So, I picked up <i>FEVER TO TELL</i>.....

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....and I have to say, I'm enjoying it more than I would have expected. Having never seen them live, I don't know how this compares to their thoroughly frothed-over stage aesthetic, but there's a bit more thought in this than I would have given them credit for. Her lyrics are pretty bad, it seems, but I'm digging the punchy, raw quality of the music (read: she is the weakest link in the chain).

What say you?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and for those of you on a budget, it's only 7.99 at Towuh Rekkids.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Shame on you!

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely you've heard the same thing done better elsewhere, Alex?

Examples? Errr, no.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

she is the weakest link in the chain

True. I do rate the guitar playing, actually. What made you pick it up? Just curious?

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

What made you pick it up?

The fact that one of them looks like the dad from American Pie?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely you've heard the same thing done better elsewhere, Alex?

Which? The music? Or her schtick?

Music-wise, yes...but I do think they have a nice, fresher take on it.

As far as Karen O......gosh, a sexually-assertive hellcat with a screw loose? Who'da thunk up THAT? (Hello, Wendy O Williams, Lydia Lunch, Patti Smith, Katie Jane Garside, etc. etc. etc. etc.)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Please don't mention Karen O and Wendy O in the same breath. Just please don't.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Who are you protecting? The former or the latter?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Shame on you!"

B-B-But Maps is great!

― Nathan W (Nathan Webb), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Her schtick ruins everything for me. "She was a dan-JUH to huh-SEYLF!" Barf. Maybe it'd become more of a love/hate thing if I ever saw them live. Maybe I'd find her more goofy and appealing. But I can't stand the records.

― Arthur (Arthur), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, I'm protecting Wendy. Not that she'd need it...

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I finally heard a Yeah Yeah Yeahs song. My friend put "Machine" on a comp. I actually like it, although some of the guitar parts sound like stuff Nick's done since the ol' Boba Fett days back in college. I don't know what the rest of their songs sound like, but I do like the voice on this one.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Her voice is great, but it's asked to carry too much. And the lyrics are non-existent. At least the EP had "Bang" and a lot of gooey profanity.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

As far as Karen O......gosh, a sexually-assertive hellcat with a screw loose? Who'da thunk up THAT? (Hello, Wendy O Williams, Lydia Lunch, Patti Smith, Katie Jane Garside, etc. etc. etc. etc.)

i read this, and had to laugh. of COURSE there are precendents for what karen's doing. name me an artist right now who isn't derivative in some sense. although i'd argue karen's schtick is less purposefully or consciously schtick-like than her detractors would like to think. and i doubt she's ever heard of katie jane garside.

i'd say the route from Wendy O to karen O is a lot more tangled than, say, from Kurt to Craig Nicholls.

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, and i think Fever To Tell is awesome.

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, I'm protecting Wendy. Not that she'd need it...

For a start, I wasn't comparing them, I was merely stating that Karen's shtick wasn't exactly entirely original....and anytime you wanna go head to head on Plasmatics appreciation/trivia, you just give me a call.

http://www.plasmatics.com/Olympic.gif

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

and i doubt she's ever heard of katie jane garside.

Whether she's heard of her (her being the lead singer for the criminally undersung Daisy Chainsaw) isn't really the point. It's that it's not that wildly original an idea anymore. In fact, it wasn't really that original when Katie was at it either (tho' she did it with far more passion that Karen, I'd suggest).

You're completely spot-on about the Kurt/Craig correlation, by the way.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

i like them

― dave q, Tuesday, 29 April 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

i do too!

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

the album is the only one i've heard this year where the last half is better than the first

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"For a start, I wasn't comparing them, I was merely stating that Karen's shtick wasn't exactly entirely original....and anytime you wanna go head to head on Plasmatics appreciation/trivia, you just give me a call."

I didn't say you were comparing them. I just expressed my um, discomfort at seeing both Os so close together. And I have no desire to get into a Plasmatics pissing match. But I'm quite thrilled you offered. (I have an original Bond Theater Plasmatics poster hanging in my room -- like the one you posted, but without the red.) Oh wait, I said no pissing match. Sorry!

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I really really really really like this album alot, my sister says track six sounds like 'no doubt when they rocked' (it does)

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

(2nd half of elephant has 'hypnotize' and 'girl no likey medicine' = it is better than 1st half)

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

heh yes, yr right james...it's the middle of elephant i dont like

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I've listened to ball and biscuit maybe twice, the needle and the damage done maybe once, and even with "I want to be the boy" I have to pretend I'm listening to "I Won't Forget You" if CC knew how to play a slide. The middle doth sag.

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm really into the album and I also highly recommend soulseeking the version of "Maps" from their Peel session.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Jeanne.....

POX: PlasMaticS

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

can i ask a sorta serious question here...

i don't wanna come across all Dave Spart here, but i just perused the Pitchfork review of Fever (dunno why, the writing there just seems to become more clueless, smug, unfunny and unworthy with every passing day), and the writer basically spewed on for ages about how YYYs THE BAND were great, and dragged down into the mire by karen's frothy onstage antics and overbearing character, and that her best contribution to the album was 'maps', where she displays a vulnerability missing elsewhere in the album (i am paraphrasing *hugely* here, but check the review out and disagree with me...), and it got me thinking.

A lot of the stick Karen gets is in terms of being sexually assertive. this really seems to stick in a lot of peoples' craws; i find it really interesting that this quality of hers is so often focussed upon, and in such a prurient way - and i mentioned, in my Kerrang! feature, the almost-fetishised way NME treats her, a strapline of "Drunk!" or "Oversexed!" never more than a column-inch away. It's weird, in terms of strict contemporaries, Jack White can sing 'ball & biscuit', Julian can invite girls to meet him in the bathroom, Dolf Datsun can get all sweat-drenched and launch hilariously, ludicrously salacious come-ons over tumescent hard-rock, and no-ne seems to flinch. karen gets sexually assertive, and its instantly a matter for fevered debate and whispered or inferred 'tut-tut's...

now i don't wanna get hung up on this; sure, Wendy O did it all before and took it a lot further (though i'd rather listen to Fever To Tell than *****) (and, fuck, is karen any less original or without precedent than her contemporaries? if anything, her sources are more fascinating, her taste better) but karen's doing it now. doesn't anyone else think that Karen's sexual lyricism and performance seems to rile a certain portion of the indie-rock reader/writer/listenership in a sort of hilarious way?

the pitchfork review seemed to crystallise this; criticising O's persona throughout the album until she was willing to play the heartbroken wretch and occupy a trope the critic was obviously more comfortable haviing female popstars sing within... does anyone else see this?? am i the only one???

for what its worth, the extent to how seriously people take O's lyrics is laughable to me; they're obviously personae she works within for each song, and i'm sure that's part of their appeal (again, i wrote about this in the Kerrang! feature). that some critics can't see past the surface details in single specific lyrics, to the big picture they sketch in, seems moronic.

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

the way critics take the bait is amusing and sad

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

by **** i, of course, meant to pop downstairs and check the exact title of 'new hope for the wretched' that my buddy Dan in Chicago burned me a coupla months ago before submitting that post. but i didn't. and now my whole point is undermined.

sigh.

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Since I've not seen a YYYs live show and never read an interview, there's nothing in my mind about her being oversexed or whatever. I actually like the music itself - although I'm sure I'd enjoy the hype too.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:41 (twenty-two years ago)

the fact that the pfork reviewer used the phrase "hype is a bitch, a shrew and it's up to you to tame her" sez a lot

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I am surprised how much hate this band is getting. I loved them without seeing an image for months (CDR) and I loved them 25 times more after seeing them live. I think "Maps" is really pretty. I have nothing to add.

― Sasha Frere-Jones (Sasha Frere-Jones), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 00:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm actually approaching these guys from the opposite way, Sasha -- I've been bemused by all the hype and photos and attention and have resolved never to hear the music. It seems just right that way!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

that's why, uh, i've never heard the pixies.

actually, that's just cuz i'm a stubborn jerk.

― brian badword (badwords), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Why I! Resolving to never hear a band based on their photos..

is a perfectly valid way to process shit. If you have 6,778 CDs to listen to, there is nothing sweeter than crossing one off your list. The YYYs, happily, will be fine.

― Sasha Frere-Jones (Sasha Frere-Jones), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The PF review calls hype "a bitch", naturally, use of that timeless adage re: hype indicates a deep-seated mysoginy. Except the review reads "it's theirs to tame," rather than "tame her". But then, when it comes to trashing Pitchfork, who needs accuracy?

If I may, at the risk of defending them, it seems to me that "Maps" is cited as impressive for some sort of prevailing sincerity, which the critic finds to be in short supply elsewhere. A-gosh, gosh, gosh; maybe I'm just being naive! Maybe, but maybe not. Excess of character? Overbearing? The reviewer seems to recoil from her "excess of character", true; except, after seeing her shtick onstage... I find that I can at least see get where the review is coming from. I don't exactly agree, but the whole point of this is that I think it's a little convenient to blast someone for citing Karen O as "insincere" and calling it repressed gender bias.

― Stain, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

how is it 'convenient'?

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Convenient as an angle to attack Karen's critics (admittedly, one rarely needs an excuse to attack PF's crit's, though I found this particular review to be one the better pieces I've read there in a few weeks). Political Correctness is enviable ground to lead from when defending a position. Someone steps up to question it, and they're a bigot. I'm not trying to turn this into some kind of PC debate to be honest; all I'm trying to say is that I think the whole Karen vs. Guys issue is spurious. On some level, it isn't without merit, but it seems to me that here, the implicit claim is that there can be no legitimate question of her sincerity without an underlying intolerance. C'mon.

― Stain, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 03:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, James... That doesn't mean I dont agree that critics come back to the issue like dogs returning to their own vomit; I just think that there's an underlying validity. It's an equally valid argument to wonder why those critics who pass Jack White, Casablancas, and all the other indie dregs that got name-dropped don't stop to question the guys' sincerity. Just because it's a more widespread practice doesn't mean that it's necessarily the right standard to hold. That's more or less an observation; I can't say I'd realistically advise critics to Destroy All Schtick.

― Stain, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

critic in not knowing the power of words shocker

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I've only heard "Machine," and I thought that song was touching in a certain way. Maybe it's just the vocal delivery.

If Karen O. threatens the boys and turns things on their heads, so to speak (if that's really what she's doing), more power to her. There's more than enough examples of male rockers excluding girls from the party. A little dose of your own medicine can't hurt.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 04:25 (twenty-two years ago)

William H. Macy told somebody one time that to be a good actor you have to "remember your lines, and say them in a strong voice." This is what actors need to do, since they don't have mics. If they drop close to the cut-off point of intelligibility they seem to be not giving a shit. In theater, loud and strong = you mean it. This was true for singing too, for most of history. You had to be heard. Then we came out of the stone ages and got microphones and breathy cabaret shit became possible. Whispering pithy nothings into your ear. Multitrack recording meant you could even have the band blasting at full-volume and still hear the singer, I dunno, clearing his throat. I think this is why "It's Oh So Quiet" became such a huge hit for Bjork, the words actually referred to her exploitation of the microphone's dynamic range.

Now I'm starting to have second thoughts. Close-mic stuff can also carry a weight of real gritty intention. It's been around long enough now, I guess. It's become a stock film-acting technique: the tough guy (or femme fatale) (or whoever) leans in close and whispers an ultimatum.

And KO can get loud!! Lord she doesn't half-shout on half the songs! But what I think she really leverages, and what gets me, are the quavery decays of her voice, the burbly ways it sputters up and out over the song. She's not "delivering" the song she's kind of lobbing it, and it takes a funny hop. In any case, I'm wondering if the "insincere" barbs KO gets are a legacy of "loud and firm" = conviction?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

(NB by "the songs" I don't mean their new album because I haven't heard it yet!)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 04:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"critic in not knowing the power of words shocker"

Would you clarify, Jess? Do you mean unfairly expecting an audience to read what's being said sans subtext, as in nothing more than a literal level? 'Cause if so, I'd argue that it takes as much effort in this particular case to find the opposing viewpoint, as well. If not that, then I need a little more to understand what you're trying to get at.

As for "loud and firm = conviction", I think this is indeed an intriguing possible parallel. From just an album-based standpoint, I'd probably be inclined to agree with you, Tracer. I've gotta say that there's something about the live show that really gets to me beyond vocal dynamics. It's not an easy thing to nail down... Most bands rehearse their stage presence, antics, whatever, but I guess I get the feeling that the YYY's practice their "spontaneity". It seems ingenuine (in a very negative way), but it's seriously possible that I'd just rather be fooled by the act.

― Stain, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"her gratuitous sexual tension has become their trademark"

pitchfork writers in fear of bodies shocker.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 06:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm kind of meh on this album. Don't hate, don't love, keep waiting for a k.o. punch and getting one in "Maps" (hell yeah it's beautiful, and it's Karen's best vocal evah) but not much more. Maybe the hype is getting to me, though. Will put it on in a couple months and see what I think then.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

'there can be no legitimate question of her sincerity'

well, duh. (ie insert any pronoun whatever for 'her' or don't even use one, it's the same, what kind of an issue is that?)

Also, Wendy O was not a singer. An actress maybe. (I mean 'singer' in the sense that things like projection and nuance and timbre didn't seem to figure in her performance calculations. Was English even her first language? On the evidence of the intro to "Concrete Shoes" it's debatable. Maybe she'd just come back from a root canal operation.) Not that that makes 'New Hope' any less great though. ("During the instrumental break in 'Dream Lover' all of the musicians were isolated from each other, so they could neither see nor hear what the others were doing" - the liner notes!)

― dave q, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 09:06 (twenty-two years ago)

the implicit claim is that there can be no legitimate question of her sincerity without an underlying intolerance.

that's not what i'm suggesting at all. i'm just questioning the reasoning behind it; like, why don't threads on White Stripes centre around whether Jack White is 'sincere' in his lyrics? and why is Karen instantly considered more 'sincere' when she sings her torch song, but not when she sings, say, 'Y Control' (a pretty fucken cool song about possessive relationships) or 'Man' (the strongest lust-rock on the record)...

what's most laughable is that, because Karen sings from these supposedly opposing places, her 'authenticity' is somehow compromised. why is 'maps' more sincere than the other songs? can Karen only be sincere when exppressing sadness, is not expressing lust and strength and confidence also sincere? and are vulnerability and confidence necessarily such strange bedfellows? one of my favourite things about 'Fever To Tell' is that it contains such contrasts in atmosphere and tone. again, Jack White can write fargile ballads and storming, crotch-inflated rockouts on the same album, and no-one questions his sincerity...

this isn't an argument about Political Correctness, this is about questioning the reasoning behind the strong feelings Karen stirs in audiences and critics. the fact is, she's under a hell of a lot more scrutiny and more severe investigation than her (entirely male) contemporaries, and you'd be a fool not to see that, and maybe wonder why.

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 10:18 (twenty-two years ago)

just heard the album, the music is ok but gotta admit the voice bothers me. ther're a few track which are pretty great! standouts: "rich", "maps" and "y-control". the othas can be skipable, and i still HATE "date with the night", the music is not bad but again the singing totaly gets in the way.

― rexJr., Wednesday, 30 April 2003 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

why don't threads on White Stripes centre around whether Jack White is 'sincere' in his lyrics?

Fucking A, B, C & D. Authenticity memo to thread....

― Sasha Frere-Jones (Sasha Frere-Jones), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i could give a fuck whether or not karen's being 'authentic' - this is pop music fercrissakes - but i would argue what makes her supposedly 'inauthentic' is her very authenticity: that she is not just some freakout-throwing sex-puppy or some teary-eyed torch singer, but can be both or neither as she sees fit.

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 12:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Wendy O was not a singer.

Have you never heard "Lunacy" on Metal Priestess? Proof that the woman once had actual vocal chords (before shredding them to stringy, charred bacon-like strips circa Coup D'etat).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 13:02 (twenty-two years ago)

i could give a fuck whether or not karen's being 'authentic'

i was agreeing with you.

― Sasha Frere-Jones (Sasha Frere-Jones), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

why don't threads on White Stripes centre around whether Jack White is 'sincere' in his lyrics?
Fucking A, B, C & D. Authenticity memo to thread....

I think we should talk about Jack White's sincerity problem a little more often. He tries to be sincere sometimes, and he's really quite bad at it. "Shut up and play a big-ass riff, sissy boy!"

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe the Karen O "she's better when she's not being sexy" thing is just these critics' idea of feminism. "Well, she's really sexy and hott, and the way she sounds, I'd really like nothing better than to make a really sticky mess with her, but... to do so would dehumanize her somehow, so I'll try and focus on what a good person she is instead." Which is to say, they miss the point COMPLETELY.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It's only a matter of time before some enterprising producer puts together a triple-bill of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the No-Nos, and a reformed Yeah Yeah Noh.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Kenan, thanks for expressing succinctly in one sentence what i have struggled to explain with countless rambling, misspelt and unfocussed paragraphs...

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I just remembered that Nick Zinner was in a band in college called the Wow Wows. Maybe they could reunite and play that show, mike?

― hstencil, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

You'd also have to invite !!!, obv.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

And they all have to cover "She Loves You."

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe the Karen O "she's better when she's not being sexy" thing is just these critics' idea of feminism. "Well, she's really sexy and hott"

what if we don't actually find her sexy and hott?

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

BINGO

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, she does nothing for me, I hafta say.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"this is about questioning the reasoning behind the strong feelings Karen stirs in audiences and critics. the fact is, she's under a hell of a lot more scrutiny and more severe investigation than her (entirely male) contemporaries, and you'd be a fool not to see that, and maybe wonder why."

Short answer: because she has tits. She's a woman who comes off as sexually aggressive and in charge of her game -- whether or not it's "authentic" (or whatever in the heck half this thread is about) doesn't matter -- will be dissected. And I say this as an aggressive tit-toting individual in charge of her game.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

oops, I meant to say "ANY woman who comes off as sexually aggressive..." (otherwise my sentence doesn't make jack crap sense.)

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Obviously you're also totally insincere, Jeanne, and that's why you'd defend that < /certain ILXors>.

FYI, Matos: She is a woman, ergo she is hottt. Etc. Sigh.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

NELL CARTER TO THREAD!

― hstencil, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

yes of course how could i forget etc.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Come again, Ally? How am I being insincere? Better question -- How can you tell if I'm being insincere? Because I assure you I'm not.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

(she's kidding, Jeanne)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

oh. nevermind.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Total intertextual bugout! Two subthreads become one!

The inability to tell if someone is being sincere or not--ILMer or pop star--is exactly why discussions of authenticity are krapola. Reception Theory fire sale! The only sinceirty we can verify is our own, right?

But hold on: sincerity and authenticity aren't the same things. No. Well, in many music crit cases they might as well be. No?

― Sasha Frere-Jones (Sasha Frere-Jones), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

what if we don't actually find her sexy and hott?

Well, then don't worry about it. I'm only speculating that some critics may be feeling preemtively guilty about objectifying a woman who, in fact, is shoving her sexuality down your throat. Seems to me the whole point of her horny little vixen act is that it's okay to get a hard on if you feel like it, and you don't have to write a dissertation about it later. But if you're not getting a hard-on anyway, well... maybe this is not the vocalist for you.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the simpler answer to the Ally/Jeanne thing is that Jeanne wasn't aware of the whole "< /person or thing>" joke Ally made.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, what he said!

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

It was sarcastic but it wasn't a joke, Michaelangelo. Obv. Jeanne I didn't mean it towards you as my opinion of you at all, sorry for the confusion there.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

obviously you're not joking when you say "she is a woman therefore hott etc." who besides me would be stupid enough to say otherwise?

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I meant...OH NEVER MIND!

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyway wouldn't Karen O's vocals go so much better over the 21st century girls album?

And wouldn't the music on Fever To Tell work much better with Kay Hanley on top?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Why is the 21st Century Girls album only available in a Japanese edition? And, like, for $800? Shampoo is better, because you can get it anywhere for $3.

― Sasha Frere-Jones (Sasha Frere-Jones), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Glass Candy roxxx u r all grrrls

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Back on topic, I just threw this album on again. I'm quite diggin' "Rich," although I wish the lyrics weren't so weak. Ah! "Date with the Night" just started. Karen's voice is a actually a decent addition to the mix (despite all the nay-saying, myself included), but as far as I'm concerned, Nick Z. is the real star of this show.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

ditto to that

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I wanna see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Blues Explosion play a show together, and then have sex later that night.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, nickalicious, how you make me giggle. XD

― janni (janni), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:36 (twenty-two years ago)

The tone he gets on his guitar is ridiculous, it sounds like he's playing like 4 different guitars at the same time but all slightly out of tune with each other!! I mean I know he's using pedals and stuff but still. What's funny about Nick is that he always tries not to smile but sometimes he wants to really bad so he has to kind of hide his face somehow for a few seconds until it passes.

For the record I am not in favor of any public Jon Spencer action. One time a girl told me that EYE reminded HER of HIM... * shudder * That was the end between us, it actually really was!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe Karen O should tell Jon that as a fuck, he sucks. It's probably time that someone did.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Word!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, for the record, Modey Lemon opened for them once; ML said they were prepared to be turned off, on advance hype alone, but ended up totally digging them. Take note, haters!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Tracer, Jon Spencer gets to bone Christina (meow) Martinez so there's gotta be magic in him. And I know plenty of other women who think the man is all sex.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I just listened to this again in my car and it roxxxxxx

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

After another listening of "Backslider" to remind me, I have to say that yes, I would let Jon Spencer fuck me in the ass.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

EW!!!!!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Good lord!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

People, your reaction is not taking into account that Jon Spencer is really, really, really fucking hot.

Yanc3y, Glass Candy is the worst dressed band that ever occured EVER.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

http://members.aol.com/girshmag/jsbe2.jpg vs
http://members.verizon.net/~vze3237g/images/yyy1.jpg

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Looks like Jon Spencer is doing the ole' reacharound in that picture to Karen's O.

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

He's like the count who hits on Nicole Kidman at the beginning of Eyes Wide Shut. "Eh Karen O... i vant to saaack your bloud"

Wait a minute I think in order to become a rock star you have to give up your EYES!!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

JON SPENCER IS FOINE U R ALL GAY

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Y'know, I'm listening to this again today, and I'm still digging it for the most part, but the song "Pin" makes me exceptionally irritated because it fuckin' sucks.....and it doesn't have to. It sucks because of HER. She ruins it from being a decent track with her senseless bleating. Poor job, there.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex in NYC is against senseless bleating? MY WORLD IS SHATTERED.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I should qualify that. I'm all for senseless bleating when it compliments the entirety of the proceedings. This is the case with "Pin," however.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 1 May 2003 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

how's irving plaza as a venue, I've never been there. YYYs playing there in a few days.

― M.Slaught, Thursday, 1 May 2003 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I diggit.

I wouldn't describe the lyrics as weak - simple, instead. It's a fun album.

― Catherine (Catherine), Thursday, 1 May 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Irving Plaza? Well, it's basically just a slightly ramshackle theatre.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 1 May 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon Spencer's hottt. Who can truly deny this?

Ally: You hate Glass Candy cuz she pulls off the tube top look even though she's got no boobs! And why would I care what she wears? Do you think I'm this guy:

http://i.timeinc.net/people/images/specials/oscars2002/intro/1stevenpic.gif

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Thursday, 1 May 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't that her off Malcolm In The Middle, or have I just reaaaaally missed the point?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 1 May 2003 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

AAAAGGGH. MY EYES!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 1 May 2003 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I love it that Entertainment Weekly mistook that guy for Dave Grohl once.

― Arthur (Arthur), Thursday, 1 May 2003 22:25 (twenty-two years ago)

THAT GUY ROXX U R ALL GAY!!! Anyway, yeah, I totally think you are that guy, except you don't rock at all, Yanc3y, yr totally fucking emo. I look about 800 times better in a tube top than that thing from Glass Candy who wears crap clothes, but you don't see me putting them on and parading around in them. I mean, you do, but not with a ridiculous skirt.

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 2 May 2003 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

It really does get better and better as it goes along. (I can't think of many other albums that end stronger than they begin.) I like her singing; I like the raggedy guitar. I like the crackling, dry recording sound. I just wish there were more songs as distinctive as the last few. (The rest still may grow on me more.)

I laughed the first time through, when the bonus track came on. (I was washing dishes and didn't realize it was still ticking away.) Hidden track!!

― Sam J. (samjeff), Friday, 2 May 2003 05:35 (twenty-two years ago)

the UK version has 'yeah new york!' as a bonus track after the hidden track, which is just biiiiiiizarre

xxx

― stevie (stevie), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

And that bonus bonus track is class.

The title alone is cheeky, class, funny and super hip.
Obviously a reference to No New York.

Track 9, as pointed out elsewhere, has a Big Black riff on it but what song? I'll listen to their albums later to find out, unless someone knows already.

And Rich is 'influenced' bu ice cream van horns. Anyone spot anything else?

― mei (mei), Friday, 9 May 2003 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

the title suxor

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 9 May 2003 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

great band , wonderful people, loved them for years, but seriously, they had their cover artist Cody's band the Ssion open for them at Irving Plaza last night and they fucking shattered everything there.

― mosurock (mosurock), Friday, 9 May 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I keep going back and forth on her singing. It sounds really strained. I like it half the time, because it hints she could just totally GO OFF at any moment, you can hear the tension rising and rising, an urge behind her voice that she keeps inside, but every time she threatens to really let loose into a full-throated lusty howl, she clamps it off in her throat.

Stay away from that, Dan.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 9 May 2003 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't dig the EP (save "Our Time," it was just Johanna Spencer Blues Explosion), but what I've heard of this (I'm buying it Sunday) is spectacular.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 9 May 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

every time she threatens to really let loose into a full-throated lusty howl, she clamps it off in her throat.

Yeah, that's a great description - her singing is so much more interesting and less "obvious" than I expected it would be, from reading all those eye-rolling reports about the band.

I've grown to love this album. They're on Conan tonight, hey!

― Sam J. (samjeff), Friday, 9 May 2003 21:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'v gotta confess, "Date with the night" totally grew on me latly, that drumming, what the hell?! one of the greatest i'v heard in a while. I'm begining to dig the other tracks as well(aside from the obvious classics "Rich","Y-control","Maps" AND "Date with the night"). damm, i'll put the album on right NOW! how 'bout y'all?

― rexJr., Friday, 9 May 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Wish I could say something contrarian right now. I can't.

I find this album maddeningly uneven, but I'm getting to the point where the inconsistencies are becoming part of what fascinate me about this band.

Maybe I should weigh in on this when the infatuation passes...

― Wired Flounder (Wired Flounder), Friday, 9 May 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm really surprised they picked "Date with the Night" for the first single, I woulda thought they'da gone with the No Doubt song

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Hm, wonder if that was what they just played on the conan o'brien show. Was interesting.. the guitarist is really, really awesome. Does Karen O ever sing out or just kinda choke back her words all the time? She seemed awfully reserved to me - the opposite of 'reserved' is not sexy or lusty - but rather, that as a singer she can go in more interesting directions. I hope she does b/c they're good, I was more than a little prepared to roll my eyes at the latest trendy band, but hm, I may have to go pick up the album.

― daria g, Saturday, 10 May 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

First downloaded "Bang". Was pretty meh about it (can't even remember what it sounds like, everytime I try I get "Her Jazz" in my head instead- not a bad thing by any means!)

Then was introduced to "Our Time" by Mojo's endearingly delusional "Up Yours! Punk's Not Dead!" free CD (it's where all the kids get their info from dontcha know.) It's a great track, and I don't mind Karen O at all on it, she's great. "I may be dead honey/but I was left with my eyes" = one of the greatest opening lines ever. They should sell t-shirts with "It's the year to be hated!" on them.

Saw the new single on MTV the other day. It just sounded like a Liars track to me.

Ordered the album.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 10 May 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

daria g: that was "Y Control" they played on Conan. I wonder the same thing about where her voice will go next. Kind of agree that it could do more interesting things (echoing what Tracer Hand wrote upthread as well). If the sequence of *Fever to Tell* is anything to go by, there's a movement from letting it rip with abandon ("Rich") to belting out the tunes (pretty much the bulk of the alb) to almost a conscious attempt on Karen's part to rein in and subdue her instrument in the last third of the album. The last track, "Modern Romance" finds her using a very quiet voice, and - I'm no voice expert, but- I hear an awkwardness at that range that works to her advantage here. My sense is that she's still feeling her way around what her voice can do.

― Wired Flounder (Wired Flounder), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

(clarification: "Modern Romance" is the last *listed* track).

― Wired Flounder (Wired Flounder), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"...that works to her advantage" ??!!?? Kind of a lame way to put what I meant. Carry on.

― Wired Flounder (Wired Flounder), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

So last Friday I finally got Fever to Tell. I was going to buy it but in the end I got it free to review.

Some of what I've written is informed by this thread and other YYYs discussion on ILM. ILM is brilliant.

I'd love it if any of you would take the time to read it and comment please.

It's at:

http://www.bleed-music.com/new/story.asp?id=1554

under the headline "Well I'd Fuck Her".

:-)

― mei (mei), Friday, 16 May 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Nice review, probably the closest to my own YYYs opinion I've seen. I especially like "She's only pretending to pretend."

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 16 May 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Y'know guys, maybe somebody ought to propose some kinda theoretical Copernican revolution so as no longer feel compelled to address an issue of authenticity/non authenticity. As in, where is she going rather than does she mean it.

― daria g, Saturday, 17 May 2003 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

can't stop listening to this album, and I really wish I'd caught them playing "Y Control" (maybe my fave song on the album, that or "Tick" or "Maps"). It's sorta like Pretenders meets Girls Against Boys. If there was any justice in this world this album would actually set Peaches on fire and erase her existence from cultural memory.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 17 May 2003 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I met Peaches the other night when she brought Cobra Killer by to do a halfassed DJ set at Pianos that nobody attended. Let me just say that her career died in that room that night.

― mosurock (mosurock), Saturday, 17 May 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I just got this (the YYYs) today too ($9.99 at Virgin Megastore). Couldn't resist. Every song I've downloaded so far I've liked, so I thought, why not. FWIW, I like her singing. Still have to give it a proper listen.

― o. nate (onate), Saturday, 17 May 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, it is good to see GvsB referenced in a complimentary way. Hm, when I saw them on TV it made me think of Blonde Redhead and Don Caballero, but not in terms of the singing.

― daria g, Sunday, 18 May 2003 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Hi Daria.

I personally wasn't discussing Karen's authenticity (not sure what that word means here) but wheter or not she truly means the lyrics she says. I reckon she does which is interesting because I reckon most singers don't: they exaggerate or use cliche because that's what's expected.

But some of the things are corny or stoopid or unbelievable so she doesn't want people to think he means them seriously. Hence the 'pretending to pretend'.

This is personal for me because a few times I've told someone something and knew I meant it but also been fairly sure she thought I was joking/just being kind/being facile.

― mei (mei), Sunday, 18 May 2003 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Also could you explain "where is she going/does she mean it"?

― mei (mei), Sunday, 18 May 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Greil Marcus: "The feeling of people pushing through a crowd, when there's no crowd."

Me: "Does that mean you like it or not?"

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 19 May 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

If Greil Marcus had been knifed at Altamont, would the world of rockcrit be a better place? Keep in mind by this point Lester Bangs is already writing for Rolling Stone.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 19 May 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Then who would have edited the Bangs anthology? (I personally wouldn't pick Meltzer on the basis that his criticism of the book was "you didn't include enough of Bangs' BAD writing")

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 19 May 2003 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

John Morthland's doing the new one.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 19 May 2003 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Justyn's play, from from Greil's POV:

GM: "E=MC2"
JD: "Does that mean you like it, or not?"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 04:14 (twenty-two years ago)

And sorry to be the hornet here, maybe I just need to go to sleep (ya think?) but Anthony that's a pretty rotten thing to say, wtf dude

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I should note that Marcus is probably my favorite rockwriter ever, and a couple of his books mean a lot to me. I just wish he'd be a little less...quippy, sometimes. Maybe he's been hanging around Sarah Vowell too much.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 05:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm really not being facile here, but you've so TOTALLY lost me now.

First off, in this:
Greil Marcus: "The feeling of people pushing through a crowd, when there's no crowd."
shouldn't it be feelings?

Come on, help me out here or I'll never learn!

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 07:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Justyn what on earth is "quippy" about Greil's crowd metaphor (HIS feeling, not the feelings of the people pushing through the assumed crowd)? Maybe it's vague, maybe it's overly zen, but how the fuck is it any less quippy than "Does that mean you like it or not?" or "Maybe he's been hanging around Sarah Vowell too much"? I mean forgive my boardinghouse language but it seems like some mean-spiritedness is overriding common sense here. I just don't understand where it's coming from.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Miccio will end up being hella successful as a rockcrit cuz sometimes he's just plain dumb enuf.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, I've heard the name "Greil Marcus" but never read any of his stuff. Where can I find some, I might go and take a look.

He's got a silly pompous name though, don't you think? Like he should be proposing legislative reforms in a senate or something.

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I said this on another thread already, but I'm not saying Greil SHOULD HAVE BEEN, I'm asking whether or not the world of rock crit would be a better place. Even if it would have been, which I think, that doesn't mean I'd advocate his murder. I mean, rockcrit is SOOOO not that important. But if Greil can be glad the Spin Doctor's singer got throat cancer and might not be able to sing again just because he said "bitch" in "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," surely I can question the value of his presence in our culture in a colorful manner.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I meant to say "how the fuck is it MORE quippy" on my last post. Sorry about that.

Anthony the logic of your last sentence is beneath you, frankly.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually it is wrong to bring up that the target of your insult is capable of much worse, but I think it should put in perspective just how rude I'm being.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Tracer, I was genuinely wondering whether he liked it or not! Marcus praised the YYYs' first record, then dissed one of their live shows, and the line is vague enough that there's some room for debate what he means.

"The sound of people pushing through a crowd, when there's no crowd" can mean either:

It sounds exciting and punky ("there's no crowd" = but no one will hear it)
OR
It sounds tired and contrived ("there's no crowd" = they're just talking to themselves)

Yes, yes, this one line isn't any more obscure/quippy than any number of daily ILM posts, but I don't see how my remark is any more mean-spirited than the 2,350,000 "oh great, ANOTHER GM Sleater-Kinney article" type comments I've heard, though I can see how it might read differently in the context of Anthony's follow-up post.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 23:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Can I just say again that I really like Marcus and think Anthony is totally wrong that rockcrit would be better off without him? You could make a much better argument that we would have been better off if Lester Bangs had just decided to go off and write novels after getting fired from Rolling Stone, considering that bad Bangs-wannabe writers are much more prevalent than bad Marcus-wannabe writers (I mean how many are there of THOSE, besides me?)

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

The real important thing is what YYY has to do with Bob Dylan

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The real important thing is what YYY has to do with Bob Dylan

Ummmm....they both are from NYC?

Took a break from Fever to Tell for a little while and am playing it again today, and damn if "Maps" isn't a legitimately beautiful song....and how frightwigged Nick can summon that sheer range of sound and whumptastic riffbollocks out of his guitar is heckadang impressive (be he the neuva-garage-rock-revival answer to Julian Swales?)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 22 May 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, I got this one foisted upon me. Was v. reticent.
First listen: sub-Boss Hog (sub-Good Boss Hog, mind you)
Second listen: 'sall right, I guess. The word perfuctory keeps coming to mind.
Third listen: sub-lotsa stuff, lotsa stuff that's sorta alread sub to begin with, like Lo-Hi (which I wanted to like, but can barely even tolerate). YYY better than Lo-Hi? Probably.
Fourth listen: there will be a fifth listen.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 22 May 2003 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

....and how frightwigged Nick can summon that sheer range of sound and whumptastic riffbollocks out of his guitar is heckadang impressive

Yeah, and was there any evidence of this whatsoever on the first EP (I've not heard Machine)? It's like the guy learned how to play guitar overnight. It's quite impressive how much better he's gotten.

― scott m (mcd), Thursday, 22 May 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

haha, from an interview with Karen O, talking about "Maps":

Interviewer: I love that song and I think a lot of people do.
Karen O: Well, it's authentic.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Gotta say, I'm still enjoying this record (though Karen O remains the weakest link in the chain).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, sometimes I wish she'd shut up so I can enjoy the music

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say that Karen is the strongest link as well as the weakest link. Without her, this would be a well-crafted but ultimately forgettable set of art-punk instrumentals - kind of like a less ambitious Turin Machine. For better and worse, she gives the band a distinct personality and puts a human face on the songs. I'd say the greatest weakness of the album is that it sounds like a transitional album, but the band doesn't know what it's transitioning to.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I still like this record a lot. "Modern Romance" is my fave of the moment.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

My fave is invariably "Maps," these days.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"Maps" + "Y Control" is, for me, one of the all-time great back-to-back pairings. "Maps" has the slight edge, but the double threat of those two - man!

I still love the album - it still sends me spazzing and air-guitaring all over the place. And Karen's singing definitely plays a decisive role in that (o. nate OTM).

― Sam J. (samjeff), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm, well "Maps" is pretty but it's never been my fave - the chorus is repeated too many times - it needs another verse or a bridge or something. "Modern Romance" sounds like a sketch of a good song - which is not the same a being a good song. My faves are "Black Tongue", "Rich", and "Y Control".

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

same a being = same as being

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

And I think she get a Punk Rock Grammy (TM) or something for her performance on "Tick" ("ticktickticktickTICKTICKTICKTICKticktick... tickTICKtickTICKtickTICKtickTICKticktick...")

― Sam J. (samjeff), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

(I spent the time putting in those bold tags, yet left out the word "should")

― Sam J. (samjeff), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It's still my favorite album of the year and the only weak link in the band is the bass player.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

My fave is "Y Control". "Maps" reminds me of Coldplay too much.

― Michael B, Wednesday, 13 August 2003 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

If "Maps" reminded me of Coldplay than I'm guessing most things would remind of Coldplay and I'd probably have to kill myself.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

haha!

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 19:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Could I nominate this as the nerdiest thead evah? Especially now I've joined it.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Thursday, 14 August 2003 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

finally downloading this now after hearing/seeing 'Maps' (which is just LOVELY) for first time the other night - uptake? slow? whuuuut?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Still great.

― mei (mei), Thursday, 28 August 2003 11:04 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS ARE AWESOME. THEIR CD FEVER TO TELL IS AMAZING AND I RECCOMEND THAT, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, YOU SHOULD GO BUY IT. TRUST ME, YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID. I LIKE EVERY SONG ON THERE, AND IT'S HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE, BUT I'D SAY MAPS AND Y-CONTROL. O YEA, AND THEY'RE NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY. HOPE THEY WIN. THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS ROCK, AND KAREN O IS COOL, AND PEOPLE THAT SAY SHE'S OVERSEXED ARE DUMB. WITHOUT HER THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS WOULDN'T BE THE SAME THING. I THINK SHE'S AWESOME.

― Arturo Lopez, Saturday, 7 February 2004 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Thank you for your contribution. We regret that we cannot reply to every post personally.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 7 February 2004 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Ack! I do hope they don't win the Grammy. Not that they don't deserve it, but the "Best New Artist" Grammy is literally the kiss of death (hello Men at Work, Spin Doctors, Milli Vanilli, etc.)

Just seeing the video for "Maps" today, my enthusiasm for the album was revitalized. It may not be the most diverse record, but it was much better than I'd have expected. The video's actually quite nicely done as well (Karen giving it some smoldering pathos throughout). The drummer looks disarmingly like the character of Michael Boloton in "Office Space".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 7 February 2004 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

favorite album of the year. I had no idea they were up for best new artist. I thought it was just best "alternative."

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 7 February 2004 02:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I may be wrong, Anthony. I'm just assuming they're up for "best new artist". Not sure. But, honestly, the Grammys are meaningless.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 7 February 2004 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I'm With Alex On That One.
The Grammy's Suck ass
Especially in 2001 When Steely Dan Won Best Album Of The Year Over Radioheads Kid A.

― Dude (The Yellow Dart), Saturday, 7 February 2004 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh, watch "Maps" video and Fischerspooner's "The 15th" back-to-back and snicker.

― anode (anode), Saturday, 7 February 2004 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

I just saw a big fucking ad for Fever to Tell on the web, WTF!

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Monday, 23 February 2004 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw an ad for it on Friendster the other day. Giving it some legs I suppose.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 23 February 2004 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"Maps" is getting a small but heartening amount of radio and MTV play. KROQ is playing it.

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Monday, 23 February 2004 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw it on MTV1, which says a lot since I only tune in for the non-music programming.

― dean! (deangulberry), Monday, 23 February 2004 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually bought the Maps CD single recently (there's a little promo box for 'em at the local store). The b-sides didn't move me but it was worth it for a copy of the video. I'd watched it without sound on the web but this was the first time I saw them "performing" with sound. GAWDAMN. I must have watched it five times in a row.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 23 February 2004 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

This band sucks.

― Jon Williams in brrrrrrrrrrrRochester! (ex machina), Monday, 23 February 2004 22:25 (twenty-two years ago)

"Maps" is such a great song, I hope they move forward with it as a template and just do a "Darklands" type record.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 23 February 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"maps" is what made me buy this record, I'd avoided them until I heard it in a shop and stopped dead. it's an incredible song and really overshadows the rest of the album (which I do like). It sounds like siouxsie fronting the pretenders.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Monday, 23 February 2004 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I would think the other way around is more like it, but yeah.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 23 February 2004 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

My opinion way upthread still stands.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 23 February 2004 23:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks for the update, Ned.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 23 February 2004 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

You're welcome!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 23 February 2004 23:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Maps is the only song that sux. Tragic indie, I would call it. I fast forward through that one. They're best when they're wild and crazy.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The album is great in its entirety. Didn't you guys get my memo?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, do you mean you've still never heard them?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I like their b-sides, actually -- the Maps one is "Countdown," and the Date With the Night one is "Yeah! New York." Both are awesome... their ultra lo-fi mud-puddle cover of the Liars song on the Pin single was pretty tough to listen to, though.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

ned has already made up his mind based on marketing! he's no fool!

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

ned's fired.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Woohoo!

Spencer: actually, Sasha was more accurate above than I was when he figured I was looking at it from the 'there's too much goddamn music, I'm going to pick and choose as I do and the rest will care for itself' angle.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm seeing them live next month; I'm a little wary, since the performances I've seen on late-night TV have been mixed. (Those things rarely seem to bring out the best in bands, though.)

I was a little disappointed when I saw them play "Maps" on some show recently and the guitarist played along with a backing track of himself playing the other guitar part. I never thought about how they'd pull it off, but I didn't expect this. (I guess I just assumed they wouldn't try to replicate both parts onstage.)

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

He uses a digital looper for those secondary guitar parts, which technically means he's "playing" both parts.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

ain't nothing wrong with digital loops. especially when a guitarist is good at getting amazing and unique sounds to come out of his guitar. In that case the more the better. Especially if it sounds like air raid sirens overlapping from neighborhood to neighborhood!

xpost, So Ned, have you heard any of their stuff or not?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:01 (twenty-two years ago)

*rereads* Oh, sorry about that, I wasn't clear. No, still haven't.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

the last four songs on the record are the single-best sequence i heard all year.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm prouder of my comment about the YYYs in the P'N'J poll than anything else I've written. I looove this album and I'm glad I got to express that without a lot of rockcrit malarkey getting in the way.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, that's cool, then; I'm sure it'll be a lot better live than on Craig Kilbourne.

(x-posts)

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

xpost: Well Ned, that's maddening.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I DARE you to listen to it. Do it do it do it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I figure it's around here *somewhere* on mp3. I was actually going to catalog these discs tonight, otherwise I'll never be able to find anything on them, I have something like, I dunno, 150 to 200 now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

also Yancy OTM. so Ned, if you do find it and want to save time, you might want to go for those last few tracks.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Noted -- right now I'm more excited about the two CDRs of non-collected/rare New Order material The Good Dr. Bill sent me today in exchange for some Disco Inferno stuff. Woo! :-)

Keep in mind I haven't heard anything but a random track or two from Slint's Spiderland -- and that was back in 1991 and I own the goshdarn thing! One day I might listen to that as well!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I TRIPLE dare you to listen to it :p

I don't really understand the furor over "Maps." It's a good song, but the b-side is better. I think the whole album is one of the most solid things I've heard in a while, though. Old singles are so hit and miss that I was completely turned off to them before I listened to the album on a whim at a Tower listening station.

― anode (anode), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Personally I'd recommend listening to "Y Control" (track 10) like a single and then just the whole album. Listen to the entire final third of the album without hearing the whole thing feels like reading the end of a book first. I wouldn't say that about just any album, but I think this one really flows.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I heard "Maps" at the sub shop once after Poison's "Nothing But A Good Time" and almost bawled. It's presence was pretty inexplicable since there was nothing but classic rock before and after it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I found the album disappointing only because "Bang" and "Machine" were so great and should have been on there (I was mystikaled by some of the lukewarm reception to "Machine", I think it's amazing).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris Barrus is right - Modern Romance is the best song on the record. STEVEN COJUCARU (AKA "COJO") ROCKS U ALL R GAY!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Morris - they are a blast live.

I think the song after "Modern Romance" (the "hidden" track, which I've heard referred to as "Porcelein") is gorgeous and I wish it hadn't been tacked on in that awful late '90s way (the last song, and then 5 minutes of silence, and then... holy shit! A HIDDEN SONG!).

Spencer, I'm completely with you on "Machine."

Another of their epehmeral songs, "Modern Things," from the Kill Rock Stars "Fields and Streams" comp., is EXCELLENT but I have never heard it mentioned anywhere. I'm sure somebody's S0ulseekin' it... it's a straight "search" song, anyways.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno I think you need that silence after "Modern Romance." The songs are so different in outlook that it would jar if it immediately followed.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree, Anthony -- I just wish that you could go straight to the other track instead of having to FF through Modern Romance and the silence if you just wanted to hear the "hidden" one... it's a pain on the iPod, too...
But still, minimal complaining from me... def. one of my faves of '03.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Even the better Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs sound like only half a song. "Art Star" is the best thing they ever did.

― Michael Patrick Brady (Michael Patrick Brady), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I love "Art Star" too. I think they played it almost in it's entirety on NPR's 'All Things Considered' which was pretty funny.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 02:18 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

i love the raveonettes and bright eyes. go and get yourself a copy of both thier albums.
also jack white and nick valensi are going out!
wierd
bye bye

― mazza dazza, Sunday, 11 April 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

U R ALL FAGS!

Also, I was at best buy with a friend buying a celly and fever to tell was playing on the corporate fake radio they have in those places. it was also on sale for $6. I don't think that anyone other than fat indie girls and college radio dumbasses cares about this band no matter how hard they push it

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Sunday, 11 April 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

eight months pass...

i just heard "maps" and it's great. it's like early cat power playing with one of the guitarists from the archers of loaf (circa Icky Mettle).

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

as always, on the cutting edge!

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

The Outside Scoop!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

hey jackie harvey's - i almost did this today myself. i like some pretenders songs!!!

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Gygax, I recommend you check out Sibelius, a hot young composer reppin' Helsinki, Finland. But keep it on the low-low, this is still some pretty below the radar-type shit.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

im sorry but i like them

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

At this point I've heard the Ada cover but not the original still -- so whenever I do get around to that, perhaps it will seem like a bad rockist remake. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

The video for "Maps" is great too. I think Lauren said somewhere that she's in it?!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard that you can see Lauren in the background of Da Vinci's Last Supper, her hair speckled with green vomit...

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

i agree with whoever said the EP is better than the album.

anyway, my yeah yeah yeahs opinions can be found here:

Northern State calls for "More Cowbell"

― chuck, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Gygax, I recommend you check out Sibelius, a hot young composer reppin' Helsinki, Finland. But keep it on the low-low, this is still some pretty below the radar-type shit.

-- Dial Rat For Terror (adamr...), December 22nd, 2004 10:33 AM. (nordicskilla)

Chris Marker (1 matching message)

I like Sans Soleil the best... 1982 I think it was released, I saw it 1991. Interesting because it was on late night TV in Tokyo last week in fact. Nice to see a little revivalism... Let's hope it follows me back to the States.

The Soundtrack... pure analog goodness: Tomita's take on Mussogorsky(sp)'s Pictures At An Exhibition/Onhe Sonne, Sibelius' Valeste Triste, really NASA sounding... stunning.

-- gygax! (gygax0...), November 25th, 2002.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Whatever!

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

\/\/

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

There is a documentary on Chris Marker by Emik0 0mori which will be released next year that I'm gonna get a chance to pre-screen very soon... Adam, I will invite you when i get the official invite.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Hooray for Gygax and "Maps."

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

FAGGOTS

― TITS.JPG (ex machina), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Tomita R0XX0R

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

if i crushed any harder on gygax i'd be creamed corn

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry, that should have read "porn"

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

TITS,JPG OTM

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

So I guess "F*GGOTS" is used somehow ironically? It'd be nice if the joke was more clear since it might be received as offensive or even threatening by some people (and I don't think that's what is intended?).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, it isn't a word that I would use myself, but I was agreeing with Jon in his...dislike of this particular band.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

But yes, he is being ironic. He's a sweet boy, really.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Imagine a puppy that bites children and messes on other people's carpets and, despite all that, is still fun and happy...Jon Williams.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Lies! Once again we see the latent fear of butt-sex that lurks at the very heart of today's noise music scene that the kids love so much!

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, there's that too.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw Yeahs in concert on Bravo or something and felt compelled to watch it despite the fact that it was totally annoying to watch.

The singing is bad, the guitar is bad and there is no bass. And each one of these twerps has way too much attitude backed up by nothing: not shocking originality and certainly not muscles.

My guess is: bratty rich kids?

And that guitarist SUCKS! I can't believe anyone above thought it was good. Anyone can play like that, especially with no bass and no singing to worry about.

― Metal Braces, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Muscles!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

If a band is going to suck, they darned well better have the muscles to back it up.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

But yes, he is being ironic. He's a sweet boy, really.

Yes, this is what I have heard as well.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)

If a band is going to suck, they darned well better have the muscles to back it up.

Changes "suck" to "act tough" and you've got a sentence that makes sense. That guitarist is reaaaaalllly tiny. Man, he must get have had his ass kicked all the time.

look at this shrimp!
http://www.thebeatsurrender.co.uk/images/news/3.jpg

― Metal Braces, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

If a band is going to suck, they darned well better have the muscles to back it up.

Changes "suck" to "act tough" and you've got a sentence that makes sense. That guitarist is reaaaaalllly tiny. Man, he must have had his ass kicked all the time.

look at this shrimp!
http://www.thebeatsurrender.co.uk/images/news/3.jpg

― Metal Braces, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe he knows karate.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:23 (twenty-one years ago)

it's pronounced karaté

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

no accent at all, completely flat/monotone:

ka da te

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Aren't there a lot of scrawny rock stars making muscular music??

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

SUPERPITCHER

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

"And that guitarist SUCKS! I can't believe anyone above thought it was good. Anyone can play like that, especially with no bass and no singing to worry about. "

I can't play guitar like that guy. I loved watching him play live.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I think he's amazing. That DVD is really good. I also read somewhere about his setup and what he uses to do loops.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I couldn't even figure out what tuning he was using (the delay pedal tricks seemed a little easier to suss out)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but have you seen this guy play guitar??

ihttp://www.pediatric-orthopedics.com/Topics/Fitness/Muscles/Arm_MusclesSurface_0_102_204.jpg

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Gygax!, "Y Control" is even better!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:46 (twenty-one years ago)

They're sort of apples and oranges though. "Maps" is really more a pretty ballad.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I like "Modern Romance", the other "pretty ballad" on the album, more than either.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

It's great too!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, thanks indie-dudes for the good recommendations! :-D

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i love the drippy indie-prom songs on this, but the "rockers" are unconvincing. and he's a great guitar player, wtf!

― g--ff (gcannon), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

That's why I wish they'd included "Bang" etc.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but have you seen this guy play guitar??

ihttp://www.pediatric-orthopedics.com/Topics/Fitness/Muscles/Arm_MusclesSurface_0_102_204.jpg

Ha,ha, ha!! This is my new favorite picture! Is that a black albino or what the fuck is that guy and why on earth would anyone choose him for a muscle diagram?

I don't know if that poor muscular freak can play guitar, but that's not really the point of his muscles. The point of muscles like that is that he can look like a tough asshole if he wants to because he clearly is not a fucking break-me-in-half 90 pound weakling. There ARE plenty of scrawny musicians, but not THAT scrawny acting THAT tough. It's just kind of ridiculous. Just put yourself in that position. Are you a total pussy? If so, don't you think people would laugh at you if you started acting all defiantly tough?

― Metal Braces, Thursday, 23 December 2004 04:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, the guy is hardly doing something controversial, he looks a bit like Nick Cave and he's scrawny and hunched over like William Reid or something making a racket!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 23 December 2004 05:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I just can't, can't understand it
Dunno why

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 December 2004 05:38 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost: I didn't say it was controversial. And let's not forget I was also talking about the Wendy O wannabe who is about as tough as Jennifer Herrema, I'm sure.

― Metal Braces, Thursday, 23 December 2004 05:40 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

After hearing Date with the Night when it came out and disliking it, and disliking her on the video (she's pretty minging) I decided never to listen to them.

Then a few months back I heard Y Control on MTV2 and thought, "Fucking hell that is BRILLIANT". Then I never heard it again and went on my way until The Tears did a "pick your music" thingy on MTV2 and Bernard picked "Maps" which was so fucking amazing I regretted ever turning the channel when I saw Karen O in the past.

I've been listening to the album a fair bit since buying it. Second half is great, first half is patchy - Date with the Night is infuriatingly tuneless, which is a great shame. More like Modern Romance/ Maps and Y Control would be preferable.

Gonna copy this and give it to my gfriend to see what she thinks.

― Music Mick, Sunday, 5 June 2005 01:14 (twenty years ago)

so you're going to put on a wig and talk to yourself in the mirror?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 5 June 2005 01:25 (twenty years ago)

YOU GOT SERVED.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Sunday, 5 June 2005 01:28 (twenty years ago)

hehe

― That One Guy (That One Guy), Sunday, 5 June 2005 01:30 (twenty years ago)

Stop it now - you sad fuckers are too funny to me and I cannot control my laughter at such witty, jovial comebacks.

― Music Mick, Sunday, 5 June 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

http://www.thehorrorpost.com/images/Calumpic.jpg

Let's see your girlfriends then. Don't have any, do you?

― Mating Maurice, Sunday, 5 June 2005 12:46 (twenty years ago)

I'm sorry. This is the last time I'm posting this, I promise.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Sunday, 5 June 2005 12:48 (twenty years ago)

always thought YYYs were a fantastic, fucking blinding band, good singer, OTT performer 'look at me im so mad and wacky etc', decent lyrics, but not that great at songwriting. thats the only thing theyre missing. all this 'maps is their best song cos its emotional and confessional and tender' stuff is bollocks. give me the cold riffing of date with the night or pin any day. i hope their sound doesnt alter too much on the next album and that their writing improves, cos other than that, theyre a fucking great band.

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Sunday, 5 June 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

I just love their guitarist. Has anyone else heard that band he started with the blood brothers and the locust?

I got one song and it's not so good.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Sunday, 5 June 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

that drummer and the bassist in the YYYs are magnificent.

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Sunday, 5 June 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

guitarist, i mean, not bassist.

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Sunday, 5 June 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

So let's see - I make a sensible addition to a thread and get this in response?

Er... thanks chaps.

― Music Mick, Sunday, 5 June 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

In my typical late-to-the-party fashion, I bought "Fever To Tell" a couple of weeks back. "Maps" is my favourite of the bunch, but the rest of the tracks are growing on me at an exponential rate.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 5 June 2005 18:06 (twenty years ago)

This album is my favorite thing to listen to when shopping at URBAN OUTFITTERS.

― Cool Hand Luuke (ex machina), Sunday, 5 June 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

i like most of this album but their first 2 ep's are much better

― That One Guy (That One Guy), Sunday, 5 June 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

Still my favorite album of 2003 but I do wonder if its gonna be diminishing returns from here on out. I don't know if they have it in them to evolve rewardingly. Knock on wood, though.

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

This album is my favorite thing to listen to when shopping at URBAN OUTFITTERS.

"Hey, I brought this CD, can you put it on?"
"No, I've told you, we don't do that."
"But -"
"No. Here, take this label sampler, it's free."
"Can't you just play 'Maps'?"
"Please don't make me call security."

Next time, just bring an iPod.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Monday, 6 June 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

So let's see - I make a sensible addition to a thread and get this in response?
Er... thanks chaps.

I gave you prophecy on my first joint, and ya'll lamed out
Didn't really appreciate it till the second one came out

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 6 June 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

xpost: iPods set off security alarms

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Monday, 6 June 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

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So, I picked up FEVER TO TELL.....