"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
Heart Is Strange and Bye Bye Bye are about as New Order as you can get without wheeling out Bernard Sumner.
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
looooooool
I am seeing these folks this Saturday, for like the 4th or 5th time in a few years... never gets old.
― ilxor repping so hard for this = death knell (ilxor), Monday, 4 October 2010 14:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also loved the fact that the set was almost all Disconnect songs.
This is good but also kinda sad -- I love that first album. Can't we just get them to play both albums, back to back, in full? =/
― ilxor repping so hard for this = death knell (ilxor), Monday, 4 October 2010 14:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Bye Bye Bye are about as New Order as you can get without wheeling out Bernard Sumner
haha was just thinking this about bye bye bye, which I listen to obsessively on the drives to and from work. it's like the bastard love child of st. etienne and new order. the end is so good, I want to loop the hook for another five minutes.
― akm, Friday, 8 October 2010 04:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
Just posted on their Facebook page...
Hi everybody. We just wanted to let you all know that Claudia has left the band for personal reasons. In the meantime, we are excited to continue to write and tour as usual, and we're very much looking forward to seeing you all at our upcoming shows. ♥ Alley and Benjamin
― Stockhausen's Helicopter Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 12 October 2010 22:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
Is Claudia one of the uglier ones in the troupe?
In terms of chord progressions and all that. The name should be sacked for starters the spoilt brat
― Fer Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Tuesday, 12 October 2010 23:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
ahem.. well there goes a perfectly good thread
― Stockhausen's Helicopter Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 12 October 2010 23:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't like this development. Well, either of these developments (Claudia leaving or the introduction of assholery into the thread).
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 12 October 2010 23:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
Indeed, thanks for nothing Fer Jessie.
WELL -- in that case, I can say that I caught one of the first shows in the new lineup, then! I will definitely regret not seeing them do Disconnect stuff with Claudia since not hearing the full harmony overlay live was certainly a missing element but as everything else pretty well killed, roll on whatever's next.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 October 2010 23:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
Wonder if she was really "sick" for that show, Ned, or...?
I missed the Austin show three days ago, sadly, and can't find any info on whether Claudia played w/ them. :(
― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 00:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
To be honest I didn't exactly catch what Ben said on stage, it sounded like he said she was indisposed or whatever but it was more than likely something generally vague.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 00:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
Looking thru Facebook comments, it sound like Claudia was out for the Dallas show so I'm guessing Austin as well. Btw, Ned, the band linked (and commented on) your foxy digitalis piece on their FB page. :)
― more than ever convinced ilxor is a sock (ilxor), Wednesday, 13 October 2010 00:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, very nice of them!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 01:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nice job on the Fallon show tonight, but could barely hear Ben's guitar
― Stockhausen's Helicopter Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Thursday, 28 October 2010 09:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
I never saw them live with Claudia, but I'm assuming she filled in some vocal harmonies that seem to be missing here. Regardless, it was nice to see one of my favorite songs of the year being played on national tv.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 28 October 2010 17:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'm assuming she filled in some vocal harmonies that seem to be missing here
Spot on. I wonder if they're going to get a replacement for her at some point.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 28 October 2010 17:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
I saw them in DC a few days ago and it just didn't click with only one vocalist. She did her best and sounded great but that's how those songs are supposed to sound. It didn't help that the synths and a lot of the beats were played from a laptop, though that's forgivable. Still glad I went and they are obviously a talented group.
― skip, Thursday, 28 October 2010 18:51 (2 years ago) Permalink