is kind of startling but then just wooshes over me. A shame - I like the idea of this band.
― It was a Thursday night. I was working late... (dog latin), Thursday, 1 September 2011 16:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
I like "Whirring" a whole bunch.
― a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 September 2011 16:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
oh yeah, Whirring is the other one. The others are kind of cool, but not memorable.
― It was a Thursday night. I was working late... (dog latin), Thursday, 1 September 2011 16:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
― Asamoah Nyan (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, July 17, 2011 12:45 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark
― some dude, Friday, 2 September 2011 03:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
cradle remains one of my favorite songs of the past couple of years
― kaygee, Friday, 2 September 2011 05:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
the opening track of this album (everchanging spectrum of a lie) is one of the best opening tracks of any albums in several years. it kind of overshadows the entire album by being so great though. I was on the fence about this band for a long time even after hearing the album a ton, it seemed too derivative and her vocals too siouxsie, but it eventually won me over.
― akm, Friday, 2 September 2011 07:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
streaming: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-joy-formidable-reach-for-rock-heights-on-wolfs-law-album-premiere-20130116
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 17:46 (4 months ago) Permalink
:-D
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 17:48 (4 months ago) Permalink
i have a lot of enthusiasm for this band. i think i used to agree with matt dc about the songwriting being secondary to the sound (think i used to just listen to "whirring" and "cradle" over and over again) but i think the songs are by nature kind of slow-acting; first you're overwhelmed by the sound of it and then the fragments of melody slip in lightly, almost unnoticed. the kind of effect where i was sort of underwhelmed at first by "cholla" and "this ladder is ours" and then found aspects of them in my head a week later
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 17:55 (4 months ago) Permalink
i can tell you right now that i don't know how i feel about "maw maw song"
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 18:35 (4 months ago) Permalink
oh hey I am kind of digging this
― Bel-Air the Fresh Prince, sitting in a chair (DJP), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 18:37 (4 months ago) Permalink
also the beginning of "cholla" is like a bomb going off every time
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 18:38 (4 months ago) Permalink
okay seriously why did I have problems connecting with this band before
― Bel-Air the Fresh Prince, sitting in a chair (DJP), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 18:55 (4 months ago) Permalink
YOU HAD KNOCKWURST IN YOUR EARS BUT THANKFULLY YOU CLEANED THAT OUT.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 18:57 (4 months ago) Permalink
Sorry I was just having a compulsive air guitar moment earlier and I mock all who hate this band.
Also the one-two of "Tendons"/"Little Blimp" makes me want to have an Alex in NYC moment and bulldoze over the remains of idiots and fools.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:03 (4 months ago) Permalink
no no you're right, I literally had knockwurst in my ears
― Bel-Air the Fresh Prince, sitting in a chair (DJP), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:04 (4 months ago) Permalink
*main riff to "cholla" plays as ned, piloting a bulldozer, emerges smiling from beyond the hill*
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:05 (4 months ago) Permalink
did they get a little gothier on this release or something
― Bel-Air the Fresh Prince, sitting in a chair (DJP), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:06 (4 months ago) Permalink
it's a little more immediate than the big roar
they're about equally goth though
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:07 (4 months ago) Permalink
also this is the first record i can think of where i'm actually glad there's a hidden track, and it's "wolf's law"
that's good to hear, it was pretty dumb when they released the title track as a single and then said it wouldn't be on the album
― some dude, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:09 (4 months ago) Permalink
It feels like this: "Whuh, but that's still a cool start...wait they became "Hard to Explain" by the Strokes but actually good, then they went back to the apocalyptic glam-stomp because why the fuck not."
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:15 (4 months ago) Permalink
Okay ending (bonus track aside) on a huge string laden punch = A fucking plus.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 19:39 (4 months ago) Permalink
Probably helps that I was warned by some friends long ago this album was a slow-grower, but man, this is all sounding incredible to me on first listen
― Evan R, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 20:42 (4 months ago) Permalink
oh no, "maw maw." I always assumed these guys were above that kind of Flaming Lips tomfoolery
― Evan R, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 20:54 (4 months ago) Permalink
So yeah, this album is utterly wonderful though. And just distinct enough from their debut, without totally sacrificing the qualities that made that one so good
― Evan R, Thursday, 17 January 2013 22:57 (4 months ago) Permalink
yeah it's a proper progression
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Thursday, 17 January 2013 23:01 (4 months ago) Permalink
this album is insane.
― ❏❐❑❒ (gr8080), Sunday, 20 January 2013 20:47 (4 months ago) Permalink
I watched the Jimmy Fallon performance and thought, "oh man, this band s going to be Smashing Pumpkins kind of huge."
http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/the-joy-formidable-this-ladder-is-ours/n31790
A couple of days later, and while there isn't anything really amazing about the performance, that idea still doesn't seem entirely far-fetched.
― fffv, Sunday, 20 January 2013 21:17 (4 months ago) Permalink
I can't help but sing "We Represent the Lollipop Guild" along to "Maw Maw Song."
― spastic heritage, Thursday, 24 January 2013 04:32 (4 months ago) Permalink
awesome album, definitely loved the first in a "this excels at something slightly one-dimensional, and i'm happy with that for at least one album" but they actually upped the ante here
― Doctor No Cassie (some dude), Thursday, 24 January 2013 04:42 (4 months ago) Permalink
i think i like this but it's a little overproduced, like you don't really need harp trills and string crescendos and claves when you've got a band that already sounds good and writes cool songs
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:29 (4 months ago) Permalink
like i'm really not crazy about "the turnaround" for example
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:32 (4 months ago) Permalink
Jack Rabid's glowing review on his Facebook feed from a couple days ago solidified me wanting to check 'em out at least:
the formidable joy i get from the new joy formidable album out in three days, and their previous album the big roar and mini-lp a balloon called moaning, is off the charts. and their appearance on jimmy fallon last night, a few hours after i interviewed them for big takeover's upcoming spring issue 72, was just another bit of evidence that they are the best live band going as well, and have been for at least three years. and what an uplifting set of lyrics, without overselling it! and what nice people. is there anything they don't do well? i don't know... trigonometry? cold fusion? flossing?
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:39 (4 months ago) Permalink
they're definitely a great band, i'm just not as excited about the direction on this album as others i guess. maybe it'll grow on me.
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:41 (4 months ago) Permalink
Just picked up Wolf's Law, so can't comment, but the overproduction was my major disappointment with Big Roar as well. Still think Balloon Called Moaning is their definitive statement so far. They could benefit from a producer in the Albini minimalist/dry production school, or maybe someone like Steve Lillywhite for a wet but sympatico compromise.
― Pauper Management Improved (Sanpaku), Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:44 (4 months ago) Permalink
sampled by The Lonely Island, of all things:
hulu.com/watch/450051?playlist_id=1031&asset_scope=all
― some dude, Sunday, 27 January 2013 13:35 (3 months ago) Permalink
n/a otm
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 1 February 2013 03:06 (3 months ago) Permalink
coming into loving this, esp. "tendons" and "the leopard and the lung"
jury's still out on "maw maw song" tho
― steaklife (donna rouge), Saturday, 2 February 2013 02:31 (3 months ago) Permalink
"Maw Maw Song" is great! I was slow to get into this band but I'm there now, dig the new album.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 2 February 2013 03:37 (3 months ago) Permalink
German livestream happening, y'all
http://www.wdr.de/tv/rockpalast/
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 18 February 2013 19:02 (3 months ago) Permalink
I don't get it.
― Austin, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 04:01 (3 months ago) Permalink
okay this album, it's so good
"Bats" is fantastic
― Darth Icky (DJP), Friday, 22 March 2013 16:36 (2 months ago) Permalink
YES.
My attention still drifts when I listen to the back half. But this is an album with "Cholla," "Tendons," and "Bats."
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 March 2013 16:44 (2 months ago) Permalink
It's quite something.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 22 March 2013 17:12 (2 months ago) Permalink
seeing them tonight, hopefully, for the first time (hopefully because I'm kind of sick, my kid is sick, etc, but should still work out)
― akm, Friday, 22 March 2013 18:44 (2 months ago) Permalink
well this was very good. a bit slick and professional, but good nevertheless
― akm, Saturday, 23 March 2013 15:32 (2 months ago) Permalink
I saw them last night and have to echo that they were slick and professional. But they are also really good musicians who were definitely having fun playing the songs and jumping around. The only complaint I might have is that because the music just goes from 0 to 100 in no time flat, hearing song after song do this for an hour and forty minutes can get kind of wearing.
I only saw one of the opening bands, Guards, who were dreadful. The best part for them was the second to last song: A sub-Arcade Fire yeller that wound up devolving into a serious psych-rock meltdown. I asked my son after the end of the song, "Why couldn't they have been doing that for the last 30 minutes?"
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 16:19 (1 month ago) Permalink
why are "slick and professional" bad things again?
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 16:50 (1 month ago) Permalink
No, I'm not saying that they are bad. But, I think if you're coming to see them because they might be reminiscent of shoegaze and what you might associate with seeing those types of bands live, they are not that at all.
Also, probably because it was spring break, but there were a load of kids with their parents at the show (raises hand since I took my 13-year old as well) which I thought was really cool.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 17:15 (1 month ago) Permalink
I think if you're coming to see them because they might be reminiscent of shoegaze and what you might associate with seeing those types of bands live, they are not that at all.
Hell, I don't know about you but when I saw them touring the other year, some of the sheer throb and intensity of the performances wasn't just making me think of shoegaze but frickin' Loop. If that's the atmosphere of a claustrophobic club (as it was), then hey, I got lucky.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 17:17 (1 month ago) Permalink
Ned, I wish I got to see Loop back in the day. Love that band.
This tour is way different than when I saw them about a year and a half ago. They have a full light show including a gigantic cut out of a wolf's head hanging from the cat walk with different-colored lights ringed around the cut out. There is also projector showing some of their videos and other scenes displayed at the back of the stage. And oh yeah, it was loud. So you do get that throb and intensity but also with strobes and swirling lights. At times it was like a full-on assault of the senses.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 18:23 (1 month ago) Permalink
Guards were terrible! Holy crap!
― akm, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 18:55 (1 month ago) Permalink
Finally picked up 'Wolf's Law' at the weekend, enjoying it. A friend's band supported them in a small local venue when they were touring 'A Balloon Called Moaning' but I missed it due to work - all reports made me regret this.
― michaellambert, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 19:16 (1 month ago) Permalink
Guards were heckled here at the Chicago show for their excessive smoke machine use. The other opener, Kitten, were just as bad but in a massively entertaining way, thanks to their ludicrously over-the-top stage moves.
― blatherskite, Wednesday, 3 April 2013 22:38 (1 month ago) Permalink