that's the stuff... will preorder CD and vinyl so they get some cash
― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Tuesday, 15 August 2023 18:16 (eight months ago) link
Fashionable in my household.
― Monthly Python (Tom D.), Tuesday, 15 August 2023 18:20 (eight months ago) link
Nice! I was wondering if that would happen. Besides the new mixes, a few "new" songs he was unveiling on the road were really good (basically finishing old songs that he kind of set aside and later included as-is on Secret Box). I imagine they may be included on this new deluxe set. Will definitely spring for it.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 15 August 2023 19:37 (eight months ago) link
For some reason I never bothered with the Chills after "Submarine Bells" so today was the first time I ever heard "Soft Bomb" and my first impression is that it's really not very good at all. It's misleading because it's starts off with "Male Monster From the Id", which is great and sounds like the Chills, thereafter the album sounds like Martin Phillipps and some other people (which is apparently what it was) and there's a dearth of memorable songs. Winds down all the way to "Water Wolves", which is horrible.
― The First Time Ever I Saw Gervais (Tom D.), Monday, 23 October 2023 17:33 (six months ago) link
Robert Christgau gave a good recommendation for an alternate tracklist. Here's a playlist on Spotify that sets it up.
― birdistheword, Monday, 23 October 2023 18:17 (six months ago) link
I heard this for the first time this year, my only picks would be "Ocean Ocean" and "So Long".
Winds down all the way to "Water Wolves", which is horrible.
You wonder why, before enlisting Van Dyke Parks and a big string section, no-one told Phillipps "look, for this song, don't bother". Unless he was thinking that he was Brian Wilson, Scott Walker, Nick Drake and Randy Newman all in one, and wasn't taking advice from anyone.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 03:34 (six months ago) link
wasn't taking advice from anyone
Based on the (excellent) documentary, this seems to have been the case. Ego, drugs, a misbegotten belief that the Chills had real commercial potential ...
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 13:08 (six months ago) link
“double summer” from soft bombis pretty
― brimstead, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 15:58 (six months ago) link
Yeah Double Summer is one of their best songs you goons.
― SA, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 18:25 (six months ago) link
17 songs is WAY too many songs to have on an album though, unless you're GBV or Wire.
― SA, Wednesday, 25 October 2023 18:30 (six months ago) link
The Chills were in that awkward position of being a great band with a small but dedicated fanbase, but it was probably too indirect to ever cross over to the mainstream so they kind of got caught in the middle. Not unlike like the Replacements, Hüsker Dü and all your other faves in fact.
― I must be the unluckiest man alive (Matt #2), Wednesday, 25 October 2023 18:33 (six months ago) link
Missed this - an interview with the producer behind the new Brave Words remix:
http://www.apessimistisneverdisappointed.com/2023/09/it-was-manic-street-preachers-that.html
― birdistheword, Saturday, 13 January 2024 18:06 (three months ago) link
Weird (or polite?) that that article never mentions Mayo Thompson?
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 13 January 2024 20:04 (three months ago) link