the long blondes / 'couples' / 7 April '08.

Hmm. I liked that last album. Actual same band or no?

Same band.

the last album was dullsville, can't imagine this will be all that much better but i'm keeping an open mind.

Wow, that's a departure. It's not fantastic, though, at least on first listen.

Wait, what? Are they hiding under an assumed name or something?

*actually* amazing.

the best second album since...well gawd only knows when.

ILX poster whose missus is in the Long Blondes: your missus's band's new album is so much better than their debut it's ridiculous. Kudos.

donna summer fronting ladytron.

indeed! and every bit as dull as ladytron too unfortunately...

DO really wanna hear the album though, that debut was frustratingly nearly-great.

alright Century could grow on me, but it's a bit of a vague tune for a comeback to my ears....

This is phenomenally great

terrible band :D

Dom, you forgot following post, "jokes bruv".

LBs are playing at Durrr on Monday of that's anyones cup of tea.

She's dumped you?

Of course not!

album of the year. hats in the air for all concerned.
NOSTALGIA is fantastic.

nice use of st etienne style spoken bits thru out. i can hear kenny everett on there, but who's that posh bloke right at the end saying 'he's very funny... i mean i've seen him BEING funny' etc?

liked 'giddy stratospheres' but none of their other stuff - will check this oot

I know Ronnie Corbett is in there somewhere.

I can't stand the vocal samples though. Esp. Wogan.

Oh i'm loving the vocal samples!

Are they all DJing @ DURR or is it Dorian again Raw Patrick?
He played some brilliant weird stuff there in December.

Nah, it's LBs playing live under an assumed name, only doing tracks from the new album. Holler if y're going coz I'll be there.

"Round the Hairpin" is awesome. Long Blondes do PiL!

Hmmm, this is the first "difficult" second album in quite a while, at least in the sense that it's very different from its predecessor. Kudos to them for taking chances, at least. I'm enjoying about half of it right now, but nothing is awful. I suspect it's a grower.

Rats yeah i wish i was going. I'd love to see them live at THE END but it's such a major faff getting there on a school night. Be a busy night i'd imagine!

wow I can only hear this as 'difficult', even in the '...second album' sense, if I consciously readjust my senses to what is expected of indie-pop acts these days to be thought of as adventurous i.e desperately little...

enjoying this a lot, definitely a very strong follow-up

album of the year? LOL NO. haha.

but definitely approving/enjoying, glad to have them back and loving that they're not running out of ideas yet.

still niggled by a few things here & there (say more later...) but overall great!

'Century' is much better than I thought hearing it twice with a stinking head-cold off of myspace... but annoys quite a bit for not having a proper chorus... just like Robbie Williams, repeating a single word and thinking "oh yeah that'll do" feh.

fucking gutted I didn't snap up my ticket for the sold-out local gig sooner :(

I suspect Im (as usual) focusing on the niggles more than the really great bits so far... i'll retract the LOL NO for now. I'm not sure it's that good sure, but it is pretty sweet.

Yo, Raw P, mail me.

Doing now. U know what thread I look at.

century is one of the most unappealingly self-conscious songs i've ever heard. the tune is ok but the track just sounds desperate.

Dom I have mailed u juror 8.

they weren't actually that good live in the end... and this album is pretty good but like the first, kinda nowhere near as great as it should/could be despite some properly ***** star songs. pff.

I would be loving this album a lot more if the new Mystery Jets weren't 100000000000000000x an interesting example of an Erol-produced indie album

having said that, yes it is pretty good. I'm especially liking the re-recording of "Guilt".

Nostalgia is so awesome

AWEsome.

Quite enjoyed this.

what i like most about this album is the vague similarity between closing track "i'm going to hell" and sheila e's "the belle of st. mark." which is to say, best closing track of 2008.

anyone going to the show in chicago tomorrow?

Just got back from the show at the Troubadour. Kinda wondering how the new album would sound live and wasn't expecting Scanlon/Hanley x Velvets. Several light years ahead of what they were like last tour.

good news:

It all started when Reenie discovered a dusty bass guitar in an attic in 2003. At least thats what she says. Dorian would argue it started long before then, Emma might say it was significantly later. Either way, the crack of a starters pistol - they're off.

Dorian then picked one curly haired drummer to order, and the gravy on the roast was Kate - poached from the vintage clothes shop floor, a recruitment policy first employed by the Human League.

Screech had barely two drumsticks to rub together, but armed with a list of bands they chose not to emulate, they took the show to the road. And at their 3rd ever gig, something special happened. The Long Blondes found their first allies in Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation: a handshake, a drink, 7 inches.

Over the coming weeks, they spent a small fortune on cheap ebay-bought guitars, crafted early press releases which contained lies taken far too literally, and a stylophone came and went. The band took advantage of access to the office stationary cupboard to post a hastily burned CDR to bright young things Angular Records. A favourable response, a date was made, and the band found themselves taking the frighteningly young record label execs for a picnic to a Sheffield park. More allies, a second single, gig flyers copied in the staff room, they didn't have merchandise but they did have fabric paints.

Marching forward, training on the job, amps lugged on trains, the war cry: "The Long Blondes! Top of the Pops!". Another single, more applause, this is getting embarrassing...

...7 more inches, another independent label, applying eyeliner on nation express coaches, final written warnings... the Blondes finally gave in and accepted their fate - a record deal with Rough Trade. They signed on the line, downed the warm champagne from plastic cups, and headed across town for that night's gig - their first as professional musicians. It felt more or less the same as before.

And now, 2 albums and a few world tours later, we have "Singles", a compilation of the Long Blondes 4 first four 7" singles which are now long since sold out and highly collectible…

Tracklisting:

1. New Idols
2. Long Blonde

Debut "New Idols/Long Blonde" was pressed onto bubblegum pink vinyl and released by Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation.

3. Autonomy Boy
4. Giddy Stratospheres
5. Polly
6. Darts

"Giddy Stratospheres" was the first Angular release (blue vinyl) and became a bona fide dancefloor filler in indie discos nationwide.

7. Appropriation (By Any Other Name)
8. My Heart Is Out Of Bounds
9. Lust In The Movies

"Appropriation (By Any Other Name)" came next and by this time the Blondes were whipping up a media storm with their catalogue guitars and charity shop chic

10. Separated By Motorways
11. Big Infatuation

Producer Paul Epworth asked to produce the next single "Separated By Motorways" for his Good And Evil imprint, but we haven't included his version here, instead preferring the trash and thrash of the Alan Smyth produced demo.

12. Peterborough

A couple of unreleased gems can also be found on the compilation in the shape of Autonomy Boy and Peterborough. Enjoy!

From couples to singles to "Couples" and now "Singles", what do the LB's think of their journey so far? A wry eyebrow, a fond smile, a simple quote: "We've had a ball."

this will be considerably better than both their proper albums

nah. i'm amazed COUPLES isn't up for the mercury. amazed and apalled.

My attempts to get this compilation dedicated to me have failed :(

12. Peterborough

^^^this better have a chorus about Barry Fry's bag of sweets and cheesy smile.

http://www.hippy.com/trip/kennedyfuneral.jpg

?

http://www.thejerkreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/pour_one_out.jpg

Kind of sad, the guitarist had a stroke.

Are they over??

Apparently:

http://www.thelongblondes.co.uk/news.php

!!!!!!!!!!!

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=30242378&blogID=442352689

devoed.

That's a really awful reason to have to split up. Get well, Dorian.

:( :( :(

I hope Dorian gets better and they eventually reconsider.

Solo career already underway...

http://www.nme.com/news/the-long-blondes/40559

Dorian gets bionic hand
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3537352/Long-Blondes-guitarist-uses-bionic-hand-after-stroke.html

Dorian speaks about his stroke...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/06/rock-guitarist-dorian-cox

Still gutted about how this all ended. I hope they're all happy and well and suchlike. Such an under-rated band.

from that interview: "my advice to people is to live a normal, boring life and you should be OK"

eh

Two new songs from Kate on Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/katejackson

ty for that link! "Guilt" popped up on my iPod the other day and I was like, "Awwww, I miss this band" :(

Homeward Bound is from about a year ago, but The Atlantic is new to me (and I like it more).

I really like The Atlantic, nice use of that old Duran Duran synth line near the beginning.

I'm glad she's back although I was expecting she would go in a pop direction like Sophie Ellis Bextor did after leaving TheAudience.

Dorian Cox's new band Former Lover has a few new tracks up http://soundcloud.com/former-lover

It sounds a lot like the Blondes - especially lyrically - but with a vocalist that... well it says on the facebook Cox hired her on strength of her fringe and I can believe that. She sounds bored out of her head. I reckon "He Doesn't Have To Know About You" would sound a hell of a lot better with Kate Jackson giving it her all.

Anyway I guess the band still has time and room to develop and I'm totally delighted Cox is playing guitar again.

So I never really noticed/paid attention to this band at all but I only just gathered Russell Senior played with them live a few times so I figured that was a good sign. Will investigate as I do.

you know, there are times when a band that makes good indie pop are all you need in life.
and when that need arises, I would suggest that this lot are probably the best on offer.

bloody great they were. i still have the Couples poster on my bedroom wall as we speak.

there's a sample, removed from the finished version of the album but on the initial promos, that is one man saying of another "i know he's funny i mean i've seen him BEING funny.. " and i've still no idea what it is or who's speaking. drives me mad it does.

Nostalgia is still one of the best songs ever.

actually, I it was your enthusiasm in this very thread that made me pick up the albums.

so, I owe you a massive thank you sir, and a pint should we ever get the chance.

Adored Couples when it came out but never bothers checking the first LP. Shame these guys didn't last longer

xp hey thanks. glad you like them! and yeah, if you're ever in Manchester..

They were terrific, good thing there are still a few b-sides left out there for me to discover

there's a sample, removed from the finished version of the album but on the initial promos, that is one man saying of another "i know he's funny i mean i've seen him BEING funny.. " and i've still no idea what it is or who's speaking. drives me mad it does.

This is either Peter Sellers or someone talking about Peter Sellers.

proper miss this band. dorian cox lives in manchester these days - walked past him a few weeks back in the city centre and regret not saying hi!

So!

We are pleased to announce The Long Blondes 'Christmas Is Cancelled' will be released just in time for Christmas by @BlowUpRecords #thelongblondes #Christmas2020 #newmusic @NME @BBC6Music @marcrileydj @steve_lamacq@matteveritt https://t.co/Sn2mRKLuzA

— Blow Up Records (@BlowUpRecords) December 16, 2020

Oh my!

! they put out some damn good singles among the rest of that NME dross. and they looked fucking fantastic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVVrVp6sDC_/

Hm, could be something 'stirring' in Long Blondes world.

Rape and abuse allegations against Dorian Cox by an ex

TW: Sexual Assault
Dorian Cox is a rapist and systematic abuser. Please retweet if you can. 1/2 #thelongblondes #longblondes #doriancox pic.twitter.com/FYdYR2XZGS

— Victoria Lane (@victoriaclane) August 11, 2022

Supporting testimony from an former ex

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChHRJS-j9IF/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

And Kate Jackson stepping back from the band (which I think means there is now no band?)

Some very serious allegations have been made against Dorian by his ex girlfriend Victoria Lane. Until these matters are resolved by the police I will be stepping away from The Long Blondes. All forthcoming shows are postponed until further notice.

— Kate Jackson (@KateJacksonLBs) August 11, 2022

Ugh. I actually didn't realize they were still going, but I loved both of their albums and this news sucks.

Gotta say that Kate herself does not come off very well either in the follow-up to that initial tweet, just ugh all around.

yeah very depressing stuff all round.

Just for context as some people seem to be unaware, the band originally broke up in 2008 when Dorian had a stroke and was unable to play guitar, and had only just reunited after 14 years to play a few shows.

I remembered the stroke but had no idea that they'd had any sort of reunion.

Couples still an amazing album.