Topic: Liars - Liars (a.k.a. Liars, by Liars) (Read 9774 times)

Tago Mago · « **on:** 15 Jun 2007, 15:50 »

Any of you kids heard the newly leaked Liars album yet? I've been playing it over and over. It's great! I bet a bunch of these songs could get on alt-rock radio, if alt-rock radio played anything beyond old Moist songs. It's a really good attempt by an intelligent band to make intelligent rock music that's nonetheless accessible.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 16:00 »

I've heard a few of the songs, and I agree that it's an obvious move toward being accessible. For a band as weird as Liars, I'm having a hard time understanding why they decided to go this route. It's not a bad thing, but it's kind of like if Xiu Xiu suddenly decided to sound like Bloc Party.

I'll probably get it, but I doubt I'll like it more than They Were Wrong So We Drowned or Drums Not Dead.

Tago Mago · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 16:27 »

I have a lot of respect for bands that are able to roam freely across a rich gradient of degrees of weirdness. For example, Can have a tendency to alienate a lot of people with tracks like Augmn, but they also made songs like Vitamin C and Oh Yeah, which are hard not to love from a purely pop-enthusiast viewpoint. In a similar way, while you can identify a Liars song almost immediately, the network of family ressemblances is so rich and so expansive that there are basically limitless possibilities for new Liars songs, both within and outside of that pre-existing network. So far, with their last four albums, they've done nothing to retread previous styles, instead building an extremely rich songbook across all kinds of styles, both new and old.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 16:54 »

Well, right, but my point was that the new Liars songs I've heard aren't weird. They're good, yes, but they're definitely not weird.

Though I suppose it's some kind of meta-weird for a weird band to decide to not be weird, like when Trans Am did "Cold War" and alienated all of their fans except for me.

pat101 · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 17:02 »

I know I already asked in the sendspace thread, but could anyone update this album? I'd appreciate it a lot.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 18:34 »

Do you mean update or upload??

jeph · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 18:45 »

Liars are really good at pissing people off. First the indie kids got mad at them for going obstruse, and now they'll be mad at them for going accessible.

I think it's a great record.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 18:59 »

I don't think they meant to piss off the indie kids with their second album, I think they actually were just doing a lot of drugs and listening to old Einsturzende Neubauten when they made it (see: the album art for the "There's Always Room On the Broom" CD-single).

SeanBateman · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 19:33 »

Quote from: Dirk Hopeless on 14 Jun 2007, 20:14

Man what is with good artists going all poppy?

Ones weird, 2's alarming, with Liars and Animal Collective thrown in, it's a trend.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 19:43 »

Given the existance of The Olivia Tremor Control, I don't see how anyone can attack "going poppy" as a bad thing.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 20:47 »

Calling Olivia Tremor Control pop is really lazy. Their music is equally divided between succulent 60s style pop and crazy drug addled chaos. Has anyone listened to their two albums lately?? That is not pop music, so much as pop music and batshit experimentation eating each other in a circular cycle. I mean, the middle of Dusk At Cubist Castle is the infamous Green Typewriters suite, while Black Foliage: Animation Music is a fascinating mess that I'm still trying to make sense of. If Olivia Tremor Control are pop, I wish all indie bands would go pop.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 21:05 »

Yes, I have listened to both Olivia Tremor Control albums hundreds of times in the past 9 years.

And the point, Gregs, is that OTC were at their best when they weren't doing "Green Typewriters". Come on, seriously. If you cut out all the experimental songs from their albums and leave the pop, you'd have two much better albums. That's why the b-sides and singles album is probably the one I like the most.

And when I saw them live, they didn't "experiment", they just played their awesome little pop gems and it was great.

God, Gregs, stop being so... pop-phobic or whatever. Embrace your inner teenage girl. Pop music is good.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 21:20 »

Oh come on. Seriously? I am as big a booster of pop music as anyone, but seriously?

There is a huge difference between a band that is made amazing by their rough edges, like animal collective, having those edges forcibly hammered out through production and a band that started out smooth.

The edges still try to be there in the former case, but they just don't fit in with the new, less raw production, they sound out of place and often throw off the sound for me.

Tago Mago · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 21:21 »

OTC are a good example of what I was trying to illustrate beforehand. They make great pop music--you could easily argue that the pop portions of their albums are vastly better than the kooky experimental stuff--but I wouldn't want them to make only pop music. Somehow, they're a lot more interesting for the fact that they extend themselves across a lot of different territory, or maybe for the fact that they withhold those priceless pop moments until after you've slogged through the rest. This may sound tedious, and for OTC, it sometimes is, but like I said, I have a lot of respect for bands that are willing to make big shifts of this kind, and in the hands of, say, a Liars or This Heat, it creates endlessly fascinating music.

Kai · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 21:34 »

dude This Heat broke up before they could become Joni Mitchell or the Penguins

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 21:34 »

I see where you're coming from (and actually I like "Green Typewriters" but only if I'm not paying attention to the album; sometimes I just want the pure candy).

I mean, look at Elf Power. I'd say that the first 3 Elf Power albums are just as good, if not better, than OTC were, and those albums have pretty much nothing in the way of "rough edges".

I'm listening to the whole new Liars now and it's just as weird so far as their previous stuff. Apparently the few new songs I had heard happened to be the most conventional. The first two tracks sound like what I loved about There's Always Room On the Broom only better. Awesome.

AnonymousNoob · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 23:03 »

Quote from: jeph on 15 Jun 2007, 18:45

Liars are really good at pissing people off. First the indie kids got mad at them for going obstruse, and now they'll be mad at them for going accessible.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 23:08 »

Finished listening to the album. It's not "accessible" at all.

It's a really awesome mix of their last two albums' strengths. And the last song, my word, it is beautiful.

Definitely the best album of this year that I've heard since Maserati.

Ben yayayayayayayay · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 23:08 »

Quote from: jeph on 15 Jun 2007, 18:45

Band! are really good at peeing! people off. First the weird! kids got mad at them for going weird!, and now they'll be mad at them for going normal!.

McTaggart · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 00:48 »

Quote from: Ben yayayayayayayay on 15 Jun 2007, 23:08

Quote from: jeph on 15 Jun 2007, 18:45
Band! are really good at peeing! people off. First the weird! kids got mad at them for going weird!, and now they'll be mad at them for going normal!.

What?

öde · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 04:01 »

Quote from: McTaggart on 16 Jun 2007, 00:48

What!

Kai · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 07:24 »

Quote from: McTaggart on 16 Jun 2007, 00:48

amok · « **Reply #22 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 09:05 »

This sounds pretty cool so far. Which ones are the poppy songs though? Maybe it's because I haven't really listened to Liars since the Monument album much, but I'm not hearing how this isn't weird as fuck.

Kai · « **Reply #23 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 11:58 »

I like it.

I still like They Were Wrong So We Drowned most though.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #24 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 12:37 »

Quote from: amok on 16 Jun 2007, 09:05

This sounds pretty cool so far. Which ones are the poppy songs though? Maybe it's because I haven't really listened to Liars since the Monument album much, but I'm not hearing how this isn't weird as fuck.

"Sailing to Byzantium" is pretty poppy, in a Modest Mouse on acid kind of way, and the last song, while not poppy, is easily the least "weird" song they've done. It's also my favorite song on the album. So beautiful.

!!!CPAOI!!! · « **Reply #25 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 13:16 »

when's the proper release date?

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #26 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 13:35 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 16 Jun 2007, 12:37

"Sailing to Byzantium" is pretty poppy, in a Modest Mouse on acid kind of way, and the last song, while not poppy, is easily the least "weird" song they've done. It's also my favorite song on the album. So beautiful.

What about 'The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack.' I'd say that's "less weird." Of course it's a stylistic departure from the rest of the album it's on (although it works beautifully on it).

As a whole, I like this new album a huge amount. Maybe not as good as 'Drum's Not Dead' but it's excellent nonetheless. Liars are working thier way up in my list of really good bands. Whenever a friend asks me for music reccomendations I inevitably mention Liars in the list. Of course I got lots of mixed reactions (more bad than good).

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #27 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 13:41 »

I gave a friend They Were Wrong so we Drowned and he threw it out the window while driving. It made me really sad because that's probably my favorite album ever. I even gave him a disclaimer of "Listen to this. You will hate it at first, then a year from now you will listen to it and all of a sudden you will realize it is absolutely genius."

I'm waiting to buy this one.

pat101 · « **Reply #28 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 10:33 »

I totally meant upload, any chance of that?

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #29 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 16:26 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 15 Jun 2007, 21:05

Yes, I have listened to both Olivia Tremor Control albums hundreds of times in the past 9 years.

And the point, Gregs, is that OTC were at their best when they weren't doing "Green Typewriters". Come on, seriously. If you cut out all the experimental songs from their albums and leave the pop, you'd have two much better albums. That's why the b-sides and singles album is probably the one I like the most.

And when I saw them live, they didn't "experiment", they just played their awesome little pop gems and it was great.

God, Gregs, stop being so... pop-phobic or whatever. Embrace your inner teenage girl. Pop music is good.

I would argue that OTC were at their best in an album making sense, and not a singles sense. They wouldn't be half as interesting if they didn't try all the 'experimental' stuff. I feel the EXACT same way about the Fiery Furnaces, though. I haven't listened to Rehearsing My Choir or Matt's solo album(s), but I like them just as much for their pop stuff as for their insane experimental stuff.

For what it's worth, too, I am hardly pop-phobic. I absolutely adore the Shins and Field Music, along with Belle and Sebastian.

*Sights* · « **Reply #30 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 17:49 »

Is the album on the sendspace thread yet?

I'd appreciate someone uploading it.

A lot of of people would, actually.

amok · « **Reply #31 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 18:57 »

Uploading now, should be up in an hour or so.

amok · « **Reply #32 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 19:39 »

Sorry for the double post, just bumping to confirm that it's uploaded.

*Sights* · « **Reply #33 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 20:42 »

Thanks!

(Postcount)

Johnny C · « **Reply #34 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 21:45 »

I just snagged it.

Great opening track.

pat101 · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 Jun 2007, 17:15 »

listening to it now, and yes I agree, great opening track.

Tago Mago · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 Jun 2007, 17:19 »

Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 17 Jun 2007, 16:26

I feel the EXACT same way about the Fiery Furnaces, though. I haven't listened to Rehearsing My Choir or Matt's solo album(s), but I like them just as much for their pop stuff as for their insane experimental stuff.

You should listen to Rehearsing my Choir. I was skeptical at first but wound up falling in love with it. You just have to suspend your expectations as to what an indie-rock album is supposed to do, and listen to it as something more akin to a radio play.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Liars - Liars (a.k.a. Liars, by Liars) (Read 9774 times)

ScrambledGregs

SeanBateman

ScrambledGregs

SeanBateman

AnonymousNoob

!!!CPAOI!!!

ScrambledGregs