Gar Veteran Member Posts:1676  
| 1/30/2005 10:59 PM |
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I'm always going on about how the reviews on this site are never discussed in the forum as much as maybe they deserve to. This is not me trying to gloat but for Cluas regulars and whoever might read this ite to appreciate the effort that the voluntary writers put into writing about the gigs they attended and albums they bought. Some of the writing is good enough, and better at times, to be in national publications. This has also been evident in some of the interesting interviews, opinion articles and feature pieces that are currently live on the site. So read some of them and post your opinions up.
So, up for you all to devour are live reviews of The Cleary's (The Frames), Bloc Party, a very honest and witty review of 66e aswell as a very impressive review of Velvet Revolver. And also there's an album review of Ray LaMontagne. Oh and the new installment of the 'Gigs Of The Fortnight' is up. No pressure on you to read them all now. Enjoy & Discuss!!!
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 1/30/2005 11:03 PM |
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Aww shucks Gar, you're too kind. I liked your Cleary's review and I'll get to Bloc Party at some point.
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/30/2005 11:15 PM |
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Exclusive: The impossible has been done. Throughout the media platforms worldwide, this feat has never been attempted and yet Ian Wright pulls it off in one swoop. 'But it’s a somewhat akin to saying that Shelbourne’s Alan Byrne is a bit like Ronaldinho, they’re kind of trying to do the same sort of thing and neither could be called bad, but one is doing it to an infinitely higher standard.' Genius. The whole review had me interested, as I missed that gig and quite like the 66e, but that line had me laughing out loud.
Same with the Velvet Revolver review. Very insightful, well structured and enjoyable to read. I wasn't crazy about their debut album but I heard good things about their performance in The Point. Fair play Wayne.
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mick Basic Member Posts:411
| 1/31/2005 1:42 AM |
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no offence unicron but i'm not overly impressed by the review, not just because i'm biased being a fan of 66e, but you dont really speak about their music except to compare it with radiohead. yes you say bits about it, but dont write about the atmosphere of the songs, or how they move etc.
anyway, thats just what i like to read in reviews, i guess you only get it in gushing reviews though.
personally i find comparisons to be pretty weak journalism
i should try and befriend you journalist types not insult you guys... right? ;)
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/31/2005 7:16 AM |
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No, all opinions are valid. Fair play for being honest.
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Vent My Spleen Advanced Member Posts:500
| 1/31/2005 9:10 AM |
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Interesting point about comparisons Mick. I personally feel that when a band are relatively unknown, a point of reference is very useful (even if the band might take offence). Describing them as a particular genre is pretty useless given the amount of bands who straddle indie, rock etc etc. Obviously, bands that get covered in mainstream journalism are reasonably well known and their music can be described in more general terms, given the assumption that many readers will already be familiar with their work.
If someone 'rocks', I like to know if they rock like Sonic Youth, Motley Crue or Sepultra.
What does anyone else think?
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flipperstiredBasic Member Posts:103
| 1/31/2005 11:18 AM |
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I was at 66e on Friday and I was blown away. I think you hit the nail on the head Unicron when i refer to this follwing line in your article: "Whatever it is that I don’t see in the band, the audience's eyes are open to it and, god bless them, their opinion is more important than mine. I might not be back for more but it looks like they will"
I will be back for sure. Apart from the lack of referral to the music compositions themselves which the E produce I have no problem with your opinion on the gig. I do however believe you might be in the minority on this one. Granted as Mick said, a more detailed review of the musical infrastructure may come with a more positive report on a gig but I still feel the the "a bit like radiohead" quotes are to frequently thrown about these days as a substitute for actually trying to get inside the music and talk about it. Nevertheless, I am fairly confident that 66e will rise and i was told on the night though am waiting to hear from others if this is true, that the support band, Delorentos, have been added to the bill supporting Jove?????? Anyone clarify that?? If so, and i agree with you on this one Unicron, they are one super band i saw & they really rocked the place in order to use your words "Vent my Spleen". Gotta say this, as I genuinely think it warrants saying, thats those 3 bands on the olympia line up plus Alphastates... serious gig! My Whelans review: 9/10
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spurtacusBasic Member Posts:229
| 1/31/2005 11:42 AM |
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yeh, anyone with educated ears should really check that gig out, my ears studied law in Harvard so i'll defo be there!!
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bonzoBasic Member Posts:364
| 1/31/2005 12:05 PM |
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For what its worth I thought that it was a fair and balanced review. Fully justified in making the Radiohead comparison it is very obvious that 66e are trying to achieve that same sort of sound. While I like the songs on the website some of their sound is a bit indulgent.
Hope to check them out live myself in the near future.
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/31/2005 12:33 PM |
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As far as I'm aware, Liquid Wheel dropped out of the Jove headliner at the Olympia. So The Delorentos are replacing them. I reckon it will be a cracking gig, nice mix of bands at it.
It's good to have alot of reaction to Ian's 66e review, about time this board came alive again.
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flipperstiredBasic Member Posts:103
| 1/31/2005 12:34 PM |
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You just aint gonna let me live that one down are you spurtacus!!! lol
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 1/31/2005 1:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mick
no offence unicron but i'm not overly impressed by the review, not just because i'm biased being a fan of 66e, but you dont really speak about their music except to compare it with radiohead. yes you say bits about it, but dont write about the atmosphere of the songs, or how they move etc.
anyway, thats just what i like to read in reviews, i guess you only get it in gushing reviews though.
personally i find comparisons to be pretty weak journalism
i should try and befriend you journalist types not insult you guys... right? ;)
How DARE you critique something that I have poured my heart into producing, I will make it my mission in life to crush Polar under the sole of my boot. 
Nah it's cool, whatever you think is right as far as you're concerned, it's all opinion and no one is definitively right and no one is definitively wrong.
And maybe you're right about the overuse of the Radiohead comparisson when anyone with a slightly high pitched singer is referred to as Radioheadesque (Coldplay, Keane etc.) when there is no substantive musical similarity but in this case I think it was justified because there are real similarities between the sounds that the band produce. In fact at the third or fourth song I turned to the guy I was with and said that "thats the little beepy bit at the end of Airbag and the start of Paranoid Android and that keyboard part is really like Everything in its right place", and lets not even get onto the subject of Ed's (admittedly impressive) vocal stylings, at first listen it seems obvious that they are heavily influenced by them and to not mention it seems ridiculous.
And I think I mentioned something about what I thought of their sound, shapeless being one adjective that I remember. |
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 1/31/2005 1:41 PM |
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And Delorentos are playing that gig at the Olympia
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mickBasic Member Posts:411
| 1/31/2005 2:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Unicron
How DARE you critique something that I have poured my heart into producing, I will make it my mission in life to crush Polar under the sole of my boot.
Nah it's cool, whatever you think is right as far as you're concerned, it's all opinion and no one is definitively right and no one is definitively wrong.
And maybe you're right about the overuse of the Radiohead comparisson when anyone with a slightly high pitched singer is referred to as Radioheadesque (Coldplay, Keane etc.) when there is no substantive musical similarity but in this case I think it was justified because there are real similarities between the sounds that the band produce. In fact at the third or fourth song I turned to the guy I was with and said that "thats the little beepy bit at the end of Airbag and the start of Paranoid Android and that keyboard part is really like Everything in its right place", and lets not even get onto the subject of Ed's (admittedly impressive) vocal stylings, at first listen it seems obvious that they are heavily influenced by them and to not mention it seems ridiculous.
And I think I mentioned something about what I thought of their sound, shapeless being one adjective that I remember.
finally my online arch nemisis 
its probably because i'm in a band that i get annoyed about use of comparisons... i do realise that they are definitely necessary to give an idea of what a band sound like, especially a relatively small time band. i guess i cant reallysee the radiohead thing... definite similarities in style alright but i think 66e azre doing it very differently, with many more influences... personally i'dve cited sigur rós as one of their influences.
"Their compositions are shapeless, they seem more concerned with sonic landscaping then thinking about the soil below that needs to be healthy in order for that landscape to blossom."
i think 66e arent trying to go the "song" route if ya get me? more landscaping as you so rightly put, instrumentals with words as they even describe themselves.
anyway, sure tis all opinion, i do think its a well written review just have a thing about comparisons however needed they are  |
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spurtacusBasic Member Posts:229
| 1/31/2005 2:30 PM |
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The rollercoaster ride analogy in the Bloc Party review was all a bit too NME for me!
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bonzoBasic Member Posts:364
| 1/31/2005 2:34 PM |
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So Mick - you do think they sound like Radiohead?
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/31/2005 3:35 PM |
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It's funny that you mentioned the NME influence for the rollercoaster structure for the Bloc Party review, since I've never read the NME.
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mickBasic Member Posts:411
| 1/31/2005 5:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bonzo
So Mick - you do think they sound like Radiohead?
i think radiohead have alot of different styles and i think pablo honey is very different to kid a (politician style answer )
they are definitely influenced by radiohead alright, but i think many bands are, and personally they wouldnt be the first band that i'd compare the 66e to. saying that i wouldnt do any comparing ya know |
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| 1/31/2005 5:24 PM |
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i thought the explosions in the sky comparisson is closer than radiohead.
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mutchBasic Member Posts:392
| 1/31/2005 5:25 PM |
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just on the velvet revolver review, for any guitarists thinking about buying an acoustic simulator pedal, Slash actually uses a pick up system thats attached to the bridge in an unusual manner hence the acoustic sound. cant remember the name of it, just thought I might save someone 120 Euro on an effects pedal!
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flipperstiredBasic Member Posts:103
| 1/31/2005 5:43 PM |
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"please can you stop the noice i'm trying to get some rest, from all the unborn chicken voices in my head,........ whats that?, whats that? When i am king you will be first against the wall, with your opinion which is of no consequence at all.... whats that?.... whats that?.....
*$!**"" wakes up..... s**t guys sorry i wuz dozin.... all this radiohead head talk is making me .... well ya know. While we're at it, can i ask the question what would people like from the next Radiohead album? I would love a return to a more "making a little more sense of it all" radiohead with regard to their tunes. I anticipate this because I felt "Hail to the Thief" gave a more structured content. Perhaps their leading down the garden path again.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 1/31/2005 5:50 PM |
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that Ray LaMontagne review is spot on. read a review of it in The Ticket before Xmas and bought the album on the back of it. been playing it every other day since. wonder willhe be as good live? he's in whelans in mar, i think.
another one to pick up on if u like that is MICAH P HINSON - country-noir with growls and great songs about good love gone bad or bad love gone worse.
Also got a few tracks from two great new albums out in Mar - ARCADE FIRE and ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS. i think someone here was raving already about Arcade Fire and its all i expected and more. The Antony & The Johnsons one is even better - New York cabaret scenester singing frail songs in a voice which will break your heart, one part Jimmy Scott, one part Nina Simone and two parts Tim Buckley round "Starsailor".
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 1/31/2005 5:51 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mick
its probably because i'm in a band that i get annoyed about use of comparisons... i do realise that they are definitely necessary to give an idea of what a band sound like, especially a relatively small time band. i guess i cant reallysee the radiohead thing... definite similarities in style alright but i think 66e azre doing it very differently, with many more influences... personally i'dve cited sigur rós as one of their influences.
"Their compositions are shapeless, they seem more concerned with sonic landscaping then thinking about the soil below that needs to be healthy in order for that landscape to blossom."
i think 66e arent trying to go the "song" route if ya get me? more landscaping as you so rightly put, instrumentals with words as they even describe themselves.
anyway, sure tis all opinion, i do think its a well written review just have a thing about comparisons however needed they are
Well even if they're going for the landscaping route I think they are still missing the basic blocks required to build on. Like I said the only thing that I really liked is "I died in a movie" (and I do really like that tune, it's going on a mix I'm compiling at the minute) and it's built around that really nice and simple guitar part. The thing is that Radiohead are my favourite band and I know their material like the back of my hand so if I hear anything that sounds like something they've done I'll usually pick up on it, I might go along with you on the Sigur Rós thing though. Out of interest was it just the use of the the overused Radiohead cliche that you objected to or do you take issue with me using a relatively obscure Texas post-rock group as a reference as well?
Anyway, thanks for complimenting the writing even if you disagreed with what I said.
Ian |
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 1/31/2005 6:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pilchard
another one to pick up on if u like that is MICAH P HINSON - country-noir with growls and great songs about good love gone bad or bad love gone worse.
Also got a few tracks from two great new albums out in Mar - ARCADE FIRE and ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS. i think someone here was raving already about Arcade Fire and its all i expected and more.
I like that Micah P. Hinson album, "The Day Texas fell into the ocean" is opening every crappy mix cd that I give as a gift when I'm broke from now on.
As for the Arcade Fire, I have the album, I'm very impressed (sound nothing like radiohead ). I was in contact with their booking agent regarding the itinerary for their March tour and they said that Ireland wasn't on it but there is a good chance of a Dublin date when they come back in May for a more extensive European tour. |
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mickBasic Member Posts:411
| 1/31/2005 8:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Unicron
Out of interest was it just the use of the the overused Radiohead cliche that you objected to or do you take issue with me using a relatively obscure Texas post-rock group as a reference as well?
nah that touched the elitist inside
honestly man, as i said up above i gets to me everytime a journalist compares bands but i can see why it is needed too. its a very difficult thing to describe what a band is like musically with words.
people often ask me what our band is like, and i can never tell them, what do i say, rock music? indie music? it just doesnt work. i guess comparisons are a necessary evil, still very very evil
an example of writing that i thought was very good...
" Unfortunately following this was a distasteful serving of sleepy melodic rock missing a melody and some decent lyrics. " - gar
describes his view of the song real well and it forms a good picture of the song in one's head. just wish it wasnt a negative one because twas written about one of our songs |
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/31/2005 10:33 PM |
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As long as the journalism is honest and well written, then most people will be happy. I wasn't being harsh for the sake of it or anything. But I'm liking the new single so I'll see what I can rustle up on that. Cheers by the way.
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delorentos New Member Posts:57
| 2/1/2005 1:15 PM |
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I enjoyed the 66e set, its a well written and witty review though, even if i don't entirely agree.
Some of the crowd were w**kers though, talking on mobiles and shouting and stuff during the quiet parts.
(i broke my never smoking ever again ever ever new year resolution after though...)
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 2/1/2005 1:51 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by delorentos
its a well written and witty review though,
Ah, you only like it because I said something nice about your band.
Ok, a quick small concession on a point. I know we're talking about different platforms and audiences but the principle is similar. I wrote the review on Saturday afternoon and then stayed in a friends flat that evening. At 2AM, following a few libations and other things a guitar was produced and when it got to my turn I banged out a few tunes (not my own) and to my surprise got a fairly good reaction, particularly about my voice (funniest being, "you ever think about going for You're a Star?".) before one guy commented that I sung in a Tom Waits-ish style, that annoyed me a little for 2 reasons.
- I didn't set out to ape anyones style, I just opened my mouth and whatever came out did.
- I actually thought I sounded pretty decent for once, and much as I love ol' razorblade larynx it's hardly a compliment to be told that you sound like him.
So anyway; Mick, I get what you're saying. |
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 2/1/2005 1:53 PM |
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What's wrong with Tom Waits' vocals?
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bonzoBasic Member Posts:364
| 2/1/2005 3:40 PM |
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I love comparisons to other bands rather than the reviewer giving his own interpretation of inner meaning or whatever Mick described it as above. When you say to me 66e sound like Radiohead I know exactly what you mean. When you say Polar sound like "a distasteful serving of sleepy melodic rock missing a melody and some decent lyrics" - I don't have a sausage what you are on about.
Actually, and Im not trying to annoy you but from the stuff on your site Polar do sound a little like Radiohead/Coldplay/Mercury Rev. Sorry!
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 2/1/2005 5:59 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Gar
What's wrong with Tom Waits' vocals?
Nothing as such, I think they are perfect for what he does, but I don't chain smoke camels the way he did in the 70's so I'd like to think that my voice wasn't completely shot.
If I sounded like him on Closing Time I'd be satisfied. |
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| 2/3/2005 6:10 PM |
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I get Mick and the whole comparisons malarky.
I don't get the radiohead thing anymore.....no band wants to sound like Radiohead-they'd fail. The point is that Ed's voice has a great range and he sometimes sings high-i think that otherwise the Radiohead comparison is a bit misleading. 66e are about melodic, layered, instrumental sounds (and I include Ed's lyrics with instrumental) if any comparisons are needed then Explosions in the sky is much better as well as Mogwai and other loud guitar driven music. I suppose the best advice to anyone unfamiliar with the band is get the album or go to a gig and make up your own mind. They seem to have a weirdly wide appeal seeing as they are not all that radio directed- I had a mix of friends at the gig, including fans of regular chart music and hard rock who I had dragged along and they all loved it and ran to buy the album the next day. So I figure you can be surprised by what other people think of a band.
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