― jimbo (electricsound), Saturday, 3 February 2007 14:06 (seventeen years ago) link
― Phil Knight (PhilK), Sunday, 4 February 2007 19:15 (seventeen years ago) link
Kinda surprised by the love for Brave Words here, to me it's a big drop off from Kaleidoscope World.
― I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 10:56 (fifteen years ago) link
brave words is so classic. 'night of chill blue' may be their best song ever. then there is 'rain', 'look for the good in others', 'creep', 'brave words', 'wet blanket'(the only good version of this song), 'dark carnival', 'house with one hundered rooms', 'push', etc, it is all just about perfect.
― keythkeyth, Thursday, 13 November 2008 06:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, Brave Words is pretty U&K, even though I prefer Submarine Bells.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 13 November 2008 07:26 (fifteen years ago) link
Title track from Submarine Bells still brings me to tears.
Just saw Martin open for the New Pornographers here in Wellington a few weeks back. Acoustic, but still has that great voice. He suggested he'd be back with a proper band.
― tvdisko, Thursday, 13 November 2008 08:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Kaleidsocope World wasn't produced very well, as I recall. I still have the vinyl. I dunno, The Chills for me are a truly great band that somehow ended up lost to the mists of my teenage years. I still never really feel comfortable returning to them. But I've got over the same kinds of feelings about Chameleons, so maybe Chills is next in line, who knows?
― Your Head Is Full of Diamonds & Lice (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Thursday, 13 November 2008 09:16 (fifteen years ago) link
You mean "Brave Words" wasn't produced very well, don't you? 'Cuz it wasn't.
― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Thursday, 13 November 2008 10:29 (fifteen years ago) link
The production on Brave Words (courtesy Mayo Thompson, I believe) is pretty thin-sounding, but in many ways I prefer it to the more lush sound of the later albums. The songs, in and of themselves, shine through.
― DLee, Thursday, 13 November 2008 14:37 (fifteen years ago) link
I've still got the Kaleidoscope World album on vinyl! God loves me!
― Ozzy Goth Beatles (Bimble), Sunday, 1 February 2009 05:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Pink Frost could melt a good section of under 25 year olds in this day and age, I'd reckon.
― Ozzy Goth Beatles (Bimble), Sunday, 1 February 2009 05:49 (fifteen years ago) link
Dan Savage will back me up, I think.
I mean Dan Selzer...shit. I used to get those names confused. I'm sorry.
― Ozzy Goth Beatles (Bimble), Sunday, 1 February 2009 05:50 (fifteen years ago) link
That's ok. I like Dan Savage.
The Chills were great. Brave Words is underrated.
― dan selzer, Sunday, 1 February 2009 06:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Gosh thanks for forgiving me for that Dan. That was a problem for me for several years.
― Ozzy Goth Beatles (Bimble), Sunday, 1 February 2009 06:43 (fifteen years ago) link
God, Submarine Bells is just perfect.
― Anatomy of a Morbius (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 August 2009 01:58 (fourteen years ago) link
otm.
I paid too much for the lp a whiles ago, don't think I've listened to it yet, will now.
i think there was a 7 inch w/it too?
― wilter, Monday, 10 August 2009 02:01 (fourteen years ago) link
kaleidoscope world came with a bonus 45, is that the one you're thinking of?
― badpowderfinger (electricsound), Monday, 10 August 2009 02:15 (fourteen years ago) link
was jamming out to a bit of heavenly pop hits myself this w/e
pretty sure it's submarine bells, i think the guy i bought it off might've just chucked it in with it. will look tonight.
― wilter, Monday, 10 August 2009 02:17 (fourteen years ago) link
just put on brave words. classic!
― mizzell, Monday, 10 August 2009 02:21 (fourteen years ago) link
pssst
― badpowderfinger (electricsound), Monday, 10 August 2009 03:36 (fourteen years ago) link
thankig u
― wilter, Monday, 10 August 2009 03:40 (fourteen years ago) link
Allegedly, Martin will have something new out soon-ish. I've heard that before, though. Sad about his career arc (or lack thereof) this decade. So much talent in that man.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 11 August 2009 21:40 (fourteen years ago) link
Man, almost a year and nothing. Anyone have any scoop on what Martin is up to?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 3 June 2010 02:09 (thirteen years ago) link
played a bunch o' gigs in australia a couple of weeks ago. still got it, though the mix was atrocious. i think they've got a new EP out too?
― Help Im minger (electricsound), Thursday, 3 June 2010 02:11 (thirteen years ago) link
Hmm haven't heard anything, and there's nothing on here: Chills Official Discography but I may be out of touch.
― Bill E, Thursday, 3 June 2010 03:31 (thirteen years ago) link
they definitely had something recent at the merch stand, but it might well have been that 'stand by' EP as i didn't look that closely
― Help Im minger (electricsound), Thursday, 3 June 2010 03:32 (thirteen years ago) link
In off-topic but slightly related news, Die Die Die have signed to Flying Nun today.
― Bill E, Thursday, 3 June 2010 11:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Nice!
http://www.clashmusic.com/news/listen-brand-new-material-from-the-chills
― Neil S, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 15:12 (ten years ago) link
was not expecting this! his voice sounds pretty good.
― mizzell, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 15:31 (ten years ago) link
guitars chime pleasantly too, nothing earth shattering and no "Pink Frost", but then what is?
― Neil S, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 15:33 (ten years ago) link
Pretty much sounds like the Chills! I wonder if this means he's ...cleaned up? Dealt with his depression?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 15:45 (ten years ago) link
I'm excited -- hoping for a tour!
― john. a resident of chicago., Thursday, 4 July 2013 20:14 (ten years ago) link
Why in all the press for the new track are they saying it's the first new Chills music since 1996? The Stand By mini-LP came out in 2004. Does that not count as an official Chills release for some reason I've not heard about?
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 4 July 2013 20:31 (ten years ago) link
News on the new album:
http://www.emusic.com/17dots/2013/08/29/exclusive-the-chills-announce-new-album-pre-order-fire-records-signing-share-new-song/
― i'll be your mraz (NickB), Thursday, 29 August 2013 22:23 (ten years ago) link
Err, meant to post this link instead:
http://www.firerecords.com/site/index.php?page=release&releaseid=01022
― i'll be your mraz (NickB), Thursday, 29 August 2013 22:24 (ten years ago) link
Aw, you got me excited for new material. A live album will be nice and all but I want me some fresh meat!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 30 August 2013 02:26 (ten years ago) link
Yes. More new songs please. Its only been a million years.
― Hinklepicker, Friday, 30 August 2013 06:17 (ten years ago) link
Just listened to "Sunburnt" and "Stand By" for the first time in years - both weaker than I remember. The overly busy and loud keyboards on "Sunburnt" hurt many of the songs, though it does have some killer cuts like "Come Home" and the title track. "Stand By" has full-band versions of some of the demos that were released on "Sketchbook" and I prefer the demos.
Still hoping for one helluva comeback from Martin! "Molten Gold" was good.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 23 March 2015 13:29 (nine years ago) link
that recent BBC sessions disc is fantastic. hadn't heard those before...
― tylerw, Monday, 23 March 2015 14:20 (nine years ago) link
They were part of the "Secret Box" set, have you heard that Tyler?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 23 March 2015 14:47 (nine years ago) link
i haven't... aside from the first few albums, i'm not super knowledgable.
― tylerw, Monday, 23 March 2015 14:51 (nine years ago) link
yikes, looking at the prices it goes for on discogs i should have hung onto that thing (and sold it now!)
― no lime tangier, Monday, 23 March 2015 15:00 (nine years ago) link
i taped that last john peel session off the radio when it was broadcast originally. so good, and it's great to hear it again!
― cgi bubka (NickB), Monday, 23 March 2015 15:02 (nine years ago) link
some little known live phillipps on this playing with mike dooley ex-enemy/toy love/hundred dollar band
― no lime tangier, Monday, 23 March 2015 15:04 (nine years ago) link
^possibly still floating around on slsk
― no lime tangier, Monday, 23 March 2015 15:05 (nine years ago) link
Spoke to Martin Phillipps last year – interview here
― Unsettled defender (ithappens), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 15:01 (nine years ago) link
so, reading that his habit corresponds to when his record collection started showing up in the used bins around town... i did wonder. wouldn't have guessed he was such a zappa fan to be honest.
― no lime tangier, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 18:18 (nine years ago) link
How do you know it was his stuff?
One time I met him and showed him what I had just bought and he said, "I want that." He loved collecting music as much as making it.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 19:12 (nine years ago) link
Right there with you, happy to send Martin some dosh.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 15 August 2023 18:13 (seven months ago) link
that's the stuff... will preorder CD and vinyl so they get some cash
― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Tuesday, 15 August 2023 18:16 (seven months ago) link
Fashionable in my household.
― Monthly Python (Tom D.), Tuesday, 15 August 2023 18:20 (seven months ago) link
Nice! I was wondering if that would happen. Besides the new mixes, a few "new" songs he was unveiling on the road were really good (basically finishing old songs that he kind of set aside and later included as-is on Secret Box). I imagine they may be included on this new deluxe set. Will definitely spring for it.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 15 August 2023 19:37 (seven months ago) link
For some reason I never bothered with the Chills after "Submarine Bells" so today was the first time I ever heard "Soft Bomb" and my first impression is that it's really not very good at all. It's misleading because it's starts off with "Male Monster From the Id", which is great and sounds like the Chills, thereafter the album sounds like Martin Phillipps and some other people (which is apparently what it was) and there's a dearth of memorable songs. Winds down all the way to "Water Wolves", which is horrible.
― The First Time Ever I Saw Gervais (Tom D.), Monday, 23 October 2023 17:33 (five months ago) link
Robert Christgau gave a good recommendation for an alternate tracklist. Here's a playlist on Spotify that sets it up.
― birdistheword, Monday, 23 October 2023 18:17 (five months ago) link
I heard this for the first time this year, my only picks would be "Ocean Ocean" and "So Long".
Winds down all the way to "Water Wolves", which is horrible.
You wonder why, before enlisting Van Dyke Parks and a big string section, no-one told Phillipps "look, for this song, don't bother". Unless he was thinking that he was Brian Wilson, Scott Walker, Nick Drake and Randy Newman all in one, and wasn't taking advice from anyone.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 03:34 (five months ago) link
wasn't taking advice from anyone
Based on the (excellent) documentary, this seems to have been the case. Ego, drugs, a misbegotten belief that the Chills had real commercial potential ...
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 13:08 (five months ago) link
“double summer” from soft bombis pretty
― brimstead, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 15:58 (five months ago) link
Yeah Double Summer is one of their best songs you goons.
― SA, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 18:25 (five months ago) link
17 songs is WAY too many songs to have on an album though, unless you're GBV or Wire.
― SA, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 18:30 (five months ago) link
The Chills were in that awkward position of being a great band with a small but dedicated fanbase, but it was probably too indirect to ever cross over to the mainstream so they kind of got caught in the middle. Not unlike like the Replacements, Hüsker Dü and all your other faves in fact.
― I must be the unluckiest man alive (Matt #2), Wednesday, 25 October 2023 18:33 (five months ago) link
Missed this - an interview with the producer behind the new Brave Words remix:
http://www.apessimistisneverdisappointed.com/2023/09/it-was-manic-street-preachers-that.html
― birdistheword, Saturday, 13 January 2024 18:06 (two months ago) link
Weird (or polite?) that that article never mentions Mayo Thompson?
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 13 January 2024 20:04 (two months ago) link