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 (nineteen years ago) link
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 14 June 2004 14:58 (nineteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen 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 (sixteen years ago) link
But isn't it?
― I know, right?, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:28 (sixteen years ago) link
This record was a car staple of ours when I was 8 or 9. 'From The Air' and a couple of others are ingrained.
― Just got offed, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:29 (sixteen years ago) link
Let X=X
― I know, right?, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:29 (sixteen years ago) link
Thanks for puttin' on the feed bag
(p.s. the last 20 seconds of 'Let X=X' are phenomenal)
OMG XPOST
let xpost = xpost
― Just got offed, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:30 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm kind of frightened of hearing these songs in the United States context in case it changes them. I think I would like to be listening to "It Tango" when I die.
― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:30 (sixteen years ago) link
The dodgy youtube clip of let x=x live is brilliant. The acoustics/dodgy mobile phone recording give it this really nice warmth.
― I know, right?, Sunday, 9 September 2007 13:31 (sixteen years ago) link
my friend Jon went to a Laurie Anderson show a few years back and left halfway through -- apparently after he left, she played "O Superman" and people clapped along(!?)
― Curt1s is coming to Zwinktopia !, Monday, 10 September 2007 05:51 (sixteen years ago) link
HOW DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT LAURIE ANDERSON THESE DAYS?
― Bimble, Monday, 10 September 2007 05:59 (sixteen years ago) link
just bought it. xcited if trepidatious. she's always here where i work at our Galas and stuff, with lou reed. i wanna slip her a demo.
o superman is good but a little lazy, no?
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:31 (sixteen years ago) link
Not really? I dunno: watch the video, and it feels like it's in the perfect spot, every element given just the right amount of weight and space.
― nabisco, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:35 (sixteen years ago) link
i like the sparseness OK, but i could have done with a little more texture. also, the mother's voice is a cheap effect. not sure what it's supposed to mean, or why the effect wasn't more nuanced...
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:37 (sixteen years ago) link
i've seen the video and loved it
I have a lot of love for this, i think it's crappiness adds to it (i mean the clip quality)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_VA3wuNNo0
― I know, right?, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:38 (sixteen years ago) link
Laurie is a one of the Golden Greats.
well i'm super psyched to check this album out
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Wait, I'm not sure what you mean about the mother's voice -- the way she lapses a little further into Chicago-suburbs accent? (That's actually one of my favorite things about this, the really subtle Mom-ism of it!)
― nabisco, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:39 (sixteen years ago) link
no no, just the way -- okay to put it literally, i feel like i clicked "Orion Voices" in GarageBand. it's just a cheap chorus/alien effect. coulda been more sutble?
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:41 (sixteen years ago) link
the accent tho IS subtle, u r right. i like that.
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:42 (sixteen years ago) link
Ha, okay, I have zero idea what you're talking about, I guess -- I don't recall any additional effect beyond the vocoder.
― nabisco, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:44 (sixteen years ago) link
I love love love vocoders, I will like pretty much anything that uses a vocoder just for the vocoders. I love how the vocoder comes in slowly on the "dear amigo, dear partner" line
― I know, right?, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:46 (sixteen years ago) link
i barely know what i'm talking about either but every time i hear it, it just sounds like a little weird-for weird's-sake-to-me, in a lazy way.
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:47 (sixteen years ago) link
someone at our radio station once got a request for "O Superman" so they just went on the air and started going "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha"
― Curt1s Stephens, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:48 (sixteen years ago) link
i mean i love them too but sometimes i find them gratuitous.
i don't know, more listens will prolly change mind. i do very much enjoy listening to it.
haha @ ha ha ha
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:48 (sixteen years ago) link
Best use of a bagpipe in pop ever.
― I know, right?, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:48 (sixteen years ago) link
I was so amazed when I first heard O Superman, I was told I would love it, I didn't really know what to expect. I love it.
― I know, right?, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
oohhhh i dunno man Kate Bush has pipes kinda cornered no? tho i'm not exactly clear on pipe distinctions
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Sweaters.
― I know, right?, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:50 (sixteen 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
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.
in no case is this true
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