Late last year, we were filming with The Chills lead singer Martin Phillipps when he was informed he had a 30% chance of dying within six to twelve months if he did not make substantial lifestyle changes. His subsequent decision to reconcile with the world and confront past mistakes has provided the foundation for a compelling and dramatic documentary narrative.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 25 September 2017 16:21 (six years ago) link
Anyone know what that actually means? I know he's been battling Hep C for years. :-(
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 25 September 2017 17:41 (six years ago) link
Heroin I assume.
― The Doug Walters of Crime (Tom D.), Monday, 25 September 2017 17:44 (six years ago) link
Both, I think. Heroin then hep.Hey, how is Chris Knox doing?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 September 2017 18:04 (six years ago) link
New album Snow Bound out in September. Yay! I've barely gotten over how great Silver Bullets is.
― geoffreyess, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 05:57 (five years ago) link
What's the latest on the documentary and Martin's health?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 5 July 2018 00:16 (five years ago) link
this is the most recent news i could find about martin's health - https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/92358051/The-Chills-dying-frontman-Martin-Phillipps-is-given-miracle-reprieve-from-Hepatitis-C?rm=m
― just sayin, Thursday, 5 July 2018 01:40 (five years ago) link
Two tracks posted so far on Soundcloud and they're sounding good!Two albums in three years, what's going on? It's very unlike Martin.
― Grantman, Saturday, 7 July 2018 09:07 (five years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/news/the-chills-announce-new-album-share-two-songs-listen/
― Grantman, Saturday, 7 July 2018 11:18 (five years ago) link
Phillipps contracted the virus after he and a friend had been getting high. The friend left one of their used syringes in a paper bag that Phillipps picked up. The needle pricked him and spread the virus, he said.
Oh, come on. Good to hear he's getting help and/or getting a little better, though. That last Chills albums was great, a proper return to form.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 7 July 2018 13:11 (five years ago) link
I saw him play in a record store here last year; seemed alright.
― the ignatius rock of ignorance (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 7 July 2018 13:43 (five years ago) link
boy, is this new album good!
― The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 September 2018 12:53 (five years ago) link
This one and the last one!
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 16 September 2018 14:00 (five years ago) link
oh yeah. picked it up for a road trip yesterday, what a delight. this has been one of the most remarkable comebacks of all time.
― geoffreyess, Sunday, 16 September 2018 16:58 (five years ago) link
so good I spilled hot sauce on the sleeve :(
― geoffreyess, Sunday, 16 September 2018 16:59 (five years ago) link
Yeah it's a fine treat of an album. Really nice to see that Martin has simply and (hopefully) easily found a really classic groove again.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 September 2018 17:04 (five years ago) link
Power chords!
― The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 September 2018 17:07 (five years ago) link
I got it on Friday - it's probably 15 years since I last went into a record shop and bought an album on the day of release. It's a great album. It's very evenly paced, I can't help feel that it's missing a closing 'ballad' like Water Wolves or Submarine Bells. May this late career flourish continue, and when I last saw the band and spoke to Martin he was still adamant that there will be a remixed reissue of Brave Words.
― Grantman, Monday, 17 September 2018 08:52 (five years ago) link
I had a listen today, and something about these competent new albums from 80's underground luminaries makes me sad. I had the same reaction to the 2017 Dream Syndicate album. I think maybe they make me realize that, like Martin Phillipps and Steve Wynn, though I still have some good years ahead of me, I'm no longer 22.
― enochroot, Tuesday, 18 September 2018 02:18 (five years ago) link
I listened to it today too, for the first time. “Competent” is a good word for it. I liked it as I listened to it but I don’t feel super compelled to go back to if.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Tuesday, 18 September 2018 06:26 (five years ago) link
ooooo just bought this thanks people
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 18 September 2018 18:35 (five years ago) link
Didn’t wow me on first listen, but it was ok
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 September 2018 18:43 (five years ago) link
It's good but not as good as the last one iirc/imo.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 September 2018 19:57 (five years ago) link
The first song's not amazing imo but the rest kills!
― yuoowemeone, Friday, 21 September 2018 10:44 (five years ago) link
Hmm, I find this way better than competent, maybe partly because Silver Bullets showed his full range of talents intact, so this plays as a very deliberate follow-up set of modest pop songs, ambitious in its economy.
― geoffreyess, Saturday, 22 September 2018 21:38 (five years ago) link
xp The first song's lyrics are pretty interesting though. Phillipps still rides the line between storyteller and thinker, so it's hard to tell if he actually has sympathy for ignorant people or is just playing a guy who feels he ought to.
― geoffreyess, Saturday, 22 September 2018 21:45 (five years ago) link
The American tour is on:
19 Feb: The Bellhouse, NY, US20 Feb: The Middle East, Boston, US22 Feb: White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, US23 Feb: Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, US24 Feb: The Black Cat, Washington, US26 Feb: Outer Limits Lounge, Detroit, US27 Feb: The Empty Bottle, Chicago, US28 Feb: The Turf Club, Minneapolis, US2 Mar: The Wayfarer, Costa Mesa, US3 Mar: The Echo, Los Angeles, US5 Mar: The Catalyst, Santa Cruz US6 Mar: The Chapel, San Francisco, US8 Mar: Dante’s, Portland, US9 Mar: Sunset Tavern, Seattle, US11-17 Mar: SXSW, Austin TX, US
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 20:54 (five years ago) link
Great news! Was listening to Snow Bound the other day and thinking I'd never get a chance to see them again, given all Phillipps has been through.
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 21:10 (five years ago) link
First DC appearance since 1996 last night was a good mix of old and new songs. Phillipps voice was strong and band was helpful instrumentally and with backing vocals
― curmudgeon, Monday, 25 February 2019 16:48 (five years ago) link
Was that one of the shows with Springhouse? I would've loved to see that lineup but there are different openers by the time they get to my city.
― geoffreyess, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 05:21 (five years ago) link
would've liked to go to the Brooklyn show, but I do not pay $30 to see bands anymore. (the Mekons perhaps)
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 06:01 (five years ago) link
great to hear band is getting good reception -last time I saw them the songs still held up but the backing group assembled by Phillips detracted from the songs because they sounded so flavourless - like cardboard cutouts trying too hard to get everything right -maybe they have gotten better
― clouds (peanutbuttereverysingleday), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 07:39 (five years ago) link
I am seeing them tomorrow night, which might be the first time they've been in Chicago since 1996, similar to DC. I was at that show in 1996, possibly and probably at lounge ax, and I remember being really disappointed. but I'm looking forward to tomorrow because I hear the current band and Martin are doing great.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 14:34 (five years ago) link
― geoffreyess, Tuesday, February 26, 2019 12:21 AM (nine hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Springhouse opened at the Jersey City show. Great show! The other opener... well he seemed nice and was dong his best.
― Evan, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 14:52 (five years ago) link
Very much looking forward to Chicago show - last two records have been really good!
― BlackIronPrison, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 15:48 (five years ago) link
Springhouse did a temporary reunion and played the DC, Philly, and another show or 2. They have Jack Rabid, the longtime Big Takeover editor on drums. I liked them better than other opener Brion Starr’s Bowie/Reed/T Rex homage.
I first saw Chills in 90. Missed the 96 tour. This latest DC Show was just $20, and with no service charges if you bought the tickets at Black Cat. Onstage in DC, Philipps grumbled that Warner Brothers won’t reissue the Chills releases on that label.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 16:07 (five years ago) link
Yeah Brion Starr is who I was referring to. Seems to worship those acts you've listed and was definitely putting in a great effort; I just feel like he didn't really have any tunes unfortunately.
― Evan, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 16:18 (five years ago) link
This thread made me want to listen to Brave Words and it's not on Spotify??
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 16:25 (five years ago) link
You’re right, that Homestead label release is not on Spotify. A rip is on YouTube now
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0OHc_yqoYr4
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 22:14 (five years ago) link
Yep, I found it and listened to it....!
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 26 February 2019 22:22 (five years ago) link
sounding great right now, really one of my favorite singers. just gorgeous.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 28 February 2019 05:51 (five years ago) link
Brion Starr, man. We saw that dude walking around beforehand and thought, huh, he's trying pretty hard. Then we saw him play and we were shocked to see him try even harder. I thought they sounded like Television if, yeah, Television had no tunes.
The Chills were great. Martin made a couple of references to that 1996 tour, which really bummed me out at the time, because it wasn't very good. He's grumbled that that he barely remembered it. Someone asked if it was behind "Sunburnt," and he quipped back "apparently."
He also made note of all the "SB" songs and albums in the Chills arsenal, and not only had I never noticed, he was impressed the crowd thought of more than he had! "Sunburnt." "Submarine Bells." "Soft Bomb." "Snow Bound." "Silver Bullets." "Sketch Book." "Somewhere Beautiful." "Secret Box." "Stand By." And so on.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 28 February 2019 12:50 (five years ago) link
First time in the states in yonks and I'm out of the country. Don't you hate when that happens?
I'm very happy for Martin's renewal, he'd been out of sorts for so long, to say the least.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 28 February 2019 15:11 (five years ago) link
The cringe look on his face was great when some punter yelled for 'Submarine Bells' two songs after he had just played it! I thought it was a great show, and I brought my Submarine Bells inner sleeve for Martin to sign, but didn't feel like fighting the crush of mega fans at the end.
― BlackIronPrison, Thursday, 28 February 2019 15:12 (five years ago) link
One of these bands I never got into. :-( Which is a shame.
― nathom, Thursday, 28 February 2019 21:08 (five years ago) link
Not too late, (as discussed above) Snow Bound from last year is really great. Excited to see them tonight, hope we hear Bite (among many many other songs).
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Thursday, 28 February 2019 22:07 (five years ago) link
Snow Bound is just about as good as Soft Bomb and Submarine Bells, in its own contemporary way.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 28 February 2019 22:10 (five years ago) link
I must respectfully disagree. "Snow Bound" is good but the tunes don't linger in my head like stuff from "Soft Bomb" and "Submarine Bells".
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 1 March 2019 04:15 (five years ago) link
I can hum "Time to Atone," "Easy Peazy, "Harmony." Whether you want to is another question.
― Let's have sensible centrist armageddon (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 1 March 2019 11:19 (five years ago) link
Well, maybe that's fair, give or take an "America Says Hello." But I think if someone started with "Snow Bound" they wouldn't miss something fundamental about the slick side of the Chills that they would get starting with one of those other big-budget records. Similarly, if most of the songs on "Snow Bound" were dropped on "Soft Bomb" I think they would fit in pretty well, highlight or no.
I will say, apropos of nothing, that "Submarine Bells" is one of the prettiest songs ever written, and it was a surprise and a pleasure to hear it played live.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 1 March 2019 12:40 (five years ago) link