> I like Porcupine just fine, but it's probably my least favorite of the five, original 1980s albums.
there's not a lot to dislike about those first 4.
very cheap double cd best of just released http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Moon-Best-Echo-Bunnymen/dp/B000WTNDQ2
but buy the original lps anyway.
― koogs, Wednesday, 20 February 2008 10:18 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/musicclub/doc_ericsliverpoolclub.shtml
"Steve Lamacq presents a celebration of Eric's, the Liverpool club that helped establish Merseyside as the UK's musical epicentre at the end of the 1970s.
During a brief period of time in the late seventies, the club witnessed the birth of a whole new Liverpool music scene, one that would travel far and beyond the city.
With Echo and the Bunnymen playing their first ever gig at the club as support to the Teardrop Explodes in November 1978, Eric's has earnt its place in rock 'n' roll history as the angsty younger brother to the Cavern."
(this was over the weekend but is listenagainable)
also, this friday on bbc4, 2 liverpudlian Rock Family Trees, the merseybeat years and the early eighties. "Contains some strong language."
recently went to liverpool for the first time in search of eric's and brian's and the like. and found nothing. eric's is now vivian westwood's (was slap bang next to the old (and new) cavern in matthew street. was all knocked down and rebuilt as appartments & shops. only mention i saw of E&tB was at a poster of liverpudlian bands in hmv...)
― koogs, Monday, 2 June 2008 09:02 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm in NYC now, having flown here to catch the Bunnymen doing the entirety of the Ocean Rain album with a ten-piece "orchestra". They also did an earlier set of stuff from across their career.
Anyway, I want to give thanks to the wonderful European man at the gig who spontaneously and rather passionately hugged me in the middle of "Thorn of Crowns" and said "this song is amazing isn't it?"
Also want to give a shoutout to Deeznuts, for even though I was at my worst drunkenness-wise when I last posted that "Thorn of Crowns" You Tube clip here, he remembered it and said he really liked that song, too.
I'm playing Killing Moon on my iPod now.
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Friday, 3 October 2008 05:57 (fifteen years ago) link
The SOUND OF THE GUITAR.
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Friday, 3 October 2008 05:58 (fifteen years ago) link
I really think Silver is their finest ever moment. Those strings! that will sergeant guitar! the 'did heslip in a rude word there?' bitso much mightier than the cutter, good as that is, but it's really just a good riff and some choppy guitarbut not much melody. even killing moon can't top silver. never stop is another overlooked single, the best thing on porcupine
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 4 October 2008 11:37 (fifteen years ago) link
"Boney Maroney??"
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 4 October 2008 12:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Go to sleep.
― Matt P, Saturday, 4 October 2008 12:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes, I shall soon, indeed. But what business is it of yours?
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 4 October 2008 12:17 (fifteen years ago) link
i was just watching this before i posted earlier. mac for home secretary, circa 83
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 4 October 2008 12:59 (fifteen years ago) link
> never stop is another overlooked single, the best thing on porcupine
except it isn't. was only added to the re-releases.
― koogs, Saturday, 4 October 2008 14:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah I was gonna say...Never Stop wasn't on a regular LP of theirs...
To me that's when the Bunnymen started really getting good was when that song came out.
But it's possible I have my timelines a bit skewed. Anyway, I found the Radio City Music Hall NYC performance on You Tube of Thorn of Crowns...it's not quite as energetic or animated as you might imagine (was Mac just extremely pissed?) but if you were there at the venue to shout and jump around like I was, you wouldn't care:
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 4 October 2008 14:42 (fifteen years ago) link
Nice performance! It looks to me like Ian is doing his best Jim Reid impersonation, though.
― ilxor, Saturday, 4 October 2008 15:58 (fifteen years ago) link
...Never Stop wasn't on a regular LP of theirs...
forgot that, have just dug out my copy to remind myself. the other side of that single, heads will roll, ison the album. i always felt never stop should have been. i agree it was their first stunning record, much as i like the first 2 albums and songs like Over the Wall
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 4 October 2008 19:36 (fifteen years ago) link
"looks to me like Ian is doing his best Jim Reid impersonation"
Jim Reid started out as a McCulloch impersonation.
― Soukesian, Saturday, 4 October 2008 19:41 (fifteen years ago) link
LOL
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 4 October 2008 20:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Okay, get ready folks, new dbl CD reissue of Ocean Rain due Oct 21st has a gig from 1983 as the second disc.
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 4 October 2008 21:06 (fifteen years ago) link
"Some fine singles but with Interpol's stronger rhytm section they may be rendered totally redundant if the new breed make enough albums."
Oh boy.
― Hazy, Sunday, 5 October 2008 00:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Wait, so.. Bimble, did Echo actually play "Never Stop" at the RCMH show? I love that song too & always thought it would sound absolutely fanfuckingtastic played live with string section.
― Pillbox, Sunday, 5 October 2008 01:09 (fifteen years ago) link
No, they didn't play Never Stop at the gig I attended, but it is on the '83 gig that comes with the new Ocean Rain reissue.
― The More You Live The Faster You Will Die (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Sunday, 5 October 2008 03:44 (fifteen years ago) link
I love Ocean Rain and all that sails in her.But it has to be said that reciting a list of vegetables bears as much relation to psychedeliaas sticking pencils up your nose and placing yer underpants on yer head bears to madness
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Sunday, 5 October 2008 14:15 (fifteen years ago) link
I've got the Peel Sessions and presumably, you don't.
― think you're a fookin' bat, eh? (Bimble), Saturday, 7 February 2009 11:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Definitely more goth than you lot.
― think you're a fookin' bat, eh? (Bimble), Saturday, 7 February 2009 11:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Go fuck a giraffe in the sunlight of the desert, folks. You don't get any more goth than Echo & Bunnymen Peel Sessions.
OVER THE WALL
― think you're a fookin' bat, eh? (Bimble), Saturday, 7 February 2009 11:25 (fifteen years ago) link
Oddly enough, I don't. But I soon will.
― Millsner, Saturday, 7 February 2009 11:52 (fifteen years ago) link
I can't help it, that Peel Session song "No Hands" is the gothiest thing ever. Beautiful and amen. Listen to the bass. I'll never recover. That is absolutely the most beautifully goth thing I've ever heard. Oh my god, make it stop. That is going to fuck with my head all night. Too much goth. Too much.
― think you're a fookin' bat, eh? (Bimble), Saturday, 7 February 2009 12:25 (fifteen years ago) link
Echo & Bunnymen Peel Sessions, people. This is where the living is. Breathe the fresh air.
― All Night Party Of Goth (Bimble), Sunday, 22 February 2009 21:22 (fifteen years ago) link
Do you know why I'm cooler than you? Because I have them doing New Order/Joy Division's "Ceremony", that's why. Out cooled you all, too late.
― Buckets of Rong (Bimble), Sunday, 28 June 2009 21:20 (fifteen years ago) link
I've got McCulloch joining NO for 'Ceremony' at the Festival of the Tenth Summer, 1986. That's got to count for something!
― Millsner, Monday, 29 June 2009 10:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Last time I saw Ian Mac, was at an 808 state gig where he was featured vocalist.
― Mark G, Monday, 29 June 2009 13:05 (fifteen years ago) link
haha that track ("Moses") is probably my favorite thing he's done
― get money fuck witches (HI DERE), Monday, 29 June 2009 13:47 (fifteen years ago) link
last time i saw IM he was singing Pale Blue Eyes with edwyn collins (and A N Other?) as one of a few support acts for the cocteau twins (which also include jim and william reid doing acoustic songs) (brixton academy, er, nov 1990)
― koogs, Monday, 29 June 2009 18:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Last time I saw him was Electrafixion. D'oh!
― Keith, Monday, 29 June 2009 18:33 (fifteen years ago) link
he was singing Pale Blue Eyes with edwyn collins (and A N Other?)
Roddy Frame, I believe.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 June 2009 18:37 (fifteen years ago) link
you are right. who else played, do you know? google got me lots of links to that same cocteau's gigography but no details.
― koogs, Monday, 29 June 2009 20:29 (fifteen years ago) link
I like how you're asking Ned, Deano.... I mean, you were there. I suppose if you remembered maybe you weren't.
― Keith, Monday, 29 June 2009 23:16 (fifteen years ago) link
Anyone have the "Baseball Bill" 7" that was Electrafixion's last release? It was later included on Echo's "Avalanche" but to my ears the two versions are labeled backwards:"Baseball Bill (Electrafixion version)" - 4:44"Baseball Bill (Sgt Fuzz remix)" - 4:35
The first track sounds fuzzy, the second less so. Can anyone check?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 8 September 2009 15:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Moment from Simon Reynold's "Rip It Up..." book that made me laugh:
Ian McCulloch started to make bitchy comments about U2, describing their anthemic songs as "music for plumbers and bricklayers" while boasting that the Bunnymen were "an oceans and mountains band."
― Cunga, Friday, 16 October 2009 04:46 (fourteen years ago) link
lol @ these guys blaming the IRS for them fucking up their tour
― I'm gonna put on an iron burt, and chase stanton out of urt (Curt1s Stephens), Monday, 9 November 2009 15:53 (fourteen years ago) link
Just been speaking to my brother in law who went to see them last night in Glasgow. Sounds interesting, as Mac was totally hammered, was abusing the road crew, ranting at the audience and walked off before the end. Though my brother in law had left before then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PtwgdcB4tk
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
Skip to 2'30 for Mac meltdown.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
absolutely no idea what he's saying. made out 'shut up' and 'fucking bastard'.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:57 (twelve years ago) link
Sadly it wasn't “I will knee-cap yer fuckin’ head off”
http://wandywatson.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/all-at-sea-again-%e2%80%93-echo-and-the-bunnymen-at-the-royal-concert-hall-glasgow-28-september-2011/
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:58 (twelve years ago) link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearls_Before_Swine
― meisenfek, Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:37 (twelve years ago) link
So yesterday friend Stripey and I got to chat for a while with Will Sergeant about his art at his gallery showing in LA. Very cool guy. Artwork's excellent as well, BTW; showing only started on Friday and half the pieces were sold!
Also he has a new solo album out, Things Inside, which is acoustic and not limited to guitar either -- enjoyable and will have to give it a couple more listens here for sure. Les Pattinson also plays bass on four tracks!
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 20 May 2012 13:20 (twelve years ago) link
i once briefly lived in a car (a friends) and killed their battery listening to 'the cutter' over and over and over for about three or four days.obsessed with that song.can do no wrong. (just got lent that julian cope 'double' book about that whole thing... which one should i read first?)
― dextor ellis bextor, Sunday, 20 May 2012 13:44 (twelve years ago) link
I really like Echo & the Bunnymen, but I've never gotten Sergeant's guitar hero status. It's amazing, in fact, how little the guitar plays a role in much of their best stuff, aside from a few little simple but not terribly inspired licks (compare to Pete, who is one of my favorite, and a wildly creative, drummer). Though I admit, knowing what not to play, or when not to play, is often gift enough.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 20 May 2012 13:46 (twelve years ago) link
Meantime, other Will-related stuff. First, a new project, Polter-Geist, with Les Pattinson.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Polter-Geist/412308438805076
Separately and a couple of years old, the Metronome.
http://www.myspace.com/themetronome
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2012 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
Are they any cop? It's been years since anything from a Bunnyman interested me, sadly.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 10 July 2012 04:27 (twelve years ago) link
The new Bunnymen album is...another pleasantly forgettable listen.
http://thequietus.com/articles/15246-echo-and-the-bunnymen-meteorites-review
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 May 2014 14:29 (ten years ago) link
I see they're touring again too. Have not seen 'em live in ages.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 May 2014 17:46 (ten years ago) link