I would like to hear a good vinyl rip of this album
― I wish you could see my home. It's... it's so... exciting (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 5 October 2016 22:19 (seven years ago) link
hayy i'm falling in love and this record is perfect for it, sue me. i think "over the hillside" is my fav now. religious. this record reminds me of the terence davies film distant voices still lives in its liturgical qualities and the production sounds like what the film looks like too i think.
:)
without going into too much detail i am also falling in love, and concomitantly (slowly) falling out of love with another person, a situation about which i have strong but mixed feelings, and maybe it's just bias but this record seems to pretty perfectly reflect those feelings. "let's go out tonight", for example, has this palpable supplication that can be read from either perspective. it's the only song i've listened to in the past 24 hours
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 5 October 2016 23:46 (seven years ago) link
i pray for love / coming out alright
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 5 October 2016 23:49 (seven years ago) link
I didn't really rate Saturday Night very highly until I heard some of the live versions on Youtube. Maybe that's one of the songs on the album that suffers most from the 80s production sound on the album, which I generally find fitting or neutral on the other songs on the album.
― Pataphysician, Thursday, 6 October 2016 04:10 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Thursday, 13 October 2016 00:01 (seven years ago) link
I read the Nileism book in the time since this poll got started. Thought it was quite good. There are a few moments in there that really hurt my heart.
― still lists its address as the recently razed home of “Morris” the (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 13 October 2016 00:10 (seven years ago) link
listening to this now for the first time. it seems like something that would reward multiple listenings - it's not grabbing me at first, really
― Treeship, Thursday, 13 October 2016 00:13 (seven years ago) link
First album is more immediately striking, this one is more demure
― still lists its address as the recently razed home of “Morris” the (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 13 October 2016 00:14 (seven years ago) link
I seem to have more of these micro-epiphanies at the moment, where I listen to an album intensely for a few days, or a week, then don't listen again for maybe a month, six months. I can't decide if it's my age, my own listening habits (I'm streaming a lot at the moment) or evidence of some wider trend.
That is my not very original, or very interesting, thought for the day.
― Sunn O))) Brother Where Art Thou? (Chinaski), Thursday, 13 October 2016 07:11 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 14 October 2016 00:01 (seven years ago) link
good results!
my current rankings SN = LGOT > DTL > HOTP > OTH > 7am > FADT
― k3vin k., Friday, 14 October 2016 00:50 (seven years ago) link
This album is like a grand expression of tenderness without having the release of touching
― Rae Kwoniff (NickB), Tuesday, October 4, 201
This is a terse, beautiful description of late '80s Bryan Ferry albums.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 14 October 2016 00:51 (seven years ago) link
it may shock Brad that I still haven't finished a second listen.
Alfred between this and Lovesexy you are seriously letting down 1989
― Tim F, Friday, 14 October 2016 01:25 (seven years ago) link
Do Blue Nile fans enjoy David Cassidy's "Romance"?
― Tim F, Friday, 14 October 2016 01:27 (seven years ago) link
alfred get it together
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 14 October 2016 01:45 (seven years ago) link
Sorry -- too busy listening to It's Better to Travel.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 14 October 2016 01:57 (seven years ago) link
We listened to the first two tracks of this last night after I told him "I think I'm falling in love with you" and he said the same thing. He loves "Saturday Night". Also I found a copy of the first record on this trip.
― The times they are a changing, perhaps (map), Monday, 31 October 2016 19:13 (seven years ago) link
<3
― harold melvin and the bluetones (jim in vancouver), Monday, 31 October 2016 19:15 (seven years ago) link
awwww....love that!
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 31 October 2016 19:41 (seven years ago) link
aw
― k3vin k., Monday, 31 October 2016 20:01 (seven years ago) link
that is so extremely sweet map
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 31 October 2016 22:06 (seven years ago) link
beautiful!
― art baengels (monotony), Monday, 31 October 2016 23:19 (seven years ago) link
😊
― The times they are a changing, perhaps (map), Monday, 31 October 2016 23:38 (seven years ago) link
<333
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 1 November 2016 09:57 (seven years ago) link
― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Tuesday, 1 November 2016 16:27 (seven years ago) link
it is the sound of longing buds
― harold melvin and the bluetones (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, 1 November 2016 16:44 (seven years ago) link
"From A Late Night Train" is imo as sublime as it gets
― Master of Treacle, Monday, October 3, 2016 3:03 PM (nine months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
i am beginning to realize this
― k3vin k., Monday, 24 July 2017 01:36 (six years ago) link
I've probably said this before in any number of ILX posts over the years, but one thing that really stands out about The Blue Nile is the reverent or hymnal quality of their songwriting and production, the sense that the songs are gesturing toward something much larger than the band and their private concerns; certainly these songs never feel autobiographical (regardless of whether they in fact are or not, and notwithstanding the recurrent sonic and lyrical motifs which form the group's indelible imprint).
It's rare to find music so personal, so singular, that is not also idiosyncratic in the strong sense of that word, not irrevocably bound up with the personality of its creator(s). Certainly when I think about 80s pop it feels like a lot of material falls on either side of that line, either deeply personal or thoroughly universal; The Blue Nile's songs feel like a communication from one frame of reference to the other.
Kate Bush produced two songs which also walk this tightrope, I think ("Running Up That Hill", "This Woman's Work"). But only two.
With The Blue Nile it's just what they do.
Which is one reason why the band is so routinely covered by other artists relative to their general obscurity.
― Tim F, Monday, October 3, 2016 6:27 PM (nine months ago)
this is a characteristically amazing post but i have to say that after reading (part of) that paul buchanan interview with the quietus after mid air came out made me realize that all of their songs are very much painfully autobiographical
― k3vin k., Monday, 24 July 2017 01:59 (six years ago) link
"From a Late Night Train" is one of the best songs on the album but it's not the kind of song that I could picture anyone saying is "the best one," hence it's ranking here. it's beautiful but too subtle to completely steal the show
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 24 July 2017 02:04 (six years ago) link
― harold melvin and the bluetones (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, November 1, 2016 12:44 PM (eight months ago
btw this is otm -- every blue nile/paul buchanan song is about longing
― k3vin k., Monday, 24 July 2017 02:08 (six years ago) link
I need to own my own copy.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 24 July 2017 02:10 (six years ago) link
Booming post Tim
That reverent spirit is probably what triggers thoughts of a kinship with talk talk.
Also the feeling of longing which is so distilled it becomes religious and romantic at the same time
― I wish you could see my home. It's... it's so... exciting (Jon not Jon), Monday, October 3, 2016 6:41 PM (nine months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yep, and it's romance of a religious order, something you walk through with its own weather and texture, a weighted experience. every feeling almost having an architectural significance, as if they were individual buildings in a city you're walking through
a lot of this is in the form of address of buchanan's lyrics; it's never really a monologue, it mostly seems to be one end of a conversation, whether he's having that conversation with a person or the feeling of that person
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, October 3, 2016 7:01 PM (nine months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
wow these posts speak to my soul
― k3vin k., Monday, 24 July 2017 03:36 (six years ago) link
nice piece
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-blue-nile-hats/?mbid=social_twitter
― piscesx, Tuesday, 9 January 2018 18:10 (six years ago) link
Has this been reissued again?
― henry s, Tuesday, 9 January 2018 18:54 (six years ago) link
fucking perfect essay man
― k3vin k., Tuesday, 9 January 2018 19:00 (six years ago) link
there's a gord downie lyric, "bigger dreams, bigger screens, bigger feelings are planned," that i think about a lot whenever i play this album
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 9 January 2018 19:10 (six years ago) link
(been discussed on the pitchfork is dumb thread as well fyi)
― ♫ very clever with maracas.jpg ♫ (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 9 January 2018 19:23 (six years ago) link
poll results sound about right, front loaded album, if there's a bad song on it it's probably Seven AM.
Let's Go Out Tonight is of course the song to cry to, so vulnerable, their best imo
― niels, Wednesday, 10 January 2018 19:56 (six years ago) link
7 AM is a great song!!
― Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 20:42 (six years ago) link
whats crazy is the sound of that song could be like ... a 2017 rap song
― Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 20:43 (six years ago) link
Ha! Future could prob rap his way through a lot of Blue Nile songs. I can see that.
― ♫ very clever with maracas.jpg ♫ (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 20:46 (six years ago) link
"seven am" is awesome, "each time i fall for you / it hurts me a little bit more / than i want it to" is a central moment on the record
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 20:51 (six years ago) link
Yeah. The repeated "than I want it to" echoing off in the mist seems quintessential to the record.
― ♫ very clever with maracas.jpg ♫ (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 20:53 (six years ago) link
haha, maybe I'll get around to it someday - don't particularly like the bass sound
― niels, Wednesday, 10 January 2018 20:56 (six years ago) link
“seven AM” is probably the only song from their first two records that I don’t truly love. but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good, or that I won’t love it some day
“from a late night train” has with some time emerged for me as the real tearjerker and centerpiece of the album
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 10 January 2018 21:29 (six years ago) link
I'm going through a relationship break-up right now and this album is just on constant repeat*. just perfect.
*i also listen to this album a decent amount when I'm not going through a break-up to be fair.
let's go out tonight and from a late night train are my 2 faves on the record, 7am my least favourite but it's still p great. i really like the baseline but I'm not so keen on some of the keys
― khat person (jim in vancouver), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 21:35 (six years ago) link
Shit got real... I'm sorry to hear that Jim, and I truly hope you'll be ok.
Having said that, yeah, it's probably the best break-up music out there. But especially when you're not experiencing one.
― ♫ very clever with maracas.jpg ♫ (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 21:37 (six years ago) link
yeah I was in the middle of a breakup when I got into this band, it’s really the perfect music for that. for better or worse...
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 10 January 2018 21:40 (six years ago) link
7 am is top 2 song from the album to me & the one that best transcends its setting
bass sound makes it!!
― Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Wednesday, 10 January 2018 21:40 (six years ago) link