What's the connection between AR Kane and Magnetic Fields?

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AR Kane followed their album "69" with "i"
Now, Magnetic Fields follows "69 Love Songs" with "i"
Coincidince?
Also, has anyone heard the new Fields?

― Mitchell (Mitchell), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

the new magnetic fields is great all the way thru. i don't know anything about AR Kane, but it is kind of an odd pattern. each song on the new magnetic fields starts with the letter "i" as well. a little less show-tunesy than "69 love songs," but still way worth it.

― kevin m (suemejack), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

If there's some mawkish voice at the end of the new Mag Fields saying "How could ANYONE hate them?" then I'll know it's gone too far.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

this on slsk yet?

― brock (brock), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

How'd you hear it, Kevin? Does Merritt sing all the songs (I hope)? What's the street date on that thing, anyway?

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

New Magnetic Fields??!!

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I always thought the AR Kane album was called 1.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the MF lp comes out in May. I think it is v disappointing. :(

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

:((

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

that is really sad, jerry the nipper. I'm just gonna trust kevin for now.

― Mitchell (Mitchell), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

JtN - buzz harsha.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

That AR Kane record is actually called 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I can actually imagine 'even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious' being a lyric on the new Magnetic Fields LP.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

...or perhaps on a sticker on the cover?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd pay money.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't know of a street date for sure, but i heard May was the date. he sings all of the songs on it. i haven't looked on slsk, i just know someone who got a copy in early January.

― kevin m (suemejack), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Eight weeks. So I guess that would make it May 4th.

I'm so curious as to how anyone could possibly follow up an achievement like 69 Love Songs.

― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

by releasing a stronger set featuring fewer songs of equal or better quality?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

By going jazz?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Interactive porno DVD?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Good call.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm...in Merritt's "100 Best Recordings of the Century" article, he lists "Pump up the Volume" by M/A/R/R/S as the best song of 1987...and we know that AR Kane was the "A/R" in M/A/R/R/S...

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

It'll be fine, stop thinking about it and it will be anyway

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Answer = Michael Jones?

― the blissfox, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

QED.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Interested parties may be pleased to know that this record has grown on me a little. iTunes random play is a great thing.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Saturday, 13 March 2004 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Good. I just got an advance copy, and all woozy from afternoon sleep, listened to I'm Tongue-Tied. The feel of hearing a classic song for the first time made me stretch, grin and get wet in the eyes all at once. It sounds like an obvious subject, but has anyone really written a great song about being tongue-tied before?

I wonder if JtN was just upset that it sounded too much like more of 69 Love Songs. Maybe it does. But there are enough songs that don't immediately appeal in the way that I'm Tongue-Tied or I Don't Really Love You Anymore do to make me think there's a lot more to get out of it.

Incidentally, it's almost 5 years since '69 Love Songs'. That's a gap to rival the Stone Roses. OK, I guess there was other stuff in between, but it doesn't feel that long. I guess I'm just getting older.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 21 March 2004 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

One quibble - the tracks are seeemingly arranged alphabetically, but I'm Tongue-Tied and I'm an Operetta are not only the wrong way around, but are placed after If There's Such a Thing as Love, which seems wrong to me.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 21 March 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

N. - me and Michael and the PF listened to 'It's only time' several times this evening and we were... very appreciative. It is certainly his best ever vocal. I must say tongue-tied never leapt out at me - I will give it another listen. My general impression was of several second division '69LS' songs, yes. Nothing jumped out in the way that 'Rodeo' or 'Honestly' or 'Book of Love' did on my v first listen to '69LS'. Nevertheless I am disappointed that U***t mag are only giving me 120 words to write about this.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Sunday, 21 March 2004 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

no more synth-pop? i am imagining a record for NPR listeners actually.

there is a new scarlet's well record out next week, that's a surprise.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 22 March 2004 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I never liked 'The Book Of Love' or 'Papa Was A Rodeo' much.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:21 (twenty-two years ago)

only 120 words?? jeez.

anyway as detailed on the other thread about this:

You And I

i am as yet unconvinced as to the merit of this record. i have a feeling it will grow on me though.

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

(i'll concede that "it's only time" is indeed a classic.)

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

How can you not like 'Papa was a Rodeo'?????? I am genuinely flabberghasted, and it takes a lot to ghast my flabber.

I agree with you about wishing he'd made a synthpop record, T. This new one seems a bit tweedy, a bit MOR. He used to say he only like avant garde music and bubblegum and nothing else, and I miss those days.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

also N. - is it not in an operetta? which probably answers your question.

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

(BTW, N., can you recommend me some more Gorky's songs that are as good as 'Lucy's Hamper'?)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

How come you lot are all talking about this well before the release date? I mean, am I the only person who hasn't got an advance copy, because that seems ludicrous, you know, it makes no sense!

I can Stevie. But I won't, just yet.

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the start of 'Papa Was A Rodeo' but when it gets going on the chorus I start realising that the song means absolutely nothing to me. I'm quite anti-rodeo, generally.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 22 March 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Toby - thanks. But I still don't like "I'm" being treated as "Im".

Will get back to you on the Gorky's question, Jerry. But if you're more of a fan of the early stuff then Sarah's probably your woman. Me, I'd just buy How I Long To Feel That Summer In My Heart (I made you a tape of the two preceding albums, no?).

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 22 March 2004 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I like "It's Only Time"! I don't think it works when SM tries to sing like that. And it doesn't have a very interesting tune. Maybe I should listen more closely to the lyrics.

I am coming the conclusion that the JtN squad and I have different ideas of what we want The Magnetic Fields to be. And that I'm Tongue-Tied is the best song ever recorded. "You kiss me / I'm history" - such sweet economy!

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

So, back to AR Kane then?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 22 March 2004 23:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, now we're talking. "The Butterfly Collector" then.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 22 March 2004 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I was thinking yesterday of starting a thread on 'It's Only Time'.

Then I thought of writing an article on 'It's Only Time'.

Then I thought of writing a song.

I have done none of these things. But I arrive back at AR Kane central and find this discussion going on.

>>> N: It sounds like an obvious subject, but has anyone really written a great song about being tongue-tied before?

Probably.

>>> Incidentally, it's almost 5 years since '69 Love Songs'. That's a gap to rival the Stone Roses. OK, I guess there was other stuff in between, but it doesn't feel that long. I guess I'm just getting older.

It's almost 3 years since The Hard Shoulder too. That's what's really bad.

I love 'The Book Of Love'; I think it his best ever.

>>> I agree with you about wishing he'd made a synthpop record, T. This new one seems a bit tweedy, a bit MOR. He used to say he only like avant garde music and bubblegum and nothing else, and I miss those days.

I disagree with all of that. I like the tastefulness of the sound, insofar as there is any.

>>> (BTW, N., can you recommend me some more Gorky's songs that are as good as 'Lucy's Hamper'?)

I listened to Gorky's a few years ago. They were quite bad, very mediocre.

>>> How come you lot are all talking about this well before the release date? I mean, am I the only person who hasn't got an advance copy, because that seems ludicrous, you know, it makes no sense!

She's right.

>>> I like the start of 'Papa Was A Rodeo' but when it gets going on the chorus I start realising that the song means absolutely nothing to me. I'm quite anti-rodeo, generally.

OK, I can go along with that. It is well expressed.

>>> I don't think I like "It's Only Time"! I don't think it works when SM tries to sing like that. And it doesn't have a very interesting tune.

Nonsense. He covers (let me count) NINE DIFFERENT NOTES during the FIRST CHORD!!

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a copy, of this, that I should listen to.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Good commas.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I was hoping that someone would notice.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey Ned which one's "The Butterfly Collector"? Off 'Lollita', right? I got that for like 50c, everyone

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Nonsense. He covers (let me count) NINE DIFFERENT NOTES during the FIRST CHORD!!

I am assuming this is a joke.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:52 (twenty-two years ago)

It's quite serious, though possibly funny too.

― the bluefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Why would that make it an interesting tune??

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

What else would make it an interesting tune?

TEN notes??

― the bluefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

A few notes put well?

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

To be relatively unambiguous:

I do find the (verse) melody compelling and inspiring; and I think that's because he does do something good (the right order / 'putting them well' / what you will) with a very high number of different notes, which - to me impressively - adjoin a low number of chords.

― the bluefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

You don't need to be unambiguous, I might read this sober one day. That sounds like exactly the sort of pop thing that'd please and impress me, I'm looking forward to this record a lot.

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

>How come you lot are all talking about this well before the release date? I mean, am I the only person who hasn't got an advance copy, because that seems ludicrous, you know, it makes no sense!

Exactly. I want one too.

― harveyw (harveyw), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah and I want a VINYL copy so cheer up

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm listening to "It's Only Time" again and it sounds like nothing so much as a tedious 90s MOR power ballad arranged differently for classicist kicks.

I can't work out if I'm more annoyed by not getting anything from it or by the JtN-Mike Jones-Pinefox axis getting so much from it.

And that Gorky's remark was just facile. I am feeling touchy now. I only had 2 hours sleep last night.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

The version of "Baby Milk Snatcher" from the EP is superior to the '69' version. Does anyone have this EP on CD? I'd love a high bitrate .mp3 or even a .wav file! I have things to trade, oh yes.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Why was it more facile than your view of 'It's Only Time'?

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, because it was gratuitous.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

'Yes'?

― the bluefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I missed your 'why' - sorry. This lack of sleep is really getting to me.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

The version of "Baby Milk Snatcher" from the EP is superior to the '69' version. Does anyone have this EP on CD? I'd love a high bitrate .mp3 or even
a .wav file! I have things to trade, oh yes.

Spencer, I've got all the early A R Kane stuff from the debut single on around here on mp3 but not at high quality rate, I fear. But ask if you need anything (and refer to the AMG entries on all the singles for the details).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

The version of "Baby Milk Snatcher" from the EP is superior to the '69' version

That's 'cause it was mixed (uncredited) by Adrian Sherwood for the 12". he mixed a few of their live shows, too.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Really! How interesting, I never knew there was a connection.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting note about Sherwood!

(and thanks Ned, I also have the .mp3s. I'll let you know if I find it on CD).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Rock, thanks. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm sure there is a rough trade promo cd kicking around that has "baby milk snatcher" (ep version) on it.. and i'm sure i've stupidly passed on buying it many times.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I have the EP on vinyl, but no way of ripping anything at the moment. The 12" does crop up every so often in second hand shops over here if anyone wants me to keep an eye out.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got the vinyl, I just want a pristine digital copy so that I can complete my 'portable' mix.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, OK.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, doing some research, I'm wondering if it was ever released on CD (unless it was on some Rough Trade promo...)

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 22:08 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the missing link between AR Kane and ... something else.

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I avidly await Cook's contribution to this thread.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Then I thought of writing a song.

It's almost 3 years since The Hard Shoulder too. That's what's really bad.

Bits of this thread were terrific.

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I await hearing this. Contribution to follow.

I like Mooro's contribution.

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 23:49 (twenty-two years ago)

You've had a copy since Sunday you slackjawed waster!

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

N in bazza parody non-shockah!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 09:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, doing some research, I'm wondering if it was ever released on CD (unless it was on some Rough Trade promo...)

Independent singles on CD as well as vinyl - even on the big indies - was far from routine in 1988. If memory serves, "King Of Soul" by The Wolfgang Press became 4AD's very first CD-sgl that year (Koogy to thread). RT probably started around then too.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 11:22 (twenty-two years ago)

RT started issuing old Smiths CD singles on CD in 1987. I think it was the following year that they retrospectively released older singles in the new format.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 11:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Jones in... Jones parody non-shockah!

(But contains *important facts*.)

― the blissfox, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Bah, take 'old' out of my first sentence above. I wish I would take more care to read over my posts after rejigging them.

I am unsure what I think about the blissfox saying 'non-shockah'.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe take the first 'CD' out of your first sentence too, N. And change 'was' to 'were' in my first sentence. And delete all other ILE posts. IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

God, I am appalling.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Is Mike Walker coming back?

― the bluefox, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

You are rarely so - I did note the 'was'/''were' thing with raised eyebrows.

x-post

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Mike's 'was' was OK: he was referring, with slight looseness, to a fact, rather than to a sequence of objects. Is that fair?

― the bluefox, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it probably is, but I knew he didn't mean to do it.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks, Barbara. Or is it Elaine?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, Barbara. I think.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

That full stop should have been a comma.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

No, the full stop is good. Full stops are comedy.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes. But I don't like "I think" as a separate, final sentence. It's corny.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Bloody hell, you're right. I think.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I derived more entertainmaent value from the last 16 posts than I ever will from the whole of S Merr1tt's oeuvre.

― Mooro (Mooro), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

What about Rudi and Alex, Big Dave?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

N. is right about the corniness, je crois.

― the bellefox, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Tu ponse.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Grump. I still wanna copy. Yes anyway, I've been going back to 69 Love Songs quite a lot recently, and It's a Crime has been the one for me lately. Are there any Swedish reggae influences on this new cut?

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

N - vous etes un enfant terrible.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I think 'It's A Crime' weak.

― the beefox, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, as did I, beefox - it's only on recent listenings that it's managed to stand out more from the tracks I'd previously considered "killer fodder" on that disc. The "I wasn't listening cos my/brain was missing" line manages to get me in just the right place.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I agree with the beefox. But then the great thing about '69 Love Songs' is that every so often, songs I never really thought I liked pop into my head and they join the ranks of my favourites. Lately, the first part of 'Busby Berkeley Dreams' has done this. Still think think the chorus is too affected though.

x-post

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never met them, Mike.

"69 Love Songs ... It's a Crime" tee hee.

― Mooro (Mooro), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

'It's A Crime' has been in MY head all day for no real reason. I'm still not sure I even like it, but at least it has gotten into my head. That must indicate something.

I other news, 'I' have finally listened to 'I'. Comments to follow.

― Ally C (Ally C), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

'gotten'?

― the beefox, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Gotten. It's probably Dutch.

― Ally C (Ally C), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

How could people here not love "It's A Crime"???

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it weak.

I think Mooro's contribution terrific.

You never know.

― the bellefox, Thursday, 25 March 2004 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

New favourite song (as well as, not instead) = I Looked All Over Town.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 29 March 2004 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

First impressions might not count for much. A few notes dragged out to send me off to sleep. But let's (why not?) go track by track (this is the tracklisting I was given, I don't know if it's correct);

The Magnetic Fields - 'i'

I Die – A lazy, shoddy opener. ‘I die when you walk by’ is paint by numbers stuff, and no way to kick off the follow up to a magnum opus. Is he pastiching himself already?

I Don’t Believe You – Originally a cracking little buzz-saw of a song, now re-recorded with hammer, chisel and banjo. Still pretty, but the aural equivalent of Peter Pan’s whiskers. What’s he playing at?

I Don’t Really Love You Any More – Great first 2 seconds. Decent idea overall. ‘I am a gentle man/think of me as just your fan/who remembers every dress you ever wore’ is a high point.

I Looked All Over Town – ‘I wandered in these big blues shoes’ could be the best opening line here. Good chord change soon. Nice polyphonic sounds. The whole clown thing is a wearing, deafeningly dull analogy though.

I Though You Were My Boyfriend – This is interesting. It’s like he’s gone back to the start, then started somewhere else. Italian house piano? This is pretty good stuff. Could do with going later on to prevent flagging. The only one I’ve really been humming.

I Was Born – Jesus Christ, it’s the Divine Comedy! As if the adulation has finally dragged Merritt into some kind of dozy, slobbily contented quicksand.

I Wish I Had An Evil Twin – ‘He would stink of sex appeal’. Stephen’s imagination is running riot now; he must be hoping his doppelganger gets to the critics before this hits the shelves.

If There’s Such A Thing As Love – Stephen finally got hold of a copy of ‘Fold Your Hands…’ Even Claudia is doing her best Sarah Martin impression. But this isn’t so bad, in a jaunty, falling-over-your-feet kind of way. It’s nice to hear him happy.

I’m Tongue-Tied – I’m sure there have been better songs written about this, but for the life of me I can’t think of any. Not earth-shattering though. He’s sleepwalking through this.

I’m An Operetta – Fairly well constructed. I’m surprised he hasn’t written this before, to be honest. Perhaps he has. Nice economy of strings.

Infinitely Late At Night – ‘I feel like I’m in a falling elevator’. Merritt sounds suitably shattered but, in the past, he’d still be dancing at this point.

Irma – Sorry, I was reading. Did I miss something?

Is This What They Used To Call Love – OK, at least there’s some kind of theme here. I’m not sure he’s even trying to make a pop record now. Jazz phrasings and a great, surprising bridge make this a just above average wallower.

It’s Only Time – This is certainly bolstered by the ineptitude of much of its supporting cast, but let’s not be churlish at this late stage. At least he’s found the right mould for a closer. Actually beautiful, soulful, doleful, simple, sleeping far into warm traffic and night: ‘I’ll walk your lands/and swim your sea/marry me’.

― Ally C (Ally C), Monday, 29 March 2004 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

how do you pronounce, the name, 'stephin'?

can I listen to it, now?

I mean, 'spell'.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 29 March 2004 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Ally C reinvented as snooty badass reviewer. I like it! Even if I disagree with many of his assessments.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 29 March 2004 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(I don't think I Looked All Over Town's lyrics are an analogy - I think it's about a clown.)

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 29 March 2004 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

paint by numbers stuff
Is he pastiching himself
He’s sleepwalking through this.

You're better than this, though.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 00:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Like "I Wish I Had An Evil Twin", "I Thought You Were My Boyfriend" & um. K-loathe the re-recorded "I Don't Believe You"; original is/was one of my favourite MF trax (esp. the Hyper-On Experience-gone-pastoral bit backing to "I had a dream & you were in it..."). will I have to look to the Future Bible Heroes Merritt in a synth stylee?

I thought I bits of the verse from one of the songs stuck in my head yesterday at work & thought maybe it wasn't too bad, but the song in question was "It's A Crime"!!!

― etc, Tuesday, 30 March 2004 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

So is he, Nick.

It is still growing a little.

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah and why DID I spell his name wrong throughout?

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was quite tired. SORRY STEPHIN.

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought you were being clever about his name and the record's.

(just kidding)

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I was expecting to dislike the sonics but like the songs. Instead I'm finding the sound of the record very seductive but the songs aren't affecting me so far. Hmm.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I’m An Operetta – Fairly well constructed. I’m surprised he hasn’t written this before, to be honest. Perhaps he has.

Classic Cookie!

N's attack on analogy is grate too.

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought that line betrayed a clear pinefox influence.

I apologise for spreading this 'I'm An Operetta' meme. It's 'In An Operetta', of course.

I mean it about the clown.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with N.! (About the clown.)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

So do I.

This is nice.

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Writing a song about a clown is vaguely preposterous. Perhaps that means it is classic Merritt! I think the song OK, anyway.

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it the second best song on the record.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Your lack of respect for clowns imbues the song with even greater poignancy.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

A vision of SM drssed as a clown is all I can see now. It's idiotic.

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

To stop clowning around for a moment, do you not find the shift in meaning of the 'I looked all over town' line very affecting? I'm a sucker for that kind of device, though.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

You're just a sucker. Should you like to discuss this further, I will be in The Carnarvon from 8pm. Really.

― Ally C (Ally C), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I've downloaded/heard random bits...some thoughts, not having read all of the thread..
To me it seems a lot more "mature," which is maybe due to Merritt's maturing or maybe just the sound he's reaching for here, ie less synthpop, more Cole Porter or whatever.. Starting with "I Die" (which I love love) you get the immediate impression of more of the same, but a little more "sophisticated"
"I Don't Believe You" seems a lot more emotionally potent here. I thought it was a cute song before, but, perhaps because of context, it seems profound here. I think it's the vocal performance. He really has shown a lot of improvement as a singer.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i've been dying to hear this one for weeks. who can point me to it?

― HS, Thursday, 1 April 2004 08:12 (twenty-two years ago)

1. I am quite envious of N. and Cookie, in that - pub.

2. I like N.'s 'clowning around' talk.

3. I don't think I understand N.'s 'shift in meaning'.

4. I wonder would Cookie and the Nipper agree, or, confess, that their omission of the word 'is' from (their) sentences... is - a touch of... *Classic Pinefox*?

― the blissfox, Thursday, 1 April 2004 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

A funny thing is to think that N. was at ATP in (for instance) 2000.

Tonight wee COZEN is down for ATP! Well, that is what I've heard. I have not seen him. I am not in the - pub, you see.

― the beebfox, Thursday, 1 April 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not in the pub. I arrive home too late from work to make an evening trip into town worthwile.

I did not go to ATP.

I am not going to ATP.

It will be the first year since 1998 that I have not been to Camber Sands.

I haven't chatted to the brucefox in what seems like years.

Isn't it rich? No he is probably in the pub with N. and Cookie.

Isn't it bliss? No, the blissfox isn't in the pub either.

― Mooro (Mooro), Thursday, 1 April 2004 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread has, at times, been amazingly good.

― the brucefox, Friday, 2 April 2004 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

We should all have this conversation, at least, somewhere.

I feel we are all influenced on a subconcious level by *Classic Pinefox*.

― Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 2 April 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Your last message was subconsciously influenced by the Glastonbury thread, Ally.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 2 April 2004 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I found N's 'shift in meaning', when explained, to be not as convincing as I'd hoped.

It centres around 'looked all over town' = searched, roamed vs 'looked all over town' = viewed the entire town at once, from an aerial perspective, from the end of a balloon.

I haven't even been reading the Glastonbury thread. My subconcious is running riot!

― Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 2 April 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

How is that 'not convincing'? It's a totally different emotional perspective!

I find this thread an embarrassment. Of what, I can't say.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 2 April 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Bitches?

― Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 2 April 2004 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

That, too, was good.

I have just reread the last 50 or so posts on this thread. it is actually *better even than I thought*. It's Quality to please a Hansen.

I'm afraid, though, that now Cookie has explained the alleged - 'shift in meaning', I don't see much of a shift, let alone a ... totally different emotional perspective.

What, really, am I missing?

― the pinefox, Saturday, 3 April 2004 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Stop making me doubt my own emotional landscape!

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 3 April 2004 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

N.'s emotional landscape in barren fruitless wreck SHOCKA.

― Ally C (Ally C), Saturday, 3 April 2004 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

You want fruit? I'll show you my emotional still life.

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 3 April 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that a cry for help?

― Ally C (Ally C), Saturday, 3 April 2004 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Everything I have ever posted to ILX is a cry for help.

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 3 April 2004 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"Help".

― the pinefox, Saturday, 3 April 2004 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Upon a first listen last night, I think this is a bit of a corker - time will tell whether this is a grower or a fader - I Don't Believe You certainly is the one standing out for me at the moment. I haven't heard the latter songs on the album as of yet though. You're brilliant and gorgeous and ampersand and ampersand?? TOP BOMBING!

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 5 April 2004 09:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm glad it was the right CD! I meant to text you, I had a sudden fear you'd find yourself listening to the Temperance Seven and thinking "crikey, this new direction's a bit rum".

My favourite is "I Looked All Over Town", textual wranglings notwithstanding.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 5 April 2004 10:07 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a very posh record.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 5 April 2004 10:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Har no, I can tell the boy Merritt anywhere. I was thinking, at the bus stop this morning (waiting for the 171 if you're interested, one didn't come so I got the 36 instead - I can't resist the Routemaster), that there was a bit of a New Zealand sound to some of it - I likes it muchly! The feel the vibe track is also rather excellent - I think I will copy down Ally C's tracklisting for home listening purposes.

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 5 April 2004 10:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Sarah, beware the 'I'm An Operetta' confusion if you don't have the names of tracks. It's really 'In An Operetta'. It's all Dastoor's fault blah blah.

― Ally C (Ally C), Monday, 5 April 2004 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

When JtN first played us this he said that 'I Don't Love You Anymore' was average. I agreed, and really I still do.

Yet, it has been in my silly head all day.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...

It's good, this thread!

I've listened to this twice now. I wouldn't know, really, but to me it still sounds a bruised peach, whitecold and amazing... 'I Looked All Over Town' has made me choke up twice, and I don't do that - it's the space between the clown as an analogy and as a persona, that it's an awful cliche but even so... (and N is cunning about the sense shift, which is gorgeous gorgeous)

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 4 November 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

Oh, THIS is the other thread.

― the pinefox, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:16 (seventeen years ago)

I found N's 'shift in meaning', when explained, to be not as convincing as I'd hoped.
It centres around 'looked all over town' = searched, roamed vs 'looked all over town' = viewed the entire town at once, from an aerial perspective, from the end of a balloon.

― the pinefox, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:17 (seventeen years ago)

That was Cook.

― the pinefox, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:18 (seventeen years ago)

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