American Music Club: Classic or Dud?

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I've been listening to "San Francisco" all the time lately so the question just popped up...

Simone, Friday, 9 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Most definitely a classic, but not necessarily for San Francisco. The production issues, the more-problematic-than-usual internal tensions, and Eitzel's more-problematic-than-usual demeanor during those sesssions led to some big flaws. I haven't listened to it in a couple years, but I'd bet "It's Your Birthday" and a couple others would still hold up. There's a weird slickness in the production; it makes them sound like a rock band, which isn't exactly what they were about. Everclear does the most for me, followed by Mercury and Engine.

Andy, Friday, 9 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

All of 'California' - Classic. 'Western Sky', 'Firefly' 'Last Harbor', 'Pale Skinny Girl' - all great.

Unfortunately everything else - Dud. Particularly 'San Fran' and 'Mercury' - horribly produced, and the songs had gone by then.

Dr.C, Saturday, 10 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I appear to be the only guy who actually likes "San Francisco". Ok, SF is AMC at their most commercial and maybe adding the "slick" production was a conscious move to improve sales but hey, there are plenty of good songs anyway (even among the slick-produced ones). "Can you help me?", "wish the world away" are just a couple of examples... Everclear is their obvious masterwork, that much is sure but I love SF all the same.

Simone, Saturday, 10 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Classic: all of 'California' - absolute masterpiece. most of 'United Kingdom', although I think it only came out in the UK and it's definitely their bleakest album. Most of 'Everclear' too. As for the later albums, i would say that there are some really good songs (particularly on 'Mercury') but I never quite got into 'San Francisco'. Come to think of it I'm not quite sure where my copy is...

Jonathan, Saturday, 10 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

All I've heard from them is the Mercury album, and if it's typical then they're a big-time Dud. I'm sure there are good lyrics in there, but the music is so drab and dull and lifeless that it gives me no reason to pay attention.

Patrick, Saturday, 10 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

dud & dull alterna-rock; I would say : avoid it unless you are a college-radio dj.

fernando, Monday, 12 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

nine years pass...

They're not totally classic for me, "Everclear" and the "Live At Slim's" promo are damn good and pretty much all I need.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 24 June 2010 23:50 (fourteen years ago) link

this is a band I didn't like at all when everybody was going nuts for them and then 2-3 years ago their album The Golden Age basically punched me right in the damn face and it was like, oh, eureka, I get it, this is incredible.

get your bucket of free wings (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Friday, 25 June 2010 00:27 (fourteen years ago) link

I remember successfully trolling cosloy via letter to conflict in '88, comparing AMC to the indigo girls. I didn't get 'em either until after it was all said and done, when I stumbled across a used copy of mercury. I guess if you don't like lyrics AMC's gonna be a hard plough to pull, but eitzel's one of those guys who at his best transcends the singer-songwriter stink.

don't really understand all the hate for mercury. the production feels like a warm woozy cocoon of whiskey, but even if you don't dig the production, three of eitzel's best songs are "apology for an accident", "I've been a mess", and "johnny mathis' feet".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTMR69pzGk0

(e_3) (Edward III), Friday, 25 June 2010 01:58 (fourteen years ago) link

^ I like the part where he shows johnny his old collection of punk rock posters

(e_3) (Edward III), Friday, 25 June 2010 02:03 (fourteen years ago) link

J0hn's take on The Golden Age is the only wholly positive one I've read, but it caused me to revisit the record earlier this year. It is perhaps cliche or at least expected to arrange the word "devastating" near an American Music Club album. The Golden Age is a different sort though--imagine Love Songs for Patriots without its political eruptions, giving way entirely to songs like "Myopic Books" and "Another Morning." Even this is wrong--those songs were captured light in an otherwise dark and wrecked ship. There is no light in The Golden Age, just a dull, ornate grey. In that way it reminds me most of the slow, contemplative songs on Everclear but less drunk, more acknowledging depression as the necessary color of life.

Brad Nelson (BradNelson), Friday, 25 June 2010 02:15 (fourteen years ago) link

if that all sounds dumb as hell then my excuse is i just woke up. just trying to make sense of why The Golden Age kind of scares the hell out of me.

Brad Nelson (BradNelson), Friday, 25 June 2010 02:32 (fourteen years ago) link

no you actually made me want to hear it

(e_3) (Edward III), Friday, 25 June 2010 02:32 (fourteen years ago) link

one year passes...

To restate the obvious: Mercury is awful. Holy shit, I can't make it through a single song.

john. a resident of chicago., Saturday, 6 August 2011 18:58 (thirteen years ago) link

it's messy but has a few great tracks - I've Been A Mess is wonderful

Jamie_ATP, Saturday, 6 August 2011 19:21 (thirteen years ago) link

o_O

This reminds me of the Jeff Buckley c/d thread.

john. a resident of chicago., Saturday, 6 August 2011 19:27 (thirteen years ago) link

To state the obvious: Mercury is great. No question.

President Keyes, Saturday, 6 August 2011 22:13 (thirteen years ago) link

There's some crap on Mercury

Apology, Mess, Mathis, Gratitude are all A grade

Too much noodling, half formed songs elsewhere.

Everclear is tight, nowhere near as much filler

Master of Treacle, Saturday, 6 August 2011 23:54 (thirteen years ago) link

Oh and Hammer is great too

Keep Me Around is just a throwaway single, they never integrated the rockier and the more reflective stuff that well.

Master of Treacle, Saturday, 6 August 2011 23:57 (thirteen years ago) link

two months pass...

If I snap my fingers what will I get?
If I snap my fingers what will I get?
If I snap my fingers what will I get?
That's right, anything I want
Anything I want

Moreno, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 03:28 (thirteen years ago) link

http://markeitzel.blogspot.com/2011/10/to-people-who-ask-me-if-amc-are-touring.html

in case anyone was wondering. I wouldn't put bets on seeing AMC again, but then, that's what I thought ten years ago.

akm, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 05:53 (thirteen years ago) link

^That's a great lyric. Note to self: listen to more Eitzel

spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Wednesday, 12 October 2011 11:20 (thirteen years ago) link

To restate the obvious: Mercury is awful. Holy shit, I can't make it through a single song.

Mercury is a complete classic. Not as much as Everclear but means almost as much to me, for various other reasons.

akm, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 16:38 (thirteen years ago) link

now listening to an AMC album through for the first time (Mercury). I like it a lot. Reminds me a bit of Red House Painters although a bit more hard edged.

spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Wednesday, 12 October 2011 17:45 (thirteen years ago) link

Mercury is great. Means a lot to me too -- still remember buying it when it came out.

Duke, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 19:47 (thirteen years ago) link

Mercury is certainly an extremely 90's sounding record, with too much Froom calliope circus noise and chamberlain and tympani and oompah and crap but the songs on it are, from top to bottom, great, and I like Froom's work on this album, in fact, I think it's his best production work. But there is an alternate, Kevin Killan version of the album around if you prefer that. The big change was making If I Had a Hammer 3/4 rather than 4/4.

akm, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:04 (thirteen years ago) link

seven months pass...

I astonished by all the hate for Mercury. It might be my fave and it is certainly one of the most important albums in my life.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Tuesday, 15 May 2012 20:53 (twelve years ago) link

incidentally I saw mark last week or the week before in SF, he played with Marc Cappelle and a pickup band that included a bassist and the drummer from Loquat, and it was wonderful. Mark and Marc together are really great. It's not AMC but he's worked with Cappelle longer than anyone in his career at this point and they ahve their shit down. Mark is finishing an album right now (Vudi is on it and a bunch of other people are as well but it's not coming out as an AMC record) and I expect it will be very good.

akm, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 04:02 (twelve years ago) link

Mark is finishing an album right now (Vudi is on it and a bunch of other people are as well but it's not coming out as an AMC record) and I expect it will be very good.

I'm sure it will be as well but unfortunately I would only buy it if it came out as an AMC record

my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 10:02 (twelve years ago) link

If I snap my fingers what will I get?
If I snap my fingers what will I get?
If I snap my fingers what will I get?
That's right, anything I want
Anything I want

God, that song. Easily one of the best things Mark and the band ever did. I'm resigned to buying everything that he ever puts out, just because, but I'd love it if AMC could have another one-last-hurrah, with Kaphan back because their sound was never lovelier than with him. Can't imagine it will ever happen though.

Mark and Marc together are really great

co-sign. I saw their man and piano show in the UK a few years back and it was wonderful.

that mustardless plate (Bill A), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 10:19 (twelve years ago) link

I think Mercury may be my favorite AMC album, I'm surprised it is so hated.

Moodles, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 15:28 (twelve years ago) link

one more rep for 'California'

great album. sad, lonely, and drunken, but great.

nicky lo-fi, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 17:56 (twelve years ago) link

four weeks pass...

Tim Mooney (AMC's drummer on Mercury, San Francisco, and Love Songs for Patriots, as well as being drummer for Toiling Midgets and others) passed away last night. he was 54.

akm, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:41 (twelve years ago) link

sad news! he was an amazing drummer, also in The Sleepers.

nerve_pylon, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:52 (twelve years ago) link

Oh no! I enjoy his drumming in Toiling Midgets.

Evan, Friday, 15 June 2012 01:04 (twelve years ago) link

What?!? That sucks, so sad. He was a great drummer. I was bummed when he didn't appear on The Golden Age after producing and playing on Love Songs For Patriots. Was hoping he'd get back with them some day, but I guess that won't be happening.

RIP

Moodles, Friday, 15 June 2012 06:03 (twelve years ago) link

I've just discovered this. Really gutted.

Duke, Tuesday, 26 June 2012 21:24 (twelve years ago) link

Damn. RIP.

that mustardless plate (Bill A), Tuesday, 26 June 2012 22:26 (twelve years ago) link

one month passes...

Mark and Vudi are selling the original paintings by Jean Lowe for the Everclear and San Francisco covers, with all proceeds to Tim Mooney's family. Wonderful paintings, and a beautiful gesture by them - if had sufficient funds to spare I'd love to own either of those pieces (but esp. San Fran).

Everclear on ebay now, San Francisco to follow

that mustardless plate (Bill A), Thursday, 23 August 2012 18:56 (twelve years ago) link

wow, wish I could buy the everclear one

Moodles, Thursday, 23 August 2012 19:13 (twelve years ago) link

two weeks pass...

Have had the pleasure of listening to Mark's new album, "Don't be a Stranger". It's very nice. Maybe too nice for some people; it's a mature work, that recalls 60 Watt Silver Lining more than anything else he's done. It's missing some of the fire and intensity of Love Songs for sure, and probably has more incommon with the Golden Age, so if you liked that album (I loved it; it wasn't really meant to come out as an AMC album either) you will probably like this. He is doing a short promotional tour of the UK now with a bigger tour (backed with a band) to follow this fall.

akm, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 03:28 (twelve years ago) link

one month passes...

Just picked up 'Don't Be a Stranger' this weekend, really enjoying it. '60 Watt Silver Lining' a good reference point, was listening to it earlier in the week and the new one has a similar mood to it.

FWIW 'Mercury' and 'San Fransisco' were the first full albums I owned by AMC and they didn't put me off. Easily available at the time! It was actually hearing "Another Morning" on an Uncut CD that first piqued my interest, but I'd known of them well before then.

michaellambert, Sunday, 28 October 2012 21:08 (twelve years ago) link

two weeks pass...

Gotta get this new one, I never got Brannan Street, that one had a smaller print

Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 17 November 2012 16:30 (twelve years ago) link

One of my favorite songs of the year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfJKHr-OaOc

Simon H., Saturday, 17 November 2012 20:56 (twelve years ago) link

His voice is fucking amazing. I saw him live two years ago in a bar in Berlin, on his two-man with Marc Capelle, and it was one of the most memorable gigs I've attended because it suddenly occurred to me (embarrassingly, after 20 years of fandom) that he is such a great singer.

Duke, Saturday, 17 November 2012 21:33 (twelve years ago) link

*two-man tour*

Duke, Saturday, 17 November 2012 21:34 (twelve years ago) link

yes, the piano + mark thing totally reveals his voice as being UNBELIEVABLE.

Jamie_ATP, Saturday, 17 November 2012 22:19 (twelve years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN6SpTqYeL8

Jamie_ATP, Saturday, 17 November 2012 22:25 (twelve years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN6SpTqYeL8

Jamie_ATP, Saturday, 17 November 2012 22:25 (twelve years ago) link

at this point it might be the best overall starting point...the early records can be a bit forbidding at times to a newcomer

intern at pepe le pew research (Simon H.), Friday, 7 May 2021 14:22 (three years ago) link

Also Eitzel's Songs of Love Live is essential imho

joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Friday, 7 May 2021 14:34 (three years ago) link

The Golden Age is good but it doesn't really sound like AMC because Danny wasn't involved, the drummer plays things very differently than anyone else AMC ever had on drums, and Vudi's contributions are only minimally audible. But it is a good album.

akm, Friday, 7 May 2021 20:14 (three years ago) link

Huh, you guys are crazy.
For Tim F its Mercury , or more probably the UK/California twofer

Tib, Saturday, 8 May 2021 14:32 (three years ago) link

mercury would also be a good intro

how about any record except sf and restless stranger

mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Saturday, 8 May 2021 14:44 (three years ago) link

Engine was my intro to AMC back in the day, and I will admit that it took a few spins but once I was in there was no getting out.

henry s, Saturday, 8 May 2021 15:37 (three years ago) link

Big Night (the first song on that one) is one of my favorite AMC songs overall

Evan, Saturday, 8 May 2021 15:52 (three years ago) link

Which is a maybe a weird favorite but I love the atmosphere

Evan, Saturday, 8 May 2021 15:55 (three years ago) link

Yeah, the atmosphere on most of that album was initially impenetrable but once I got it, like esp. on Night Watchman, I was hooked.

henry s, Saturday, 8 May 2021 17:26 (three years ago) link

Engine was my starting point, hated it for about 10 plays and then realised its brilliance. Still one of my favourites (they all are to be honest, I even think San Francisco is a work of genius).

yugi ex, Saturday, 8 May 2021 17:53 (three years ago) link

Engine seems to be the forgotten AMC album. To the extent you read about this band, it's about how great California and Everclear are, how forgettable Restless Stranger is, how enigmatic United Kingdom is, how overblown Mercury and San Francisco are, but nothing about Engine.

henry s, Saturday, 8 May 2021 18:39 (three years ago) link

I first encountered AMC with "I'm in Heaven Now' on the Homestead Human Music compilation (1988). In fact I discovered so many of my all time favourite bands through that one album.

Grantman, Saturday, 8 May 2021 18:39 (three years ago) link

Engine is phenomenal, it's probably my #2 after California.

Grantman, Saturday, 8 May 2021 18:44 (three years ago) link

Engine got them enough attention in the UK music press to pave the way for the accolades that were showered onto California when it came out. At least that's the way I recall it.

I'm not eating that foreign muck *pulls face* (Matt #2), Saturday, 8 May 2021 18:50 (three years ago) link

Just relistened to The Golden Age. It's great. It's maybe a bit too long. 2 or 3 of its 13 songs could maybe be cut.

Duke, Thursday, 13 May 2021 14:06 (three years ago) link

i know
i know

that's not really you

mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Thursday, 13 May 2021 14:08 (three years ago) link

that recent vinyl reissue of The Ugly American is really really great. that is all.

Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Thursday, 13 May 2021 14:12 (three years ago) link

I hope to nab that at some point.

intern at pelican brief consulting (Simon H.), Thursday, 13 May 2021 14:22 (three years ago) link

Re-listening to Engine. I still don't quite get it. I've been listening to AMC since buying United Kingdom in 1989. For me the "canon" begins with California. But I'm probably influenced by the UK press at the time,

Duke, Thursday, 13 May 2021 22:08 (three years ago) link

It was Allan Jones waxing lyrical about Engine in Melody Maker that first turned me onto AMC.

yugi ex, Thursday, 13 May 2021 22:58 (three years ago) link

I recall he described it as a masterpiece.

yugi ex, Thursday, 13 May 2021 22:59 (three years ago) link

there's a bit about the UK reception for Engine in Sean Body's AMC book:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4jgb3PDUuPkC&pg=PA56&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

building a hole (NickB), Thursday, 13 May 2021 23:15 (three years ago) link

Big night, Nightwatchmen, This year are all unfuckwithable.
other than that Outside this bar, and ...maybe... Gary's song are fine but maybe rely too heavily on the solipsism of alcoholism (I used to love both).

Tib, Friday, 14 May 2021 10:00 (three years ago) link

alcoholism and solipsism that is.

Tib, Friday, 14 May 2021 10:01 (three years ago) link

For me At My Mercy is one of the great early AMC songs, and Asleep/This Year is a fantastic way to close the album.

yugi ex, Friday, 14 May 2021 10:51 (three years ago) link

Actually fuck yeh the first side

Tib, Friday, 14 May 2021 13:08 (three years ago) link

https://twitter.com/AMCofficialCLUB?s=09

Duke, Thursday, 27 May 2021 16:50 (three years ago) link

Now on Twitter

Duke, Thursday, 27 May 2021 16:50 (three years ago) link

AMC hail from San Francisco and were one of the greatest bands in the world.

no lies detected

intern at pelican brief consulting (Simon H.), Thursday, 27 May 2021 16:52 (three years ago) link

We are here pic.twitter.com/o3CFlnHGEk

— American Music Club (@AMCofficialCLUB) May 27, 2021

Duke, Thursday, 27 May 2021 16:53 (three years ago) link

Reissue announcement imminent?

Duke, Thursday, 27 May 2021 16:54 (three years ago) link

three weeks pass...

some of the bandcamp listings - Restless Stranger/Engine/UK/California now renamed as 'digi only release before 2022 physical remasters'

Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Tuesday, 22 June 2021 09:11 (three years ago) link

Someone from Decor Records (who I assume are doing the reissues) just tweeted out a request for old (pre-1994) AMC concert photos, posters etc. Hope this means there'll be some nice illustrated booklets with them. I sent them a couple of old ticket stubs, be still my beating heart.

joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Tuesday, 22 June 2021 09:21 (three years ago) link

wonder if i have anything. I think I had a habit of picking up posters from gigs I went to in my hitching years. So now have to wonder where they might be, if i could have actually brought them over with me.
& if i have a ticket from The Tivoli in Dublin or if my chance meeting of them outside the Virgin on the Quays meant I never got one

Stevolende, Tuesday, 22 June 2021 10:05 (three years ago) link

four months pass...

I'm hearing that Mark had a heart attack, but is ok right now.

Chappies banging dustbin lids together (President Keyes), Thursday, 11 November 2021 16:59 (three years ago) link

yeah from his facebook:

Hey everybody, Mark had a heart attack yesterday but is resting now and doing ok. He is hoping to be back home soon. Sending good health to him now in bed.

Chappies banging dustbin lids together (President Keyes), Thursday, 11 November 2021 17:01 (three years ago) link

oh jeez, I hate this

Muad'Doob (Moodles), Thursday, 11 November 2021 17:41 (three years ago) link

That would be his second, right? He had one in 2011, IIRC. Glad to hear he's doing ok.

Duke, Thursday, 11 November 2021 19:43 (three years ago) link

protect mark eitzel at all costs

STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Thursday, 11 November 2021 20:31 (three years ago) link

yes this is his second, it was apparently worse than the first one which is troubling though he was up telling everyone about it on instagram when it happened.

akm, Thursday, 11 November 2021 23:58 (three years ago) link

one year passes...

When she first saw him
In her blood she knew her role
He'd be king of the castle
She'd be the riches he stole

Some only wander through
The empty rooms of their soul
They need the ashes of others
To make them whole

ivy., Monday, 24 July 2023 17:32 (one year ago) link

one month passes...

anyone with a big living room in those locations?

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02SEWmBNBbsVqeTe7LHiN2qjR6EM6Qw6MGTiKxr3n5fuRNz1ANmT1Kw198V4Cma3wHl&id=100063608964832

StanM, Friday, 25 August 2023 07:40 (one year ago) link

two months pass...

“Cleopatra Jones is an exile with a lot of class”

calstars, Sunday, 12 November 2023 19:37 (one year ago) link

one year passes...

"Sacred Heart" is maybe my favorite of his solo songs, his singing is so gorgeous

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 28 November 2024 20:45 (one week ago) link

it's very good.

AMC reissues should be out next year (at least the first four albums), for anyone still curious.

I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 28 November 2024 20:46 (one week ago) link

Good to hear, I've still never heard the first two albums

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 28 November 2024 20:56 (one week ago) link

Great news, particularly for California and United Kingdom! Will be great to get better sound on those.

Any details re: what differentiates the new first two albums from the 1998 versions? If too early for details, that’s cool. Glad these are finally coming. Know via firefly it’s been a labor of love.

the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Thursday, 28 November 2024 21:04 (one week ago) link

At college there was a picture on the wall opposite me, I was often gazing at it, but only after TWO YEARS did I realize it was the cover 60 Watt Silver Lining. I was stunned that it never registered in all that time. How is that possible?

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 28 November 2024 21:18 (one week ago) link

the reissue will be a new mastering. how different it will be from the 98 ones I have no idea.

I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Friday, 29 November 2024 23:53 (one week ago) link

Well, see the Paris 1919 thread for what a difference it may make!

Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 30 November 2024 01:19 (one week ago) link


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