― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 06:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 08:11 (twenty-one years ago) link
― geeta (geeta), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 08:37 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 08:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
Genius.
― russ t, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 09:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
― harveyw (harveyw), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 11:31 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 11:48 (twenty-one years ago) link
...but i love that record.
― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 12:30 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 13:32 (twenty-one years ago) link
― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 14:11 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 14:24 (twenty-one years ago) link
m.
― msp, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 14:25 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 14:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 15:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 15:16 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 15:30 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 15:33 (twenty-one years ago) link
I adore that album.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― hstencil, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:55 (twenty-one years ago) link
― hstencil, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 16:55 (twenty-one years ago) link
― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 17:03 (twenty-one years ago) link
When I ran for vice president of my high school, I started off my speech (to the entire student body) by explaining what the Burroughs quote "Language is a virus from outer space" meant. Despite this, I still got elected! No lie. I also dressed up as Laurie on the Big Science cover for "Dress up as your favorite musician" day at school (liquid paper applied to sunglasses).
The 2-CD anthology looks like a rip. I think there's only one rarity on it ("Walk the Dog").
― Ernest P. (ernestp), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 17:09 (twenty-one years ago) link
her tracks on 'you're the guy I want to spend my money with' (split with william burroughs and john giorno, both contributing spoken word) is even weirder than 'big science', worth hunting down for sure. the song 'dr. miller' is brilliant. I love the 'united states' box set but it's not something you throw on every day.
After that, things just get dull. 'Home of the Brave' is the soundtrack to a concert film, an okay film that compiles the previous 8 years but taken as an album it's sporadic at best. 'Strange Angels', way too overproduced, shame on Mike Thorne. Some nice songs but too much glossy discomfort. 'Bright Red', well as if anyone's expecting Brian Eno to do anything interesting ever again, but even the few things that seem like 'songs' come off a bit pointless. I heard the albums since then have continued the pattern.
― milton, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 17:38 (twenty-one years ago) link
btw i listened to strange angels a couple of days ago. it hasn't aged well. and i loved it so mucu in 89. but the benjamin song is still fucking awesome. especially for the lyrics.
the spoken word record is great afair.
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:13 (twenty-one years ago) link
Thanks, Alex....I guess. My fondness for Killing Joke is admittedly often over-emphasized for comedic effect here on ILM, but I do legitimately adore their music, and there are precious few artists whose music affects me in the same, visceral manner. Moreover, Killing Joke have indulged in more than a few styles along the way, so might I suggest giving them another shot. Just a thought.
Back on topic, Laurie's Ugly One album is not only great listening as a "spoken word" album, but it's also a compelling piece of ambient sound as well, beyond the narrative. Her very voice acts as an instrument. She tends to speak in a meter/timbre that is virtually hypnotic, I find.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 18:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
the 'faraway, so close' soundtrack has two wonderful acoustic arrangements of 'tightrope' and 'speak my language', much better than the versions of 'bright red'.
'you're the guy' did make it to CD... if you're into 'big science' you'll really want a copy...
― milton, Wednesday, 23 April 2003 19:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
so many moons ago I was briefly a nanny for a 3 year old, Vivienne. Whenever I put on Big Science she would get up during x=x, walk over to the speakers and start dancing. (this is also a kid whose favorite song that she'd sing while playing with legos or crayons was "Jane Says")
― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 21:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
I also dig Ugly One... and never get on a plane without it if for no other reason than the one about the woman who is flying for the first time and thinks the lights from the cities below are stars.
― rainman (rainman), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:09 (twenty years ago) link
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:15 (twenty years ago) link
― christoff (christoff), Friday, 16 January 2004 18:29 (twenty years ago) link
Was it The State or Kids in the Hall that had a skit about a cheerleader that made cheers Laurie Anderson-style? Also classic.
― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:26 (twenty years ago) link
My girlfriend almost left me because I took her to the horrible cheesefest Moby Dick thing on the night she got laid off. Although i suspect that was LA's nadir.
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 16 January 2004 20:38 (twenty years ago) link
― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Saturday, 17 January 2004 03:26 (twenty years ago) link
― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 17 January 2004 03:32 (twenty years ago) link
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 17 January 2004 03:32 (twenty years ago) link
― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Monday, 14 June 2004 14:13 (twenty years ago) link
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 14 June 2004 14:58 (twenty years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 01:06 (seventeen years ago) link
Has anybody got the Big Science reissue? How does it sound?
What about the new recording of Big Science on the single with Lou?
In case nobody knows what I'm talking about:
PITCHFORK
Laurie Anderson's art-rock classic Big Science is 25, and to celebrate, Nonesuch are saving the candles and reissuing the thing instead. But that's not all: according to Uncut, Laurie, along with her pals Lou Reed and Antony Hegarty (of "and the Johnsons" fame), recorded a new version of the record's title track for a Big Science 2 EP. The EP also features a remastered version of "O Superman" from the Big Science LP. Both are due in the UK July 16. UPDATE: THEY WILL BE OUT JULY 17 IN THE U.S.
Laurie also has a few tour dates on the way in Spain and Portugal, which we'll get to after the tracklists.
Big Science 2:
01 Big Science [ft. Lou Reed and Anthony Hagerty] 02 O Superman
Big Science:
01 From the Air 02 Big Science 03 Sweaters 04 Walking and Falling 05 Born Never Asked 06 O Superman 07 Example #22 08 Let X = X 09 It Tango 10 Walk the Dog 11 O Superman
Small tour:
07-13 Braga, Portugal - Theatro Circo 07-15 Lisbon, Portugal - Culturgest 07-17 Madrid, Spain - Festival Veranos de la Villa
― flamingrev, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 06:47 (seventeen years ago) link
I don't like the idea of bonus tracks after "It Tango". Totally beside the point.
― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 08:38 (seventeen years ago) link
was not into Big Science the first few times I heard it, but it clicked with me big time recently ... suddenly what seemed like self conscious quirk turned into something beautiful and haunting. Not sure how it happened but it did. Curious to know what the context for this was -- did people see her as like, a female David Byrne? Kind of disappointed that this isn't a more expansive reissue -- aren't there a bunch of uncollected pre-BIg Science tunes out there?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 15:46 (seventeen years ago) link
I hadn't heard any news about the reissue, but that's exciting. I actually just heard this record for the first time a few weeks ago, after finding a used vinyl copy. The spoken word bits put me off at first, but by the end of the album I thought it was all pretty awesome. I had a similar feeling to: suddenly what seemed like self conscious quirk turned into something beautiful and haunting
― Mark Clemente, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link
yeah, it makes me think of the effect David Lynch's best stuff ... Laurie's aesthetic is different obviously, but there's a similar thing going on -- where weirdness is expected but actual emotion and truth isn't. So when that emotion comes through, it's the equivalent of a gut punch. If that makes sense.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 15:55 (seventeen years ago) link
I think the bonus tracks just play on computer or something like that.
Big Science songs are excerpts from a larger work called United States. This has only been released in a live version that is 4 CD's long. I've always assumed that because part of her job description is Performance Artist, that the live version of this is how it is meant to be heard.
I've never felt compelled to brave a 4 cd Laurie Anderson album.
― flamingrev, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link
You guys are making a strong case for me to relisten to it. Since I don't own Home of the Brave, I gotta say that BS is my least favoritie eighties Anderson: lots of good ideas, fascinating synth textures, and such, but the music and spoken-word stuff rarely interfaces meaningfully. Like I said upthread, Strange Angels is her real masterwork.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago) link
Oh man, I love this record. It's be nice if Laurie got all trendy or something.
― I know, right?, Friday, 27 July 2007 19:54 (seventeen years ago) link
It's hard. It's just hard. It's just kinda hard to say.
― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:27 (seventeen years ago) link
Also, there is "Ramon".
― rogermexico., Friday, 28 December 2007 01:38 (sixteen years ago) link
and "Babydoll"! and "My Eyes," which is the most gorgeous song she's ever written and talk-sung!
Milton Parker comes closest to nailing the circumstances under which the album was recorded; but where he's closest to the non-pop moments I find its movements towards a wider word at once thrilling and fragile. I'm possibly tainted by having heard Strange Angels before the others, so that Big Science and even Mister Heartbreak seemed stilted and arch. The title track and "The Dream Before" encapsulate everything worth preserving about her after "O Superman" -- intelligent, buoyant, and moving.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 28 December 2007 05:53 (sixteen years ago) link
*a wider world
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 28 December 2007 05:59 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm still in the
Laurie Anderson songs < Laurie Anderson spoken word performance
camp.
― Eric H., Friday, 28 December 2007 06:18 (sixteen years ago) link
But as far as Strange Angels go, "The Dream Before" is pretty nice.
― Eric H., Friday, 28 December 2007 06:24 (sixteen years ago) link
Alfred, I'd heard Big Science and Mister Heartbreak prior and I love Strange Angels. I don't know who these crazy people are!
― rogermexico., Friday, 28 December 2007 08:11 (sixteen years ago) link
For a grander Big Science-era fix, you should really get United States Live next (Strange Angels is also great, but entirely different). Avoid Mr. Heartbreak unless you're a devoted Gabriel/Bush nut.
― Ioannis, Friday, 28 December 2007 09:00 (sixteen years ago) link
i do feel the possibility of Bush here. and of course, i am a Bush not. As for GAbriel, not so much yet.
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 14:53 (sixteen years ago) link
i don't know, it doesn't register with me at all. i'd say go for Bright Red before that, it works better on the whole. not that I listen to it that much either (I do like the duet with Lou Reed)
― akm, Friday, 28 December 2007 15:13 (sixteen years ago) link
oops *Bush nut =)
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 15:15 (sixteen years ago) link
I wish I had been here for more Laurie Talk. Did anyone mention Bright Red? I stick by Big Science, but that's got some great bits on it. "Did she fall or was she pushed"
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:28 (sixteen years ago) link
dicks don't have ears
― nabisco, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:32 (sixteen years ago) link
although I suppose you could hook a little tin one on there
― nabisco, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:33 (sixteen years ago) link
Why do people always get so abusive on this board. It's not fox hunting y'know. That's right nabisco, turn the other cheek!
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:35 (sixteen years ago) link
i don't even know what just happened
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:39 (sixteen years ago) link
I never know what just happened. How're you doin' on the album now?
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:43 (sixteen years ago) link
this album? it's very good! i'm totally into it. i think my fav song is Ex. 22, not necessarily b/c it's the poppiest, just cuz it's nice and cohesive.
― Surmounter, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Mine is Let X=X. This always reminds me of the room I lived in in first year in College, I listened to this and Matmos every time I was going out. Seems a bit weird now.
― I know, right?, Friday, 28 December 2007 17:53 (sixteen years ago) link
love this album. i've been listening to it for like a year now and still am not sick of it, which is pretty rare for me
― n/a, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:34 (sixteen years ago) link
so weird but still catchy and fun
― n/a, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:35 (sixteen years ago) link
Lord, but "Let X=X / It Tango" is gorgeous.
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 9 March 2009 00:26 (fifteen years ago) link
Your Captain says: Put your head on your knees. Your Captain says: Put your head on your hands. Captain says: Put your hands on your head. Put your hands on your hips.
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 11 January 2010 21:31 (fourteen years ago) link
let x=x is still the sound of the first room i lived in when i went to college
― plaxico (I know, right?), Monday, 11 January 2010 21:33 (fourteen years ago) link
I haven't done an A/B comparison but my instinct was that all these tracks were better on the huge "United State Live" box.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 02:36 (fourteen years ago) link
been listening to this alot lately myself for some reason, it seems to always be relevant, somehow
― akm, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 03:14 (fourteen years ago) link
30 y/o today
― y'tulip, y'pea-brained earwig (donna rouge), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:08 (twelve years ago) link
"Gee you look terrible for your age." -- Rose Nylund
― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:18 (twelve years ago) link
your mouthyour eyesthe wayyou holdyour pensand pencils
i no longer love it
― their private gesture for bison (difficult listening hour), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:26 (twelve years ago) link
in no case is this true
― yuppie bullshit chocolate blogbait (contenderizer), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:26 (twelve years ago) link
probably one of my favorite albums of all time, have yet to hear another laurie anderson album that i really like :/
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 23 April 2012 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
o superman came on from some old mix CD this weekend while i was driving around with my 2 1/2 year old."what is she saying?!" "what is that sound!?"
― tylerw, Monday, 23 April 2012 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
neither snow nor rainnor gloom of nightshall stay these couriersfrom the swift completionof their appointed rounds
― tits or kitfo (get bent), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:23 (twelve years ago) link
have yet to hear another laurie anderson album that i really like :/
^^^ what I think about Strange Angels although I like lots of her other albums.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:26 (twelve years ago) link
The Ugly One with the Jewels appeals to the kid in me who still loves storytime.
― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:27 (twelve years ago) link
haven't heard it, but You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With is a great title
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Monday, 23 April 2012 20:28 (twelve years ago) link
Mr. Heartbreak is mostly killer, a little filler.
Anyway, the O Superman video is sort of shockingly effective to me today given its age and the technology involved: http://vimeo.com/3610524
― Three Word Username, Monday, 23 April 2012 20:37 (twelve years ago) link
Well then, you've forced me to do said comparison!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 23 April 2012 22:12 (twelve years ago) link
'o superman' is wonderful. but not enough is said about the title track. sometimes certain parts will hit me out of nowhere - "Every man for himself. Golden cities. Golden towns."
"Thanks for the ride. Big Science. Hallelujah. Big Science. Yodellayheehoo
― Karl Malone, Sunday, 11 February 2018 06:46 (six years ago) link
It's the best, along with "Let X=X / It Tango"
― startled macropod (MatthewK), Sunday, 11 February 2018 09:04 (six years ago) link
Here's a man who lives a life of danger.Everywhere he goes he stays -a stranger.Howdy stranger. Mind if I smoke?
― startled macropod (MatthewK), Saturday, 17 February 2018 00:44 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqCJkzyYwCM
love
― Eris (Ross), Saturday, 31 March 2018 04:11 (six years ago) link
Well that’s a nice discovery — the album gets a rerelease on Bandcamp tomorrow:https://laurieanderson.bandcamp.com/
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 8 April 2021 13:27 (three years ago) link
Was United States Live ever filmed or videotaped? I wish that could be released, but I guess that's rarely the case with performance pieces like it.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 8 April 2021 13:49 (three years ago) link
I have memories of PBS airplay.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 April 2021 13:52 (three years ago) link
I assumed the revive was for this good appreciation of it by Margaret Atwood https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/08/margaret-atwood-laurie-anderson-big-science-o-superman-prophetic-80s-america-pertinent
― Dan Worsley, Thursday, 8 April 2021 13:55 (three years ago) link
Aw nice! There must be a broadcast master somewhere.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 8 April 2021 13:56 (three years ago) link
Oddly enough my own first encounter of her wasn't a broadcast of a full piece straight up but a separate appearance in a PBS documentary series...and I almost want to say it was The Story of English?
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 8 April 2021 14:46 (three years ago) link
I've never seen any footage of it. You're not getting confused with Alive from Off Center, are you?
― akm, Thursday, 8 April 2021 15:10 (three years ago) link