The Boo Radleys, Classic or Dud?

laughable

Oh, well, that link is old and someone upthread already mentioned Sice & Boos. But clearly Martin's not joining.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000xlrs

Song's at about 40 minutes if you're feeling curious...

I don't hate it. But kinda amazed they're using the Boos name. When I saw the 'Sice Boo & The Radleys' listing I thought fair enough, makes it clear that it's not going to be the full band

Could be much worse, but it’s not the same band.

oh wow, no matter what i am excited about this. with or without Martin. can't seem to listen to this in the states as of yet.

the sounds link should work, it's not geoblocked

Agreed that I am interested even without Martin's participation, but it does feel disingenuous to call it the Boo Radleys (maybe Ruse Badlys?).
I didn't realize Martin wasn't involved when I first heard the new track and though it is a bit slight and straight forward, I didn't guess it either. Decent melodies and Sice's vocals sound better (smoother, younger maybe) than I expected. Honestly, it could easily slot on Kingsize or Martin's recent records for that matter. At least as good as any Eggman tracks that I can remember.

Mixing is a bit weak and demoey, but yeah it's not a world away from Kingsize

I assume Martin's OK with all this...

yeah, a bit like when Crabbie got the all clear to continue to use PWEI.

If this is the only means of seeing them live (never did back in the day) and Martin has firmly said he'll never do it then I'll take it, to be honest. It is disappointing as a reunion of the proper lineup with them getting their dues was something I'd always hoped for

Well this sounds.... like the Boo Radleys, as in it could easily have been lifted from a Kingsize session and it's giving me the same goose pimples I haven't had since I was eighteen and bought my last new Boos release. Whether I can love it in the same way with 23 year's hindsight is another matter.

Those brass announcements are pure Lazarus rebooted. There's something ever so slightly ploddy about the drums in certain parts and it's missing the more leftfield experimentation I like about them. But it's good, I like it well enough!

> There's something ever so slightly ploddy about the drums in certain parts

it's the original drummer by the look. and personally i was hoping for something more like ichabod and less like newer boos.

just received the PR for this release.

"The four members, including influential guitarist and songwriter, Martin Carr, retreated from life as The Boo Radleys shortly after the release of sixth album, Kingsize.

Having been largely out of contact since the end of the sessions for that final album, all members of The Boo Radleys have come together in recent years to discuss future plans. As a result, The Boo Radleys in 2021 are Tim Brown (bass/guitar/keyboards), Sice (guitar/vocals) and Rob Cieka (drums). Martin Carr does not appear in the current line-up.
"

Sice is a psychotherapist last I heard.

Why did you want to reform the Boo Radleys?

Sice: Nobody had the idea to reform the group. It is something that has evolved naturally. I invited Tim to attend my 50th birthday party. While exchanging, we found that neither of us had made music for years. We said to each other: why not get back together? We started sending each other files to exchange ideas. Very quickly, Rob joined us. At no time did we find ourselves in the same room. Everything was done remotely. Without really noticing it, we have accumulated a good stock of songs. All were finalized.

Did you hesitate before thinking about making them public?

Sice: Honestly, yes. We didn't really know what to do with it. Only one thing was clear in our mind, we didn't want to release them as The Boo Radleys. The first idea that sprouted was to give a few concerts. We have planned dates under the name of Sice Boo & The Radleys. We had other ideas for names that were just as crazy (laughs). With the containment, we had to cancel them.

Why did you change your mind about the name of the group?

Sice: I went to visit Martin Carr (former guitarist and composer of the group, editor's note ) in Wales for a day. I asked him if he wanted to join the group. He was honest and preferred to decline. He has other plans in mind at the moment. On the other hand, he told me that it was useless to play under another name. He was the one who urged me to use the Boo Radleys name again.

https://section-26.fr/the-boo-radleys-pour-notre-retour-on-fuit-la-pression/?fbclid=IwAR3rdDD0db5Mz3zmFGUYMvAubo4q168-wMBd4LGM-lOJjaIKkET4aj60Yfc

Well, fair enough then.

Yeah can’t argue.

EP is up on Spotify. I would say it's largely unmemorable. I don't mind "Life Is Getting Better" but other than that it's just whatever

I think the songs are OK, but the mixing and vocal processing are really poor. Title song is genuinely great though

They got out the gate wrong with the artwork and song title. They have the definite stench of a failed project.

Weird, ugly font. What’s that mannequin doing on there? Overwrought, over-serious title. I dunno. Just felt like a flop before I even heard Martin was out.

Cover looks like a sub-C'mon Kids idea

I'm hoping the shows will at least be fun

Don't mind the cover; it's got a sort of Blade Runner vibe to it, but the title is really clunky and I'm surprised they didn't just call it 'Syringe" or "Memories of You"

Despite the weird sound, I've played the title song to death. Musically it's a great impression of the Kingsize era, even if the other songs don't come close

Yeah I thought the title song wasn't bad at all. A few hallmarks that date it quite badly (like the middle-eighth sung down the telephone part), and the Lazarus brass which seems like a cop out, but hey it's okay

Well, I guess they announced an album.

https://thebooradleys.tmstor.es/product/87786

esponding to the warm welcome that greeted news of their reformation earlier this year, The Boo Radleys announce the release of their first album of all-new music in 24 years, the 11-track Keep On With Falling, which emerges on Fri 11 March 2022 on their own Boostr label.

CD1
1 I've Had Enough I'm Out
2 Keep On With Falling
3 All Along
4 I Say A Lot Of Things
5 Tonight
6 A Full Syringe And Memories Of You
7 Call Your Name
8 Here She Comes Again
9 You And Me
10 I Can't Be What You Want Me To Be
11 Alone Together

2CD BONUS TRACKLIST:
1 I'll put the bars around my heart - alternative version (previously unreleased)
2 Thieves like us - New Order cover (previously unreleased)
3 All Along - Alternative version (previously unreleased)
4 Tonight - Alternative version (previously unreleased)
5 I can't be what you want me to be - Piano version (previously unreleased)
6 Alone Together - Alternative version (previously unreleased)
7 See It Through (previously released digitally on the “A Full Syringe And Memories Of You” EP)
8 Life Is Getting Better (previously released digitally on the “A Full Syringe And Memories Of You” EP)
9 I'll Put The Bars Around My Heart (previously released digitally on the “A Full Syringe And Memories Of You” EP)

missed this until now. i went to order and have not bought a CD in like five years. the postage to California is $11.50 so i'm going to wait.

thanks for the post afriendlypioneer

Sank £30 for the signed vinyl, just need to get Martin's signature

Martin's?

Martin Carr is not in the new Boo Radleys

Um, break it gently, yeah?

tbf, he did say "just need to " rather than "just to"

This is even worse than the shit SFA have been pulling recently. afriendlypioneer why do you insist on being the bearer of bad news lol

While it's nice to hear Eggman's voice again, I am not into the new stuff

Well I got my Division Bell signed by Waters

I'm optimistic there'll be some other worthwhile songs on the album, although I wonder if them going out as the Boos will sour Martin to the idea of ever rejoining them, even if it was his suggestion

ha xp

If he wasn’t into a reunion before, I don’t think the current material, or lack of reception from the world in general, will inspire him. This things getting no attention.

Perhaps not.

NEW SINGLE - https://t.co/fwSIrOf87F

— Martin Carr & What Future (@martin_carr) November 24, 2021

No bravecaptain, no credibility

It's good and I like the approach - reminds me of some of the weirder Boos stuff - but I always think he mixes his vocals a little too dry and upfront so they make his lyrics sound really on the nose even when they aren't

Being the second biggest Boo fan on this board, I went ahead and ordered the 2CD set. I was only lukewarm on the single that I heard but I bought the new Spoon CD so buying another CD this month seemed to be fine.

I'm guessing I'm the third biggest, but who?

Anyway, whassitlike? Or has it not arrived yet?

I just don't know what to make of the new stuff. It's definitely Boo Radleys flavoured, but it's more like eating one of those very realistic veggie burgers that are made to look and taste like real meat and if you close your eyes and pretend you don't know what real meat tastes like, it's great

So far it's alright. The lyrics aren't particularly strong and the overall spark that Martin would usually bring is missing. They would be better off getting an outside pair of ears to mix the record rather than doing it 100% in-house