Big Thief - U.F.O.F. (May 3, 2019)

i do not get the rapturous praise from this band, which apparently comes from all quarters

uh FOR this band

I meant to say

It's okay -- I was with you until September.

if I were to be unkind I would say the hype is based on their terrible haircuts lol - cuz I sure don't hear that much remarkable in the playing or the writing (granted the lead singer's voice has a timbre I'm not fond of). It's just weird to see what scans to me as a garden-variety indie rock band with guitars getting praised to the skies in this day and age. As opposed to someone like Kurt Vile or Courtney Barnett when once you see them play it's like "oh, right this person has guitar chops for days". Obviously I'm not hearing what other people are...

The Crazy Horse vibe they strike on occasion is pretty awesome and the songwriting isn't as pedestrian as most of their peers' ('Cattails' is compellingly unsettling). Shame about her voice, though, which ruins everything.

Shakey, when have I liked bands based on terrible hair

the songwriting isn't as pedestrian as most of their peers'

Understatement of the century, lol. The songwriting is astounding.

BT singer also has serious guitar chops

how douchey the dudes in this band look really put me off tbh. they seem pretty good from what I've heard, tho not really my thing

lol Alfred

xps

Tbf they only look douchey on 85% of the pics I've seen.

singer also has serious guitar chops

idk I just watched the clips for "Not" (upthread) and some other recent TV appearance (Kimmel) and in both the singer's just strumming a few open chords, while the other guitarist is picking arpeggios higher up the neck around a single chord shape. idgi

There are some serious fashion faux pas going on, especially the bass player and drummer, but they lean into it so hard, I just have to laugh.

musicians with bad fashion and appalling haircuts, you hate to see it

https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/unnamed_ay8kk0/big-thief-ufof-interview-adrianne-lenker.jpg

What kind of hat is that?

he's just back from building a barn in east PA

I haven't had the opportunity yet to see them live (though tix go on sale tmrrw for a show here in August) -- but I've been absorbed in their albums for the past few weeks ,deeper than I've been absorbed in anything for a while. They're just so good... top-percentile albums. I'm astonished by the quality of the songwriting and performances.

Also, you can't judge a band by a ropey TV performance, everyone knows that!

I will concede that Adrianne's voice may be an "acquired taste" (as I'm reminded when my wife gives me a "What the f are you listening to?" look) -- but I completely forget about that, or no longer hear it, when I'm absorbed in their music.

lol the first time I put it on my wife was instinctively irritated by Lenker's voice as well and she's generally more lenient in indie rock-related matters than I am.

The voice is the strongest element imo; striking and distinctive. The instrumental music is fine but not usually mind-blowing imo so it all depends on the songs. A few really grab me, the rest I don't mind and may continue to grow on me.

High on the list of U.F.O.F.'s numerous virtues is the brief, economical, gorgeous guitar solo that closes out "Century."

― dad genes (morrisp), Tuesday, January 28, 2020 6:27 PM (one week ago) bookmarkflaglink

like the album but that solo on "jenny" reminds me of successfully tackling the guitar solo of "go your own way" on rock band 2.

Haha, I love a good one-note gtr solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C_ax0XYn1E

fantastic footage of one of the new songs they were playing on tour

Sounds really nice. Are those fancy new custom guitars of some sort?

they both play collings iirc. high-end maker out of austin.

^when ur Casio DG-1 is in the shop

Anyway, that song -- OMG! I'm instantly obsessed. What does it remind me of(??) Some specific early-'90s hippie/granola rock touchpoint...?

Here's another good recording (different show):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bir8m4Q0yDk

holy shit, I can't believe this song... it's like the best thing you ever heard a cool older kid playing on a summer-camp mixtape when you're 12 years old

The only songs it specifically brings to mind, sound/vibe–wise, are Rush's "Time Stand Still" and Collective Soul's "December"... silly/inapt reference points as these may be.

It also has sort of a peak-R.E.M. feel (though not necessarily “sound”).

I can absolutely picture this song, appearing on a fuzzy live tape of an unsigned band, causing a total A&R frenzy circa 1991.

that rhythm section needs a podcast or a sitcom or something

Ha, I'd listen to that.

It does sound like a song I've known most of my life, something to fall back on. It's reassuringly life-affirming.

XX post. re the guitars - they've been playing those two Collings guitars almost exclusively for a few years now. Maybe some kind of endorsement. Otherwise you're talking five grand each.

that's a great song (& nice sounding guitars), i'd love to see them live, they seem to be a band better in concert than in the studio...

this band fucking rules

i don't have that much more to say. i was listening to fordham radio and heard a live version of 'masterpiece.' it just ripped