The Boo Radleys, Classic or Dud?

I've always found this band to lack that extra special charm...I think it's the vocals. They don't really have much character, do they?

idk the boyishness of the vocals well suits the wide-eyed pocket-adventure quality of much of the music

the cover of Giant Steps is absolutely horrible

Joel is a beautiful song the string arrangements and then it goes full on Revolver by the end

idk the boyishness of the vocals well suits the wide-eyed pocket-adventure quality of much of the music

― imago, Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:25 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I quite like it how, on things like 'Run My Way Runway', Sice is like, this tiny voice in the middle of chaos. His small voice actually does the trick of making the music seem bigger.

OTM. The one thing his voice just doesn't suit are brash pop numbers - I never liked or saw the point in It's Lulu, C'mon Kids, Free Huey etc...

I don't mind his brash voice so much on 'What's In The Box? (See Whatcha Got)', but I do get what you mean!

Maybe it's because I'm not a super fan and I have a place in my heart for pretty cheesy pop songs, but I don't get why something like "It's Lulu" stands out as a blatantly bad song. I never thought it was that bad in the scheme of things...not that I've listened to it in years.

I like the horns.

It's just such a drag. The whole premise behind the song and the lyrics are weak and condescending. It's brash in a horrible alarm clock kind of way. It sticks out from the rest of the album like a sore thumb. Just sounds like Carr was asked to do another Wake Up Boo and tossed this off in about five minutes.

'It's Lulu' might have been one of the first songs written for Wake Up!, actually... I remember reading that Martin wrote it while the band were mixing Giant Steps. Apparently he tried to write it in the style of the Buzzcocks.

I read an interview where he says he hates it, so I guess I'm just not listening to it with very critical ears. I always wonder how artists can hate their own songs.

When artists 'give-in' to their baser instincts, (ta, Eno!) and then live to regret it/

It's very 1995 though, isn't it? I get the same feeling from it as I do whenever I listen to Grand Prix, it always reminds me of that specific year. I don't really get the same feeling of "this sounds like a specific year" whenever I listen to C'mon Kids.

squeaky brass was a britpop trait. brass seems to be making a bit of a comeback, but it's deeper and lower. imo anyway.

btw, i'm going to do an artist poll for the Boo Radleys. it will come up sometime in the next five year.

Thread for coordinating the order and timing of ILM ballot polls

61. Iggy Pop, incl. Stooges - flopson
62. Boo Radleys - Bee OK
63. XTC - Shakey Mo Collier

that is a joke, hopefully it won't be in five years.

Well, the poll/ballots have really slowed down lately

Looking forward to it. I think a boo Radleys poll was what started the idea of that coordination thread.

Yep, will undoubtedly be participating in it... and then the XTC poll afterwards!!

Well, the poll/ballots have really slowed down lately

well it does stop every time in late December for the end of the year stuff. it does gets going again about now.

i'm going to do New Order at 36, starting to feel the pressure...

"Giant Steps" is mostly a classic. Wake Up is hit or miss. Their talent didnt always match their Mcacartney-like ambitions to dabble in all genres but even the Boos failures had their charm.

Re. the hit and miss aspect of the Boos (which I agree), I'd say Carr took on too much himself really. I know most bands usually have a talisman or whatever, but they had scope and ambition beyond many of their contemporaries (especially when you get to around 1995) that was...kind of realised.

they could've made artistically smaller albums that would've hit the sweet spot for this or that niche or indie ghetto, but the Boos seemed to want to make a pop record, like the kind that were common in the 60s, that could blow minds with its scope and innovation and ability to have something for everybody. Didn't obviously work, but I'm glad they tried.

Well, "kingsize" did that, but it came too easy to MCarr and he wanted to try/ fail at more difficult things

http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/martin-carr-remembers-the-ecstatic-moment-john-peel-played-boo-radleys-on-the-radio-for-the-first-ti

he's playing at the lexington next week. really wish i could go but got an important band practice :-( :-(

are we still doing a boos poll?

Yes, it will happen probably February 2015.

'Reaching Out From Here' still does it for me after all these years.

because of that nugget, i posted above, i dug out Find the Way Out comp today. this band is so fucking good. stuff like "The Finest Kiss," "Spaniard," "Best Lose the Fear" and "I've Lost the Reason" are all magnificent.

can't wait for February to do this poll.

Don't forget Fosters Van. Those early EPs have so many glorious moments.

'Reaching Out From Here' still does it for me after all these years.

― Welcome To (Turrican)

Beautiful song. Should have been the second single after Wake Up Boo.

Don't forget Fosters Van. Those early EPs have so many glorious moments.

― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin)

Swansong is my favourite from those first three EPs. The verse is a bit too similar to Fade to Grey by Visage but it's one of those great sad songs they did so well.

Don't forget Fosters Van.

I once had a chat with Martin Carr in a Camden pub circa 1996 and told him this was my favourite Boo Radleys song

The new martin Carr album is pretty good

Really wanted to see him play at the Lexington tomorrow but sadly have to be somewhere else. Must seek out the new one.

Really love the new Martin Carr album. Went back and listened to the last one and enjoyed it too. I think I like him a little more subdued and less feedback freakout.

did not know about Martin Carr's new album, will have to seek that out.

Carr record doesn't sound markedly different than the Bravecaptain stuff that got killed on this board – it's just less Bacharach and glitch and more Britpop guitar-y.

here is a new interview with Martin Carr that happened just this month: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/martin-carr-breaks-after-boo-8373791 just bought The Breaks without hearing a song on Amazon.

btw, The Boo Radleys poll is still on track for February of 2015, going to be fun. won't be the first one, maybe the second or third one that will happen after the EOY polls wrap up.

Looking forward to the poll Bee. Don't think it will have quite the turnout that your Steely Dan one did but excited anyway.

Well, I'll be in it, and I wasn't for SD, so call that net +2

i'll def be voting. can't wait.

i have the breaks on vinyl. only listened to it a couple of times. the style is very mid-90s boo radleys, so while it verges on the retro, the best bits are as good as anything the band released circa wake up.

wow, really? now i'm really excited about getting that CD in the mail.

the Boo Radleys poll is up next, i have only been listening to them to prepare. they are so fucking good as i feel like i have almost forgot, poll is going to be a blast.

Martin Carr is playing at the union chapel in about 11 hours time (12 noon today).

I was there! lovely show. enjoyed the medieval horror-folk duo as well.