The title is key to the album, and is not a joke.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 16:36 (six years ago) link
Oh, I know it's not a joke. It's just funny. Very "The Smell of Fear."
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 16:43 (six years ago) link
that's a lot of pictures of rappers
― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 16:44 (six years ago) link
There's a reason. (Had a chance to read over some notes all four members wrote up for each song -- they are extremely perceptive and focused, I'll add -- and Fisher's own notes on the origin of the lyric are cutting as hell.)
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 16:54 (six years ago) link
How does it compare to their debut?
― MarkoP, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 16:56 (six years ago) link
Absolutely next level. This is them building on their strengths brilliantly, taking them any number of different directions.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 16:59 (six years ago) link
Can't help but think that Matt Tong made the right decision.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 18:01 (six years ago) link
um wow
― Rachel Luther Queen (DJP), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 18:07 (six years ago) link
Okay I'm ready for this
― del esdichado (NickB), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 19:04 (six years ago) link
A new snippet from the title track...
https://twitter.com/AlgiersMusic/status/857254074000998401
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 13:50 (six years ago) link
Plus a quieter moment from elsewhere on the album
https://twitter.com/AlgiersMusic/status/856531455043915776
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 13:51 (six years ago) link
Mental screwup on my part -- that one snippet isn't from the title track, but another song. Carry on.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
YES YES YES!!!
― Lennon, Elvis, Hendrix etc (dog latin), Thursday, 27 April 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
And here we go -- full video for the title track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGZXzmM1smM
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 14:25 (six years ago) link
Tracklisting:
1. Walk Like A Panther2. Cry Of The Martyrs3. The Underside Of Power4. Death March5. A Murmur. A Sign.6. Mme Rieux7. Cleveland8. Animals9. Plague Years10. A Hymn For An Average Man11. Bury Me Standing12. The Cycle/The Spiral: Time to Go Down Slowly
2. Cry Of The Martyrs
3. The Underside Of Power
4. Death March
5. A Murmur. A Sign.
6. Mme Rieux
7. Cleveland
8. Animals
9. Plague Years
10. A Hymn For An Average Man
11. Bury Me Standing
12. The Cycle/The Spiral: Time to Go Down Slowly
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 14:31 (six years ago) link
And now that they've announced this, you can kinda guess even further why this blew my mind when I got the first advance:
Produced by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Ali Chant, mixed by Randall Dunn (Sunn O)))), with post-production by Ben Greenberg (Hubble, Uniform)
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
this song is amazing... like, it's even more Algiers than Algiers. The Northern Soul thing is amplified but it threatens to be drowned under layers and layers of harsh noise. I fricking love it and it's easily better than anything off the first album (which is saying something)
― Lennon, Elvis, Hendrix etc (dog latin), Thursday, 27 April 2017 14:43 (six years ago) link
seriously, this has made my day
― Lennon, Elvis, Hendrix etc (dog latin), Thursday, 27 April 2017 15:15 (six years ago) link
And believe me, this is just a taste of the album's real range.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
Damn, this song is so good. That bassline, my god...sounds like "Disco Inferno"
― passionate plant-based athlete (voodoo chili), Thursday, 27 April 2017 16:56 (six years ago) link
holy shit that song's incredible
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Thursday, 27 April 2017 19:42 (six years ago) link
Nice track.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Thursday, 27 April 2017 20:00 (six years ago) link
The song is good enough I can easily imagine it becoming a left field hit and me hating everyone walking around listening to Algiers. (If I'm being honest.)
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 27 April 2017 20:21 (six years ago) link
Personally I'd love nothing better than everyone walking around etc.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 April 2017 20:34 (six years ago) link
I'd feel very happy for the band.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 27 April 2017 20:50 (six years ago) link
― passionate plant-based athlete (voodoo chili)
not sure if you mean the song or the band!
i don't get the notion of resenting the popularity of a band i love. maybe because it's so rare. i'm never going to be like "oh god look at all these bandwagon jumpers listening to the insensible eggs".
― increasingly bonkers (rushomancy), Thursday, 27 April 2017 21:40 (six years ago) link
I don't resent it at all. But I do get tired of hearing stuff sometimes, and when everyone else is listening to the same thing it (selfishly) impairs my own enjoyment. Like, I can't think of the last time I played Phoenix. (sorry Phoenix)
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 27 April 2017 21:50 (six years ago) link
xp the song (hence the quotes), but lol
― passionate plant-based athlete (voodoo chili), Thursday, 27 April 2017 21:51 (six years ago) link
Josh, when these guys blow up you can make fun of the song by calling it The Underpants of Power or something
― passionate plant-based athlete (voodoo chili), Thursday, 27 April 2017 21:52 (six years ago) link
many options available to you. including continuing to listen to them.
― Josh in Chicago
man i can't remember the last time i listened to phoenix either. i think i will listen to "wolfgang amadeus phoenix" now. (honestly if they hadn't broken through i probably never would have heard them, considering i didn't mess with "buzz" indie during the time period in question.)
i guess i haven't ever really had that experience, of seeing a band where i'm the only person on the block who knows about them, to the point where i think of them as "my" band, starts getting played in chain restaurants as background music. but i also don't have that sense of possessiveness, of thinking of a band as "my" band.
― increasingly bonkers (rushomancy), Thursday, 27 April 2017 22:02 (six years ago) link
That said, there is nothing I like better than a good band that gets the success it deserves (like Spoon, Phoenix, the xx, etc., and hopefully Algiers). It's neat when meritocracy works. Though just a few years when the same five or so albums ended up on the top of so many year end lists, I presume for being good albums, many on ilx mocked them and the publications that praised them, but I suppose that's ilx for you.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 27 April 2017 22:08 (six years ago) link
couple of uk tour dates announced as a warm up to the depeche mode shows:
Jun 06 Patterns / Brighton, United KingdomJun 07 Shacklewell Arms / London, United Kingdom
http://algierstheband.com/
― del esdichado (NickB), Friday, 28 April 2017 09:26 (six years ago) link
this song is so so good.. I can't believe...
― Lennon, Elvis, Hendrix etc (dog latin), Friday, 28 April 2017 10:57 (six years ago) link
pre ordered the vinyl
― Lennon, Elvis, Hendrix etc (dog latin), Friday, 28 April 2017 11:02 (six years ago) link
i don't like this quite as much as Black Eunuch from the debut but this is very promising
― ufo, Friday, 28 April 2017 11:31 (six years ago) link
apaprently DM is touring with Warpaint and not Algiers for most of North America :/
― a landlocked exclave (mh), Friday, 28 April 2017 13:59 (six years ago) link
― increasingly bonkers (rushomancy), Thursday, April 27, 2017 4:40 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, April 27, 2017 4:50 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
um guys...like i wouldn't really worry too much about having to hear algiers from every passing car this summer
― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 28 April 2017 14:03 (six years ago) link
nice song. The chorus has a "Get Ready" sound to it.
― duped and used by my worst Miss U (President Keyes), Friday, 28 April 2017 14:09 (six years ago) link
Yup, that's what I've learned too. Pity, but I can't wait for the standalone tour. (And I like Warpaint so everyone wins.)
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 28 April 2017 14:25 (six years ago) link
Yeah, no big deal, I was just hopeful
― a landlocked exclave (mh), Friday, 28 April 2017 14:27 (six years ago) link
I really like Warpaint but they were a muddled mess when I saw them open for Nick Cave
― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 28 April 2017 15:00 (six years ago) link
nice series of opening gigs they've got there
― a landlocked exclave (mh), Friday, 28 April 2017 15:09 (six years ago) link
this has leaked. holy shit.
― Cyborg Kickboxer (rushomancy), Thursday, 18 May 2017 15:40 (six years ago) link
Well that's highly unfortunate. (I mean, yes, it is great, but c'mon, a month out?)
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 18 May 2017 15:50 (six years ago) link
New single "Cleveland" is out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDDCxodgIs
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 13 June 2017 14:35 (six years ago) link
^^^^tune
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 13 June 2017 15:05 (six years ago) link
Keep an eye on this thread Monday.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 June 2017 23:26 (six years ago) link
love you ned but you've been following too many trump conspiracy theory twitter accounts :)
― Frank Ocean is the Ultimate Solution (rushomancy), Saturday, 17 June 2017 00:59 (six years ago) link
Yeah, not that funny.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 17 June 2017 01:38 (six years ago) link
this sounds like the black keys or something
What in the absolute hell
I think it's fair to call that a pan. There's no unqualified praise for even a single track.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Saturday, 1 July 2017 15:02 (six years ago) link
It's a pan only in the not generic 7.8 or BNM sense. Reads to me like a mixed review, no unqualified praise or no. There's also no unqualified dismissal of anything either, is there? Anyway, if I were Joe Wannabuyanalbum, I'd be more inclined to listen to this one based on this review than listen to something more positively received.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 1 July 2017 15:57 (six years ago) link
yeah but joe wannabuyanalbum only looks at the score these days
― black covfefe in bed (voodoo chili), Saturday, 1 July 2017 16:02 (six years ago) link
idk even if i thought this was an ambitious album that didn't quite pull off what it was aiming for, i wouldn't have slapped it with a score under 6, that's some contrarianist bullshit
― black covfefe in bed (voodoo chili), Saturday, 1 July 2017 16:03 (six years ago) link
Sort of what I mean. If anything, the review (the words) does a pretty good job explaining all the album has going for it, even if the writer doesn't think it pulls it off. That's what the review is for, and why (as silly as numbers are) the review reads (to me) more like a 7.x that explains why it's not higher than a 5.x which doesn't quite nail why its arbitrary number is so low.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 1 July 2017 16:06 (six years ago) link
First listen to this a few weeks ago damn near blew me away but returns felt like the individual songs were lacking a bit, especially Walk Like A Panther as an opener. Title track and Animals jumped out as being more than just polemic and bluster, but wasn't convinced by the rest.
However, going back to it this morning on the walk to work, it's stronger than I remember. Maybe not quite hitting me as hard as some so far, but getting there. The placement of the two instrumental tracks near the end feels strategically strong to me; it gives enough pause for things to kick back in so you don't feel bludgeoned (even though you are being!).
I think Black Eunuch and Blood are pretty much as good as anything on here, but other than that this is definitely a step up.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 10 July 2017 09:31 (six years ago) link
Yeah I was blown away and now I've given it a bit of a break and ready to go back to it soon. Still think the title track is an absolute worldbeater. Animals is the one that sounds like Ministry (in a good way) and overall it's really great. There are just one or two tension-diffusing moments towards the second side that aren't interesting enough to keep my mind from wandering.
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 10 July 2017 10:23 (six years ago) link
I'm trying to think of what specific 80s band Mme Rieux sounds like. Not sure how much I like it. There's something just slightly cheesy or obviously melodramatic about that one.
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 10 July 2017 10:24 (six years ago) link
Full video for "Cleveland"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FhcJTqJm98
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 13:42 (six years ago) link
This is quite an improvment on their debut, huh?
― chap, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
Hymn For an Average Man is a highlight.
― chap, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 14:40 (six years ago) link
Great show last night!
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20121550_10155331411186136_2391515124569243158_o.jpg?oh=32b6d200ef32ffd0412fd137ded5627f&oe=59F60803
So see 'em live, I sez.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 13:18 (six years ago) link
I would kill for them to hit TO but it doesn't seem to be in the cards
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 18 July 2017 13:28 (six years ago) link
Hell, Chicago isn't even currently on their tour schedule.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 13:41 (six years ago) link
It's possible they're avoiding places they hit with Depeche? idk
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:13 (six years ago) link
DM is touring with Warpaint in Chicagoland
― mh, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:16 (six years ago) link
Nope, Warpaint opening here. So no idea!
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:16 (six years ago) link
xpost!
Direct quote from their publicist when I asked about Chicago: "I know wtf!?"
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:39 (six years ago) link
Bunch of new tour dates. They're playing a tiny square box in TO (the Baby G) and I could not be more excited.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 22 August 2017 20:49 (six years ago) link
Go forth and rock.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 August 2017 20:51 (six years ago) link
And here's the full thing -- including Chicago, so there ya go Josh
http://algierstheband.com/live/
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 August 2017 13:19 (six years ago) link
Yeah, Empty Bottle, nice n little!
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 24 August 2017 13:29 (six years ago) link
I'm both depressed and excited by how small these venues are, the one in TO is like 150 capacity tops
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Thursday, 24 August 2017 14:13 (six years ago) link
Meantime here's a new tape/download
https://algierstheband.bandcamp.com/
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 30 September 2017 16:50 (six years ago) link
I adore this record, one of my favourites from this year, but I wish it was less compressed. The squished dynamics aesthetic works in some places, but a DR of 5 or 6 doesn't lend itself nicely to listening on headphones.
― ˈʌglɪɪst preɪ, Saturday, 30 September 2017 19:38 (six years ago) link
between these guys, Zeal & Ardor and Here Lies Man, there seems to be a kind of micro-trend in this kind of metal-industrial/traditional black music fusion thing. I'm not sure how good those other two bands are, but why now?
― Badgers (dog latin), Friday, 19 January 2018 14:44 (six years ago) link
why not now?
― mh, Friday, 19 January 2018 16:04 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waiwJ5rW4xw
new single which is a sort of spoken word response to criticism of the band over a free jazz freakout? it's cool
― ufo, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:34 (four years ago) link
more info from Matador:
ALGIERS have released a collaborative audiovisual piece, “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?”, a new work from the band and production duo Randall Dunn and Ben Greenberg. The new piece pits charged language and free jazz collage by ALGIERS multi-instrumentalist Franklin James Fisher, saxophonics pioneer Skerik and drummer D’Vonne Lewis against a maelstrom of visuals by award-winning filmmaker Sam Campbell and typographer Farbod Kokabi.Inspired by a chance encounter with artists Moor Mother and Harrga at Wysing Polyphonic in 2018, “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” contorts ALGIERS’ post-punk deconstruction of racial and class sonic politics into new collaborative directions. “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” is the centerpiece of a larger web installation thereisnoyear
Inspired by a chance encounter with artists Moor Mother and Harrga at Wysing Polyphonic in 2018, “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” contorts ALGIERS’ post-punk deconstruction of racial and class sonic politics into new collaborative directions. “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” is the centerpiece of a larger web installation thereisnoyear
There are some new UK/euro dates as well
― Simon H., Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:38 (four years ago) link
Looking forward even more to the new album now.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:39 (four years ago) link
Has there been any indication that's forthcoming?
― Simon H., Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:53 (four years ago) link
new single which is a sort of spoken word response to criticism of the band
And that goes for all of you punks in the pressThat want to start shit by printin' lies instead of the things we saidThat means you andy secher at hit parader, circus magazineMick wall at kerrang, bob guccione jr. at spinWhat you pissed off 'cause your dad gets more pussy than you?Fuck you! suck my fuckin' dick!You be rippin' off the fuckin' kidsWhile they be payin' their hard earned money to read about the bands they want to know aboutPrintin' lies, startin' controversyYou want to antagonize me? antagonize me motherfucker!Get in the ring motherfucker! and I'll kick your bitchy little ass! punk!!I don't like you, I just hate youI'm gonna kick your ass, oh yeah! oh yeah!You may not like our integrity yeahWe built a world out of anarchy oh yeah!
― j., Tuesday, 27 August 2019 16:00 (four years ago) link
xpost -- Per J's post, it'll be a note-for-note cover of both Use Your Illusions.
(Actual answer: I'm not positive it's totally done but I'm pretty sure it is, and there have been quiet rumblings that it's en route -- no idea whether it'll be before the end of the year or not, though.)
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 16:35 (four years ago) link
enjoyed this, wonder if the whole album will be a bit like it
― imago, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 10:04 (four years ago) link
not heard this yet but i do find 'Whaaa we've been misquoted by the meeja' songs tedious on the whole
― frame casual (dog latin), Wednesday, 28 August 2019 11:14 (four years ago) link
i tend to agree but this sounds cool enough and is delivered compellingly enough for me to forgive that
― ufo, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 11:15 (four years ago) link
I am listening to this song now and a) it rules, and b) I do not think this is addressing criticism of the band as such
― brigadier pudding (DJP), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 16:39 (four years ago) link
like, I don't think anyone is telling the two white members of the band that they aren't real niggas, like that Chris Rock sketch
― brigadier pudding (DJP), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 17:25 (four years ago) link
the reference of the title btw for those who dont know https://cup.columbia.edu/book/can-the-subaltern-speak/9780231143851
― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 00:10 (four years ago) link
I'm listening to "Can The Sub-Bass Speak?" again and I am impressed with the level of restraint I showed here in responding to the description of the song
― totally unnecessary bewbz of exploitation (DJP), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 22:11 (four years ago) link
one of my tracks of the year, easily, but first time I've read that description and fucking hell
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 22:13 (four years ago) link
The new album is quite lovely, BTW; my review of it runs next week I believe.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 22:58 (four years ago) link
there's really a lot going on in "can the sub-bass speak?" so my apologies for not capturing all its intricacies in a very brief description upon first listen
― ufo, Thursday, 9 January 2020 04:53 (four years ago) link
but ill maintain that critical attempts to pigeonhole the bands music etc. is one of the many things it does address
― ufo, Thursday, 9 January 2020 04:55 (four years ago) link
new long-ass remixes of "Cleveland" just in time for the election
https://open.spotify.com/album/2ttGvriuz92KNvllIjp30A?si=MdXPB0PySj6hTTmaF4blyQ
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Friday, 30 October 2020 15:08 (three years ago) link
Oh great, thanks!
― Gerneten-flüken cake (jed_), Friday, 30 October 2020 15:21 (three years ago) link