Wild Beasts - Limbo Panto

That Pitchfork review is just about spot on. 6.8 is pretty generous though.

It's their Hot Space

The first album is horrific imo other than Devil's Crayon. Two Dancers was where they really got it together, Smother was a continuation and then the two most recent ones are merely OK.

The first album is horrific imo other than Devil's Crayon

i can see that album would jar greatly if you don't like the particular histrionics on it but HIS GRINNING SKULL is surely the best song they ever made

(i don't know why i shouted that song title, sorry if that sounded hostile)

They haven't duetted properly since Smother, have they?

I liked all four tracks they previewed, when heard in isolation, but the album as a whole is seriously underwhelming me :(

'Smother' is their peak for me ...

finally saw these guys last night, pretty great show and a nice escape from the overwhelming sadness and existential dread of the day

the baritone singer completely stole the show, what a set of pipes on that one!

the boy king tracks sounded good live, though they were kinda hamming it up while performing them. for me wild beasts has always had a sophisticated swagger but here they were miming cock-rock tropes, complete with jackson guitar finger tapping and some crotch thrusting

I saw them a month or so ago and the 'Boy King' songs came across as if they were made for playing live - more direct and forceful. Was an excellent show.

RIP Wild Beasts. A shock but also somehow inevitable after the last album. At their peak they were extraordinary. I guess we all have our favourite moment..
Upload your favourite moment here!

https://youtu.be/H3xlfrlsLJo

I played Two Dancers yesterday for the first time in a few years, it’s still completely fantastic.

Why inevitable? Boy King never stuck with me and seemed a step in the wrong direction but it wasn't something they couldn't have recovered from. Sad

A shame, those first two records are forever.

the first four are forever. my favorite group of the period I think. shame.

I at least liked all their albums tbh. I caught them on the Smother tour and they were very good.

I'm with you, Gospodin. At this point I'll wait for the inevitable reformation and return to form.

That's a shame that they've gone out on such a weak album. I think they got worse with each release, but those first two are absolutely perfect. Smother is great too, but isn't quite in the same league as Limbo Panto and Two Dancers. The last two albums were totally forgettable. I was hoping they'd be able to regain my interest somehow.

Their b-sides were so good, hope they do a comp

I saw them on the 'Boy King' tour and thought the songs from that album made quite a bit more sense live - like they were more direct and streamlined and likely to come across better on the festival circuit. Was a very good gig, pretty well balanced set.

Two Dancers and Smother are absolute, stone cold classics. Present Tense is very good. Limbo Panto is pretty good. Boy King didn't know where to go; it also broke the narrative arc - onanistic adolescents, whooping lads on the town, falling in love/ infatuation, domestic bliss. Midlife crisis? I'm sad. Great band, fabulous live. And yes, some cracking b sides. Thankless Thing!

They're releasing one last EP of Boy King outtakes, which guess makes this their last newly released song

https://open.spotify.com/track/6b3HeQ00jtHHG9hBU92atJ

New interview with Hayden doesn't really shed any light on the reason behind the split

Final shows tonight, tomorrow and Saturday; Dublin, Manchester, and London.

Q posted their final interview earlier; quite sweet this. Kinda poignant too obviously

https://www.qthemusic.com/articles/wild-beasts-this-is-the-end-my-friends

One for the Rock Stars Who Went Back To Work thread; one's a roofer now, one is training in accountancy.

We're all quiffed and cropped,
This is our lot,
We hold each other up heavy with hops.

This Is Our Lot is so fucking good.

Hayden's new thing

https://divinerdiviner.com/

New song

https://youtu.be/4uPHw6zFpto

Try that again ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPHw6zFpto

I like this a lot. It sounds exactly like you'd expect a WBs solo offshoot to sound like, but in a good way.

Hey, that's really good! Looking forward to this after the final album, which is decidedly not my cup of tea.

So the Hayden Thorpe solo album is out. It's pretty mellow, lots of voice + piano + small touches. I must admit I miss the voice of Tom Fleming as the counterpoint to Hayden's falsetto. I've only listened to it once and it feels like a grower, we'll see.

I’ve listened to it once and really liked it. Can see it as a grower and also as not being a record for all moods. It’s not Wild Beasts but it doesn’t feel like a radical departure either.

Tom Fleming's current project is One True Pairing: https://onetruepairing.bandcamp.com/ - first album is fun if a bit derivative, latest EP is voice and guitar.

Hayden Thorpe has a new album out as well: https://haydenthorpe.bandcamp.com/album/moondust-for-my-diamond