Voted Black Sheep but I wanted to point out that Don't Fall in Love has "Westfall" and "Red" on it
― Sug-Banning Fool at Poll-Making School (los blue jeans), Thursday, 6 August 2009 02:46 (fourteen years ago) link
Black Sheep Boy has "For Real" and "A Stone" and then throw in "Black" = by far their best album, IMO.
― Bee OK, Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:44 PM (40 minutes ago)
also "a king and a queen"!!!
― joeks, bruv will tear us apart (k3vin k.), Thursday, 6 August 2009 03:25 (fourteen years ago) link
either black sheep boy or stage names, don't know the first two and the new one totally bummed me out
― joeks, bruv will tear us apart (k3vin k.), Thursday, 6 August 2009 03:26 (fourteen years ago) link
gotta say, this band meant a lot to me when i was 17-18, though i havent listened to them in a while. when theyre on theyre fire
― joeks, bruv will tear us apart (k3vin k.), Thursday, 6 August 2009 03:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 6 August 2009 23:01 (fourteen years ago) link
It's been a steady decline since Black Sheep Boy for me. Don't Fall In Love also has "Okkervil River Song" which is great
― Number None, Thursday, 6 August 2009 23:12 (fourteen years ago) link
Black Sheep Boy is a pantheon-level 00s indie album for me. It’s such a raw nerve and almost too sad. I have to be careful not to listen to it during transitory periods in my life, or I’ll break down.
The ones that stick with me the most are For Real, Black, A King and a Queen, SCBIW, and especially The Latest Toughs
― ant banks and wasp (voodoo chili), Friday, 13 July 2018 14:47 (five years ago) link
I can definitely see that, just relistened yesterday prompted by your post and it is a great album - All the Latest Toughs such a great song
of these I prefer The Stand Ins but Away has become their towering masterpiece for me
― niels, Saturday, 14 July 2018 09:08 (five years ago) link
every fall I relisten to Away and reconfirm that it's their best album and generally the great undersung achievement of modern indiedom
I went digging for bootlegs because I was sad I missed them touring that record and found this excellent live recording on their YouTube page, which features their incredible lineup from the album and also includes a touching story explaining "Comes Indiana Through the Smoke" that's worth catching. Apparently features the only-ever live performance of "Frontman in Heaven" which blows my mind. I also love the 10-11 minute versions of "Judey on a Street" that are kicking around on archive.org.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm6pbfyf5nk
― Simon H., Thursday, 31 October 2019 06:22 (four years ago) link
And for the Black Sheep Boy stans, that recording concludes with something I didn't think was even possible: an upbeat take on "So Come Back, I Am Waiting"
― Simon H., Thursday, 31 October 2019 07:04 (four years ago) link
I listen to that album every week of the year it is perfection
thanks for the vid will watch
― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 31 October 2019 10:49 (four years ago) link
So this thread lead me to Judey on a Street and for this, I am truly thankful. I like the Stage Names a good deal and should investigate this band further.
― Life is a meaningless nightmare of suffering...save string (Chinaski), Friday, 15 November 2019 22:24 (four years ago) link
I like TSN a lot but it's maybe their....fourth-best album?
― Simon H., Friday, 15 November 2019 23:22 (four years ago) link
yeah i prefer the earlier ones and Away, which would be my #1 vote today
― ciderpress, Saturday, 16 November 2019 05:20 (four years ago) link
Nah TSN is their best
― van dyke parks generator (anagram), Saturday, 16 November 2019 08:19 (four years ago) link
Since this thread was revived I have gone back to Away. I thought it was brilliant when I first got it but went off it quite quickly. Now, listening again with slightly older ears, I have reverted to my initial opinion. Something about it places it alongside Veedon Fleece for me although, obviously, with an Americana rather than Irish folk feel. Maybe it's the meandering nature of the songs that feel almost like trains of thought put to music. I suspect that, much like Veedon Fleece, Away will grow in stature over the years.
― yugi ex, Saturday, 16 November 2019 09:46 (four years ago) link
I hope so. I think a lot of their fans just want Sheff to do another angst-ridden indie rock record but that's just so clearly not where he's at anymore. (Which is a good thing, going by the circumstances in which BSB was recorded.)
― Simon H., Saturday, 16 November 2019 18:46 (four years ago) link
stage names was my favorite of theirs until away came out. it seemed a little more refined and clear and precise than black sheep boy, which, much as i love it, can be a little overbearing
― american bradass (BradNelson), Saturday, 16 November 2019 19:04 (four years ago) link
away is in another universe of quality entirely imo, a masterpiece that should be appearing on decade lists
I suspect if it had come out immediately following BSB or TSN it would have been (correctly) heralded as such
― Simon H., Saturday, 16 November 2019 19:41 (four years ago) link
How did we feel about The Silver Gymnasium? That's the only one since BSB I've missed, I think (and the album with Roky)
― Paul Ponzi, Sunday, 17 November 2019 14:10 (four years ago) link
The concept was great but I didn't think the songs were there, excepting Down Down the Deep River and All the Time Every Day which are real keepers.
― van dyke parks generator (anagram), Sunday, 17 November 2019 14:12 (four years ago) link
I like the opener and "Pink Slips" and yeah the concept, but not a fan of the sound as a whole
― Simon H., Sunday, 17 November 2019 15:54 (four years ago) link
i like silver gymnasium it's got some v good songs on it
― ciderpress, Sunday, 17 November 2019 16:12 (four years ago) link
id rate it slightly under stage names i think
Have you ever been just head over heels for a song, but never see it praised online/in the media like you think it should be?
That's how I feel about "Red". I see it mentioned as a solid track, or an album highlight, but I think it will always be my absolute favorite OR.
― cryborg (rip van wanko), Sunday, 17 November 2019 16:20 (four years ago) link
that's how I feel about "Hanging from a Hit"
― Simon H., Sunday, 17 November 2019 16:29 (four years ago) link