So, determined to buy a CD today.....

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...I stopped by NYCD on the Upper West Side (still my favorite, despite being way the hell out of the way from my neighborhood). I wasn't after anything specific, but merely in the mood to get something new. After perusing around, it came down to a toss-up between these two titles....

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0001LYGMG.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg OR http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002234H2.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I ended up goin' with the Secret Machines. True,...the Slade compilation does feature such gems as "Gudbye t'Jane", '`Cos I Luv You," "Run Runaway", "Mama We're All Crazee Now" and even the original version of "Cum On Feel the Noize", but I just felt more optimistic about the Secret Machines disc. I have Septmember 000, and kinda dug that, and I've read lots of flowery praise for this new record, so I chose accordingly.

Did I choose wisely? What say you?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:37 (nineteen years ago) link

I've never heard Secret Machines but good lord they've got some nice gear.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:38 (nineteen years ago) link

just going by the cover art I would've done the same thing. The SM CD looks rad.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:40 (nineteen years ago) link

I haven't been very impressed by the little Secret Machines I've heard, but props to them for what may be my favorite record cover in a long time.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:41 (nineteen years ago) link

Oh, I've also seen Secret Machines (opening for Interpol) and they blew the place apart rather promisingly. I haven't spun the disc yet, but am looking forward to it.

good lord they've got some nice gear.

Yeah, but look at Slade's shoes, man!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:41 (nineteen years ago) link

Yeah, and look what's attached!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:43 (nineteen years ago) link

I dunno anything about the Secret Machines but yeah, I woulda gone for it cuz of the cover. That's a great lookin sleeve.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:43 (nineteen years ago) link

its slightly ruined by the type but hey, it's still gorgeous.

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:46 (nineteen years ago) link

There is an appalling lack of love for Slade on this thread so far.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 27 May 2004 23:58 (nineteen years ago) link

you left out an "e" and typed an extra "l" in the fourth word there, alex

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:00 (nineteen years ago) link

oh bahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:01 (nineteen years ago) link

sarcasm?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:04 (nineteen years ago) link

the type is my favorite part. that and the electric piano.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:07 (nineteen years ago) link

From The Onion A.V. Club:

Secret Machines' biggest problem lies in its lack of interest in the physical trappings of record-making, which means it doesn't have artwork as radically trippy as the music. An album this beautifully heavy needs a cover to match.

ILM begs to differ!

― harshaw (jube), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:12 (nineteen years ago) link

are the secret machines the people who wrote that guide to self releasing shit?

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:24 (nineteen years ago) link

no, that was simple machines, faggot.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Friday, 28 May 2004 00:28 (nineteen years ago) link

yeah how could you get those two totally different sounding bands mixed up?

nice homophobia btw, ian

― harshaw (jube), Friday, 28 May 2004 02:48 (nineteen years ago) link

I don't listen to either!

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Friday, 28 May 2004 02:55 (nineteen years ago) link

Yeah..that Secret Machine thing is great. Even better yet is that it's totally ear catching especially when you you listen to music 10 hours a day...every fucking day...no vacations...

Someone keep me updated if they come to San Francisco.

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Friday, 28 May 2004 04:01 (nineteen years ago) link

Okay, so I'm finally playing the Secret Machines disc right now and am PSYCHED. Still only seven minutes deep into "First Wave Intact" and am thoroughly enjoying it. I just love how it all sounds so big and weighty.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 28 May 2004 04:30 (nineteen years ago) link

the secret machines cover isn't bad, but based on cover art alone, slade wins in a landslide.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Friday, 28 May 2004 04:41 (nineteen years ago) link

I saw Secret Machines open for Interpol too . . . it was AWESOME. I think I have permanent hearing damage because of it too.

― mrjosh (mrjosh), Friday, 28 May 2004 05:18 (nineteen years ago) link

WTF!! SLADE!! ALEX IN NYC OTM (ABOUT THE LACK OF LOVE FOR THEM)!! WHO THE FUCK ARE SECRET MACHINES?

― Daniel DiMAGGIO (Daniel DiMAGGIO), Friday, 28 May 2004 06:58 (nineteen years ago) link

I saw Secret Machines on MTV2: Subtaranean, which was a totally disheartening experience, not least because of the SM video and it being boring and gay.

― Daniel DiMAGGIO (Daniel DiMAGGIO), Friday, 28 May 2004 06:59 (nineteen years ago) link

and their song too, I mean.

― Daniel DiMAGGIO (Daniel DiMAGGIO), Friday, 28 May 2004 07:00 (nineteen years ago) link

i like the song et video, pierre

― duke lecomte, Friday, 28 May 2004 07:42 (nineteen years ago) link

Daniel absolutely OTM: who the fuck are Secret Machines? How many hilariously brilliant songs with deliberately misspelt song-titles and instantly memorable stomping choruses have they written and how many weeks were they at no.1 with them? Do any of them wear huge brightly coloured platform boots shoes; ridiculously lurid and glittery outfits; or enormous hats with mirrors on? Do any of them sport vast sideburns or ridiculous haircuts? Do they speak in hilarious Wolverhampton accents? Have they been parodies by everyone from The Two Ronnies to Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer? Do they appeal universally to everyone from punks to skinheads to headbangers and from grannies to pre-schoolers? Have they written a song that'll still be played every Christmas years in the next millennium? I think not!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 28 May 2004 09:26 (nineteen years ago) link

That said, I've just looked Secret Machines up on AMG and I must say, they do look rather intriguing....

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 28 May 2004 09:37 (nineteen years ago) link

I suspect it's because it's so obvious that Slade could never lose this fite that nobody's trying.

Let's just look at the tracklisting for the Slade album:

Get Down and Get With It / Coz I Luv You / Look Wot You Dun / Take Me Back 'ome / Mama Weer All Crazee Now / Gudbuy T' Jane / Cum On Feel The Noize / Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me / My Friend Stan / Merry XMas Everybody/ Everyday / Bangin' Man / Far Far Away / How Does It Feel / Run Runaway / My Oh My.

You're 12 songs in before you even get to a song that's close to criticism!

Oh, and to add to Stewart's list - Have they ever been the mascot of a brewery?

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 28 May 2004 09:37 (nineteen years ago) link

"I suspect it's because it's so obvious that Slade could never lose this fite that nobody's trying."

Obvious to everyone except Alex, who bought the wrong sodding one apparently!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 28 May 2004 09:41 (nineteen years ago) link

I would never criticise Bangin' Man. It's WH Auden in drainpipe jeans and a mirror hat.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 28 May 2004 10:22 (nineteen years ago) link

The Secret Machines are like Spoon with no songs just a lot of studio time spent trying to cover up that fact. Anyway, you made the wrong choice.

― danh, Friday, 28 May 2004 13:43 (nineteen years ago) link

Also loud drums. So what.

― danh, Friday, 28 May 2004 13:44 (nineteen years ago) link

Look at the bangin' man, he says he can time after time.

Can't be bad.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 28 May 2004 13:46 (nineteen years ago) link

Well, considering NYCD were only asking $9.99 for the Slade disc, I'll probably go back in the next couple o' days and get it.

But lemme tell ya, the Secret Machines disc does indeed rocketh mightily.

I am heartened by the fervent love for Slade, though.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:47 (nineteen years ago) link

The Secret Machines disc bummed me out. I heard all these great things about them and then...meh. It sounds nice and all, but there's no meat on that platter.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:17 (nineteen years ago) link

Yeah well Slade kind of kills. and the cover is beautiful. and they've got better tunes to go along with the drumming.

― danh, Friday, 28 May 2004 17:07 (nineteen years ago) link

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