Life Without Buildings

So I only got round to getting this album about a month ago and I am completely in love with it. I cannot believe I left it so long to check them out. I'm sure they used to get played on Radio 1's Evening Session back in the day but i was probably too busy obsessing over Mansun to really notice them, even though I'm a huge Japan fan and remember being impressed with their name.

14 Days is probably my favourite track, the chorus is just heartbreaking.

Should I be picking up that live album that came out?

Sure. It's got at least one unique track on it. Be sure to round up the singles tracks, too.

'liberty feelup' is the exclusive on the live record and it is worth having

You get 'Love Trinity' too, which isn't on Any Other City and is pretty much the definition of a must-have.

yeah love trinity is essential. i reckon a second album would have been wonderful, but what are you gonna do

Be sure to round up the singles tracks, too.

yeah, the single versions of "New Town", "The Leanover", and "Let's Get Out" are appreciably different from the later album versions. they're rougher and more shoddily recorded, like demos almost. I prefer the better sound quality of the re-recordings, but the singles are worth hearing if you're a completist like I am.

"Love Trinity" and "Pop Life" are essential, as is "Is Is and the IRS". the latter was recorded twice; the earlier single version (b/w "Let's Get Out") is slightly better than the re-recording on the b-side of "Love Trinity".

"Daylighting" (another "Love Trinity" b-side, which resurfaced as bonus track on the American release of Any Other City) is one of the few songs of theirs where the vocals really grate on me. no, Sue, I will not take you to the kino.

I wish they'd recorded a second album too, electricsound. I feel like a follow-up album where they tried to match the spastic energy of the singles and most of Any Other City would've inevitably disappointed people. but if they went in a prettier, slower, more polished direction in the vein of "Sorrow" and "Love Trinity", I think they could've come up with something as fresh and compelling as their debut.

those guys doing some insane altered images kinda pop record would have been amazing

they could have done a very credible cover of "Pink Blue", imho.

er, "Pinky Blue"

The band essentially broke up because Sue didn't want to be a singer anymore iirc, so the rest of them should've just called Clare Grogan and said "hey, let's do something."

^^

the single versions of "New Town", "The Leanover"

This is the sort of tidbit I love ILX for. I had no idea the single versions were different, thanks!

Of course, if anyone can point to a source for these versions... ;-)

i actually like the 45 version of the leanover way more than the re-recorded version.

if i find a source i will let you know!

I can webmail those track to you if you'd like, gerald.

How is this stuff still out of print?! It's not even available digitally. So many indie nerds go on and on about these records; I find it hard to believe some label couldn't do an all-tracks re-issue that would get some buzz (a'la that Sub Pop Vaselines comp).

if you haven't heard it you should track down their cover of Princes 'Pop Life', Sue trying to rein in her vocal tics and sing it straight is fun to listen to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Pvu3r5_xg

the live album is on spotify if you have access to that. love the version of New Town on there. I love the way she introduces it with "this is new town! this is australia!" she seems so excited/happy to be there.

they were a total blast live

love the version of New Town on there.

Just been listening to this and my god, I had forgotten how good it was. Totally fierce!

Meanwhile Spotify says...

Users who listen to Life Without Buildings also listen to:

David Cronenberg's Wife
A Grave With No Name
Internet Forever
Shrag
Young British Artists
Hymie's Basement
Orphan's & Vandals
volcano!
Marble Valley
Teeth of the Sea
Bell Orchestre
Bearsuit
Effi Briest
Ten In The Swear Jar
Simon Bookish
Remember Remember
Lift To Experience
Forest Fire
Mechanical Bride

Would any of these be of any use to me as a surrogate LWB?

oh shit, stray apostrophe in there somewhere

i've never heard of a single one of those bands, except for bell orchestre. weird.

What a weird collection of bands. To answer your question: not really.
Ten inthe Swear Jar is what became Xiu Xiu. They're more poppy.
Effie Briest is probably the closest, but they're punkier and less tuneful.
I refuse to believe there is a bad called "Internet Forever."

Effi Briest is pretty good, but not at all similar to LWB. Likewise, Ten in the Swear Jar was good too (Jamie Stewart's pre-Xiu Xiu band), but nothing at all like LWB.

xp oof

Ha - I guess "quirkily female fronted indie" is all they've got in common...
I really liked Ten in the Swear Jar (and IBOPA, which had one awesome 7")

I need to go and find other ways to acquire this, huh? I'm never going to just "come across" a real copy out there.

LWB?

I bought my copy at Tower for $1.99 back in 2001(ish) because someone there had mistakenly put it in the discount import singles section. STEAL OF ALL TIME!

Sorry, yeah, the LWB album I meant. Its been on my "to buy" list for years, but I've yet to come across a copy of it or the live disc.

Well, I'll rep for Simon Bookish as being awesome but nothing like Life Without Buildings
If I'm craving more Life Without Buildings I'll listen to "The Power Out" and/or Altered Images and that usually does it

Would any of these be of any use to me as a surrogate LWB?

dunno! Art Brut might appeal to you though.

"There Goes Concorde Again" by ...And The Native Hipsters also comes to mind. but it resembles LWOB on such a shallow level that it seems almost insulting to bring it up.

The earlier stuff by Thomas Tantrum is a bit LWB-ish (the newer stuff isn't, as they likely got harassed for it and decided to cut it out)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RioZmv1lmVU

My problem with The Power Out is even though I do like it, whenever I put it on I just immediately skip to the glorious & transcendent 3rd track and listen to it on repeat. Life has programmed me to do that.

oh man i used to listen to any other city a lot

that Thomas Tantrum clip is pretty good & I can definitely hear the resemblance. thx.

How did you guys find out about this band?
Me, it was a Little Darla compilation, loaned by a friend. "Envoys" was on it.

I bought everything tugboat records put out so I discovered them that way. I fell in love with the leanover immediately..

this thread

My friend Martin mentioned something about them, so I went to their website (pre-Myspace/Facebook/etc when everyone still had an individual site and most of them were shit-tay) and streamed some RealAudio.

Anybody I ever show this to in real life is either indifferent or horribly annoyed by her vocal stlye/delivery.

Fuck the real life.

Oh Sal, my e-friend, Life Without Buildings would be nothing without real life!

Seriously love it though. Mostly has to do with the melodic sensibilities of the guitar parts.

Ok, so I'm slow on the uptake sometimes - I happened to hear that Thomas Tantrum song on my local cool college radio station and was quite smitten. Anyone know if any of their albums are of similar quality?

which TT song?

i liked their first bunch of singles a lot, but the debut was patchy at best. the new album is a considerable step forward.

Oops, the one upthread, "Shake It".

the new one is really good, and a lot more dreampop than the LWB-lite of earlier efforts

Embarrassed at myself for my use of the term "real life" in here.

Was re-listening and enjoying this again very much. These guitar parts are something to strive for when I play.