pygmalion is super dull, as is the band that wasted rachels beautiful voice (mojave 3)!!
Pygmalion is the only Slowdive album I listen to these days. Go figure.
Spoon And Rafter I like much more now, but that first M3 album is still my #1 choice. I wish that Rachel's solo album had some of that mystery X factor in it.
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:14 (fifteen years ago) link
i have never been able to get into Pygmalion despite the love that it seems to get.
My choice for Mojave 3 is Out Of Tune but that also seems to be a unpopular choice.
loved Neil's first solo album (second ?) but hated Rachel's solo album.
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:28 (fifteen years ago) link
I hated Pygmalion when it came out, then fell in love with it before ultimately not really caring much. "Rutti" is pure classic though
― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 08:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Thinking about it, the time would be exactly right for a Slowdive one-off reunion.
― baaderonixx, Thursday, 14 August 2008 10:57 (fifteen years ago) link
One thing I've found about Slowdive is that the time of day that you listen to their albums can strongly affect your perception of them. Here are the times you should listen to them:
"Just for a Day" - Listen to around dawn "Souvlaki" - listen to at 1:00am "Pygmalion" listen to during a hot, windless afternoon in a desert
If you listen at different times, they simply do not work, and can even sound horrible.
― res, Thursday, 14 August 2008 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
I can't see myself listening to "Just for a Day" over breakfast
― baaderonixx, Thursday, 14 August 2008 14:18 (fifteen years ago) link
not for breakfast, that's too late. it's the darkness just before dawn.
― res, Thursday, 14 August 2008 14:23 (fifteen years ago) link
brushfire records is actually jack johnson's label. he has surprisingly signed really good people so far (well, halstead and rogue wave, don't know who else).
― akm, Thursday, 14 August 2008 15:03 (fifteen years ago) link
I think they were very good initially because they were unselfconscious. i.e. they were middle-class MBV fans making music for middle-class MBV fans. As soon as they became aware that they had to adopt some kind of stance, and deny what they fundamentally were, then they lost it.
― PhilK, Friday, 15 August 2008 21:42 (fifteen years ago) link
2008 so needed a Pygmalion backlash.
― Just got offed, Friday, 15 August 2008 21:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Never set your sights too high when it comes to shoegazer bands.
― PhilK, Friday, 15 August 2008 21:49 (fifteen years ago) link
-- res, Thursday, August 14, 2008 9:14 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link
As much as I want to disagree with this, especially the not work and even sound horrible part, I would be lying if the best time I heard Just for a Day wasn't on a brisk spring morning at 6:30 AM, and Souvlaki at 1:30 AM in a dark basement, and, well I was in an actual desert on a hot, windless afternoon about 2 months ago, but I didn't think to bring Pygmalion.
Slowdive's albums are like ripening bananas. JFaD is the album equivalent of a banana with a slight greenish hue: firm, flavour's a bit bland and off, but otherwise solid and eatable. Good, but should have waited a day or two. Souvlaki is just perfection: perfect colour, texture, feel, taste - definitively ripe. Pygmalion tastes just fine despite what anyone says about the admittedly present brown spots (but they're not really that noticeable anyways), the heightened texture and softness of it aren't necessarily worse, but not as good as it was in it's prime. It's also excellent for baking.
― mehlt, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 15:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Well we have a "worst metaphor of the day" by 11:30 am now!
― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 15:29 (fifteen years ago) link
I'll support him, but only because he didn't shoot me down. :)
― res, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 15:36 (fifteen years ago) link
As for mojave 3, Not entirely familiar with their whole body of work, but I think it's probably closer to mangos. (even worse by 11:39)
― mehlt, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 15:39 (fifteen years ago) link
As much as I want to disagree with this, especially the not work and even sound horrible part,
That's sort of an exaggeration, but really, if you listen to "Souvlaki" when it's bright and sunny outside, it does not compute at all. It just works so much better in the dark.
― res, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 19:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Out of the blue at work Friday I got this urge to dig up their first couple of (non-album) 12" singles. I guess in the U.S. these were compiled nicely on Blue Day later, but I only had them on vinyl. So I'm having fun with this stuff now. I'd love it if anyone would say something about this band because I was thinking about them pretty intensely on Friday.
― Disruptor of Morals (Bimble), Sunday, 26 April 2009 12:59 (fifteen years ago) link
Also a really interesting fact I learned was that the tracks on their first 12" were only part of their early demos. I guess this wouldn't be too extraordinary except that I had that blue flexi disc of a couple other tracks from that and they were extremely boring. "Beach Song" or whatever it was? I wonder if that flexi is worth anything now. I'll sell it if anyone wants it...
― Disruptor of Morals (Bimble), Sunday, 26 April 2009 13:02 (fifteen years ago) link
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hh3smhvp8L0/S5DPI7TFeyI/AAAAAAAAADo/2Sx7pm2rl9s/s1600-h/slowdive2_Page_2.jpg
The Shining Breeze: The Slowdive Anthology (2 CD set) will be released on May 4, 2010 on Cherry Red Records.
Here’s the tracklist:
DISC ONE
Slowdive (Slowdive EP) Nov-90Avalyn I (Slowdive EP) Nov-90Morningrise (Morningrise EP) Feb-90She Calls (Morningrise EP) Feb-90Catch The Breeze (Holding Our Breath EP) Jun-91Golden Hair (Holding Our Breath EP) Jun-91Shine (Holding Our Breath EP) Jun-91Spanish Air (Just For A Day) Sep-91Erik's Song (Just For A Day) Sep-91Waves (Just For A Day) Sep-91Primal (Just For A Day) Sep-91Alison (Outside Your Room EP) May-93So Tired (Outside Your Room EP) May-93Moussaka Chaos (Outside Your Room EP) May-93
DISC TWO
Souvlaki Space Station (Souvlaki) May-93Machine Gun (Souvlaki) May-93Sing (Souvlaki) May-93Here She Comes (Souvlaki) May-93Altogether (Souvlaki) May-93Dagger (Souvlaki) May-93Some Velvet Morning (Souvlakibonus disc) May-93In Mind (5 EP) Nov-93Good Day Sunshine (5 EP) Nov-93Country Rain (5 EP) Nov-93Rutti (Pygmalion) Feb-95Miranda (Pygmalion) Feb-95Trellisaze (Pygmalion) Feb-95Cello (Pygmalion) Feb-95Visions of La (Pygmalion) Feb-95Blue Skied an' Clear (Pygmalion) Feb-95All of Us (Pygmalion) Feb-95
― Bee OK, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 00:58 (fourteen years ago) link
lets try the cover again:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hh3smhvp8L0/S5DPI7TFeyI/AAAAAAAAADo/2Sx7pm2rl9s/s400/slowdive2_Page_2.jpg
― Bee OK, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 01:01 (fourteen years ago) link
:D
― silence is a rhythm too (Turangalila), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 01:01 (fourteen years ago) link
What, there was something wrong with the Catch the Breeze anthology?
― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 01:42 (fourteen years ago) link
fair q
this one has a few more tracks and has removed a couple of others.. i hope it hasn't been "remastered"
― naked on the vag (electricsound), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 01:45 (fourteen years ago) link
SONGS EXCLUSIVE TO THE SHINING BREEZE:
― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 01:54 (fourteen years ago) link
Their 3 albums aren't all that hard to find, seems like it would have been better to complile non LP stuff onto a cd instead?
That cover sucks, too.
― Tonight I Dine on Turtle Soup (EDB), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 02:00 (fourteen years ago) link
AWESOME SLOWDIVE SONGS THAT AREN'T ON EITHER ONE, PLUS ISN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE A TON OF UNRELEASED SLOWDIVE STUFF OUT THERE, LIKE SOME UNRELEASED ALBUM CALLED I SAW THE SUN AND A SOUND TRACK TO I AM THE ELEPHANT U R THE MOUSE AND ALL THESE PYGMALION DEMOS AND WHATNOT:*- Avalyn II*- Celia's Dream*- Ballad of Sister Sue
― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 02:12 (fourteen years ago) link
Those are some of their best songs. :(
― silence is a rhythm too (Turangalila), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 02:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Cherry Red is great! I have their Moose and Brilliant Corners (band) reissues and they're wonderful.
― Evan, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 03:30 (fourteen years ago) link
Given that I tracked down the discography a decade ago, I don't think I'll need this. But I'm deeply perplexed why any Slowdive anthology would omit "When the Sun Hits", which has been a favorite of mine, (as well as others here) for 17 years now...
― nori dusted (Sanpaku), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 03:47 (fourteen years ago) link
When The Sun Hits is in my unwritten Top Songs Ever, yeah really.
― kelpolaris, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 03:59 (fourteen years ago) link
don't they have a cover of "Sweet Child O'Mine too"?
― Vanilla Douche (res), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 04:22 (fourteen years ago) link
don't see the point of this comp and teh cover makes it look like some cheapo Cleopatra collection.
Anyway, I already have all of this (thank you 'Blue Day') - what I really need is a cleaned up release of 'I Saw the Sun' (and a reunion tour)
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 08:24 (fourteen years ago) link
they could have at least changed the name to something that wasn't so similar
― Vanilla Douche (res), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 17:09 (fourteen years ago) link
couldn't they have just slapped all 3 of their albums + b-sides on 3 discs? sheesh
― hobbes, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 20:17 (fourteen years ago) link
"the shining breeze" as a title is rather self-parodying
― hobbes, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 20:20 (fourteen years ago) link
I find it hard to believe how quickly the 3 reissues of Slowdive's studio albums seem to have gone out of print. I bought them a year ago for £5 a piece now they're going for silly money.
― AnotherDeadHero, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 21:47 (fourteen years ago) link
― hobbes, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 3:17 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Well they could of, but that would have been a good idea.
― Tonight I Dine on Turtle Soup (EDB), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 01:21 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/4099469.Vacuum_cleaner_brings_cat_home/
― Mark G, Friday, 13 January 2012 11:36 (twelve years ago) link
when this gets revived I always hope to find an announcement of a reunion show...
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Friday, 13 January 2012 13:06 (twelve years ago) link
xp - poor Rachel - seems her worst nightmare came true for a lil while:http://www.souvlakispacestation.com/archives/131
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Friday, 13 January 2012 13:11 (twelve years ago) link
"Slowdive are quite wonderful (better than MBV, no"
would have stopped right before the ", no" part
― fauxmarc, Friday, 13 January 2012 16:31 (twelve years ago) link
i'm always so impressed by how good my old u.s. version of souvlaki sounds. the 90's version with bonus tracks "not available on import". its loud and its the good kind of loud. i'm cranking it now. no need to remaster this album ever. just copy this copy.
― scott seward, Thursday, 5 April 2012 12:50 (twelve years ago) link
this from 2008 is so not on the money:
"While the vocals are similar, the sounds from the instruments on SOUVLAKI are so much lighter (a la the Cocteau Twins). This really sounds like something you could sleep to, or you could have it gently wake you up in the morning."
― scott seward, Thursday, 5 April 2012 12:51 (twelve years ago) link
you really need to hear it loud. it's definitely not light when loud. it's a powerful record.
― scott seward, Thursday, 5 April 2012 12:52 (twelve years ago) link
"just for a day" is an example of a record that needs to be played loud. there's enormous atmosphere to the songs, but no density. play it loud and you can lose yourself in it, otherwise it plays through without you noticing a thing.
― charlie h, Thursday, 5 April 2012 13:33 (twelve years ago) link
They always sounded near crushing live -- not Swans level say but it was that feeling of forced immersion, but you were happy to drown.
Whenever I see some massive stacks of clouds glowing above in sunset rays, Slowdive is my mental soundtrack.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 5 April 2012 13:51 (twelve years ago) link
― Mr. Snrub, lunes 3 de mayo de 2010 22:12 (1 year ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yessss avalyn ii. i only get into slowdive because araki stuck that in the opening credits to nowhere (and when the sun hits elsewhere, closing credits maybe?) never got into pygmalion. i played i saw the sun for a while but don't have it anymore.
― fauxmarc, Thursday, 5 April 2012 19:56 (twelve years ago) link
when are these guys do the right thing and do a cash-in Souvlaki reunion tour?
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Saturday, 7 April 2012 09:34 (twelve years ago) link
i imagine that would depend quite a bit on rachel goswell's health issues
― kate axford likes this (electricsound), Saturday, 7 April 2012 09:39 (twelve years ago) link
The abrupt switch from the chorus into the second verse in "Allison" is so cool. You don't even realize how many layers of guitars built up until the switch.. It's like waking up from a dream within a dream.
― neutral sequence for flute (blank), Sunday, 8 April 2012 03:19 (twelve years ago) link