Topic: British Sea Power--Do You Like Rock Music? (Read 17496 times)

sombrasoubrette · « **on:** 16 Feb 2008, 17:33 »

I personally think it's their best yet. Some songs (especially Lights Out for Darker Skies and Waving Flags) are kind of Arcade Fire-ish in their indie-rock theatricality, but the vocals are much nicer than Win Butler's IMO. It's incredibly accessible without any overtones of tweeness whatsoever. Don't be put off by the first track.

I'd agree with the AV Club's A- for the record; there are a bunch of torrents for it and it's definitely a nice addition.

sean · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Feb 2008, 17:42 »

Paging Harry to this thread. Harry, this thread.

Inlander · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 03:35 »

Date of British release: 10 January 2008.

Date of Australian release: 11 February 2008.

Date Shock Records finally deigned to actually ship it to record stores in Melbourne: 14 February 2008.

Summary: What the fuck, record companies.

Anyway, I've finally got a real, live, physical copy of the album in my hands and it's fucking awesome. Any doubts I had about it from the couple of listens I gave to an illegal download I procured while waiting for the Australian release were immediately dispelled when I heard it in C.D.-quality sound, through speakers rather than earphones. This is definitely an album that has to be heard in "open air". Preferably turned up really loud so your neighbours can hear it, too.

I find it very difficult to say whether or not it's better than the Decline of British Sea Power, because in many very real ways the two albums aren't really comparable. After the slight step backwards between Decline and Open Season, the band's sound has suddenly taken a massive leap such that they almost sound like a completely different band, while simultaneously being unmistakably the same British Sea Power we all know and love. Anyway, I'm going to listen to it a few more times and then write a review of it for the music blog. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, I've said it before and I'll say it again: "Atom" was the best song of 2007, and now it's the best song of 2008.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 12:58 »

I like it, but honestly it's just not up there with their first album.

For once I agree with a Pitchfork review. It aims at grandiosity and manages to succeed mostly in the ways that grandiosity can be mediocre rather than life-changing.

Is it a big record? Sure. So was Use Your Illusion. On the "epic" scale they could learn a few things from Let It Come Down.

pinkpiche · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 13:02 »

Not to trudge around in off-topicness but, Win Butler's voice is not about being nice. It's about telling people that you're building a tunnel to whereever your love resides and make it believable.

Johnny C · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 16:14 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 17 Feb 2008, 12:58

Is it a big record? Sure. So was Use Your Illusion.

uh,

october1983 · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 16:15 »

I love this album and am even more bitter about not being able to go to their gig down the road from me around the time of its release (stupid venue saying tickets were on sale on the door while the promoter sold them online :/).

I'd agree with Harry that it's pretty tricky to compare with Decline of..., although I think I somewhat prefer it to the latest offering. Just.

Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 22:17 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 17 Feb 2008, 16:14

Quote from: zerodrone on 17 Feb 2008, 12:58
Is it a big record? Sure. So was Use Your Illusion.

uh,

i don't get it, Let It Come Down is either an album by Spiritualized or James Iha and Use Your Illusion is a Guns N' Roses compilation

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 23:46 »

I think it's a really solid record and deffinitely enough for me to get more of their stuff. On the first few listens I got the feeling I'd heardd it all before, but then I started to get the density of the soun and their sheer confidence in every song. Really enjoyable.

sean · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Feb 2008, 23:52 »

This is a pretty nice record. I am rather enjoying it!

Are these guys good live?

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 00:50 »

Quote from: n0t_r0bert_b0yle!! on 17 Feb 2008, 22:17

i don't get it, Let It Come Down is either an album by Spiritualized or James Iha and Use Your Illusion is a Guns N' Roses compilation

I was saying that aiming for a big sound is not always a good thing in and of itself (as the two Use Your Illusion albums proved - they are albums, not compilations) and that in my opinion the way to "go big" is like J. Spaceman did on Let It Come Down.

As stated, I like the album, just not that much. I'd give it a 7/10. Compared to everything else I've been hearing lately, it's hard to justify getting too into it.

I think some people may be liking it for the "underdog" factor, being that they are reasonably unknown. When a "big" band makes a less-than-stellar album, people vastly underrate it - example: Our Love To Admire - but when a "smaller" artist makes a less-than-stellar album it tends to get overrated - example: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 09:01 »

Let It Come Down is for sure my least favourite Spiritualized album (though i still like it quite a lot). It is too crowded and Pierce is often content with having an orchestra, a choir and a full band fill in for songwriting.

Something about DYLRM? just strikes me as right. The Decline was really great but it often comes out as being too samey for me.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 09:30 »

Let It Come Down is very divisive, I know (though I can't see liking it less than Amazing Grace).

Something about its density just strikes me as pretty much perfect. I don't know whether I like it more than Pure Phase but they are such different albums I don't know how to or why I should compare them.

Johnny C · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 09:51 »

I had a post about how Our Love To Admire is only about half-good and the rest of it goes from "nothing special" to "truly awful." Sadly, Firefox bit it before I could post it. To summarize it, the reason that album isn't rated very well is because half of it sucks, and nobody wants to listen to a record when half of it sucks.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 10:00 »

I was quite underwhelmed with Our Love To Admire at first, but then after a few listens, I realised it is far more dense and interesting than I had thought. I still prefer Antics but I think people were expecting a bit too much from them and also a bit too eager to proclaim that it was sub-par even before they heard it. They are a band that, I think, suffer entirely too much from "it's not the band I hate, it's their fans" syndrome (also "it's not the music I hate, it's the band", also known as "GY!BE syndrome").

sombrasoubrette · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 16:30 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Feb 2008, 10:00

I was quite underwhelmed with Our Love To Admire at first, but then after a few listens, I realised it is far more dense and interesting than I had thought. I still prefer Antics but I think people were expecting a bit too much from them and also a bit too eager to proclaim that it was sub-par even before they heard it. They are a band that, I think, suffer entirely too much from "it's not the band I hate, it's their fans" syndrome (also "it's not the music I hate, it's the band", also known as "GY!BE syndrome").

Yeah, I have to agree that the reason everyone hated Our Love was because it wasn't Antics II.

Johnny C · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 17:08 »

I have to once again voice my opinion that, no, it's because "No I In Threesome" sucked so badly that it dragged half the record down in its wake.

McTaggart · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 18:32 »

Interestingly, that and 'Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors' were the only two tracks that got much airplay.

sombrasoubrette · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 18:41 »

Quote from: McTaggart on 18 Feb 2008, 18:32

Interestingly, that and 'Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors' were the only two tracks that got much airplay.

Maybe the radio stations just assumed people would like it because it's called "No I in Threesome."

Johnny C · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 18:57 »

Also, "Smokers..." is by Editors.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 19:05 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 18 Feb 2008, 17:08

I have to once again voice my opinion that, no, it's because "No I In Threesome" sucked so badly that it dragged half the record down in its wake.

Really? I quite like that song. It would have been a better single than "The Heinrich Maneuver".

HoboNinja · « **Reply #21 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 19:28 »

These guys were one of the featured artists on MySpace about a week ago. I checked them out and they were pretty awesome so I got their CD. I am really digging it.

I am just kind of getting into the whole "indie" rock thing. I used to listen to a lock of screamo(new stuff that elitists bitch about and old stuff like envy and city of caterpiller) and some pretty hard thrash stuff like the Blood Brothers. Lately I have been listening to a lot of The Shins, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse, now British Sea Power... a lot of mellower stuff. I got some Mogwai its nice.

imagist42 · « **Reply #22 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 19:40 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Feb 2008, 19:05

Quote from: Johnny C on 18 Feb 2008, 17:08
I have to once again voice my opinion that, no, it's because "No I In Threesome" sucked so badly that it dragged half the record down in its wake.

Really? I quite like that song. It would have been a better single than "The Heinrich Maneuver".

Why are you and I in agreement here?

Anyway, I find that the first three and last two tracks are the best on Our Love. The middle half starts to suck, right around halfway through "Heinrich Maneuver."

Inlander · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 19:42 »

So, on the subject of Do You Like Rock Music? . . .

I've just put my review up on the music blog. There are many other things I could say about this album, but I wanted to keep the review (relatively) brief so I just touched on the main things that were on my mind.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #24 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 20:43 »

Quote from: imagist42 on 18 Feb 2008, 19:40

Why are you and I in agreement here?

Because I am secretly a nice person and hey, let's be pals. Your avatar is funny.

jimbunny · « **Reply #25 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 22:15 »

Somehow, I usually only like rock music when both a) it is not music in my possession (i.e. I listen to it solely in the company of others), and b) it is given in short doses. Now, surely there must be exceptions, but for the most part when I am alone, my mellow tastes tend to predominate.

I 'discovered' this fact about myself one day when, in an attempt to appease those listening in my house with 'something with drums' (also in an attempt to avoid drawing upon the collection of my brother, the quintessential 'classic rock fan'), I was unexpectedly brought up quite short. I think in desperation I reached to The New Pornographers - a decision that was quickly followed by yet more CCR.

McTaggart · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 02:31 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 18 Feb 2008, 18:57

Also, "Smokers..." is by Editors.

I am aware of this.

Trillian · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 07:12 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Feb 2008, 20:43

Quote from: imagist42 on 18 Feb 2008, 19:40
Why are you and I in agreement here?

Because I am secretly a nice person and hey, let's be pals. Your avatar is funny.

I see how it is. I go away for a week and you start moving in on other people and their funny avatars. Is nothing sacred?!

imagist42 · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 09:58 »

Quote from: Trillian on 19 Feb 2008, 07:12

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Feb 2008, 20:43
Quote from: imagist42 on 18 Feb 2008, 19:40
Why are you and I in agreement here?

Because I am secretly a nice person and hey, let's be pals. Your avatar is funny.

I see how it is. I go away for a week and you start moving in on other people and their funny avatars. Is nothing sacred?!

Don't worry. The attraction isn't mutual.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 20:20 »

Quote from: Trillian on 19 Feb 2008, 07:12

I see how it is. I go away for a week and you start moving in on other people and their funny avatars. Is nothing sacred?!

You know how I feel about red hair.

Trillian · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 20:23 »

Red hair is pretty rad, but your disloyalty will not go unnoticed. You fail, sir.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 20:50 »

Fine. I guess John's daughter will be saying those lyrics on the EP after all!

Trillian · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 20:55 »

You dirty little whore. Remember how I was telling you about my pimp slap? Feel the wrath, bitch. *slap*

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 20:59 »

Slapping leads to wrestling, and we both know how that will end. You sure about this?

Trillian · « **Reply #34 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:00 »

I am pretty sure this slap winds up with you on your knees though. Are you sure you are prepared for THAT?

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #35 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:04 »

Sure, if that's what you're into.

However, in the words of Morrissey... But on the desk is where I want you!

MusicScribbles · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:10 »

Really, British Sea Power guys. Come on.

Trillian · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:10 »

Dude, seriously? You are that compliant? Then here, I would like you to meet samwell...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fbGkxcY7YFU

and too bad for you I am more of a fan of pool tables in terms of hard surfaces. I guess you fail again.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:18 »

They have pool tables at the Longbranch... and they let you browbag whisky.

Just sayin'...

Trillian · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:23 »

oh snap...an Irish girl can't pass up whisky and some well timed pool.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #40 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:33 »

There is never a bad time for... pool.

Trillian · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:36 »

Just make sure your cue is in order.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:39 »

I'm pretty good, though. So I hope you like having your ass whipped.

Trillian · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:49 »

She said she was the worst pool player under the sun,
But blokes go easy so she always won.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #44 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:57 »

I won't go easy... but with any luck, it may end in a draw. I would not want an unhappy pixie throwing bottles at me all night.

Johnny C · « **Reply #45 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 21:58 »

I like what Harry has to say about the album we are collectively discussing here on the music forum.

The lyrics are the biggest criticism leveled at this album, from what I can tell, but honestly nobody has yet to convince me that the lyrics are somehow more cryptic and vague than, say, "Something Wicked." They're layered in the exact same way they always have been. You can just hear them now. The whole "have an encyclopedia handy" idea remains intact.

MusicScribbles · « **Reply #46 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 22:08 »

So far I haven't had any problems with the lyrics being unenjoyable. I certainly don't see them as being very 'vague' or 'cryptic' though.
What Harry wrote on the blog really helps to better realize the lyrics, certainly, but they never seem like the veiled misfit that people are making it out to be.

Johnny C · « **Reply #47 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 22:24 »

I know! Like it is pretty clear what is actually being talked about in most songs especially, God forbid, if you have Google handy!

Tom · « **Reply #48 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 22:38 »

I don't see them being cryptic, lots of allusions though, and I've been thoroughly enjoying.

Cryptic = Dan Bejar

Inlander · « **Reply #49 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 22:50 »

There's obviously a lot of meaning in the songs, even if some of it seems highly personal or at least hidden. I never get the impression with British Sea Power lyrics, least of all those on Do You Like Rock Music?, that they're throwing out words just so that the singer has something to do - unlike many other bands, past and present. Interestingly, "Canvey Island", which is the song on the album with the most straight-forward lyrics, is also I think lyrically the weakest - perhaps because it comes across as a bit too glib.

One thing that I find very heartening about the album is how much stronger Hamilton's vocals are on it, compared to on Open Season. It's really interesting to have two brothers being singers in the same band - maybe it's just me, but while Yan's and Hamilton's voices are each quite different, there also seems to be some kind of family resemblance there.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: British Sea Power--Do You Like Rock Music? (Read 17496 times)

sombrasoubrette

sombrasoubrette

sombrasoubrette

HoboNinja