Stone Circles is a good comp of the 80's stuff
CanTa MienTras Puedas - same, but for the 90's
and this pair of comps released in Poland (some overlap)
https://www.discogs.com/The-Legendary-Pink-Dots-A-Guide-To-The-Legendary-Pink-Dots-Vol-1-The-Best-Ballads/master/628132
https://www.discogs.com/The-Legendary-Pink-Dots-A-Guide-To-The-Legendary-Pink-Dots-Vol-2-Psychedelic-Classics-And-Rarities/release/752667
― sleeve, Tuesday, 15 October 2019 21:57 (four years ago) link
rad. thank you.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 21:59 (four years ago) link
also, i know it's just a user review, but this in that first link you posted sounds very promising:
This selection of psychedelic power ballads is so skillfully compiled that it sounds like a proper free standing album, not a compilation.
\m/
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 22:02 (four years ago) link
that comp is like 1/3 from the Maria Dimension, just listen to the Maria Dimension
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 22:48 (four years ago) link
lol will do. thank you.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 23:43 (four years ago) link
Maria Dimension is a good entry point... I love the Tower as well, and Chemical Playschools 3 and 4 (Tower-era). But check out some older tracks like Apocalypse Then, Love in a Plain Brown Envelope, or So Gladly Screaming so you are seeing the attic of the LPD mansion and not just the nice front room.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 16 October 2019 02:15 (four years ago) link
Chemical Playschool 3&4 is my very favorite of all, good call f. hazel
― sleeve, Wednesday, 16 October 2019 03:12 (four years ago) link
Right? The Chemical Playschools are a vital part of the LPD experience, nothing like cueing up a sprawling pair of them and letting the music repeat in the background of your day until something jumps out at you... I've been listening to CP 19 the last few days and So Gallantly Screaming Anno 30 (did I write So Gladly Screaming up there? typo) has a real Laurie Anderson kind of vibe, it's great.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 17 October 2019 14:34 (four years ago) link
Next week'll be my...fifth or sixth time seeing them, I'm just not positive. But first in about six or seven years, so I'm very much looking forward. And I fully appreciate how they focus on the new album on this tour, as they should.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 October 2019 15:53 (four years ago) link
I'm conflicted, they're like Wire... such a huge back catalog that I love every iteration of, so it's always a little bittersweet knowing they can't possibly play all of it on a given night.
(then the Cure say "hold my beer")
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 17 October 2019 16:23 (four years ago) link
Saw 'em tonight and it was plush. Dude they've got playing guitar now is fantastic. The Photographer was mesmerizing live, Just a Lifetime was my favorite from their back catalog. Don't miss them!
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 21 October 2019 05:20 (four years ago) link
Been listening to Pages of Aquarius, wanted to hear more stuff featuring Erik Drost (current incarnation's guitar player) since he was so good live... reminds of me Magician Among the Spirits-era Church, spaced-out and low-key, with pretty guitars. Naturally there's another dozen or so releases from the era to investigate. Fun!
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 21 October 2019 16:54 (four years ago) link
yeah he's been playing with them for quite a while now! starting with Poppy Variations iirc
― Book Doula (sleeve), Monday, 21 October 2019 17:05 (four years ago) link
Watching the World Series with the TV on mute and 12 Steps off the Path and 10 to the Power of 9... going deep with LPD this week
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 26 October 2019 04:26 (four years ago) link
New to mehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F1Xq83diEE
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 4 January 2020 20:08 (four years ago) link
https://kittysneezes.com/category/reviews/music/lpd-project/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 5 April 2020 18:13 (four years ago) link
that's pretty cool!
― sleeve, Sunday, 5 April 2020 18:55 (four years ago) link
band-compiled overview of their last ten years:
https://legendarypinkdots1.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-10-years-a-compilation-for-the-courageous
This collection is an overview of The Legendary Pink Dots in the years 2010 to 2020. It's primarily aimed at those who recently discovered The Dots, but are terrified by the enormous discography (like the character on the cover for instance) and those who perhaps stopped listening a couple of decades ago but are curious. Dive in, enjoy and prepare yourself for the BIG rollercoaster ride.
― epicenter of the fieri universe (sleeve), Saturday, 2 May 2020 17:36 (four years ago) link
(technically, this covers 2012-2019)
― epicenter of the fieri universe (sleeve), Saturday, 2 May 2020 17:37 (four years ago) link
Thanks for the tip!
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 2 May 2020 20:06 (four years ago) link
New album's great! So I wrote about it, in the context of this overall guide/introduction to their remarkable career
https://theshfl.com/guide/legendary-pink-dots
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 April 2022 15:00 (two years ago) link
That's very interesting to me as I only really know their records up to 1990. But is there meant to be any significance to the order of the entries, or is that the point of "theshfl"?
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 4 April 2022 16:59 (two years ago) link
No significance, the guides are intentionally not rated, and the order changes each time the page is refreshed. Worked with the site founder for about a year now and he's a good egg, and this is very much part of his idea of random discovery that's not algorithmic but driven by critical writing and work.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 April 2022 17:11 (two years ago) link
Great guide, Ned, and yes, the new album is so good. I know I'll only ever scratch the surface of the LPD / Ka-Spel discography but every time I do dig in I am rewarded with such joy that I wonder why I don't do it more.
I'm determined to catch a date on their 2023 tour.
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 5 April 2022 01:08 (two years ago) link
Thanks, and as well you should! Caught them now...you know, I'm not sure. I think five times, but definitely four at least, the last being the 40th anniversary tour stop in fall 2019, which I'm obviously grateful for.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 5 April 2022 02:06 (two years ago) link
I have just seen them the one time in 2011, in Belgium. Sadly they have almost no following in the UK so rarely play here, and if they do almost never outside London.
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 5 April 2022 02:25 (two years ago) link
thanks Ned!
the order changes each time the page is refreshed.
this is a cool trick that I had not noticed
they really have never made a bad "proper" album, it's impressive
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Tuesday, 5 April 2022 03:36 (two years ago) link
Truly!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 6 April 2022 20:57 (two years ago) link
also, please note that they just released US tour dates today! See ya in Portland OR on Oct 22nd!
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Wednesday, 6 April 2022 23:57 (two years ago) link
they have almost no following in the UK
this is so weird to me
they had a Bandcamp sale to help fund the tour, not sure if some things are still discounted or not but I picked up a bunch of excellent miscellaneous things (like Seismic Bleats Of Quantum Sheep) that I had not heard
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Sunday, 7 August 2022 21:53 (two years ago) link
Does there exist any kind of like 2cd anthology/overview of these guys? Or have any of you guys assembled one for your own use? I know next to nothing about them but i have a feeling I’d take to them…
― covidsbundlertanze op. 6 (Jon not Jon), Monday, 8 August 2022 18:57 (two years ago) link
they do have something like that!
https://legendarypinkdots1.bandcamp.com/album/the-stone-age-1980-89https://legendarypinkdots1.bandcamp.com/album/a-ticking-clock-1990-99https://legendarypinkdots1.bandcamp.com/album/a-string-of-zeroes-the-legendary-pink-dots-2000-2010
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Monday, 8 August 2022 19:15 (two years ago) link
also see Ned's "theshfl" link above for a good overview of individual albums
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Monday, 8 August 2022 19:16 (two years ago) link
What do you think these shows will be like? Debating whether to shell out the $65.
Who has seen them?
― I Met Mr. Mathis (I M Losted), Monday, 8 August 2022 19:34 (two years ago) link
I've seen them several times, always worth it imo (altho $65 seems very high compared to the $27 face charge in Portland!
Normally they slip in a few reworked versions of oldies in their set, which otherwise typically consists of songs from their most recent album or two, whatever they are touring on.
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Monday, 8 August 2022 19:44 (two years ago) link
Every time I've seen them has been very involved and fascinating. And as with any truly veteran band like this, who knows how many more chances you might get, so...
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 August 2022 03:44 (two years ago) link
uh
A chapter closes and another begins as Phil - The Silverman - has decided to retire from live performances with the Pink Dots, while our long term friend, Randall, is joining the band.
In reality it’s a story we’ve known for many months inside The Dots as we plan for our first long tour since early 2022, but it was the sheer physical demand of such an adventure that led to Phil making his decision. Do wish Phil well in his choice of a path - it’s been a glorious four decades.
Randall is no stranger to life on the road with The Pink Dots having opened with his own project, Orbit Service, on many tours ( and he will be delivering a set on the forthcoming outing). Still, we’re excited to welcome an old friend into the band, composing new music with him as well as exploring some new corners of the planet together.
this is... not great as far as I am concerned, sorry to the band
― sleeve, Tuesday, 6 September 2022 23:28 (two years ago) link
Oof, yeah, would have to agree. I'm very glad I caught them on the anniversary tour in late 2019 now. I do have tickets for next month but I'm a touch unsure now. But I'm not going to begrudge Phil's choice to call time -- it's a hard life on tour, and that's a hell of a run.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 6 September 2022 23:37 (two years ago) link
yeah for sure. I do wish this had been announced before tickets were sold.
― sleeve, Tuesday, 6 September 2022 23:38 (two years ago) link
Well, maybe it was a half play by ear situation. But after the Soft Cell tour transmogrification as well, a bit disappointing.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 6 September 2022 23:43 (two years ago) link
sad!
if you still go, please do report back on how the phil-less LPD are.
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 6 September 2022 23:59 (two years ago) link
oh I'm totally going still, had tix for a while, just surprised at this (and how bummed out I am, maybe just shock of the new)
otoh I do like Randall's work and it will be interesting to see a different approach. I wonder if he's using any of Phil's gear?
― sleeve, Wednesday, 7 September 2022 00:03 (two years ago) link
for years I missed Stret Majeste Alarm's guitar sound in the band, but these days I have fully come around to Erik, so I can definitely adjust
― sleeve, Wednesday, 7 September 2022 00:04 (two years ago) link
also re: Randall, Orbit Service played at my house once, good lord I just looked it up and it was 17 years ago
― sleeve, Wednesday, 7 September 2022 00:07 (two years ago) link
i.e. he is a lifer as well
Merry Christmas, of course
https://legendarypinkdots1.bandcamp.com/album/the-legendary-pink-dots-christmas-special-2022
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 December 2022 19:11 (one year ago) link
so freaking excited to read this book covering them through the 80s
https://legendarypinkdots1.bandcamp.com/merch/close-your-eyes-you-can-be-a-space-captain
― sleeve, Sunday, 18 December 2022 19:15 (one year ago) link
Ah, thanks for that -- just snagged one of the last two copies there!
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 December 2022 19:22 (one year ago) link
cheers!!
― sleeve, Sunday, 18 December 2022 19:28 (one year ago) link
it looks like Soleilmoon.com has copies for the US market as well if anyone else is looking
― sleeve, Sunday, 18 December 2022 19:30 (one year ago) link