Robyn Hitchcock/Soft Boys: Classic or Dud?

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Just picked up the Matador Records re-release of the Soft Boys' celebrated UNDERWATER MOONLIGHT album, appended with outtakes and deleted tracks. I started backwards with this band, becoming a fan of Robyn Hitchcock's solo career of skewed psychedelic pop back in college, only later discovering his earlier, "punkier" band, The Soft Boys. To my ears, the hybrid of Hitchcock's decidedly off-kilter lyrical fixation with all things surreal and his knack for soaring pop harmonies and melody is absolutely the stuff of legend, but I have friends who consider him a unbearable Syd Barrett clone and/or too clever-clever for anyone's aural benefit. What say you?

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

"Underwater moonlight" is a classic indeed. It's an album that doesent fit in anywhere, its a bit punk, bit power-pop and a bit psychedelic. I havent heard any of his solo stuff so I cant pass any comment on it.

― Michael, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

I love both the Soft Boys and Hitchcock, for slightly different reasons, and have favourites amongst the discographies of both. With the Soft Boys, it's easier to just like it all because there was precious little material, though Underwater Moonlight certainly towers head and shoulder over everything else. With Hitchcock, I find that it's a bit hit and miss. I'm unabashedly a fan of Globe of Frogs, because that was my entry point and has some truly killer songs in "Balloon Man", "Vibrating", Tropical Flesh Mandala" and "Beatle Dennis". That said, I think I almost prefer some of the earlier albums, including I Often Dream of Trains, Fegmania, Element of Light and esp. Gotta Let This Hen Out. The first two I find a bit patchy and anything after Queen Elvis is also patchy. Certainly, Hitchcock's wonko lyrics are an acquired taste, but I'll take the clever surrealism of his lyrics over the stupid cliches that comprise a good chunk of popular music any day.

Short answer: both classic.

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

Like Alex, I was a fan of Robyn' solo work and then went backwards to the Soft Boys. The Soft Boys are complete CLASSIC. I first picked up A CAN OF BEES and UNDERWATER MOONLIGHT in the early 90s and they totally blew my mind. I couldn't believe that they were so unappreciated in music "history". Even today, people still give you cross looks when you mention the Soft Boys. Not many people know them at all. Hopefully the Matador attention will change that a bit. Their show a few weeks back in Baltimore was attended by about 200 or so folks, which was pretty respectable. Great show. They played "I Wanna Destroy You" so I was satisfied.

As for Robyn's solo stuff, I'd have to say its a mixed bad. In fact, I can't even point to one album that's all classic. But there's so much great stuff scrambled in there that its hard to dismiss any of them totally. Probablly my favorites would be GLOBE OF FROGS, EYE, ELEMENT OF LIGHT, and QUEEN ELVIS. That looks like mostly mid-period Hitchcock to me.

But for a career, I'd give Robyn in his various guises a CLASSIC.

― Tim Baier, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

Ooops, I meant Robyn's solo career is a mixed "bag". Its not "bad", its a "bag" dammit!

― Tim Baier, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

Underwater Moonlight is absolutely wonderful. There seems to be a perfect balance between Robin's unsettling wierdness and killer psych- pop tunes, which all to often tips towards 'being a loony'later on. A Can of Bees is worth having too. The best of Hitchcock's solo career is probably "Gotta Let this Hen Out", but unfortunately IMHO the whimsy overwhelms all else after "Fegmania". The later albums are all but unbearable, although I haven't heard them all. I'd say his best before date was around 1985.

― Dr. C, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

Classic: the title "The Lonesome Death of Ian Penman" (in response to IP's sarky review of _A Can of Bees_)

Dud: Never heard a single solitary note, so I wdn't know. Naturally I hate him.

― mark s, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

I saw the re-united soft boys out here in san francisco a few weeks back, and they were quite good...played my favourites, Queen of Eyes and I Wanna Destroy You. Plus they were backed up by the mighty Young Fresh Fellows, so that added lots. I've always liked Underwater Moonlight, especially the Rykodisc Cd reissue of 5 or so years back, which had 5 or so extra tracks, including a good one called Nobody Like You. My favourite Soft Boys, though, would be the very silly Live at the Portland Arms. Mostly sort of acoustic, filled with ad- libs, wit and oddball cover songs. Hitchcock solo I haven't enjoyed as much, as I guess I like the rockier / poppier side of the Soft Boys, albeit partly because of the somewhat odd lyrics...I like some of his LP I Often Dream of Trains. I certainly know some people who can't stand his lyrics, though.

― paulsheridan, Tuesday, 8 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

Has made a career flogging a particular brand of stereotypical English weirdness (cf Glen Baxter) - some good tunes on Underwater Moonlight but he leaves a bad taste in the mouth. No connection at all. Dud.

― Tom, Tuesday, 8 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

I'm of much the same opinion as Tom...But oddly today I kept finding myself singing to myself a typically anoying solo-career-era song of his. Now I've started fuckin' doing it again. Thanks guys.

― duane zarakov, Wednesday, 9 May 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink

one year passes...

classic - twisted dark humour, a touch of verbosity, snarling and prowling guitars and a dark dark heart. i had very low expectations of "nextdoorland" the new album but it's entirely fantastic. have not heard anything as thrilling as "strings" all year...

― commonswings, Tuesday, 24 September 2002 14:18 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

He's sooooooooo weird.

― DeRayMi, Tuesday, 24 September 2002 14:26 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

The Soft Boys are on point rather like a steeple but I just can't get on with Hitchcock's solo stuff. I have a friend who has a catalogue of it but it just doesn't seem to have... the edginess of the Soft Boys. When he's on his own, it's like Rob tries too hard to be a Barrett but he's too sane to make it work. I can't listen to it.

But Underwater Moonlight is somethig else. I Wanna Destroy You is an alltime winner. I also really like He's A Reptile.

― Roger Fascist (Roger Fascist), Tuesday, 24 September 2002 14:31 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

hehe...once i saw the title of the thread i knew Sean would be all over this as when we met he had a soft boys t-shirt.

haven't heard soft boys myself but will pick it up if i see it.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 24 September 2002 14:49 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Soft Boys are definitely classic to me, Hitch more of a mixed bag. I am a bit wary that the Soft Boys new record (out now, as they say in the papers) will do damage to the band's rep; I haven't heard the record yet, but I did hear some of the songs on the reunion tour and they definitely skewed toward the diminishing returns side of Hitch's more recent works.

The Minor Fall, The Major Lift
http://intonation.blogspot.com/

― TMFTML (TMFTML), Tuesday, 24 September 2002 14:53 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

"Underwater Moonlight" is a great record.

The rest of The Soft Boys and Hitchcock's output is very hit and miss.

The only Hitchcock album that I have heard that is consistent front to back is "Globe of Frogs". I used to have a few others from that time period, but there would generally only be a song or two worth hearing and the rest pretty dull. It has been a long time since I have heard any of this music.

Hitchcock seemed to put out a record every six months for a few years back in the day, which is probably a primary reason why they are kind of spotty.

― earlnash, Tuesday, 24 September 2002 17:07 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I gotta pay closer attention to what's going on in the world. I had no clue that Nextdoorland was even on the way. I just picked it up now. It's weird, because I was actually wearing my Soft Boys shirt again the other day, Julio, and I don't think I've put it on since that last time when you saw it. Huh.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 27 September 2002 22:52 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

two years pass...

"...I don't KNOW WHY
She never gets anywhere
With YOUUUUUUUUUU..."

(Wonder why I never posted on this thread before? Been listening to the Rykodisc reissues and the 2-disc overview of Soft Boys stuffage all week.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 21 January 2005 18:23 (twelve years ago) Permalink

As I get older, Robyn is becoming my favorite musician. I bought Can of Bees a long time ago and thought it was good... then I finally heard Underwater Moonlight a few years before the Matador reissue came out... and since then, I've become a bit obsessed. He's one of those artists who never seems to put out anything that I don't like, including individual songs. His songwriting is remarkably consistent, but not samey because his lyrics are usually very good if not terrific.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 21 January 2005 18:29 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I love A Can of Bees. I couldn't stop listening to it last fall.

― Trip Maker (Sean Witzman), Friday, 21 January 2005 18:42 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Totally classic (with longueurs, of course). How Demme managed to film a dull RH gig...?

Anyone knocked out by the new Gillian Welch collab?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 21 January 2005 18:49 (twelve years ago) Permalink

He's the best. I've loved pretty much all of his records at one time or another. A couple of interesting ones that don't get mentioned too much are that Rykodisc set, Invisible Hitchcock, and the last few, especially Jewls for Sophia and Moss Elixer. Also You and Oblivion which has some of my favorites.

― danh (danh), Friday, 21 January 2005 18:54 (twelve years ago) Permalink

As I think is almost required among fans, I have a bootleg of one of his solo acoustic performances, in this case one I taped myself back in 1995 at McCabe's in LA. He previewed a fair amount of Moss Elixir material along with digging up various old faves and random numbers, and of course was his usual dry self on stage. I'm trying to remember if I ever got it converted to digital or not...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 21 January 2005 18:57 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Any thoughts on Nextdoorland by the Soft Boys?....it's a bit spotty but I def. think "Mr. Kennedy" is one of my fav SB songs ever....It's totally like onOFFon my Mission of Burma, not disappointing but not a classic, held up by a few genuinely great songs....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 21 January 2005 19:05 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Nextdoorland was my third favorite record of 2002, if memory serves. By contrast, onOFFon did nothing for me.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 21 January 2005 19:07 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Those Nextdoorland songs didn't hold up live when they did that Underwater Moonlight show. I actually never bought it because of that show. They were totally lifeless next to the classics. Pretty, but lifeless.

― danh (danh), Friday, 21 January 2005 19:10 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I think "Underwater Moonlight" is about half-classic. The title track is great, "Kingdom of Love" is the all-time best rip of the Hollies' "Long Cool Woman." I give Kimberley Rew credit for it, though--great guitar work, really distinctive. I also like the earlier Soft Boys stuff OK, but I don't think it's all that great.

I guess I like "Element of Light" all right, and there are times I put on "Mossy Liquor" or "Moss Elixor" or whatever that's called depending on whether you have the LP or CD. RH is good, kind of a one-trick drugged pony ride though. I probably still prefer Syd Barrett or John Lennon, though.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Friday, 21 January 2005 19:12 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I found Nextdoorland to be kind've a let down.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 21 January 2005 19:13 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Anyone knocked out by the new Gillian Welch collab?

It's kinda strange. I do like it - not necessarily knocked out though. It had this implicit "this is Robyn's grown-up serious record" feeling to it. Almost if it's in reaction to the relatively freewheeling Luxor album.

― Gator Magoon (Chris Barrus), Friday, 21 January 2005 23:43 (twelve years ago) Permalink

To clarify, I don't want him to make another crustacean album either.

― Gator Magoon (Chris Barrus), Friday, 21 January 2005 23:44 (twelve years ago) Permalink

The new one's excellent; the first and last tracks steal it, but so much else is great; "English Girl", who else would reference Merle Haggard and Ronald Searle? Even better was seeing him live a few months ago, in a nicely small (if difficult to find) venue in Newcastle, the Cluny...

― Tom May (Tom May), Friday, 21 January 2005 23:52 (twelve years ago) Permalink

five months pass...

Classic. Underwater Moonlight will be all over my Top 100 80's lists whenever we do it.

― Cunga (Cunga), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 23:51 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I'm very fond of I Often Dream of Trains.

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 7 July 2005 00:09 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I still defend Perspex Island.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 7 July 2005 00:21 (twelve years ago) Permalink

soft boys--classic
robyn hitchcock--classic

i'd say that the best way to experience robyn these days is to see him live--he's got such a wealth of great songs at this stage in his career. And usually, the more recent songs sound better in person than they do on record. there are a few live shows on archive.org's live music database if you're curious.

also worth seeking out is the soft boys' live at portland arms LP (some of which is on the ryko overview). hilarious and unplugged.

and ned, it sounds as though we were probably at the same mccabes show in 1995--i think my friend and i were the only teenagers in the house. if you ever digitize your tape, i'd love to relive it.

― tylerw, Thursday, 7 July 2005 01:17 (twelve years ago) Permalink

also, in the middle of one of those 1995 mccabes shows, i realized that i was sitting next to none other than adam duritz. true story.

― tylerw, Thursday, 7 July 2005 01:19 (twelve years ago) Permalink

No mention of Old Pervert or Insanely Jealous?

― Jamey Lewis (Jameys Burning), Thursday, 7 July 2005 02:21 (twelve years ago) Permalink

insanely jealous old pervert?

― chief of chaff (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 7 July 2005 02:24 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Robyn was a streak of genuine weirdness on the alt pop charts in the eighties, his records definitely helped get through high school back then. The live shows were incredible, the improvised stories he'd spin between songs always made sense.

He's one of two people I ever asked for an autograph. Philip Glass was not in a good mood when I walked up, 15 years old & nervous, having spotted him in the lobby during the intermission to the Knee Plays... can't blame him for scowling at me. Robyn on the other hand was impossibly cool about the awkward situation, saying while signing my copy of Trains "well y'know it's no good having heroes, especially once you get to know them and realize they have all the same problems..." I assured him that was the point.

― milton parker (Jon L), Thursday, 7 July 2005 06:23 (twelve years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

I noticed the similarities between the Left Banke's I Haven't Got the Nerve tune and I Wanna Destroy You a few weeks ago. Who knows? It's a good tune either way but thought someone might appreciate it.

http://s25.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1VM7K048PQ0GF268VGEO0NXEHR

― Cunga (Cunga), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 08:11 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Underwater Moonlight is one of the best records ever made.

― zeus, Tuesday, 30 August 2005 08:21 (eleven years ago) Permalink

nine months pass...

The Soft Boys (esp. Can of Bees, Underwater Moonlight and Invisible Hits, the cream of the crop) are absolute classic. No doubt about it. Nextdoorland is really good as well, esp. Mrs. Kennedy.

As for Robyn Hitchcock, his first album, Black Snake Diamond Role continued the Soft Boys course honorably - "Acid Bird" especially is classic. Also, his third, I Often Dreamt of Trains is excellent too. Hilarious (and very British) songs like "Uncorrected Personality Traits" and "Sometimes I Wish I Were a Pretty Girl" (..so I could ---- myself in the shower..) sit next to absolutely gorgeous quiet and sad songs. His 80s and 90s stuff gets a bit too slick for my tastes, losing its classic edge - some good moments though. Haven't heard his most recent stuff...mixed bag, as other said.

― Nick Wilson, Friday, 2 June 2006 05:54 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I absolutely like his later stuff too. He does pop after all, and pop may well benefit from a slick production (that being said, the rawer sound of "Underwater Moonlight" doesn't make that album any less excellent, partly because the songs he wrote for that album are better than any songs he has been able to write since)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 2 June 2006 09:20 (eleven years ago) Permalink

three months pass...

i was overcome with the need to listen to robyn hitchcock's "i often dream of trains" this evening, but alas, i am unable to find my copy of it anywhere. i'm feeling rather distraught about all this. i haven't ripped and ipodified that one yet and now i'm terrifically disappointed that i didn't.

anyway: classic. i heard solo hitchcock first, and have always had a preference for the early stuff, though i did snag a copy of "spooked" and found it quite entertaining. the 90's stuff often bores me, though certainly "moss elixir" has it moments. but "trains" and "fegmania!" are my favorites.

soft boys, also classic. picked up the matador rerelease of "underwater moonlight" when it came out and loved it. played that this evening in lieu of "i often dream of trains".

― Emily B (Emily B), Friday, 15 September 2006 05:00 (ten years ago) Permalink

Listened to "Fegmania" the other day and it is absolutely ace. Particularly "The Man With The Lightbulb Head" and "My Wife And My Dead Wife".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 15 September 2006 18:39 (ten years ago) Permalink

New Robyn Hitchcock w/band album coming out soon on Yep Rock. The track I've heard (something about a Rocketship) sounded promising.

― dlp9001 (dlp9001), Friday, 15 September 2006 20:35 (ten years ago) Permalink

i've always had mixed feelings, I loved it all but kinda grew out of some of the wackier stuff. Now I look at something like Trains and the stuff that's a bit "silly" I have to skip over, but the other stuff is some of the most beautiful music ever.

He played at Oberlin when I was there to a small crowd and encored with Autumn is Your Last Chance.

I also have a severe soft-spot for Queen Elvis.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 15 September 2006 20:58 (ten years ago) Permalink

A Can of Bees and the comp "76-81" is all you need in my opinion. Underwater Moonlight just doesn't do it for me really and Robyn's solo stuff has never been my cup of tea.

― Randall Weeber (yoyoweb), Saturday, 16 September 2006 01:22 (ten years ago) Permalink

I've heard that Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 on Yep Yoc -- it's the guys from the Minus 5 backing him up. Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey and the other guy (forget his name). It's pretty good, very power pop.

― mcd (mcd), Saturday, 16 September 2006 03:00 (ten years ago) Permalink

A Can of Bees is a much more uneven affair than Underater Moonlight. 'Anglepoise Lamp' is one of Hitchcocks's best song though, strange, that nobody mentioned that in the thread.

― zeus (zeus), Saturday, 16 September 2006 10:39 (ten years ago) Permalink

Skipping 476 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

That sounds amazing Jon. So glad you got to see it.

And yeah, that merch is BORING.

― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 1 March 2017 17:26 (four months ago) Permalink

wish i was going to tonight's show too!

BTW merch table was run by small blonde with Aus accent, I assume this is Emma Swift. Thought that would mean she would sing on something but didn't happen. RH did dedicate Airscape to her.

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 17:27 (four months ago) Permalink

That's sweet.

― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 1 March 2017 17:46 (four months ago) Permalink

Robyn's catalog is littered with songs to his ex's. I wonder what happened to Michelle.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 1 March 2017 18:03 (four months ago) Permalink

Ahem one L

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 18:30 (four months ago) Permalink

Wow that second set!
Can I just--
― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, March 1, 2017 6:23 AM (five hours ago)

damn, that sounds more than slightly incredible. where is the skulking bootlegger when you need him?

― “Remember,” he says, “Noddy Holder is a gangster.” (contenderizer), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 19:45 (four months ago) Permalink

think that nyc taper was hoping to record at least one of these shows ...

― tylerw, Wednesday, 1 March 2017 19:49 (four months ago) Permalink

ha, was hoping to hear from you, tyler

― “Remember,” he says, “Noddy Holder is a gangster.” (contenderizer), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 20:14 (four months ago) Permalink

i assume these will turn up on archive.org if anyone tapes them (though... does YLT have the same laissez-faire as robyn to live recording sharing...?)

hi contendo!

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 20:32 (four months ago) Permalink

ylt is generally taper friendly, but sometimes it seems like they're not into "special" shows being shared ... but i imagine they'd defer to robyn in this case.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 1 March 2017 20:33 (four months ago) Permalink

howdy, jon!

― “Remember,” he says, “Noddy Holder is a gangster.” (contenderizer), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 20:39 (four months ago) Permalink

...well it's up on dime now.

― increasingly bonkers (rushomancy), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 22:24 (four months ago) Permalink

is dime still a private club?

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 22:56 (four months ago) Permalink

i think they have open registrations. anyway probably not long before it shows up on archive or whatever for anyone who doesn't want to register for an account.

― increasingly bonkers (rushomancy), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 23:03 (four months ago) Permalink

ysi?

― tylerw, Wednesday, 1 March 2017 23:05 (four months ago) Permalink

I'll bet tonight's show will be even better, there were some minor spills last night

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 23:08 (four months ago) Permalink

Though rough trade strikes me as a better room to record from the audience in than Bowery

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 1 March 2017 23:08 (four months ago) Permalink

any intel on last night's show?

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 2 March 2017 16:24 (four months ago) Permalink

I was at the show. Tremendous. I was struck how Ira ended up being Hitch's perfect foil on guitar. He really brought home the noisey bits. The entire band was completely up for the task. Highlights included a triplpy version of Lizard, great falsetto vocals and heavy groove on Do Policemen Sing? and a jaw-dropping version late in the second set of Let There Be More Darkness with Hitch nailing the creepy "Kevin, Supper's Ready!" bit. No Lucifer Sam encore but we also got "I often Dream of Trains, which is always a treat. I'd love to hear a recording of the show. It was a special night.

― kwhitehead, Thursday, 2 March 2017 23:04 (four months ago) Permalink

Noooooo they did let there be more darkness??? Fuuuuuuuuck

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 2 March 2017 23:08 (four months ago) Permalink

ha, that must be a first? man, Invisible Hitchcock is such a good collection.

― tylerw, Thursday, 2 March 2017 23:10 (four months ago) Permalink

This might be hyperbole on my part but I think I'd give Tuesday's whole show for that

― Cognition (Remix) (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 2 March 2017 23:11 (four months ago) Permalink

Many years ago I saw Hitch play it solo. But this was a different beast altogether.

― kwhitehead, Thursday, 2 March 2017 23:21 (four months ago) Permalink

one month passes...

New album strikes me as one of the best things he's done in years. Also, I didn't know about his father, and am now noticing references to him all over the place. Virginia Wolf is the early favorite, but a bunch of strong and rocking stuff on this one.

― dlp9001, Monday, 24 April 2017 00:39 (three months ago) Permalink

Is his latest the one that starts with that Psych Furs cover? Ghost in You that's it. If so I wasn't too into it. Also had a new take of his old classic The Ghost Ship. Seems to be short on material. Anyway, love him as a human regardless. And am positively nuts for The Soft Boys. A longtime intense favorite of mine. Up there with The Fall and Pere Ubu in my personal pantheon. And the origin of my convoluted screen name. A Can of Bees being my favorite lp of theirs. But really I dig it all.

― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Monday, 24 April 2017 01:28 (three months ago) Permalink

No, there's a new one that just came out. Released as Robyn Hitchcock. Much more like his older days.

― dlp9001, Monday, 24 April 2017 01:57 (three months ago) Permalink

Let's see if I can do this without screwing up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R843CEIBntQ

― dlp9001, Monday, 24 April 2017 01:58 (three months ago) Permalink

Well whattya know? Pretty damn good. Thanks for that. Is that YLT backing him or Venus 3 or ?? In any case I enjoyed that very much. Sylvia Plath saw the world as it is. Love that. And it's nice to hear Hitch equating being dead with being "alright". It is more like his classic era stuff and I certainly welcome it.

― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Monday, 24 April 2017 02:38 (three months ago) Permalink

It's out? I thought it was gonna be released in late may

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Monday, 24 April 2017 16:32 (three months ago) Permalink

came out on friday ... i like it! a couple of throwaways but that is par for the course. some great robyn electric guitar action.

― tylerw, Monday, 24 April 2017 16:37 (three months ago) Permalink

After a couple of listens, definitely his best since the Venus 3 work. I was afraid his new squeeze would negatively impact it but that's not the case.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 24 April 2017 19:27 (three months ago) Permalink

My emusic credits just refreshed, I'm buying this tonight.

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Monday, 24 April 2017 22:18 (three months ago) Permalink

think my fave is "raymond and the wires" -- the kind of weird/beautiful song only Hitchcock could write.

― tylerw, Monday, 24 April 2017 22:19 (three months ago) Permalink

It's also a pretty rare (or maybe not) straight song by Robyn. I've gotten fascinated by the influence of his father on his work lately. His dad did in fact have a bad leg, and the song sounds pretty autobiographical.

― dlp9001, Monday, 24 April 2017 22:29 (three months ago) Permalink

Raymond Hitchcock. Author of "Percy" (Kinks) and "Venus 13." Died in Winchester. Etc. There's an article to be written there, if it hasn't already been....

― dlp9001, Monday, 24 April 2017 22:31 (three months ago) Permalink

yeah it does seem that way -- i imagine a lot of his songs are obliquely autobiographical, but this one is obviously pretty direct.

― tylerw, Monday, 24 April 2017 22:32 (three months ago) Permalink

There's a whole book to be written about rh but do I have to do it?

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Monday, 24 April 2017 22:44 (three months ago) Permalink

wasn't there some kind of hint about robyn writing his memoirs at some point?

― tylerw, Monday, 24 April 2017 22:49 (three months ago) Permalink

There was??? That'd be amazing

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 01:25 (three months ago) Permalink

With all due respect to one of my favorite artists, he needs a good editor. A really good one. A bio of him could be amazing or horrible. I don't want to read about crepuscular crabs and longings for margarine. I think he's going to get one shot at a bio, and I kind of pray that someone else is in charge.

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 01:47 (three months ago) Permalink

first listen is happening now. this is great. doesn't sound quite like any other rh record. he has to tour this electric!

'oh god you were beautiful' on mad shelley's letterbox is one of those simple yet odd expressive hooks only robyn can locate that instantly give you life-chills

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:20 (two months ago) Permalink

and the guitars behind that phrase, my goodness TOTAL BYRDS ORGY

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:21 (two months ago) Permalink

Nice post re Demme:

https://twitter.com/RobynHitchcock/status/857259489510252545

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:31 (two months ago) Permalink

Huh, that's odd. Thought it would have autolinked.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:32 (two months ago) Permalink

always appreciated that Demme took his Oscar cachet and made Storefront Hitchcock, which obviously was not going to be a huge box office smash. nice to have such an artfully made document of Hitchcock at that point ...

― tylerw, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:39 (two months ago) Permalink

I also like that he cast him in a couple of fictions, though demme cannot address the yawning lack of a Robyn-as-Dr-Who TV movie.

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:44 (two months ago) Permalink

Aw man and me clicking on neds link is me learning demme has passed

― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:45 (two months ago) Permalink

two months pass...

"autumn sunglasses" is so nice

― reggie (qualmsley), Wednesday, 12 July 2017 14:10 (one week ago) Permalink

yeahhh, the whole record is really strong! i think that opening tune is the only one that doesn't click for me, actually (which is weird, since he's usually pretty great at choosing openers).

― tylerw, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 14:26 (one week ago) Permalink

it's damn good electric robyn album

any signs of him touring w/band?

― or at night (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 12 July 2017 15:15 (one week ago) Permalink

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