Underworld - Classic or Dud?

maybe it's me- the crowd i fell in with with were the type who published poetry e-zines and fantasized about nights drinking absinthe out of dixie cups with purple-haired drop outs, idk. but i think, for various reasons, people who spent a lot of time online then were more likely to be outsiders who rejected the mainstream culture, or were rejected. so underworld's cyberbeatnik identity connected them to the chatrooms as much as the dance clubs.

a nocturnal parallel world seemed to spring up.... we still spent time hatching plans on the internet that would play out in the realm of physical geography. like, the internet was a map to me, not a place. it felt like our whole generation was a community, and we would be able to float around crashing on people's couches who we met on AOL. i get that none of that was new or unique to the moment ("wannabeatnik"- yeah def) and part of it is just the optimism people have when they're young and it's still possible to one day become "successful".

but the possibility of a bohemian slacker utopia has since closed, i think. what's changed is how the people who seemed incapable of integrating themselves into the straight world and holding down a normal job are more likely now to eke out a living piecemeal through the "gig economy" of driving ubers and walking dogs etc. it seems less plausible now to get by without those connections to the mainstream overworld.

something something

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LSxDPgV9sM

won't play for me

this better be the first of the banging denver luna remixes I've been waiting for

I've always liked his lyrics. maybe it's because I got into this band at the age of 13. I never thought they were that weird because I didn't know that much music. ditto for like, the guy from Cake, where it's really only now I realize how odd they were. I get why people don't like his lyrics but they do capture something pretty unique I think, particularly that night out feeling meeting people you'll never see again, always thinking what if...

that night out feeling meeting people you'll never see again

exactly

not having roots

are you listenin?
can you hear?

UNDERWORLD X KETTAMA 
fifteenth december pic.twitter.com/U6Ngxvkhq8

— Underworld (@underworldlive) December 10, 2023

This was better than I thought it would be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzqgGlyehLE

Underworld x Kettama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwSNXtzWER4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J91SR8wfAvU

another one with Kettama, doesn't really sound like UW but it's pretty sweet

I had a load of marking to do tonight and put on Everything, Everything to make it more bearable, and the version of Moaner on the DVD is fucking incredible isn't it I am only used to the CD, why the fuck was it not on the CD?

You've all heard this a thousand times I'm sure, but I hadn't until just now, because some brilliant person put the whole DVD on youtube a year ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h93w-28dVY

the whole Pinkpop 1999 show where that version of Moaner was filmed is on YT if you want more of a concert experience - (oh, look for Palladium Koln 1999 there as well for another treat)

it wasnt on the CD because it's already 80 minutes long and they had to cut something

god I hope we get a vinyl reissue of it one day, I still don't think anything's captured the pure euphoria of live electronic music as well as this album does

A remastered / expanded double CD would be just fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNVSBjTGpDI

pretty!

What's this then

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/strawberry-hotel/1761865594

Looks legit going off some of the posts on the Underworld Drift FB group

oh nice!

had seen some buzz about people finding the title and Oct 25 release date, but the full tracklist and artwork are new. 15 tracks!

"Black Poppies" uploaded to Youtube a bit ago but now unavailable, here

Just realized the last Underworld album I really loved came out in 2002. (Well, that and the Japanese live album from 2005.) Still, I'll definitely listen.

Denver Luna AND the acappella ? wow

I thought “Barbara” and the Drift series were the proverbial roaring return to form.

actually between the acapella and "Stick Man Test" I'm guessing 11-15 are bonus tracks, though "Gene Pool" is def good enough for the album based on what we've heard live

really looking forward to this, you'd think Drift would've given us enough to chew on over the pandemic but nah, I want these guys to make as much music as they possibly can

Barking is a fantastic album

funny, was gonna reply to Boring that Barking is about the only agreed upon lowlight. Personally I can't really be bothered with Hundred Days Off

(the aforementioned 2002 record... though love Two Months Off)

I'll also rep for Barking.

OWB is my personal lowlight

I think out of obligation to a band I once considered one of my favorites I listened to every album that came after Beaucoup Fish a couple of times even though I didn't really enjoy them much, but they totally won me back with Barbara Barbara and Drift. Looking forward to this new album.

Barbara Barbara was a real stumbling block for me. Haaaaated that record. But some of Drift was really good, especially the stuff with the Necks.

Barking I really did like, still think a 'finished' version minus the guest producers might've been even better. lotta cool things were going on in these tracks that the guest producers just kinda smoothed over.

OWB has grown on me a lot lately, middle section is still a bit dodgy but the first 4 tracks are incredible, as are the last 3

oblivion with bells = perfect masterpiece imo

Black Poppies now on Spotify in some regions so assuming out everywhere tomorrow

Beginning of OWB = outstanding

“Ring Road” = unmitigated horseshit

rest of the album = who knows, i can never make it past “Ring Road”

qobuz has the track times. looks like mostly short tunes though "Gene Pool" is 9 minutes

https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/strawberry-hotel-underworld/wbjl275992f9a

Got an email this morning about it. https://store.underworldlive.com/collections/strawberry-hotel?ml_sub=2563069657544135994&ml_sub_hash=g9y3&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_underworld_album_coming_october_2024&utm_term=2024-09-06

Lot to parse on that sleeve.

ml_sub=2563069657544135994&ml_sub_hash=g9y3&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_underworld_album_coming_october_2024&utm_term=2024-09-06

Lot to parse on that tracker.

rest of the album = who knows

god, what are you doing, “best mamgu ever” is on there

Faxed Invitation too, man did that track grow on me

Don’t blame me, blame “Ring Road”

i really like “ring road” bc there’s something wrong with me

"Techno Shinkansen" is on a game soundtrack, so we're able to hear all of side A now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfI1X9SMxZI

xp Lol I actually don't mind the vocal as much as Boy Boy Boy's. Anyway I like the whole album. I just can't get with the moodier bits of Hundred Days and Beaucoup Fish.

website's updated. iifu.club domain is live ("i'm in fucking underworld" - i think was on a recent tour shirt?) but is just a mailing list signup form. New merch that doesn't yet make any sense without hearing the new songs (no strawberry jam girl shirts??). Nice looking double vinyl but no super duper not-sold-in-stores editions. Wallet safe for today.

ya Techno Shinkansen rules. i can't wait to play it on the Shinkansen someday lol

very glad to be wrong about 11-15 being bonus tracks, I really do want "Gene Pool" on vinyl, that track is gonna be amazing

listening to Underneath The Radar for the first time. well ... I like the cover.

I Need a Doctor is a fun song

The two Freur albums are definitely worth a listen, that second one especially has some damn catchy tunes on it

yeah that's the one song I liked

did they ever do any of the old stuff live?

No although Karl did do Doot Doot live during his solo shows

Would be hilarious if they just broke out “Stand Up” or something though. I still love that song.