Yeah I saw Eric play. I just thought he was impressive! It could just be that the basslines themselves are impressive.
― Evan, Tuesday, 15 April 2014 21:17 (ten years ago) link
I always liked how that record had a loud bass sound that was more akin to electronica than the sort of jazzy soft-rock they actually do. Similar to how The Biz had all these funky, frantic drum rhythms that would almost pass you by on the first couple of listens.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 15 April 2014 21:18 (ten years ago) link
man, runner really is great
― tylerw, Wednesday, 5 November 2014 21:52 (nine years ago) link
It was my AOTY for 2012. Too bad they kind of painted themselves into a corner with Oui/One Bedroom/Everybody because people stopped taking notice of how well-rounded their became by the time Runner came out.
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 15 April 2015 21:37 (nine years ago) link
*how well-rounded their ALBUMS became
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 15 April 2015 21:46 (nine years ago) link
And, they could really do with a rarities album.
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 15 April 2015 21:47 (nine years ago) link
Love these guys, but Runner felt pretty bland to me; I think it was a real step down after The Moonlight Butterfly EP.
Honestly I think people stopped taking notice of them because they were a veteran band that released their weakest album then went on a 4-year, hiatus, during which their scene (Chicago post-rock/Thrill Jockey) fell out of fashion. Which is a shame, because Everybody is an outstanding record, probably the most underrated in their catalog.
― intheblanks, Wednesday, 15 April 2015 23:49 (nine years ago) link
Ha, scrolling upward I realized I posted nearly the exact same thing one year ago to the date. oops
― intheblanks, Wednesday, 15 April 2015 23:53 (nine years ago) link
leave it alone and i'll be on your side
― reggie (qualmsley), Wednesday, 15 April 2015 23:58 (nine years ago) link
I have a special place for Everybody because it was the first tour that I saw them live. It's definitely a back to basics guitar-bass-drums record after the electronic experiments on One Bedroom/Glass, but the songs are so very great. 'Coconut' and 'Left On' were scorchers live; those two tunes in particular had picked up a lot of speed by the time I saw them, and man, did they cook.
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 16 April 2015 00:05 (nine years ago) link
I still really like One Bedroom
― frogbs, Thursday, 16 April 2015 02:50 (nine years ago) link
Got One Bedroom and saw them on that tour - satisfying buty never really felt the nedd to pick up anything else.
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Thursday, 16 April 2015 08:16 (nine years ago) link
One Bedroom, I would say, is their "worst" album. I put it in quotes because it's still a good record, but I agree that it leaves something to be desired.
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 16 April 2015 20:03 (nine years ago) link
Sam Prekop & Archer Prewitt live session coming up at 11am (central) on chirpradio.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-bLmEyjZig
― john. a resident of chicago., Wednesday, 6 May 2015 15:42 (nine years ago) link
Nice, they are playing stuff from the first Prekop solo album.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 6 May 2015 16:36 (nine years ago) link
Full session's posted here:https://soundcloud.com/chirpradio/sets/chirp-factory-session-003
― john. a resident of chicago., Wednesday, 6 May 2015 18:25 (nine years ago) link
Sam finally starting to show some age; still playing that gorgeous candy apple red Tele. Awesome.
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 6 May 2015 18:48 (nine years ago) link
ty John
― calstars, Wednesday, 6 May 2015 21:25 (nine years ago) link
I saw Sam playing modular synth with Brokeback a couple months back it was cool
― chr1sb3singer, Wednesday, 6 May 2015 21:29 (nine years ago) link
I really hated his last two modular albums but really respect him for early and mid period The Sea and Cake (their last four albums are a dissapointment for me).
I'm curious if any other TSaC fans feel this same way as me. They were my favorite band at one point in college.
― The Once-ler, Wednesday, 6 May 2015 21:56 (nine years ago) link
Nah, Runner is as good as anything that came before it.
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 6 May 2015 21:58 (nine years ago) link
The Once-ler OTM
― reggie (qualmsley), Wednesday, 6 May 2015 22:31 (nine years ago) link
Full video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ4Pao9qhMc
― john. a resident of chicago., Thursday, 7 May 2015 02:23 (nine years ago) link
I definitely know people who invested a lot in those first 5 or so Sea & Cake records that had trouble staying on board, but honestly I can't find much fault with any of them. The band is so good at doing what it does, and the inherent nature of the music is "pleasant, well played, and well written", so it just all works for me. Sure, the first run was really exciting in a way that most bands can't sustain over a 15 year period no matter who they are, but shit I am glad they kept making records, there are great moments on all of them.
Also, I don't understand being angry at modular synth records. They are just kind of there if you want them, which most people don't. I don't think he was trying to court folks who dug his first solo record with them though, which sure if that is what someone wants from Sam those records are not going to deliver at all.
― grandavis, Thursday, 7 May 2015 13:14 (nine years ago) link
I never knew there was such an allegiance to those first five albums before I started reading this forum.
I definitely wish Sam would make another album along the lines of his self-titled/Who's Your New Professor, but I certainly haven't been disappointed by Old Punch Card and the Republic, just because they were so direction shifting.
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 7 May 2015 20:31 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I was disappointed for totally different reasons
― The Once-ler, Thursday, 7 May 2015 21:11 (nine years ago) link
Do tell.
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 7 May 2015 22:18 (nine years ago) link
I'm pretty indifferent to self-titled and WYNP. I'm way more into Archer's solo stuff. Sam's synth albums just sound flat and lifeless to me.
― The Once-ler, Thursday, 7 May 2015 23:09 (nine years ago) link
Agree that Archer has the better solo catalogue.
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 7 May 2015 23:44 (nine years ago) link
Wilderness was on shortlist for best albums of the oughts.
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 7 May 2015 23:46 (nine years ago) link
*my shortlist
"old punchcard" is fantastic. better than a lot of analog synth specialists' output. better than "pluc quba" which prekop cites as inspiration. it rules
― massaman gai, Friday, 8 May 2015 04:24 (nine years ago) link
plux quba, y'know imo n'all that
― massaman gai, Friday, 8 May 2015 05:15 (nine years ago) link
Self-titled is so good. Really great players and moods all over that record. I might even take it over all of the Sea & Cake records at this point, but it is certainly a different beast than the Sea & Cake records.
― grandavis, Friday, 8 May 2015 14:02 (nine years ago) link
Ummm, hell yeah: https://theseaandcake.bandcamp.com/track/any-day
It sounds like Oui. I'm fuckin' excited.
― he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Thursday, 18 January 2018 19:00 (six years ago) link
sounds and looks great. i rally like runner can’t believe that was 6 years ago!
― mizzell, Thursday, 18 January 2018 19:12 (six years ago) link
and interesting that eric claridge has left the band. this was recorded as a trio.
― mizzell, Thursday, 18 January 2018 19:20 (six years ago) link
Excellent news
― calstars, Thursday, 18 January 2018 19:36 (six years ago) link
sounds great (as usual)
― tylerw, Thursday, 18 January 2018 19:38 (six years ago) link
If I recall, Claridge was having some health concerns, which prevented him from participating. Too bad, in any case.
― he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Thursday, 18 January 2018 20:07 (six years ago) link
inspired by the new one, I've gone back to the Biz - it roxors it so hard!
― calstars, Sunday, 28 January 2018 21:04 (six years ago) link
Stumbled on this little gem, the “Anybody” EP from 07https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/anybody-ep/253589950
― calstars, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 22:39 (six years ago) link
Rushed in here to see if a new LP was announced. Missing this band. I need some smooth bossa african pop with breathily delivered incomprehensible lyrics made of pure saudade
― Brakhage, Thursday, 15 February 2018 17:46 (six years ago) link
The Anybody EP is very good for just being three kind of filler-esque tracks. I saw them on the Everybody tour and they played 'All in Throws', false ending and everything. It was my first time hearing the song. Pretty fantastic.
I wish they would issue it physically. As a matter of fact, they need to do a rarities compilation.
― he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Thursday, 15 February 2018 18:37 (six years ago) link
The Fawn is such a great album Straddling the border between engaged and relaxed so effortlessly
― zlstrz (calstars), Friday, 16 March 2018 15:11 (six years ago) link
I remember hearing "The Argument" for the first time so clearly. had never heard anything quite like that before. the first 2 tracks on this thing are incredible. don't remember much of the rest though
the one I always loved was One Bedroom. was kind of surprised to go online find out that people didn't really like it.
― frogbs, Friday, 16 March 2018 18:18 (six years ago) link
I just put on Oui last night (probably inspired by the Tortoise thread), I think that's the only one I owned.
Looks like they have a new one coming out, a couple tracks streaming here:https://theseaandcake.bandcamp.com/album/any-day
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 16 March 2018 18:44 (six years ago) link
excellent!!!
― Brakhage, Friday, 16 March 2018 18:50 (six years ago) link
Band's in the running for "Most Taken For Granted" award.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 16 March 2018 19:12 (six years ago) link
otm
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 16 March 2018 19:16 (six years ago) link