Slowdive - s/t (2017): let's rejoice, shall we?

i like this fine. I like all their albums in different ways, not so into ranking them.

very good comeback album

This album has grown on me a lot. I'm not sure where I'd rank it right now. It could well be my second favourite. The only song I'm not totally sold on is the last one. The way the, "thinking about love" bit overlaps near the end seems a bit clumsy and grates after a while. Everything up to that point is very enjoyable.

Dammit, I guess I really should hear this!! Is it better than the My Bloody Valentine comeback album?

yes (i didn't like mbv that much)

not remotely but give this a listen

My knee jerk reaction upon hearing mbv four years ago was basically, "Hmmph, guess they needed to wait for this sound to be fashionable again." Because it honestly sounded to me like the follow up recorded right after Loveless, just that they had waited to release it. As good as it is (and it **is** so good, so satisfying), it seemed kind of cold and calculated after the dust had settled.

But this new Slowdive, upon my knee jerk reaction, has me thinking it's a much more rewarding listen, just because of how it germinated and came to life. It feels to me a lot more. . . I don't know, earnest?

Both are really excellent records, but I think the comparisons between them stop at "shoegaze band that hasn't released a new album for a long time."

The only song I'm not totally sold on is the last one. The way the, "thinking about love" bit overlaps near the end seems a bit clumsy and grates after a while.

this is my only criticism of the album as well. though on my second listen through, it annoyed me less. i love everything else about that song

Good comeback album, but not as GREAT as Portishead's comeback.

this album is incredible

Doesn't seem to be on their main site yet but there's a live session over on Pitchfork's FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/Pitchfork/videos/vb.28015075999/10155179953621000/?type=2&theater

Saw them last night, and despite technical issues at the beginning, they were fantastic. The production was pretty impressive too, with a complex light show and a smoke machine that actually added to the concert experience without being corny

A board veteran disapproves. (Said veteran is wrong.)

I have done extensive research into the rock music of the 1990s and genuinely cannot comprehend why anyone cares much about Slowdive

— Matthew Perpetua (@perpetua) May 10, 2017

but he's done the research

he calibrates his hot takes with his devotion to Radiohead

Good comeback album, but not as GREAT as Portishead's comeback.

I agree with this sentiment. I think it was because Portishead evolved their style so much that it felt like a true followup and not a nostalgic look back to what once was. Really exciting record and they had a great live show to go with it, too. While this Slowdive album is certainly a progression, there's also a ton of nostalgia.

I guess Portishead are one and done with their comeback at this point. It's been what... nearly a decade since Third? Hope Slowdive has a few more in them.

Right. The problem is everyone else.

What's the phrase about how the truly insane people are that way because they have no grasp on how abnormal their own behavior is?

xpost, obviously.

Be on the lookout for "30th June", a 7.5 minute JP bonus track.

I guess Portishead are one and done with their comeback at this point. It's been what... nearly a decade since Third?

As part of a separate story I was interviewing Adrian Utley last week -- at the end of it I happily confessed to being a fan and said I was looking forward to whatever was next, but I didn't press him on it. Whatever happens does.

It's already nine years since Third? It feels like yesterday. When almost ten years seem like a year or so you are old, aren't you? From Dummy to Third felt like an eternity. And it was only 14 years?

but he's done the research

http://www.theonion.com/article/history-of-rock-written-by-the-losers-736

"Everyone Knows" is bliss distilled into aural form

"Third" was also great because it included one of their best tracks "The Rip"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZiBd1iGC3o

the japanese bonus track has shown up. it's great and i wish it would have been on the album proper

It would have been funny if he's sung "thinkin' 'bout Slowdive" at the end of Falling Ashes over and over instead

he'd

Finally getting around to hearing this and very much enjoying it. Very good record.

The thing I keep hearing on the radio reminds me of China crisis.

Does anyone else think Neil sounds like Feargal Sharkey on Slomo?

"star roving" kinda reminds me of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQar3ayLaP4

(a compliment)

^ The best thing Coldplay ever did.

agreed!

I've actually lost count of the amount of times I've listened to 'Star Roving' since Saturday.

having already played Star Roving and Sugar for the Pill a zillion times before the album came out, I'm now focusing on Slomo and Go Get It.

Suger for the Pill reminds me of John Maus.

When the drums come in during the intro on "Slomo" I'm reminded of "The Streets of Philadelphia".

The hidden track "Chinese Sleep Chant" was described as "a self-conscious parody of shoegaze" with My Bloody Valentine influences. Critics also noted the "wall of sound, heavily processed guitar-swirl and falsetto vocals through reverb."[4][5]

There's more shoegaze DNA in Coldplay than a lot of people would be comfortable admitting - I don't really remember anyone doing that chung-chung-chung straight strummed eight-notes in rock music before shoegaze. And while the differences don't need to be outlined, it does feel like early Coldplay took that blueprint - the lack of rhythmic interest, the aching-but-vague melancholy, and stripped out all the difficult or diffuse bits, simplified the textures and made it anthemic.

OTM

I've mentioned it awhile back but Star Roving sounds a lot like a sped up version of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R5icZgqZ4s

I barely remember that song, sounds way better than I thought, I wasn't into that album much. Neil Halstead said he liked Serena Maneesh when that album came out.

Album of the Year, so far. i can't stop playing this thing. it's funny as i have seen Slowdive/Mojave 3 around 15 times and know they are one of my very favorite bands. did not think they would have an album this good after all this time, what 22 years? the new Jesus and Mary Chain is not even close to this album.

Slowdive tickets go on pre-sale tomorrow for Los Angeles at the Wiltern. officially go on-sale on Friday.

getting tickets tomorrow, it will be like my 16 time seeing either Slowdiver or Mojave 3. i can't tell you how excited i am about this show!

los angeles and joshua tree shows added to us tour!

Very happy to announce two new dates for our North American Fall tour! We will be playing LA @ The Wiltern and Joshua Tree @ Pappy & Harriet’s in October!

Tickets for LA and Joshua Tree go on sale Friday 28th July at 10am

All other remaining tickets are available now. Ticket links in the sidebar ->

Mon. Oct. 23 – Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore
Wed. Oct. 25 – Seattle, WA @ The Neptune *SOLD OUT*
Thu. Oct. 26 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Sat. Oct. 28 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
Sun. Oct. 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern *NEW DATE*
Mon. Oct. 30 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s * NEW DATE*
Wed. Nov. 1 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden
Fri. Nov. 3 – Kansas City, MO @ The Truman
Sat. Nov. 4 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre
Sun. Nov. 5 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
Tue. Nov. 7 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
Wed. Nov. 8 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
Thu. Nov. 9 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Fri. Nov. 10 – Toronto, ON @ CANADA @ Massey Hall
Sat. Nov. 11 – New Haven, CT @ College St Music Hall
Sun. Nov. 12 – New York City, NY @ Terminal 5
Tue. Nov. 14 – Boston,MA @ Paradise
Wed. Nov. 15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Thu. Nov. 16 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head
Fri. Nov. 17 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel

Thank you for the reminder, got my Oakland ticket. Will be the first time seeing them since the reunion was announced -- had been waiting on them to do new material first.

agh gotta get my oakland ticket as well!!

Getting Wiltern tickets too. Probably Pappy & Harriets too since the show is on my birthday but holy hell there were a lot of boring adult hipsters out there last time.

I'm still bemused a bit that a band I last saw at a small show at Cal State Fullerton's pub will be at a rather larger venue.

got oakland tix as well... thanks for the reminder