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
― Tim. E "LazRus" Lucas (Prose b4 Hoes...and Big Hoos), Sunday, 19 September 2010 04:56 (thirteen years ago) link
The Gareth Liddiard record is amazing, if stupidly long.
― Simon H., Sunday, 30 January 2011 23:43 (thirteen years ago) link
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?
― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Monday, 31 January 2011 06:09 (thirteen years ago) link
they're not a big deal at all
still yet to hear anything else by them as good as shark fin blues
― acoleuthic, Monday, 31 January 2011 14:22 (thirteen years ago) link
they write about 3 or 4 amazing songs per album
― call all destroyer, Monday, 31 January 2011 14:52 (thirteen years ago) link
didn't even know they released a new album, but I See Seaweed is pretty good
― nostormo, Friday, 8 March 2013 14:21 (eleven years ago) link
there's a new one? jesus christ, i have to track that down.
― illegalblues, Saturday, 9 March 2013 00:28 (eleven years ago) link
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
― Michael Train, Saturday, 9 March 2013 01:33 (eleven years ago) link
I See Seaweed is tremendous, probably their best yet.
― Simon H., Thursday, 11 April 2013 03:25 (eleven years ago) link
most overrated australian band of all time, possibly
― Tusk is entirely responsible for my lifelong love of charlie (electricsound), Friday, 20 December 2013 01:19 (ten years ago) link
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
― Simon H., Thursday, 19 February 2015 23:32 (nine years ago) link
I just heard "I See Seaweed" this past wknd and it is blowing my personal skirts up
― chr1sb3singer, Tuesday, 25 August 2015 16:19 (eight years ago) link
well, this is an unexpected direction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XibHLDrlUls
― the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 04:58 (eight years ago) link
Nice, excited for the new album - Feelin Kinda Free (Mar 18).
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 20 January 2016 20:57 (eight years ago) link
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.
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 18 March 2016 13:21 (eight years ago) link
I like this a lot, I'm surprised this change of direction has worked so well for them
― ufo, Friday, 18 March 2016 14:53 (eight years ago) link
So good, people!
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/18/the-drones-feelin-kinda-free-review-a-menacing-avant-garde-interrogation-of-australiahttp://louderthanwar.com/the-drones-feelin-kinda-free-album/
― Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 22 March 2016 04:45 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, it's really fucking good.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 22 March 2016 15:43 (eight years ago) link
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?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 22 March 2016 22:47 (eight years ago) link
that opening track is fucking amazing
― Laertiades (imago), Wednesday, 23 March 2016 00:24 (eight years ago) link
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.)
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Wednesday, 23 March 2016 00:37 (eight years ago) link
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
― Laertiades (imago), Wednesday, 23 March 2016 10:11 (eight years ago) link
also his lyrics have the fiery desperate quality of matt johnson's
― Laertiades (imago), Wednesday, 23 March 2016 10:38 (eight years ago) link
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.
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 14:08 (eight years ago) link
Do you have them all? How about a best-of playlist?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 15:14 (eight years ago) link
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
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 15:53 (eight years ago) link
they're all good. band are very much slept on. Gareth's solo record was great too.
― jamiesummerz, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 16:38 (eight years ago) link
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
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Wednesday, 23 March 2016 23:22 (eight years ago) link
Vinyl out on Fri, you can get it free shipping on Amazon, at least in U.S. It's still expensive though.
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 23:29 (eight years ago) link
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!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 28 March 2016 18:52 (eight years ago) link
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
― chr1sb3singer, Wednesday, 6 April 2016 15:02 (eight years ago) link
Private Execution is still astonishing
― imago, Sunday, 28 May 2017 12:56 (six years ago) link
"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'.
― etc, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 02:24 (six years ago) link
"Feelin Kinda Free" is a timely expression of all the anger I feel at the state of the world.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 02:28 (six years ago) link
Just listened to I Sea Seaweed - pretty damn good as well
― imago, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 15:17 (six years ago) link
yeah this band is fantasticdef tread that line of being really nick cave influenced but having their own identity
― Universal LULU Nation (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 30 May 2017 15:31 (six years ago) link
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.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
I See Seaweed is secretly one of the best rock records ever
― chr1sb3singer, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 15:58 (six years ago) link
I'm not sure they've ever come up with a front-to-back, total classic but ISS def comes closest
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 30 May 2017 17:54 (six years ago) link
now I'm curious as to why the hell Havilah isn't on Spotify
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 30 May 2017 17:58 (six years ago) link
Any word on a new album? I can't wait to hear what's next!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 19 March 2018 01:15 (six years ago) link
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
― Simon H., Monday, 19 March 2018 01:21 (six years ago) link
Oh Simon, you just made my night! This is more of the messed up weirdness I love about them, outstanding.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 19 March 2018 02:07 (six years ago) link
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?
― imago, Monday, 19 March 2018 14:30 (six years ago) link
presumably from people who got there via googling for.......other things
― Simon H., Monday, 19 March 2018 14:34 (six years ago) link
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
― imago, Monday, 19 March 2018 14:34 (six years ago) link
the drones have loads and loads of dislikes on quite a few of their videos too
― imago, Monday, 19 March 2018 14:35 (six years ago) link
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
― ufo, Monday, 19 March 2018 14:41 (six years ago) link
Ahhhhh.
― Simon H., Monday, 19 March 2018 14:42 (six years ago) link
so yeah exactly as surmised
― imago, Monday, 19 March 2018 15:03 (six years ago) link
I really like the TFS cover of 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Wednesday, 29 November 2023 19:47 (four months ago) link
i had no idea about these guys. 'shark fin blues' is nuts.
― ꙮ (map), Wednesday, 24 January 2024 02:50 (two months ago) link
yah the best in the biz
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 25 January 2024 18:22 (two months ago) link