The new album by January is an early contender for a 2004 classic and I am as suprised as you

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Anyone else heard it? It's lush, tearful and triumphant in a way that the slightly half-arsed neo-shoegazey type band January of a couple of years ago would never have been able to achieve. Or so you'd think.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Saturday, 22 November 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

is this the awful band with the people from Scala in it?

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 22 November 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

What's the new one called?

― Curt (cgould), Sunday, 23 November 2003 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought they'd split up! Who's putting it out? I adored the previous one. A forgotten gem to be sure.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 23 November 2003 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd rather hear a new Scala record even if they were marginal at best. January's first record was earnest enough but he can't sing, it wasn't all that moving and it was clear he wanted to be mojave 3 but he wasn't. that might be a good thing to some.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 24 November 2003 01:48 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm i don't see what you mean really. i like his voice, and have done since he was in Jupiter (who were also great, probably Australia's best shoegaze band ever, although i gather they sucked live).

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 24 November 2003 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Hang on, Simon McLean was in Jupiter too? I didn't know that connection. I'll have to dig out "Just a taste" again.

A new January album sounds good to me, I did enjoy their first album (apart from that long jam at the end where they turned into Kula Shaker) and hoped they hadn't disappeared. Is this on Poptones? I thought their brand of country shoegazing was far superior to Mojave 3 really.

― Rob M (Rob M), Monday, 24 November 2003 09:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Er... If this is a potential "album of 2004", how come we're hearing about it in 2003?!!??!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Monday, 24 November 2003 10:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It's what's technically known as an "advance copy", strange exclamation fella.

I didn't know they had Scala members in to be honest - I didn't really pay that much attention to them first time round. But it's a lovely record. It's not on Poptones but I've forgotten the name of their new label cos I'm a hopeless tit.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 24 November 2003 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

DJ Mencap - as you are in Cardiff and so am I, any chance of you passing me a copy sometime?

― Rob M (Rob M), Monday, 24 November 2003 10:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, I could probably do that. Email me your postal address (to the email below) and I'll get a CDR together.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 24 November 2003 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought their brand of country shoegazing was far superior to Mojave 3 really.

it's not quite as good as the first M3 album but at least equal (and i suspect superior) to the rest of their stuff. "falling in" is an amazing track.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 24 November 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll agree with you there actually - the first M3 album was superb, but everything they've done since has left me a bit cold. That sparse wintry sound on "Ask me tomorrow" was perfect, they could've made a dozen albums like that and I'd have been perfectly happy.

We'll just disagree about "Falling in" then. It starts off great, but just goes on too long. Admittedly I've not heard it in a while, I might enjoy it now.

― Rob M (Rob M), Monday, 24 November 2003 12:06 (twenty-two years ago)

there's a single edit that's half the length, which might be more your thing

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 24 November 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Yep, it's still sitting in Diverse Records in Newport for 99p since the day it was issued. At some point I might actually buy it.

― Rob M (Rob M), Monday, 24 November 2003 12:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought the thread title meant that, surprisingly, anyone who gets a new album out by the month of January will have it automatically become a contender for a 2004 classic. What a sweet, optimistic notion! or maybe it's a wittily damning indictment of music in 2003! but never mind.

― Poppy (poppy), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

No, that would be both ungrammatical and silly.

The album is on Must Destroy, BTW, for anyone who was wondering.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:36 (twenty-two years ago)

This may sound like a stupid question but:

You're not THE Poppycocteau are you, by the way?

― Rob M (Rob M), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Now I'm imagining great flocks of Poppycocteaus that blot out the sky in flight.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

See, I said it was a stupid question Ned. Just there was once a Poppycocteau who wrote part of the Sarah 70 fanzine, and a very fine writer they were too. Just wondering out loud, and looking like an idiot.

― Rob M (Rob M), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

No no, I think it's a great question because now I have a vision!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The album is on Must Destroy, BTW, for anyone who was wondering.

it's obvious who got them for Poptones then

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Lawks, there's another one?!! No, the only thing I've written is a rubbishy review or two for my uni paper.

― Poppy (poppy), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Fair enough Poppy, keep up the good work!

― Rob M (Rob M), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

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