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

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

Woah I forgot this hadn't placed already, can't believe it made top 10. He's doing an incredible version of it live on this tour.

Apparently "infamy or fame" was what Lindy said she most wanted in life, aged 12. I love that anecdote, and the killer closing lines.

This is another whose popularity I seriously underestimated. I heart it. There's something terribly sordid about the whole thing. [XP: maybe that piano contributes!]

My number one and the song that made me realise how special this group are.

don't you KNOW
I'm a STARRR

― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)

This is one of my favourite moments in music ever.

Didn't recognize the song title, but when I clicked the link, I realized that I must've had this one on my ballot (in the top 10 even, as it turns out).
love the combination of vibraphone + languid lead guitar

This one creeps up on you, doesn't it? My number 4, but could easily have been higher. In its own way, 'She walks me home...' is another great opening line.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2ziwzft.jpg

#9
Right Here
from Tallulah (1987)

Points: 382
Votes: 18 (0)

Original promo video

Forster has the audacity to complain about the production on 'Right Here'! The synth gloss on Brown's violin is exactly why I return to it

Also: the cruelty of ""I know you're thirty-two but you look fifty-five"! And he loves her anyway!

Just catching up, been busy this afternoon... 'Quiet Heart' and 'Right Here' are nice enough songs but they've never really grabbed me, the choruses in both just don't quite go the distance. Very happy to see 'The Wrong Road' may the top 20 though - features another classic McLennanism in "Handsome is good, pretty is better".

Oh ew what no

Like Amanda's strings/vocals but this is clunky stuff

this is good but too high

All down to taste, I love this while "Quiet Heart" makes me retch.

'Twin Layers of Lightning' is an absolute classic as well, the band at their most Television-esque.

their big pop moments like "quiet heart" and "right here" are easily my some of my favourites, but i've never really got them as a band so that might be why

http://i65.tinypic.com/juis5c.jpg

#8
Love Goes On
from 16 Lovers Lane (1988)

Points: 450
Votes: 21 (2)

Youtube audio

the fucking bridge on this song