yeah, i love that book, though i've talked to some people who say a lot of the info could use some fact checking. still a great read. as opposed to a dude drafted in from late Beefheart.dunno, you could do worse than eric drew feldman -- he seems like a great musician.
― tylerw, Sunday, 14 March 2010 16:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
Yeah I was just being a dick. Feldman is good. Actually, so is the very Ravenstine-esque operator they had in the band last time I saw them live (2003). Keyboards are fine and dandy but there's nothing like watching a guy frantically unplugging and switching patch cords on an antediluvian synth while simultaneously operating a theremin.
― Edward Gibbon & Ruskin' Man (Jon Lewis), Sunday, 14 March 2010 16:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah, Ravenstine definitely gets props because he *invented* that sound/way of playing (and did it in the mid-70s, when that shit must have been hard!).
― tylerw, Sunday, 14 March 2010 16:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
I'd have to say Eno invented that style! Or other precedents like United States of America?
From the Velvets to the Voidoids was huge for me...and every other music dork who went to Oberlin and discovered the Cleveland scene. There just isn't/wasn't other easy to find sources to read about the Styrenes and Electric Eels.
Speaking of which, Styrenes are about to start at 35th anniversary tour...
http://www.thestyrenes.com/
― dan selzer, Sunday, 14 March 2010 16:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
I think you could give Eno props for the synth on those first couple of Roxy Music records being out before Pere Ubu, but by the timeline, I think it is very possible that Ravenstine was already doing what he was doing just not in a band that was releasing records. I'd say both of them would have had to heard United States of America or Mother Mallard or early Cluster and certainly early Tangerine Dream.
― earlnash, Sunday, 14 March 2010 17:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
re: from the velvets to the voidoids. i was always surprised that "please kill me" didn't include more on the cleveland scene along w/all the dead boys stuff
― the mighty the mighty BOHANNON (m coleman), Sunday, 14 March 2010 21:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
What about DikMik and his "audio generator" (whatever that was)?
― Half lies and gorilla dust (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 15 March 2010 04:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
("Velvets to Voidoids" recommendation thirded, fourthed, whatever)
― Half lies and gorilla dust (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 15 March 2010 04:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
probz gonna go see 'em next week
― Anton Levain (jdchurchill), Monday, 15 March 2010 22:01 (3 years ago) Permalink
Yeah likewise in NYC.
― Chatbot LeFonque (Jon Lewis), Monday, 15 March 2010 22:13 (3 years ago) Permalink
Was enjoying Bay City by David Thomas and Foreigners quite a bit this morning. Kind of an odd man out amongst semi-recent Thomas stuff as it is not an Ubu record nor does it feature Two Pale Boys. Same kind of noir-ish mood of some of that stuff though, just feels more loose.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Monday, 15 March 2010 22:38 (3 years ago) Permalink
Ive only heard the first three albums and like them all... truly a unique sound and band!
― Max Cupo, Sunday, 18 July 2010 06:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Last one; Why I Hate Women is great.
Destroy: The coverart of Worlds in Collision. I like the album though.
― lowwave (S-), Monday, 19 July 2010 02:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
I know the first 3 albums and EP are generally considered their best work, but I'd think you could make a killer 2 or 3 disc anthology by picking the best tracks from later albums.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, October 12, 2011 4:18 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark
For Gerald and anyone else who's interested, here are some highlights from the self-described "modern era" of the band, along with tracks from David Thomas's albums with Two Pale Boys and "Foreigners" from the same period. All of it's on Spotify except for the St. Arkansas album (which includes my personal favorite Ubu song, "Slow Walking Daddy"), so I linked to some youtubes for that one. Probably runs about two hours total.
http://open.spotify.com/user/123383973/playlist/2u2JGdebORLtpBWdbdRlmg
Raygun Suitcase (Pere Ubu - 1995)
Beach BoysTurquoise FinsThree ThingsRed SkyDown by the River II
Erewhon (David Thomas and Two Pale Boys - 1996)
ObsessionPlanet of FoolsNowheresville
Pennsylvania (Pere Ubu - 1998)
Woolie BullieSAD.TXT
Bay City (David Thomas and Foreigners - 2000)
White RoomCharlotte
Surf's Up! (David Thomas and Two Pale Boys - 2001)
Man in the DarkNight Driving
St. Arkansas (Pere Ubu - 2002)
The Fevered Dream of Hernando DeSotoSlow Walking Daddy333Phone Home JonahDark
18 Monkeys on a Dead Man's Chest (David Thomas and Two Pale Boys - 2004)
New Orleans FuzzNumbers ManLittle SisterGolden SurfPrepare for the End
Why I Hate Women (Pere Ubu - 2006)
CaroleenFlames Over NebraskaMonaTexas Overture
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Thursday, 13 October 2011 23:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
Pere Ubu has finally clicked for me, in a big way. Tracked down the original 5 disc box (the reissue ditched the live disc!) and love it all much to my surprise, because in the past disc 3 really grated whereas now the best bits shine and the wonky stuff amuses me.
And actually the live disc is shockingly enjoyable - how do the other live albums from this period ("390 degrees of Simulated Stereo Vol. 1" and "One Man Drives While The Other Man Screams") compare?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 1 March 2012 00:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
"The Modern Dance" is essential. The following albums ("Dub Housing" etc) are good, but I can live without them. The later period isn't bad, but somehow just not very interesting either.― Dr. Caww, jeez...Dub Housing is actaully "better" but i dunno how you can like one (1) and find the rest not of innerst....i still need to spend more time with disc 3 of datapanik but i already know it's got greatness (looking at you "Birdies")
― epigram addict (outdoor_miner), Thursday, 1 March 2012 02:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
sorry, kinda fun stories: saw PU twice around 1991. first show at a small club in L.A. someone was heckling David throughout. he cut the set short saying "i'm sorry we couldn't be friends". sounds lame but was brilliant. then a few months later i moved to SF and saw Norm from Cheers at a PU show @ Slim's (blanking on his name right now) at the bar. i thought to myself maybe he thought they said Beer ubu
― epigram addict (outdoor_miner), Thursday, 1 March 2012 02:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
how do the other live albums from this period ("390 degrees of Simulated Stereo Vol. 1" and "One Man Drives While The Other Man Screams") compare?
390 degrees is excellent, never heard one man drives
― Little GTFO (contenderizer), Thursday, 1 March 2012 02:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
One Man Drives isn't horrible, but it's heavy on the mayo (Thompson), largely responsible for the largely annoying Art Of Walking era. 360, however, is totally essential.
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 1 March 2012 04:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
I never loved the Mayo era...and I'm a huge fan of a great amount of his work through the years.
― dan selzer, Thursday, 1 March 2012 04:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
i love that Shape of Things live recording too, from 76. Murky sound quality but some ridiculously good performances. good transition period between rftt and ubu.
― tylerw, Thursday, 1 March 2012 04:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
― epigram addict (outdoor_miner), Thursday, March 1, 2012 2:22 AM (11 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
semi surprised you recognised it was him. George Wendt's a lot taller than he seems in Cheers.I did hear he was a big fan of bands like Husker du. So these possibly aren't that wild a jump.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 1 March 2012 15:50 (1 year ago) Permalink
Plus he's physically like ol' Crocus...
― Mark G, Thursday, 1 March 2012 15:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
only saw him sitting so i had no idea he had height to speak of. must've been the fact that he was sitting at a bar that made me instantly recognize (?)
― epigram addict (outdoor_miner), Thursday, 1 March 2012 17:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://louderthanwar.com/pere-ubu-announce-new-album-lady-from-shanghai/
― nostormo, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 17:51 (5 months ago) Permalink