adorable, um, classic or dud

I don't buy that they weren't sucessful because Creation didn't push the album; there was an attempt in the Cavanagh book to say that Adorable and Suede were playing similar material but Suede broke big because they got more support from their record label. That argument doesn't hold up, because the one thing Suede had at that time was an amazing guitarist who could transfigure the most basic of tunes into something great. Adorable had some good songs but nothing I could say was truly wonderful.

I miss them early `90's.

A: yes, they did.

In "Big Takeover" magazine -- at least one interview/article (allowing them to explain their songs, and also explain why they heckled Ian McCulloch during a show). Besides this article, there is a positive review of the album and single. I'm not sure if it's in the same issue though. To find out more, go here and click "back issues" :

http://bigtakeover.playhear.com/html/main.isx

(issue No. 33 1993)

were they just another band who'd have one song on a [rather brief] single-cd shoegazing retrospective?

[along with chapterhouse's pearl, slowdive's catch the breeze, and a couple of tracks from the first few ride eps...]

I came to Adorable shortly after they split and being an American I had none of the exposure to the cult of personality and the NME bashing to influence me. Thus, I totally love 'em.

The summaries above are dead on - great shimmering, bombastic debut. Their second album, _Fake_, suffers a bit from classic second-album-letdown, but only a bit and is mainly about their rock star experiences. "Kangaroo Court" is about being slagged in the press, "Man In A Suitcase" is about touring, etc.

There's about a dozen b-sides that together make a fantastic third album. "This House Is Rotten" is particularly bileful and wonderful.

Polak was a bit of a mixed bag. Their first 3 EPs are solid though doesn't reach the highs of Adorable material. These were collected on one disc, _3 x 3_. Their debut, uncleverly called _Swansongs_, falls quite flat and isn't memorable at all. But their second and final album, _Rubbernecking_, is a solid slow-burner that sticks in the brain and gets better with each listen.

Piotr writes poetry now, dunno if he does music anymore.

There's about a dozen b-sides that together make a fantastic third album.

Very true. I should dig that disc of mine out again.

A musician friend recently told me how Fake was one of her all time favorites, as in can't live without it top five or whatever. I was surprised on the one hand but the other I can hear it in her work, and it works very well!

Mr Odd is OTM

Adorable are classic with some amazing b-sides.

i first bought their second single I'm Sick" and was hooked, then the third single came out with the song "Sell My Guitar" and thought they could be as good as Adorable. they ended up putting all three single into a collection called 3 x 3 and was one of my most popular folders on slsk.

then just like Mr. Odd said the debut album was spotty but did have a few moments. then came Rubbernecking and i was blown away, tried to get the music board i was posting on at the time to listen, but not many other were as impressed or really gave it a fair shot. if you can seek out that album do because it is impressive and was around my number three in 2004...playing now.

Pete Fijalkowski was to release a debut solo album with a bunch of members from Polak but don't know if it actually ever happened.

after i said Adorable are classic, i went on to talk about Polak but wasn't clear who i was talking about.

All of a sudden I thought of these guys while out walking this weekend, totally at random.

How many bands would have killed to have b-sides as memorable as some of theirs? "Seasick Martyr" was my fave - "Tongue tied and seasick/and the saltwater taste" Yeah that stuff slays me. It occurs to me I did see them live, too. They were giving out autographed copies of their US 7" single and I remember coming home with one. I wish I could remember more about that show. I'm not quite sure why it didn't leave more of an impression.

I recall an interview that suggested the biggest crowd they ever played to was one in Melbourne.

I was at that gig Jim! I really enjoyed it and I was suprised at the time that they toured Aus at all, let alone pulled such a big crowd (they fairly packed the Prince of Wales).

"A to Fade In", the bside of "Sunshine Smile", is the best thing theyve ever done and it should have been a single in its own right.

How many bands would have killed to have b-sides as memorable as some of theirs? "Seasick Martyr" was my fave - "Tongue tied and seasick/and the saltwater taste" Yeah that stuff slays me. It occurs to me I did see them live, too. They were giving out autographed copies of their US 7" single and I remember coming home with one. I wish I could remember more about that show. I'm not quite sure why it didn't leave more of an impression.

OTM, again about those b-sides.

i saw Adorable live at the Roxy in Hollywood on Aug 5, 1993. the thing that struck me most about this show is they didn't look their sound. They were all dressed in suits with ties, but boy did they rock...loud. they ended up blowing the roof off the place and remember the buzz as we walked out. looked to the left, as i exit the building, with Alan Mcgee having a grin from ear to ear. it was a unforgettable night as you felt like you witness...oasis.

Good lord, you've even got a date nailed down! *salutes* Not sure I understand what you meant by that last sentence though.

i cheat as i have ticket stubs.

Adorable should have been Oasis instead of Oasis. the press called it 'shoegaze' with part of the reason being that the voice is buried in the music. Adorable has the voice up front with more pop elements, because of that i thought that they would be the next big group from England. i was wrong as it happened about a year later in the form of Oasis.

Heh heh, I figured you had the ticket stubs!

Honey, if Adorable were as big as Oasis...I daresay Fuckwit Dubya wouldn't even be president. We would be living in an entirely different and much more desirable world. One easily recalls the Smiths' lyric "Love Peace & Harmony...oh very nice very nice very nice maybe in the next world..."

I remember them saying shoegazing back then...it was only cause the UK music press didn't know what else to do or say circa '93. '93 was a transition year, kindof a cultural void of sorts. And to me 1993 was the last great year for new music. Things have never been the same since. I said that on some other thread here and people poo-pooed me, as they are wont to do, especially if they're not old enough to remember the 80's. But I meant it then and I mean it now. There have been a few great bands and records since, but overall, there ought to be a massive indie gravestone marked 1993.

Yeah, that's right, "INDIE" when it meant something far different than what it means today.

The last song on their first album is "Breathless" and oh my god I've got goose bumps all over my arms. This one is a killer. I think I'm going to put together a Top 5 fave Adorable song list here soon.

But BeeOK, I remember Piotr being really aggressive with the audience, like totally getting up in their face...do you remember it that way or am I confusing it with another band?

I've just found my cassette of the Sunshine Smile & I'll Be Your Saint 12"es plus b-sides!

Yeah Adorable were kickass live. Piotr had a white suit on at the gig I saw and he was all over the stage like a madman, very intense.

Trayce! You're here! Oh god, I'm so lucky not to be drunk & alone tonight.

Anyway..I wanted to say this song "I'll Be Your Saint"...about the bass sound at the beginning...folks in their 20's would do well to emulate that bass sound in bands. It takes the right producer...

i cheat as i have ticket stubs.

I had tickets. Underground Lovers opened. I missed the show and never saw either. Still pissed.

OMG this b-side "Self-Imperfectionist" This another one of those Adorable ones like "Breathless" that just flips my lid completely.

sorry xpost Ned - didn't see your post -

I remember barely anything about Underground Lovers except that they were played on John Peel. Sorry you missed the show.

"I'm gonna come back soon in another life
I'm gonna cut out your words with my butter knife
so CAREFULLY
and then we'll be free..."

i like adorable, but they should have been supporting the underground lovers, not the other way around.

The Undies were ace. What ever happened to them?

members left, gbvg happened, vince is (was?) in a band called 'maps' last year which either changed their name or split up..

I just can't seem to stop playing these guys. Trying to get into other things right now is pointless it seems. After a reappraisal, I still say the b-sides to Sistine Chapel Ceiling are the best. I still don't find the b-sides to Kangaroo Court & Vendetta nearly as memorable as the rest. Am I wrong? Will someone vouch for them?

It seems strange and sad to admit it, but it was the press that killed them.

I'm particularly fond of "I Know You Too Well". The second album is nearly as good as the first, but not quite. "Road Movie" is the favourite for me.

Here's a really interesting interview with Piotr circa February of this year, including a clip of him doing "A To Fade In" solo and live:

http://sendmedeadflowers.com/2007/02/dead-flowers-interviews-pete-from.html

I seem to be drifting towards Polak at this time. Heard a couple of good songs and I've basically ignored them before.

So a best-of is coming out - anyone know what the tracklisting is? I doubt it'll turn anyone new onto the band but it's good to have something in print for these underrated music martyrs.

i don't know, but it damn well should have 'a to fade in' on it if the compiler has half a brain cell

here we go (and indeed it is there):

1. Sunshine Smile
2. Glorious
3. Sistine Chapel Ceiling
4. Vendetta
5. A To Fade In
6. Submarine
7. Sunburnt
8. I'll Be Your Saint
9. Manina Suitcase
10. Homeboy
11. Summerside
12. Feed Me
13. Favourite Fallen idol
14. Crash Sight
15. Cut #2
16. Kangaroo Court
17. Lettergo
18. Breathless

released today! :-)

oh, it's called Footnotes: Best Of 1992-94

I feel totally slighted that there are no juicy, bonus, previously-unreleased tracks on this. And yes I know...Glorious is an "edit". Big whoop.

Adorable reunion now!

i had no idea there was some compilation/best-of released until pitchfork reviewed it this week

love these records so much and listen to them at least once a month

did this just come out in the US? or is Pitchfork just getting around to reviewing this some 10 months later?

because of this bump i'm going to dig out the singles and listen to all of them...

Pete Fij and Terry Bickers finally got their album, "Broken Heart Surgery" released. It's good but not great, well worth checking out for fans of his work. Interestingly, there's two versions - Pete recorded one on his own ten years ago.

http://petefijterrybickers.bandcamp.com/