why don't you poll me I feel like flying to... the UNDERWORLD Poll Results thread -- produced by Smith & Hyde for ILM Artist Poll #102

Bruce Lee is great

Ring Road is terrible xps

This is reminding me to watch the "Edgelands" documentary DVD that was bundled with Karl's album. I just recently picked that up. For all they've said about almost splitting in the early part of the '10s, it was cute to read in the booklet's thanks, "For friendship, inspiration & being Welsh: RICK SMITH"

I did not vote for "Bruce Lee" but I did vote for "Bruce Lee (Dobropet)."

oh yeah! i don't think i've heard this since the single release. How the hell is it not on the Beaucoup box?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN51V4_gm8w

"bruce lee" and "ring road" are such a bizarre glimpse into a non-existent genre

they'd be a grime act now if BL took off

I think Karl rhyming "shirts" with "shirts" a bunch kinda confirms it's freestyled. plus that bit where he's like "I gotta stop..."

frogbs, there's one recurring noise in the album version that annoys me and distracts me the whole song. It first occurs on the downbeat at 1:40 and it just annoys the f outta me.

you're talkin about that little "pew pew pew" sound right? yeah that is a bit unusual

"Ring Road" is a fixed "Bruce Lee"

they're both great, weird and silly but so catchy and funky

I love Ring Road. The beat and delivery was awkward at first, but i adjusted to it. I often find myself repeating the 'people are squinting to block out the sun, complaining or soaking it up' lyrics.

one interesting thing about it is that apparently the backbeat is part of some sample pack, which afaik UW never really used before. someone pointed out that the same bit was used in a Family Guy ad.

Rick Smith, reluctant hiphop producer?

My internet might be back! (they didn't fix anything, but it's online now i guess?)

i copy

the awkward spacing of seh-cuu-rity on Ring Road sounds like a Mike Skinner influence

but what if Bruce Lee / Ring Road / Hundred Weight is what all of Karl's lyrics sound like before Rick cuts them up?

Imagine what he must have thought when he heard the first Streets record (like 3 years after Bruce Lee).

"secuuuruhty", definitely

If we're hanging out in here talking about tracks anyway, is a top 77 really enough?

Nope

I once put on King of Snake at a spontaneous dance party in my kitchen where there was a guest named Bruce Lee. Real shame I didn't think of it then.

Would folks be up for a little extra countdown, even if we don't have full-on fancy nashwan graphics?

YES

ahundredtracksoff

^ VERY GOOD PREAMBLE NAME

The lowest-scoring track received just one point, and was released in 2019.

The lowest-scoring track to get multiple votes scored two points, and was released in 1979.

I was one of the voters for that then

and was released in 2019.

(in studio form: it had been performed live from the early C21st, and included in part on a live album.)

Go for 100! Just start now!

I was one of the voters for that then

I love that both of the voters for I Just Can't Stand Cars by The Screen Gemz wanted to rep it exactly the same amount :)

ahundredtracksoff

Go for 100! Just start now!

look, I dunno if we can start from 100

101. I'm a Big Sister, and I'm a Girl, and I'm a Princess, and This Is My Horse
150 points, 4 votes
2006 digital EP (Riverrun 3) mixing excerpts of five uncompleted songs

audio

i do wanna rep for "i'm a big sister, and i'm a girl, and i'm a princess, and this is my horse" which i went to sleep to for a few months
― ufo, Wednesday, May 6, 2020 10:16 AM

https://i.imgur.com/fU4NpJ9.jpg

the whole EP is great but "Wedge"/"Showlder" is really some of the most gorgeous music I've ever heard in my life
― frogbs, Wednesday, May 6, 2020 11:03 AM

I like the "11 Hundred Hz" tag.

I voted for I Just Can't Stand Cars as I do quite like it, especially the harmonies towards the end, and wanted to give it some recognition. it probably isn't in their best 77 tracks tbh.

oh look, maybe we do have some graphics lying around after all

http://ghostable.uk/public/ilx/underworld/u100-884652.png

100. Bigmouth
154 points, 3 votes
1992 12" by Lemon Interupt

audio

lowest scoring.....I dunno, did someone put in Mile Bush Pride? Interesting little thing.

oh whoops. uhh. I'll come back.

The kickass house/blues romp "Big Mouth" (with some guy named Philadelphia Slim whom I've never heard of on harmonica!!) is another awesome underrated early Underworld song. Underworld kicks ass.

― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, January 8, 2004 4:32 AM

audience video 2015
audience audio 2003

(on a Country Techno thread:)

lemon interrupt/underworld's 'bigmouth' possible precursor. (is a harmonica country?)

― special guest stars mark bronson, Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:55 PM

The title was standardised to "Bigmouth" when re-released by Underworld.

https://i.imgur.com/6k2aQW7.jpg

(Philadelphia Slim does not exist. Patrick Hernandez did not write this song.)

hmm. I didn't vote for any of the Riverrun EPs as a whole but I did put on a lot of the individual tracks. Big Sister is really great, everyone should hear it

I love that both of the voters for I Just Can't Stand Cars by The Screen Gemz wanted to rep it exactly the same amount :)

― an, uh, razor of love (sic)

I was the other, something about its scrappy charm made it seem perfect for #77!

Re-listening now. This song makes me smile. na na na na

side-note, the Youtube version I listened to had it listed as "I Just Can't Stand The Cars" and I briefly wondered if I had somehow missed the period of MK.5 Underworld where they made diss tracks

http://ghostable.uk/public/ilx/underworld/u099-573079.png

99. Louisiana
156 points, 4 votes
2010 album track from Barking
video by Danielle Short & Toby Vogel

holy crap these visuals are great. this is my favorite track on Barking and in my top 10, this list is gonna be crazy.

wish I had voted in this. for albums Beaucoup Fish would have been #1 for me

Love Bigmouth. Harmonica techno ftw

Louisiana is a great song! It's uncool to not like it. See also the UW remix of William's Last Words by Manic Street Preachers, which for me captures a similarly reflective / somber tone.

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, May 31, 2018 4:38 AM

demo as Jumping The Cran

https://i.imgur.com/jlvSM8s.jpg

Reminded me of Talk Talk.....

reminds me of mark hollis,and that aint no bad thing.love it.

yeah love the visuals

http://ghostable.uk/public/ilx/underworld/u098-750093.png

98. Universe Of Can When Back
157 points, 3 votes
2018 youtube video as part of Drift
video by Simon Taylor
extended EP audio

I got a bit carried away and put this at #10, maybe a bit high, glad I got it in though.