slowdive: classic or dud?

they could have at least changed the name to something that wasn't so similar

couldn't they have just slapped all 3 of their albums + b-sides on 3 discs? sheesh

"the shining breeze" as a title is rather self-parodying

I find it hard to believe how quickly the 3 reissues of Slowdive's studio albums seem to have gone out of print. I bought them a year ago for £5 a piece now they're going for silly money.

couldn't they have just slapped all 3 of their albums + b-sides on 3 discs? sheesh

― hobbes, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 3:17 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Well they could of, but that would have been a good idea.

http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/4099469.Vacuum_cleaner_brings_cat_home/

when this gets revived I always hope to find an announcement of a reunion show...

xp - poor Rachel - seems her worst nightmare came true for a lil while:
http://www.souvlakispacestation.com/archives/131

"Slowdive are quite wonderful (better than MBV, no"

would have stopped right before the ", no" part

i'm always so impressed by how good my old u.s. version of souvlaki sounds. the 90's version with bonus tracks "not available on import". its loud and its the good kind of loud. i'm cranking it now. no need to remaster this album ever. just copy this copy.

this from 2008 is so not on the money:

"While the vocals are similar, the sounds from the instruments on SOUVLAKI are so much lighter (a la the Cocteau Twins). This really sounds like something you could sleep to, or you could have it gently wake you up in the morning."

you really need to hear it loud. it's definitely not light when loud. it's a powerful record.

"just for a day" is an example of a record that needs to be played loud. there's enormous atmosphere to the songs, but no density. play it loud and you can lose yourself in it, otherwise it plays through without you noticing a thing.

They always sounded near crushing live -- not Swans level say but it was that feeling of forced immersion, but you were happy to drown.

Whenever I see some massive stacks of clouds glowing above in sunset rays, Slowdive is my mental soundtrack.

AWESOME SLOWDIVE SONGS THAT AREN'T ON EITHER ONE, PLUS ISN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE A TON OF UNRELEASED SLOWDIVE STUFF OUT THERE, LIKE SOME UNRELEASED ALBUM CALLED I SAW THE SUN AND A SOUND TRACK TO I AM THE ELEPHANT U R THE MOUSE AND ALL THESE PYGMALION DEMOS AND WHATNOT:
*- Avalyn II
*- Celia's Dream
*- Ballad of Sister Sue

― Mr. Snrub, lunes 3 de mayo de 2010 22:12 (1 year ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yessss avalyn ii. i only get into slowdive because araki stuck that in the opening credits to nowhere (and when the sun hits elsewhere, closing credits maybe?) never got into pygmalion. i played i saw the sun for a while but don't have it anymore.

when are these guys do the right thing and do a cash-in Souvlaki reunion tour?

i imagine that would depend quite a bit on rachel goswell's health issues

The abrupt switch from the chorus into the second verse in "Allison" is so cool. You don't even realize how many layers of guitars built up until the switch.. It's like waking up from a dream within a dream.

Please happen!!

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/08/slowdive_reunio.html

awwww yeah! make it happen!

Please don't.

Horrible idea.

always wanted to see them live, so i'm in favor even if it's a bad idea

Bad idea?

A terrible idea. I've been saying as much here and elsewhere just now.

Depends very much on Rachel's health I would have thought.

what's wrong with her?

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/metal/slowdive.jpg

also, i never noticed how attractive she was

She had a rare inner ear infection but that was a few years ago now, no idea how she is these days

also, I always did

I hope Rachel remains healthy but does anyone have a realistic reason for not wanting the reunion? There certainly isn't one in Ned's link. I respect your opinion but if it had sway for any reason on whether they actually did reunite for some shows (is that all we're talking about or new material too?) than it would be incredibly unfair for some of us younger listeners that would love to have the chance to see them live.

not sure what your reasoning is, Ned - are you against reunions because they spoil the perfect memories?

I'm starting to really hate this sense of entitlement, that people feel like they should have the chance to see a band live that they missed the first time round, as if the band somehow *owes* them a performance. It's one thing if a band really want another go, and a chance to revisit old ground - but I don't get the feeling from Neil that he wants that. "We're not going to be allowed not to reform" is not a good enough reason for them to do it. But I guess if his circles are getting smaller and smaller (and his records come out on bittier record labels) then it might be a financial decision.

My memories are that Slowdive weren't actually very good live, so it's not as if I don't want them pissing all over treasured memories or anything. I just don't see why they *should* and I am starting to have a lot more respect for bands that say "nah, we're done with that" and don't go back.

Well I did see Slowdive, several times, and I remember their shows being absolutely stunning. So I don't have any sense of entitlement, I would simply like to experience that joy and elation again.

I just feel like, if they don't want to, it should be their choice, not yours.

Well, of course it will. That "we won't be allowed not to" sounds like it was said with a wry smile on his face. No-one is going to be holding a gun to their heads. Even if they get offered silly money to do it, it's up to them.

Well, I'm not personally dragging Neil back to Slowdive and I don't feel like I deserve to see them live, and I can't speak for anyone that may be pushing him in that direction. I didn't say they "should" but if they are anyway, but I would be upset if someone talked them out of it. Unless doing it actually harms them in some way.

WCC you may be reading into "We're not going to be allowed not to reform" a bit. It seems more likely that it is their choice rather than some crazy scenario where they are "forced" into it.

***delete ", but" from that sentence***

I heard someone was going to murder their families unless they took the show on the road.

I heard a bunch of people in their 20s sent Pam Berry death threats unless she finally played live with Black Tambourine. She certainly didn't want to for years.

yeah, i mean jesus, it's really skewed thinking to imagine fans going along to a show feeling a sense of "entitlement", like the band is finally paying off a debt. maybe they're just happy and grateful to hear the songs they love performed live.

The worst thing that can happen is that a lot of people spend some good money to see a half-hearted performance. It may diminish their legacy/magic temporarily if they totally suck for some reason, but everyone who attends would be more likely to be super super grateful to have the opportunity to have seen them anyway.

Musing on seeing the Halstead show in Brooklyn. Anyone know if he'll have a band w/him?

Demanding they don't go on tour because of a suspicion of their motives is not that much less born of self entitlement as demanding they go on tour because you would like to see them?

I think they're grown ups who can choose for themselves what they want to do (shit, maybe they just want to make a bunch of money, but is that a reason to stop them either?)

but ... my memories!

For the life of me I could swear I once saw Slowdive open up for someone more or less unrelated, like Belly or Luna. Is that possible?

Hmm, guess not, Looks like they toured the US with Cranes, Catherine Wheel ...

yep, saw that Slowdive/Cranes double header at the Grand in London, an inspired pairing.

Well, also reading stuff into the fact that he doesn't play Slowdive material and refuses requests, etc.

Also, "market forces" vs "what band members really want to do" is not always an unloaded choice.

But, y'know, who am I to stand in the way of a bunch of people reliving their youth.

It's not about reliving one's youth, it's about hearing the music live again! Because it's good!