Really disappointed by this record.
Feels like they abandoned the "cosmopolitan Kabbalahtronic" sound for "Sarah McLachlan, after collaborating with DMC, hears some electro and post-punk revival and decides to collaborate with Moby."
― litel, Sunday, 18 July 2010 17:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
^ that's when I reach for my sb
― the new hot dawg stand in compton (Pillbox), Sunday, 18 July 2010 21:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
This is a fabulous record.
― Blue Sky Whine (SeekAltRoute), Monday, 19 July 2010 03:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
a bit torn about "I L U." kinda wish they canned the lyrics and just extended the soaring bits more, but maybe that's too much of a good thing. and i feel like i've heard "babelonia" before, kind of like i swear that kt tunstall song "suddenly i see" was released in the '80s and they thought they could get away with it
― little rattlesnaker, Monday, 19 July 2010 06:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
Babelonia is strikingly similar, both in the guitar riff, and the vocal harmonies, to Sweetness & Light by Lush. But that's OK, I love both bands, I'll let them get away with it.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Monday, 19 July 2010 09:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
these guys were better live without the clunky-ass drumming. it really grounds everything.
― Earning your Masters in Library and Information Science is beautiful (schlump), Monday, 19 July 2010 10:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
Can't believe people have been talking about the drums without mentioning NEW ORDER, which is surely the desired effect pretty much throughout the album. It's exactly the same sort of propulsive feel you get on True Faith and the remix of Bizarre Love Triangle, except blurred with all this MBV fuzz and strange madrigal pop.
Totally loving this, it's the summer album to Alpinisms' bleak midwinter album.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 08:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Heart Is Strange and Bye Bye Bye are about as New Order as you can get without wheeling out Bernard Sumner.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 08:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Um, no. I'm a big New Order stan, but honestly - I don't get New Order from the album's drums.
Mind you, there was a moment last night (probably because the drums were mic-ed so much LOUDER than everyone else onstage) that I did think "Hmmm, Atmosphere" but now I can't remember which song it was, and it didn't pop out listening to it on the tube this morning.
― The Black Knight! Huzzah, My Lord! (Masonic Boom), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 09:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's the synths as much as the drums for me, admittedly.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 09:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's funny, Bye Bye Bye is such a difficult song to pull off live, it seems, but it's growing on me so much more and more every time I see them. That "dee-dee-doo dee-de-de-doo" guitar riff is just so damn infectious.
― Fantasia, having a party is NOT my idea of a fantasy (Masonic Boom), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 12:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
byebyebye is definitely a highlight for me, the bass drum rush at the beginning gets me so pumped!!
― OK (LOLK), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 15:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
I am on this bandwagon.
― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 19:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
You scenester! (Actually I'd be way surprised if you weren't.)
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 19:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
the first 10 seconds of "heart is strange" is totally mid 80s tangerine dream
― my dream is to own a fly casino (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 22 July 2010 20:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
Seriously fucking great. Both albums. Gets a bit too 6th form prog in places but then good things happen
― Fer Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Thursday, 22 July 2010 22:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
"I L U" moves me in a lot of ways, but last night it got to me lyrically. I'm not even missing any past girlfriend or anything. But just the idea of a woman resigned to saying "I loved you" seemed particularly poignant last night.
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 24 July 2010 17:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
So I'm listening to Alpinisms for the first time.....it feels more exciting and organic but is a bit patchier. Don't know how I slept on this.
― skip, Tuesday, 3 August 2010 21:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Pantha du Prince remix?
Hrrmmm. Could be very good, could be very... hrrrmmm.
― all your life is channel 13, Sesame Street, what does it mean? (Masonic Boom), Monday, 9 August 2010 17:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
Interviewing Ben on Monday. Anybody have any questions they'd like answered?
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 19 August 2010 15:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Will he ever stop sweeping his haircut out of his eyes 100 times per show and just play the songs?
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 19 August 2010 17:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
descended straight from the bits of Cocteau Twins that sounded like spinning around as fast as you could, fingers outstretched, until you fell down laughing and dizzy.
really like these wordz from Masonic Boom upthread, fwiw
― markers, Thursday, 19 August 2010 17:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
What does he think about the other Curtis brother (whatshisname?) joining a washed-up Interpol touring lineup?
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 19 August 2010 17:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Do they all still live together?
― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 19 August 2010 18:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
Keep 'em coming!
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 19 August 2010 18:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Which of the Deheza sisters is he currently smoochin'?
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 19 August 2010 19:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hmm. No questions about the music itself, then?
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 19 August 2010 19:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
Do they wear clothing while rehearsing?
― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 19 August 2010 19:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm curious about the guitars, but that might get a bit Musician magazine.
― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 19 August 2010 19:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
Most of the questions I have wanted to ask Benjamin over the years I have already pestered him about. But I'll try and think of some new album specific questions for you.
He can talk for hours about guitar questions, though! Seriously! He managed to get quite a sweet endorsement deal on their guitars IIRC.
― Karen D. Tregaskin, Thursday, 19 August 2010 19:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hahah cool -- that's already given me a couple of ideas to follow up on!
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 19 August 2010 20:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
When is he going to make headlines by playing guitar in Nick Oliveri's usual stage attire?
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 19 August 2010 20:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
Quick bump if anyone wants to ask anything else...
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 22 August 2010 19:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh and the most direct shoegaze signifier on this album might actually be how the backing vocal loop on "Joviann" is almost exactly the same as on Chapterhouse's "Breather."
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 22 August 2010 19:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
No other questions (and you can ignore my joeks upthread), but I'd love to read the interview once completed.
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Monday, 23 August 2010 14:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
Won't be running for some weeks but will let folks know...
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 23 August 2010 14:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Pretty hilarious, we almost completely sidetracked ourselves talking about New Order a lot.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 23 August 2010 19:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
I think I've worn out my .mp3s of this album. Also, this new one is much better than the first.
Can't believe that STEREOLAB hasn't been mentioned yet on this thread. Along with The Cocteau Twins and Lush, I'd say it's their most apparent influence - especially the vocals (although I like them much more than 90% of Stereolab).
― Spencer Chow, Monday, 23 August 2010 20:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also, this new one is much better than the first.
Have to agree -- I'll preview the story a touch by saying that Ben indicated they came in with less of a blank slate on this album and that it was shaped by both all the touring and their sense of what their sound is now, and I think that's made all the difference.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 23 August 2010 20:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Seeing them tomorrow in Ann Arbor!
― Paul McCartney to be Fetid at White House (Pillbox), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 23:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
omg there's going to be a pantha du prince remix of "heart is strange"
so excited
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 23 September 2010 11:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
And as promised a while back, my interview with Ben is now up at the OC Weekly:
http://www.ocweekly.com/2010-09-30/music/school-of-seven-bells-ben-curtis/
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 30 September 2010 22:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Good article, Ned!
Anything esp. interesting re: this ^^ topic that wasn't included?
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Friday, 1 October 2010 01:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nothing too big, really. He was very much following New Order Recycle, though.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 October 2010 01:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yes, I caught onto that. :D
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Friday, 1 October 2010 02:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
And to think I got scoffed at upthread for comparing this whole record to New Order.
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 October 2010 09:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
A winner is you, in the end.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 October 2010 12:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
Incidentally, these are my fav. two songs on the album!
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Friday, 1 October 2010 13:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
Show on Saturday night was really spectacular -- and made more interesting by the fact that Claudia wasn't on stage! I gather she was ill, but they still put on a show and if the full harmonies were missing everything else made up for it. Ben is way more active on stage now and Zachary the new drummer is a hell of a good fit as everyone's been saying. Also loved the fact that the set was almost all Disconnect songs.
I admit it was also pretty fun when Ben looked over at one point, stepped up to the mike and went "Ned?"
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 October 2010 14:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
While about larger things my Foxy Digitalis piece this week was also something of a show review:
http://www.foxydigitalis.com/foxyd/?p=812