LILYS - Classic / Dud + Search / Destroy

I guess I never paid enough attention to their "indie rock" album Brief History of Amazing Letdowns. Suddenly it sounds awfully good.

Someone was playing "Ginger" at a bakery that I went to the other day, and jesus it's great! I saw a movie not long ago (Keeping Up With The Steins) that has "Any Place I've Lived" over the closing credits. Took me a while to realize who it was. Their stealth album?

Whoa I didn't realize somebody was talking about them so recently (relatively) on here. I found that album used in April or May and I love it. Its their most consistent of their early period (which I guess is easier since its their briefest) but yeah it hasn't aged one bit as far as I'm concerned.

i am otm all over this thread

Loves them Lilys.

'Better..' is a desert island record.

Why they never made it on that stupid Neu tribute disc is beyond me.

People who like really big sounding songs should do themselves a favor and listen to "Eskimo" off of the Tone Bender EP.

been listening to the 3-way a lot recently and loving it.

I tried that one, but I can't get behind it. Its not bad, but I just feel cheated by them cause its so opposite of the sound they had that I love. This problem would have been 90% solved if they just decided to go by a different band name when they went all Kinks-y.

Eccsame the Photon Band is pure nostalgia for me.
It may not be their most unique or consistent record, but it always pleases me.

Is Day Of The Monkey on that one? I love that song.

Its so great, but whenever I try to play it for (most) people I know, they seem bored. As an album, not for pop fans.

Day of the Monkey is on that one and it was the song I was listening to when I wrote the post.

To my ears it's inconsistent in sound and almost a little too low-key in places but I really love that album. It gets better with repeated listening.

Oh it also totally soundtracked my first sexual experience so that probably has something to do with my fondness for it.

Also I disagree with you Trip on the uniqueness. Definitely their most unique.

Yeah, I guess that makes sense, too.
Such a schizo band.

so weird that the 3-Way gets so much hate. sure its pastiche, but that is some of the best-written pastiche ever. the arrangements are just INSANE, packed with so much detail, tons of bizarre changes and chords all held together by a seemingly endless supply of memorable hooks. I don't think its their best and I like all their incarnations, just felt this album needed defending.

yeah I completely agree

also I saw this dude live a few months ago and it was quite possibly the worst show I've seen in a while

i think the 3 way is my favorite. haven't been able to get into eccsame, but i just heard it for the first time in the last year or so, and i was into better and 3 way when they came out.

I don't hate the 3-Way, but I love the early stuff sooo much that 3-Way is a betrayal, regardless of its quality on its own.

band doesn't owe you anything FYI

Haha I know, I didn't mean it that way. I really just can't get enough of their earlier sound. Again I don't dislike the later stuff.

funnily enough the only songs that worked live for me were one off of amazing letdowns

ones

anyone have mp3s of the Which Studies The Past? 7" they'd like to share?

also interested in the better-era b-sides, touch the water and more than that is deserved

the 2nd of 'better' with the blue cover has those 2 b-sides on it, i'm sure that's probably hanging round the blogs somewhere

i did have the 'studies' mp3s but they were such a poor rip i deleted them, sorry... i need to rip my own copy but that will probably happen shortly after the loveless reissue comes out

2nd issue of 'better'

might be able to help you out, mizzy. let me take a peak when i get home. you have both versions of "better" too?

I've been listening to 'Better' for years and it vexes me that I still don't know exactly why there are two versions, I even asked Kurt once.

isn't it plus orchestration or something? i don't think i've ever heard the second version of better. is it worth it iyo?

There's different tracks, additional instruments and production. You should check out both.

It's more the why than the what that has piqued me all these years.

oh ok, thanks

well there's that second version of precollection w/different production and extra songs...confusing

also what was his response when you asked him about it?

Ah well, it was in a very noisy club, I was DJ'ing/trying to concentrate and I was kinda drunk and he's so frigging tall and I was a bit overwhelmed really, so I can't really remember.

Okay, I have located my 4 CD copies of Lilys' Better Can't Make Your Life Better:
1) US edition #1 on Primary/Elektra (tracks #10-11 = The Sammael Sea/Returns Every Morning)
2) JP edition #1 on east/west Japan with bonus: Welfare Murder Plot/Baby's A Dealer (aka Who Studies The Past? subpop single of the month)
3) UK edition #2 on Che (remixed with strings, bassoon, bass harmonica, etc.), tracks #10-12 = Touch The Water*/Returns Every Morning/More Than That Is Deserved
*Apples In Stereo cover
4) JP edition #2 again on east/west Japan with bonus tracks which look like it is the Services For The Soon To Be Departed EP tacked on.

2) JP edition #1 on east/west Japan with bonus: Welfare Murder Plot/Baby's A Dealer (aka Who Studies The Past? subpop single of the month)

welp there's one for the wishlist

cover arts:
1-2 have the pink/blue hand diamonds on peachy/yellow background
3-4 have the red/yellow hands on ocean blue back ground

Would love to hear those tracks on the first two.

y'all want #2 then? I can U/L the full CD and then just the last 2 songs.

pls pls

yes would like to hear those! had no idea this record was so complicated.

me too, thanks!

*uploading now*

:D
i spent a good part of last night trying to find video of the time i saw these dudes play at no life records in 96 or 97? no luck, though i could swear that someone was filming.

JP edition #1 on east/west Japan with bonus: Welfare Murder Plot/Baby's A Dealer (aka Who Studies The Past? subpop single of the month)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/odb00f90qag4nd9/Better%20Can%27t%20Make%20Your%20Life%20Better.zip

If you just want Which Studies The Past?
http://www.mediafire.com/file/bslxwe8b8rpg29t/Which%20Studies%20The%20Past.zip

I think in 97 his backing band was The Beachwood Sparks en totale so that would make sense. Aaron from KXLU/Aron's/NoLife was his drummer for a while there.

oh yeah --- i think that was before i knew who beachwood sparks were...

Listening to this for the first time in a long time "Who Is Moving?" is really ace.

love this band