Draining the POLL for you - ILM artist poll #98 - The Go-Betweens

The guitar solo in "Quiet Heart" is so simple and so perfect

In one of the documentaries, possibly the one about 16LL, Brown says something about the chorus (written about her) being enormously endearing in its typically male awkwardness around articulating emotions in person. But I'm failing to find the footage OR paraphase it adequately from memory. Damn.

Though I think it's possible that the little switch to the slightly more forceful "I tried to tell you" section might somehow still be somewhat affecting if he just started reading a shopping list at that point.

"It makes you love them more because they're so awkward and hopeless about it". Amanda's comments on the song are indeed from the 16 Lovers Lane documentary - from about 7 minutes 22 seconds in this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S99aMFGnKw

Thanks! I thought "boofy" might have featured.

I was actually in the minority who didn't vote for it, but I can dig it.

I didn't and I can't.

What is your position on Marmite?

I prefer it to this song.

LOL

http://i65.tinypic.com/2jcg7bk.jpg

#14
Finding You
from Oceans Apart (2005)

Points: 276
Votes: 16 (1)

Youtube audio

Talk about a Marmite track... sorry, Vegemite.

transposition doesn’t work, everyone loves Vegemite

Gotta love how the first three reveals of the Top 20 were ones I left off my betting sheet. Only Man O Sand was due to my own bias, but I've always heard Kerouac scorned for invoking his name in an unearned, show-offy way, so I guessed that might hurt its chances, although I love the song.

I learned from reading Forster's memoir that he contributed the second verse to "Finding You," one of their few co-writes

Yeah the Kerouac thing always distracted me from liking the song more too, but I've really got into its intensity in the relistening for this poll. Xpost

Forster's sob lets down "...Jack Kerouac" imo. If you're punning off a classic Aretha number, sing it better.

Not surprised Finding You made it this high. It could fit well on 16 Lovers Lane, I reckon.

I can't say I ever thought of it as a pun on the Aretha song!

I mean, you know the nursery rhyme, right?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_the_House_That_Jack_Built

A tad ambitious of Robert to take on Aretha.

It's true that his voice has rarely sounded reedier but I love that quality to his voice.

I mean, you know the nursery rhyme, right?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_the_House_That_Jack_Built

― Alba, Friday, July 12, 2019 8:27 AM (four minutes ago)

Of course! But Aretha owns the title, as she owns all.

Never thought of this till now but it's very Venus in Furs, isn't it?

good catch

http://i66.tinypic.com/35k8tva.jpg

#13
That Way
from Before Hollywood (1983)

Points: 284
Votes: 19 (0)

Youtube audio

xp Just as likely to be punning off Tracie as Aretha I reckon, and more likely the nursery rhyme than both.

Man, McLennan is so good at opening lines.

They both are! I was thinking how many classics there are after posting about Bow Down's.

My No. 2... I think?

Agh, That Way was so nearly my number 1 and probably should have been. I read a review once that described it as a song that expands endlessly, like a house with an infinite number of rooms, and I love that description. It's the perfect mix of the sadness and propulsiveness that make up Beore Hollywood, perfect album closer, perfect end credits song for a film that hasn't been made yet, perfect everything. Imagine being Peter Walsh and having this written about you?

Surely preferable sentiments to "Don't Let Him Come Back", at least.

I really didn't expect that almost 2/3 of y'all were going to vote for this one. Pleasing though.

It’s a great bookend with “bad debt” too

http://i67.tinypic.com/51wnmg.jpg

#12
Draining the Pool for You
from Spring Hill Fair (1983)

Points: 332
Votes: 18 (0)

Youtube audio

My top 10 getting picked off one by one now.

The House Jack Kerouac Built - I always hated the joke in the title (and then when you're thinking it's just one line in the actual song, his doubling down on it in the on-the-road outro) but now… I like it in the first place because it's a great song of what feels like shabby provincial bohemia - being in lust or love with someone who's hanging out with these occultist/poser dipshits, and standing outside furious or frustrated. But he's the guy who thinks he's too smart for this dropping clever references to Kerouac while trying to get into someone's pants - ie he is just another of the clichés belonging to the shabby world he's trying to stand outside. So the pretension works for me now.

(Assumed it was just the nursery rhyme)

Just catching up. The House That Jack Kerouac Built was my number two and for years was my favourite Go-Betweens track. So many great lines delivered so dramatically by Robert, especially the way he sings, "I know you're warm, the warmest person alive but are you warm, deep down inside?" The whole thing is so over the top (that piano at the 3.08 mark!) and gets me every single time.

I've never been keen on Quiet Heart. There's no reason for it to be as long as it is and I find the tinny drum sound really off putting. It's all a bit Waterboys for me. Beyond Life Goes On, Streets Of Your Town and Dive For Your Memory 16 Lovers Lane doesn't do much for me and was a big step down from Tallulah. It's lacking the edge of their previous albums (not counting Send Me A Lullaby). I'm always so surprised when it's rated as their best album by so many.

Finding You is so gorgeous. Really happy it has placed this high. I just read Robert's book where he talks about his joy when Grant played him Finding You for the first time. Is that going to be the highest of the songs from the reunion albums?

http://i64.tinypic.com/orhs3d.jpg

#16
Dive for Your Memory
from 16 Lovers Lane (1988)

Points: 332
Votes: 18 (1)

Youtube audio

NUMBER 11 obviously. Sorry.

Another corker of a Brown oboe solo

Like kitchen person, I voted for relatively little from 16LL, but this was one such instance. It was always going to be on my ballot.

I don't think I voted for this!

^ My spreadsheet reckons you had it in the 3rd last slot on your ballot. :)

This fell off my list very late on. Despite my issues with 16 Lovers Lane, this is a lovely way to close the album.

My number one

another song I interpret as a meditation on the Forster-McLennan friendship

^ My spreadsheet reckons you had it in the 3rd last slot on your ballot. :)

Ah, a week longer and it would probably have been unmoored and drifting.

the guitar interplay on this one...as good as the go-b's get imo.

this interview/acoustic performance sealed my love for the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-RsLRICX4

Whoops. I got distracted by that video...!

http://i65.tinypic.com/359empw.jpg

#10
Twin Layers of Lightning
from Liberty Belle & the Black Diamond Express (1986)

Points: 336
Votes: 17 (2)

Youtube audio

Ah, a classic, even though I didn't have it especially high - the out of tune piano knocked it down a few places.

don't you KNOW
I'm a STARRR