Thomas Dolby: Classic or Dud?

BTW Golden Age of Wireless/Flat earth both excellent. His mad professor/boffin schtick has tainted any serious evaluation of his work so unfortunately he's left in some early 80's novelty ghetto.

ETC...................

I've got it, on vinyl. Honestly had no idea it was rare until right this minute. (Is it worth anything?)

FLYING NORTH

just kills me.

When I first heard that, circa
'86 I played it over and over and over and over. I had it on the same tape off the radio on which I discovered XTC for the first time.

I'd forgotten that I have actually heard the whole of Golden Age of Wireless...

"Cloudburst At Shingle Street" was fucking amazing to hear again. I could play that one a few times in a row.

But "Flying North" is king.

I also remember the Dolby's Cube release but I don't remember how good or bad it was. I'd completely forgotten about it. I don't think I ever bought that. I don't know what to expect.

Anyway I love you all for even posting about Thomas Dolby. Bless you. I've really got the Dolby bug. And just you wait til I hear the whole of this collaboration he did with Ryuchi Sakamoto called Field Work, now that is something else!

"One Of Our Submarines" is based on the true story of Dolby's ... uncle, right?

I want to hear more B-sides.

do you reckon we should go see him tomorrow?

Hell yes. I saw him in Boston last year doing his one-man band thing and it was fantastic. Except for the jokey songs off _Aliens Ate My Buick_, those are kinda embarassing (especially "Hot Sauce").

Go.

The Joe's Pub show last year was totally great. And the only songs he did off his crap albums were the good ones "I Live In A Suitcase", "Budapest By Blimp".

You're confused about something. _Aliens Ate My Buick_ is indeed a mixed bag but has it's very high points ("Budapest By Blimp") as you noted. But _Astronauts & Heretics_ is very strong - great songwriting, memorable tunes and no attempt at hits.

Yeah well, "Close But No Cigar" hurt my brain deeply.

definitely.
its a wonderful show. seriously.
if you have any time for his classic stuff you will not be disappointed.
also .. for those that cant make it to the show :
http://www.invisiblehands.co.uk/shop/tracks.asp?artistid=14
a recording of the gig i went last year .. and a DVD that i am saving for next week.

"One Of Our Submarines" is based on the true story of Dolby's ... uncle, right?

Correct. Short post about it here: http://blog.thomasdolby.com/?p=44

.. and he tells the tale as part of the show.

Strange I have yet to respond to this thread. Anyway, his early to mid 80s material is classic and nothing but classic.

Given that he assisted in the deluxe reissue of Prefab Sprout's _Steve McQueen_, when will _The Golden Age of Wireless_ get proper treatment? Has to be a WHEN, not an IF, but I haven't read any word on a reissue.

My guess is "Jordan....The Comeback" will get the treatment before any Dolby album does.

More Dolby love here:

Thomas Dolby- the golden age of wireless: c/d?

John Foxx's 'Endlessly' (the original single mix) is the best song Thomas Dolby never wrote. That kind of sequential drum-driven romantic synth psychedelia sound, unconventional in lyrical approach, and liberal with cinematic sound effects, but still firmly based around classic pop song melodies and structures, was an early 80's thing. We haven't really had much of it since then?

no we haven't. sigh.

For a period of like, 4 years I was under the impression that Thomas Dolby, sometime in the late 80's or so had committed suicide by jumping off a building. Only like 8 months ago did I find out that he is actually alive.

Sigh, of course he wouldn't play HERE (Seattle) in a billion years, but by god he's GOT to do that gig in Londonderry, New Hampshire. *rolls eyes*

Given that he assisted in the deluxe reissue of Prefab Sprout's _Steve McQueen_, when will _The Golden Age of Wireless_ get proper treatment? Has to be a WHEN, not an IF, but I haven't read any word on a reissue.

i checked with EMI about this story, as i too cant believe with all the current love for 80s electro, that they haven't got on the case. the response was that there must be problems with some of the legal side of things.
in other words, if the label could have sorted out a reissue campaign, they would have.

Thanks for checking, Mark! Figure those issues will eventually get sorted, if it's on their radar.

A man could likely grow a very long beard in the meantime.

mulu the rain forest

THE SEASONS CHANGED B4 THEY KNEW

the live dvd is rather fun. along with the concert, and interesting 30 minute interview he gives some college students a run down on the rig that he uses for the show, along with stories of the machines history and his involvement with various software companies etc.
total nerd-fest, but very enjoyable.

Given that he assisted in the deluxe reissue of Prefab Sprout's _Steve McQueen_, when will _The Golden Age of Wireless_ get proper treatment? Has to be a WHEN, not an IF, but I haven't read any word on a reissue.

http://blog.thomasdolby.com/?p=544:

"I recently agreed terms with EMI to re-release my first two albums! Looks like they will be in some sort of ‘enhanced’ format, possibly including alternative mixes and B-sides. This should happen early in 2009."

Enjoying the blog readers' comments about songs and alt versions I don't know (aside from "Urges" and "Liepzig"). A bonus disc is automatically going to please me.

"..this should happen early in 2009."

of course it should, but i think we all know the truth.
shame.
tonights disovery - astronauts and heretics is an absolute headphone pleasure. so much more going on in the detail that i ever realised.
hang on, this from the mans blog a month ago :
"From here on I should have a straight shot to the completion of my new album—barring a few promotional bits and pieces to support the upcoming ‘Singular’ album, and the re-release of Golden Age Of Wireless and The Flat Earth"

oooooh.

Singlular details.

cd/dvd set of all the singles prior to the re-releases of the albums proper.

nothing too exciting if you have everything, but could be interesting to hear the remastered versions.

CD
1-Urges (3.41)
2-Leipzig (3.52)
3-Europa And The Pirate Twins (3.19)
4-Airwaves (3.45)
5-Radio Silence (3.50)
6-Windpower (3.53)
7-She Blinded Me With Science (3.40)
8-One Of Our Submarines Is Missing (5.12)
9-Hyperactive (4.12)
10-Dissidents (edit) (3.52)
11-I Scare Myself (edit) (4.59)
12-Fieldwork (London Mix) (4.04) with Ryuichi Sakamoto
13-May The Cube Be With You (3.50)
14-Airhead (3.43)
15-Hot Sauce (3.18)
16-My Brain Is Like A Sieve (3.58) (Bill Bottrell single remix)
17-Close But No Cigar (4.08)
18-Silk Pyjamas (3.04)
19-I Love You Goodbye (4.34)

DVD
1- Europa & the Pirate Twins
2-Airwaves
3-Radio Silence
4-Windpower (Live)
5-She Blinded Me With Science (3.43)
6-One of Our Submarines Is Missing (Live)
7-Hyperactive
8-Dissidents
9-I Scare Myself
10-Fieldwork (with Ryuichi Sakamoto) with Ryuichi Sakamoto
11-May The Cube Be With You
12-Airhead
13-Hot Sauce
14-Close But No Cigar
15-Silk Pyjamas
16-I Love You Goodbye
Bonus tracks
17-Hyperactive (12” version)
18-Fieldwork (12” version) with Ryuichi Sakamoto
19-Hot Sauce (saucy version)

fantastic interview! tons of weird details, didn't know dolby was the arranger for Bowie's live aid set

can not wait for these reissues

http://thequietus.com/articles/01793-the-science-of-sound-thomas-dolby-versus-the-quietus

Good interview -- somehow I knew about the Def Leppard connection but had forgotten the details.

cheers both of you.
i bumped a different thread re this interview yesterday, but still very glad to see someone found the article of interest.
what was strange was how yesterday the top banner advert on quietus was actually for the remastered/re-released pyromania.

ps. even though its the longest article on quietus, this was an edited version.
i got a fair bit more back from the man - even more nerdy aspects !
at some point i will drop the full deal in my own corner and let people know if interested.

awesome

please yes. thanks for this, one of the best interviews with him I've read. got me to listen to 'Astronauts and Heretics' again, which I was mild on when it came out, good songs but the arrangements seemed less distinctive, but listening now on headphones there's tons of stuff going on. and the songs are only growing on me. looking forward to the new album.

See I go to buy these reissues only to find...they're not out yet!

for those interested, i have dropped the unedited version : here

he's back with a new 3 track EP and surprisingly it's great, they could all fit nicely onto 'The Flat Earth' http://open.spotify.com/album/1fOaX3yhWhigpi3SEChkG0

Is there a release date on the new album yet?

It was "set for early 2011" but now I'm hearing it's going to come out in the summer. I'm not at all surprised if it turns out to be good, he only really made one album that wasn't good, and he wasn't even really trying on that one (Aliens Ate My Buick). I'm guessing that it's going to be very similar to the Flat Earth. I always thought that many of the songs he wrote sort of went beyond his years so now that he's 50 I expect really good things out of him.

I was playing this new EP last night. Agreed, it's surprisingly good.

New online game to coincide with the upcoming album: A Map of the Floating City. You float around the ocean, trying to trade found objects with other players, and when you complete a set, you win an mp3. So far I've only gotten "She Blinded Me With Science" (yay?), but I think if you stick with it, you eventually start winning new tracks.

(Warning: This is one of the nerdiest, steampunkiest things ever. That said, if you want to help a sister out, email me and I'll send you an invite. I think I get points or something.)

The new album just came out, apparently. Haven't heard it yet but AV Club gives it a B+.

I was watching videos last night from when he first showed up. What an awesome look he had going on. Part of me kind of wishes the smoky eye look was a standard thing dudes could do if they wanted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj_yFpL6uoE&feature=relmfu

srsly all-time look! so beautiful!

The new album is surprisingly good, aside from a few duds (Thomas does Americana = dud). His songwriting is still really strong.

put off getting new album cos of that bloody track about frogs.

the video was so naff ..

tell me it works in the flow of the album better than standalone !?

It does a bit, but still not enough to keep from skipping it.

The rest of the album is much, much better than that track. Check this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfDnd5LdHBo

yeah thats much better - in fact this has been getting airplay on 6music ..
he was also on the mark radcliffe show this afternoon, but i missed most of the interview..

album arrived yesterday - after an initial listen I can say that it's got a really great sound to it, and you can tell that he labored over everything on it. reminds me a lot of The Flat Earth (its a bit longer, but still), there's really no compromise on here at all, and besides that track posted above there's really nothing electronic on it.

This album is terrific, apart from lol@dumbMerkins track 'Froglickers'. The production as you'd expect is top notch, makes me wonder why he hasn't produced more artists.

i'm going to succumb aren't i !
now i just have to decide if i want the 2 cd edition with instrumental versions ..

The production as you'd expect is top notch, makes me wonder why he hasn't produced more artists.

no kidding - definitely the best sounding album I've heard this year. I remember reading his blog where he has a big entry on how to give certain elements power without messing with the peaks too much and how to avoid sounding like everything else modern, its all pretty evident here

Anyone go for the 2cd version? There's a few unique tracks after the (pointless) instrumentals.

I'm really enjoying it overall. Sometimes I feel like an old bastard always stumping for aging favorites but when they deliver it makes up for all the mediocre indie rock I'm exposed to.

i held back due to it being £20.
normally early doors ltd editions are a couple of quid more than the std edition, not double.
also, i used my weekly allowance on elvis instead.

on a bus from Merida to Cancun I listened to "Map of the Floating City" on repeat. it's surprisingly good, especially after the first few tracks. hope it's not the last we hear from him.

well, he's touring new material over the next few weeks ..

see rundown/interview @ tQ ..

I don't know if everyone else is already familiar with this, but I heard it for the first time today and it's my new favourite thing, something about the combination between the jittery, anxious feel of the music, even with the lyrics removed, and then the authoritative, equanimous but still robust character of Angela Rippon's voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYw5_UoQd74

Yeah, that was one of two tracks (along with "Liepzig") that were originally on the American version. The 2009 CD/DVD reissue collects everything and then some. Still love this album and find it incredibly evocative.

yea that 2009 version is incredible. but I don't think this is the original "Urges". this is so strange. great find!

My first instinct was someone made a goofy mash-up but it's legit!

listening to the flat earth for the first time…. this has to be the best album ever

Side A definitely brings it. Who knew he could write songs like that?

But "Flying North" is king.

Metal bird dip wing of fire
Whose airlanes comb dark Earth
The poles are tethers we were born in
On the brink of a whole new deal
On the floor of a Pan Am bar
I'm staring right into the light
And I'm drawn in like a moth
And I'm flying North again...