The Drones - any good (also Tropical Fuck Storm content here)

lol file this under too much time on ilx

Yeah the 1977 Drones from Manchester? I always wanted to hear them when I was fixated with '77 punk.I even wrote them on my pencil case at school without hearing them. Since read that they were a third division Eater - yeah, that bad.

They weren't bad at all - definitely up there with such luminaries as the Lurkers anyway. They didn't have punk authenticity cos they were a pub rock band before but I couldn't give a toss about that.

Pretty excited for lead singer Gareth Liddiard's solo album 'Strange Tourist'. First track to be previewed is very sparse, melancholy folk. Check it out:

http://www.messandnoise.com/releases/2000745

The Gareth Liddiard record is amazing, if stupidly long.

Must be one of the most underrated/under-appreciated bands of the now eh? Feel like they are a secret club of people who know that they are amazing live and put out worthwhile records. Weird that a band with this high quality output and great live presence would go so unnoticed. I'm speaking only in the US. Are they quite big in the UK errr?

they're not a big deal at all

still yet to hear anything else by them as good as shark fin blues

they write about 3 or 4 amazing songs per album

didn't even know they released a new album, but I See Seaweed is pretty good

there's a new one? jesus christ, i have to track that down.

Yeah, the original Drones were way better than is being allowed for here. Not one of the greats, but above average, certainly.

Trying to listen to the Australian Drones now ("Jezebel"). Plods like only the self-important can. EVERY. WORD. IS. EQUALLY. PORTENTOUS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9K0qOAVR6U

I See Seaweed is tremendous, probably their best yet.

most overrated australian band of all time, possibly

They have now been accused of being both immensely underrated and overrated itt, lol

the Liddiard album is probably my favorite of the last decade heard by the fewest people

I just heard "I See Seaweed" this past wknd and it is blowing my personal skirts up

well, this is an unexpected direction.

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

Nice, excited for the new album - Feelin Kinda Free (Mar 18).

So good! Don't sleep on this! I haven't been that excited about new releases this year, but I'm feelin this garage noir/art rock.

I like this a lot, I'm surprised this change of direction has worked so well for them

So good, people!

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/18/the-drones-feelin-kinda-free-review-a-menacing-avant-garde-interrogation-of-australia
http://louderthanwar.com/the-drones-feelin-kinda-free-album/

Yeah, it's really fucking good.

Holy shnickys, this album is just the fucked up weirdness I need! It's like a painting that's been smeared or something. How's the rest of their catalog? This thread gives me the sense that it's inconsistent.

Also, does anyone else hear Richard Thompson in his delivery?

that opening track is fucking amazing

Also, does anyone else hear Richard Thompson in his delivery?

I can hear what you mean, like if RT was really resentful and hissing all the time.

Incidentally, "Taman Shud" is a very satisfying little invective. Odd that there have already been three rock songs this year with that name (see also Destroyer 666 and The Black Queen.)

the whole album is superlative

opening track reminds me of what wilco were trying to do with 'art of almost' a bit, except this is even better

also his lyrics have the fiery desperate quality of matt johnson's

How's the rest of their catalog? This thread gives me the sense that it's inconsistent.

I wouldn't say that. It's all pretty solid, it's just that the new one is definitely their best. The first five are consistent, perhaps to a fault, with Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By (2005) considered a highlight. I See Seaweed (2013) is also somewhat of a departure with a more subtle, cinematic approach. I liked it, but not blown away the same way as by the new one.

Do you have them all? How about a best-of playlist?

I did re-listen to all of them leading up to the new release, but not to the point where I can rank very many tracks. This site can be helpful though: https://www.thisismyjam.com/artist/The+Drones

they're all good. band are very much slept on. Gareth's solo record was great too.

yeah it's amazing, I'd love a vinyl copy but that sucker is never getting released outside australia I guess and fuck paying that shipping

Vinyl out on Fri, you can get it free shipping on Amazon, at least in U.S. It's still expensive though.

Bought the CD, having a lyric booklet helps.

This gets better with every listen. I checked out their earlier work, like it fine, some great moments, but this is on an altogether new level.

I feel like this record, along with Bowie's "Blackstar", points where I want to go. Not that they're directly comparable but they're both works of artists taking risks, willfully experimenting, full of unexpected sounds, juxtapositions and rhythms. I mean, just the way the drums build and suddenly stop in "Taman Shud" thrills me.

Cheers for bigging it up, F&B!

Only listened to the new briefly last night, I think I liked it, but it was in such a way I really want to listen to it again cuz I have a feeling I'm going love it.

I think I See Seaweed is one of the greatest/most underrated records ever

Private Execution is still astonishing

"Taman Shud" is fantastic; makes me think of a foul-mouthed Aussie update of Blam Blam Blam's "There Is No Depression In New Zealand". Love how he pronounces 'inchoate'.

"Feelin Kinda Free" is a timely expression of all the anger I feel at the state of the world.

Just listened to I Sea Seaweed - pretty damn good as well

yeah this band is fantastic
def tread that line of being really nick cave influenced but having their own identity

Agreed re: "I See Seaweed" - not as manic as FKF but equally as intense. I wonder where they'll go next, retreat to a more stable approach or continue on the avant-garde journey.

I See Seaweed is secretly one of the best rock records ever

I'm not sure they've ever come up with a front-to-back, total classic but ISS def comes closest

now I'm curious as to why the hell Havilah isn't on Spotify

Any word on a new album? I can't wait to hear what's next!

Gareth and Fiona have a new project called Tropical Fuck Storm, album's out in May

http://www.beat.com.au/music/meet-tropical-fuck-storm-supergroup-featuring-members-drones-high-tension-harmony

Oh Simon, you just made my night! This is more of the messed up weirdness I love about them, outstanding.

the advance singles are promising! 'soft power' especially. no idea why there are so many dislikes on the youtube videos - is it a thing they encourage?

presumably from people who got there via googling for.......other things

given the political leanings of the group, one wonders whether they've tangled once too often with the fearful power of the online alt-right

the drones have loads and loads of dislikes on quite a few of their videos too

i think it's because they insulted prominent Australian conservative columnist Andrew Bolt in one of their songs, who responded with a tirade against them on his blog

what's in the link, for non-members?

fiona has stage 3 breast cancer, all non-aus touring dates cancelled

I really like the TFS cover of 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)

i had no idea about these guys. 'shark fin blues' is nuts.

yah the best in the biz