4AD - classic all round?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (219 of them)

I think I'm a bit less likely than most to gripe about crap 4AD bands, because even the lackluster stuff was usually just lackluster rather than crap, but Scheer I think were the real crap. They were the token 'grunge' band of 4AD. Unlistenable. I also bought a Magnetophone CD and was like "what the fuck is this shit?"

Rema Rema is a must!

The early 4AD 7" by The Past Seven Days is one of the most precious records to me in my entire collection. I still flip over that, to this day.

― bimble (bimble), Friday, 23 April 2004 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i felt like magnetophone was a strange choice of signing but i don't think the album is rubbish, just not especially interesting.

the worst 4ad album by far is the Paladins one. Piano Magic's second 4ad album is also fairly worthless.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 23 April 2004 00:05 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

xmal was a tragedy? PSH.

― Cameron Octigan (Cameron Octigan), Friday, 12 January 2007 03:31 (nineteen years ago)

scheer were absolutely not crap. their track on 'anakin' is completely lovely and parts of their (admittedly patchy) album were great too. they're like a far better prototype of evanescence

― PAUL FUCKING ROBINSON (electricsound), Friday, 12 January 2007 03:42 (nineteen years ago)

This thread is way too hard on Gus Gus!

I used to have the Scheer album, don't know what happened to it. "I Wish You Were Dead" was good. Evanescence is a good reference point! But the Scheer vocalist wasn't nearly so bombastic.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 12 January 2007 03:47 (nineteen years ago)

it's all but an ark-lark. ;)

― blood bitch (blood bitch), Friday, 12 January 2007 03:56 (nineteen years ago)

i can't say i'm hugely inspired by the label's current roster. i dug bits and pieces of the last magnetophone album, which was a huge step forward from the first. i didn't dig celebration's lp at all, and the late cord ep was slightly distracting at best. i thought the johann johannson record was tripe. wolf & cub are surely some sort of terrible joke.

― PAUL FUCKING ROBINSON (electricsound), Friday, 12 January 2007 04:15 (nineteen years ago)

Duane otm about the covers.

― 808 the Bassking (Andrew Thames), Friday, 12 January 2007 06:22 (nineteen years ago)

This thread makes my head hurt.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 13 January 2007 07:48 (nineteen years ago)

Anyway Mark, sorry, but more clunkers than gems : [......] Xymox

does not compute

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 13 January 2007 08:41 (nineteen years ago)

Just before I came to ILX tonight, 4AD was first on my mind for some reason. Rock on dudes. I mean...Ethereal on, dudes.

― Froggy went a courtin' (Bimble...), Saturday, 13 January 2007 08:51 (nineteen years ago)

Curtis, I've only heard Twist of Shadows and Phoenix. Is the earlier stuff much different? (I like those btw)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 13 January 2007 08:52 (nineteen years ago)

Also I couldn't give a rat's ass about whatever the current roster is.

Not enough Johnny Fever. Thou must experience early Xymox to understand, I think. "Medusa" was just amazing when it first came out. I don't know what I would think of it now...first album was pretty cool too.

― White Dopes on Punk (Bimble...), Saturday, 13 January 2007 08:54 (nineteen years ago)

I agree with most of that. Even the new Kristin Hersh is only OK by her standards (so far; may well reveal itself over time)

― Feargal Hixxy (DJ Mencap), Saturday, 13 January 2007 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

"Medusa" was just amazing when it first came out. I don't know what I would think of it now"

it's still great!

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 13 January 2007 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

ooze out and away, onehow

― tears, and urine (blood bitch), Saturday, 13 January 2007 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

medusa is really really good. but "sleeps with fishes", nooten's album with michael brook, is even better. maybe my favorite all time 4ad release?

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 13 January 2007 17:40 (nineteen years ago)

are you talking about Medusa by Clan of Xymox?

― Cameron Octigan (Cameron Octigan), Saturday, 13 January 2007 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, that's my fave xymox album by FAR.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 13 January 2007 17:50 (nineteen years ago)

Kyle, I'd like to shake your hand. We "Sleeps With The Fishes" lovers are a rare breed. I did meet one of us a few years ago, but that's it. Not sure I'd say it's my favourite 4AD release, but definitely in the top five. And somehow I'll always remember how David Sylvian's album "Secrets of the Beehive" came out at the same time. Two great tastes that taste great together! A moody atmospheric Reeses cup!

― White Drunks on Pope (Bimble...), Saturday, 13 January 2007 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

a list of 4AD duds would not be complete without:

Cuba (or Air Cuba, as they cam to be known stateside)
Tarnation
Liquorice
That Dog (well, Guernica, but basically the same label)

way underrated 4AD releases:

Cass McCombs - A
Insides - Euphoria, Clearskin
Air Miami - Me Me Me
Underground Lovers - Leaves Me Blind
The Late Cord - Lights From The Wheelhouse

in fact, the Guernica offshoot more than deserves it's own thread...don't you think?

― hank (hank s), Saturday, 13 January 2007 19:48 (nineteen years ago)

i've never understood what the whole guernica thing was. rfi? but, yeah, that dog. was sorry, worthless shit.

insides = classic.

― tears (blood bitch), Saturday, 13 January 2007 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

Cass McCombs - i keep hearing the name all the time..i think the last time was from the guy from "Grizzly Bear"..Destroyer before..

― emekars (emekars), Saturday, 13 January 2007 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

haha actually I've only heard the s/t and Twist of Shadows, neither of which are on 4AD, so I may be very wrong in my previous posting

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 13 January 2007 20:53 (nineteen years ago)

"a list of 4AD duds would not be complete without:

Tarnation"

I disagree. I rather like Tarnation, and am pleased that there is a 2007 release planned for these guys.

― jodi, samurai photographer (burun), Saturday, 13 January 2007 21:54 (nineteen years ago)

The 2007 release isn't vintage Tarnation, though. It's just Paula Frazer and a couple new people and doesn't really have that sepia-toned "western" vibe the earlier records did.

But yeah, anyone putting Tarnation on a list of 4AD duds is RETARDED!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 13 January 2007 23:29 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sorry.

― hank (hank s), Saturday, 13 January 2007 23:44 (nineteen years ago)

the spoonfed hybrid CD on guernica remains great.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Sunday, 14 January 2007 00:42 (nineteen years ago)

the liquorice album is actually really good.

― PAUL FUCKING ROBINSON (electricsound), Sunday, 14 January 2007 00:46 (nineteen years ago)

Spoonfed Hybrid is one of those few CD's I would request to take to my grave with me. It never leaves my mind entirely. It's always there, just beneath the surface somewhere. Forever.

― White Dopes on Punk (Bimble...), Sunday, 14 January 2007 04:01 (nineteen years ago)

agreed on Spoonnfed Hybrid!

I nominate Thievery Corporation be accorded "dud" status, effective immediately...

the hell were they doing on 4AD?

― hank (hank s), Sunday, 14 January 2007 10:55 (nineteen years ago)

i despise that thievery corporation stuff almost as much as the paladins album

― PAUL FUCKING ROBINSON (electricsound), Sunday, 14 January 2007 11:50 (nineteen years ago)

yeah tarnation were wonderful, particularly the second band that recorded "mirador". they aren't on the new one unfortunately (it's okay but it was a paula solo record like the last few, she just decided to use the name again). anyway I saw the "mirador" version of the band live probably 20 times. so great.

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 14 January 2007 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

Yes on Tarnation dammit. And Spoonfed Hybrid. And that Underground Lovers album is just that good.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 14 January 2007 16:40 (nineteen years ago)

two years pass...

just noticed that 4ad have signed camera obscura.. will be interesting to see how that pairing goes

other new signings broken records i like a lot, the singles so far haven't been amazing but i can see real potential there

― electrodribble sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 13 February 2009 14:42 (seventeen years ago)

there's a new single on itunes, er, My Maudlin Career, but i didn't notice the label when i listened to it.

― koogs, Friday, 13 February 2009 16:41 (seventeen years ago)

4A-twee

― f. hazel, Friday, 13 February 2009 18:39 (seventeen years ago)

ten months pass...

maybe i wasn't paying attention but it completely passed me by that 4AD signed up ariel pink, tindersticks and serena-maneesh.

― blarinet (electricsound), Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:18 (sixteen years ago)

...as a supergroup.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:52 (sixteen years ago)

oooh

― blarinet (electricsound), Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:53 (sixteen years ago)

This Mortal. Just that, This Mortal.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:58 (sixteen years ago)

Weren't Tindersticks sort of in the same neighborhood as 4AD, anyway, under the Beggars Group umbrella? Or is that just in the US?

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 01:10 (sixteen years ago)

they were signed to Constellation in North America as far as I know.

Anyway, I'm just pleased they're still kicking.

― Simon H., Wednesday, 16 December 2009 01:14 (sixteen years ago)

i feel like the label is kind of a hodgepodge these days and filled with stuff that doesn't necessarily reflect the 'brand', in fact, it seems much more like beggar's banquet now. but whatever.

― akm, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 05:47 (sixteen years ago)

and yet they seem to be killin' it in the eoy polls, hmm

― blarinet (electricsound), Wednesday, 16 December 2009 05:50 (sixteen years ago)

yeah all the stuff is good and some of it is exceptional (the mountain goats album is my second favorite album of the year), it just seems more hodgepodge than it has in many many years.

― akm, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 06:17 (sixteen years ago)

oh i agree, but i don't think it's to their detriment..

― blarinet (electricsound), Wednesday, 16 December 2009 06:23 (sixteen years ago)

They ARE Beggar's Banquet these days. All their other labels were folded into 4AD last year or the year before. 4AD as a curated collection is over.

― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 16 December 2009 06:29 (sixteen years ago)

well there you go, I didn't even notice that. makes sense then.

― akm, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 06:49 (sixteen years ago)

Says something about the value and impact of relative brands that it was 4AD that survived as the label instead of Beggars.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 December 2009 07:07 (sixteen years ago)

Skipping 119 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Loved what you wrote as well matttkkkk, a lot of stuff to check out.

― Bee OK, Saturday, 17 September 2022 02:37 (three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.