There Ethan another 'proper' answer so you don't feel so alone.
― Tom, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Scott, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― gareth, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Geoff, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Sounded like an interesting approach, give a band that already plays hard and give them a producer who makes Limp Bizkett sound hard. I guess being in the middle of nowhere at the time, I missed the promotional push and found these guys on my own sweet little time which helps alot. Though I still think one of the lines should be "Drinking with Jello" and not what it actually is.
― zacko, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Nitsuh, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I just find it hard to really get a handle on _Relationship..._. It's trying to be eclectic (using piano, changing speeds, throwing the split-finger for strikes), but that damn voice just runs into every song and starts spewing the clumsiest stream-of-consciousness poetic nonsense. That one song where he REPEATS that stanza about "...and the guillotine laughs again..." is quite grating. Iggy Pop's voice is the best thing on that record - he's charismatic and cheeky, while the ATDI guy screams like there's a beartrap on his bozack.
Plus, Grand Royal released the wrong song as the first single. It's the song BEFORE "One-Armed Scissor".
What really annoys me is that I WANT to like these guys, and I give _Relationship..._ second and third and fourth chances to impress me, and I get stonewalled every time.
― David Raposa, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
North of America look like Pavement, sing like Pavement, write songs like Pavement but have at elast moved away from sounding like Pavement. Well only one of them is a physical carbon copy for SM. Formed from The Motes and The State Champs in Nova Scotia their first ep (Elements of an Incomplete Map) on Matlock records was mindfucking brilliant at points. First full length on Matlock (These Songs Are Cursed (assumed its about the fun time they had recording/producing)) was more punkier but had too many instrumentals.
Havent heard much from them in recent years since they went south, other then Walking In Great Coats on the 4 Dots compilation of Halifax/Moncton/Olympia/Bellingham bands. If you have the time and patience try finding the split 7" from The Motes/State Champs on Ant Records I think.
One of the members interned at CMJ for a bit, they write great tour diaries (if a bit windy) and can kickass at foozball when the need arises. They also have a rumoured addiction to FIFA 99.
Napster/Morpheus inclined souls search songs: Cities and Plans, Killed In The Ratings, Eliel Saarinen, Route of Sorts & What a Melee.
ps. As I tried finding out how to spell "Eliel Saarinen" on cdnow I came across the great lost classic lp "Sounds Of North American Frogs".
― Andy, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
My problems with ATDI are 1) they take themselves too seriously, and 2) whenever they do come up with a good song, they ruin it halfway through by switching gears and playing something entirely different. I suppose this is to prove that they are true artists (again, the pretension factor). It kills any momentum the song may have had and is completely uncalled for.
― Miranda, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― jel, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I think they're mostly notable as a band who can strike that sunny/sloppy pop tone and then segue effortlessly to kick-kick-scream- scream-scratch-scratch.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Questions, though: "ATDI can actually play their instruments." This doesn't exactly seem like justification for handing out a Nobel Prize, now, does it? And I've never thought of them as displaying a much greater instrumental capability than Pavement, much less any particularly amazing degree of skill. So what exactly do you mean?
Also: "As for their time changes, i guess not every band is content with 4/4." That's a straw man; no one's complained about them not playing in 4/4. The complaint was that they wind up sabotaging perfectly good moments with their obsessive need to display their ability to shift gears. And I'm inclined to agree with the above poster that this is a result of trying too hard to establish their artistry; very few of those shifts actually make structural sense within the songs themselves.
― Richard Tunnicliffe, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Bill
― Bill, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Dude, is this addressed to me? I don't recall saying ATDI was your favorite band. I don't recall saying anything much about Pavement, either, other than (a) I don't think North of America sound much like them, and (b) I don't see ATDI as being any more skilled as instrumentalists than they are.
Ditto on Drive Like Jehu, who are postively MONSTROUS, especially live. I'm more of a "Yank Crime" (second album) man myself, but unfortunately I think it's outta print. (The perils of major labels...) Jehu were, along with MBV and the Swans, the LOUDEST band I've ever heard.
― Jess, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
All this leaving aside the fact that virtuousity seems like a non- issue here: otherwise we'd be talking about Maria Callas or Joe Satriani.
― Lyra, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― scott, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
what do you think, style maven?
My first post sure started this thread off on a good note, didn't it? Anyway, I am personally sick of music like ATDI. I'm tired of vocalists that sound constantly on the verge of pinching a big loaf. I'm tired of absolutely BLAH lyrics, empty sub-Cobainisms that say nothing but are supposed to be insightful. I'm tired of unjustified stop-starts and time-changes. I'm tired of seeing people grunting against their guitars like factory workers. And most of all, I'm tired of indie-boy afros.
― Clarke B., Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
This thread has reached the point where I'm wondering if Scott's not just playing us for suckers with his uber defensiveness. (I'd have to admit it would be pretty funny if that was the case.) The only other explaination I can figure is that the guy with the 'fro is related to him.
― Jess, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Also, I wish people wouldn't try to egg on an obviously already-petulant poster. Who cares? It's not worth your time.
― Josh (ILM Moderator), Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
"Hmmm. Attacking someones hair. Is that a TOS violation?"
then in the same breath
"Anyone with an afro looks pretty silly, but sub-Dischord white boys look especially ridiculous. " ---- Jes(dubplatestyle@hotmail.com), August 16, 2001. . . . . Thanks moderator, wan't sure if u got my email That acct didn't get validated properly
― scott, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Chaki ask him if he slings crack out of the van, and if not, why not, it's good money
― rip van wanko, Friday, 13 October 2017 18:42 (six years ago) link
my general reaction to this is to shrug it off tbh. at the end of the day they're still touring america playing stuff like "Invalid Litter Dept"
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Friday, 13 October 2017 18:45 (six years ago) link
ha slightly off topic but I was thinking about how Cedric used to introduce "Hulahoop Wounds" in the 90s... he'd rattle off a list of people that inspired them, like "THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INSPIRED US TO DO WHAT WE DO... PEOPLE LIKE CLIFF BURTON, SYD BARRET, OTIS REDDING, LENNY BRUCE, KATHLEEN HANNA, ANDY KAUFMAN..." i was just laughing imagining him listing like 50 people and running over their set time lol
― flappy bird, Friday, 13 October 2017 18:55 (six years ago) link
ANDERSON COOPER, ROBBIE ROBERTSON, BIG BIRD, SYLVESTER STALLONE
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Friday, 13 October 2017 18:56 (six years ago) link
CHARLES NELSON REILLY AND SQUEAKY FROMME. GOOD NIGHT BIRMINGHAM!
― rip van wanko, Friday, 13 October 2017 19:11 (six years ago) link
any music journos reading this - it would be cool if you asked them about this during this next tour press cycle
― kurt schwitterz, Friday, 13 October 2017 19:14 (six years ago) link
great set from 98/99
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNfPW-hLo4A
― flappy bird, Friday, 20 October 2017 16:40 (six years ago) link
they're putting out an ep soon
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Friday, 20 October 2017 16:41 (six years ago) link
Precision, watch the scalpel make roadsHear them talk in paranoid parablesWidows, six legged lost and found
― flappy bird, Friday, 20 October 2017 16:42 (six years ago) link
nice xp. haven't revisited the new LP much but glad they're making more new music
inseminating motives of lukewarm persistencelet the thieves in through the front doorlet them take what they've been missing
― flappy bird, Friday, 20 October 2017 16:47 (six years ago) link
i love you cedric
Song Cycle!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV0ldjAKiLo
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 24 October 2017 04:13 (six years ago) link
Holy shit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma02w2oAnZs
― flappy bird, Friday, 3 November 2017 18:48 (six years ago) link
new ep is really good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4ZPTIY1OHs
― flappy bird, Sunday, 26 November 2017 00:46 (six years ago) link
I was expecting castoffs from the album sessions but these are actually great?
― Simon H., Sunday, 26 November 2017 01:16 (six years ago) link
yeah, they're great. better than anything on the album
― flappy bird, Sunday, 26 November 2017 02:09 (six years ago) link
i don't agree with that entirely but these songs really push their sound forward
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Wednesday, 29 November 2017 19:41 (six years ago) link
"tilting at the univendor" is still the best nu-atdi track
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Wednesday, 29 November 2017 19:42 (six years ago) link
this makes me want to revisit the record, if nothing else this EP is very encouraging in that it shows them moving forward as you said, in that sense it reminds me of Vaya, which can only be a good thing
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 29 November 2017 19:44 (six years ago) link
newly uploaded show from 1999, check this setlist:
Alpha CentauriChanbaraHeliotropeLopsidedInitiationPickpocketPorfirio DiazUrsa MinorHulahoop WoundsNapoleon Solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ9nO2cF95g
― flappy bird, Friday, 12 October 2018 20:17 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRAxNuTF1o
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Sunday, 22 November 2020 02:14 (three years ago) link
hell yeah
― flappy bird, Sunday, 22 November 2020 06:14 (three years ago) link
One of Jarvis Cocker's choices from the Later archives the other week (tho I still think One Armed Scissor is the more exciting clip)
― Change Display Name: (stevie), Sunday, 22 November 2020 10:30 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mojvh0burw8
pretty much the peak of sounding like absolute ass yet being the most captivating live rock band in history
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 11 June 2021 02:25 (two years ago) link
relationship of command is outstanding!!
― brimstead, Friday, 11 June 2021 03:09 (two years ago) link
not entirely confident omar was in tune for that one
― call all destroyer, Friday, 11 June 2021 03:13 (two years ago) link
assuming some overlap from the emo thread but a lot of us dig Youth Novel on here. just found this cover recentlyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEgp96cysjg
― gman59, Friday, 11 June 2021 14:46 (two years ago) link
One of my all time favorite concerts was seeing these guys open for The Get Up Kids in the student union at University of Illinois in 1999. I was there to see GUK (in my defense it was the '90s still) and I hadn't heard a note from these guys, but they absolutely killed despite playing for probably 75 people in an awkward interior courtyard space.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 11 June 2021 14:52 (two years ago) link
jim ward released a new solo album today btw. haven’t heard it
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 11 June 2021 14:53 (two years ago) link
and while I'm here. Relationship of Command is one of the greatest albums ever made by anybody and it changed my life for the better but these days In/Casino/Out seems to be the only album I want to listen to by them. that and some of the Relationship b-sides that weren't on my cd version
― gman59, Friday, 11 June 2021 14:59 (two years ago) link
if in/casino/out had slightly better production it would be their best in my mind no question. i say this knowing ppl hate the production of relationship of command, i personally love that it hurts my freakin ears
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 11 June 2021 15:13 (two years ago) link
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, June 11, 2021 7:53 AM (twenty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
"blink twice" is pretty good... he should make a sparta album in this exact mode
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 11 June 2021 15:18 (two years ago) link
i'm relistening to wiretap scars... forgot this excellent-sounding (if a little hotly mastered) record was recorded by jerry finn. makes deloused sound even more like a mountain of ass
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 11 June 2021 16:12 (two years ago) link