TS: SPACE STATION WARFARE! (Shoegaze edition, 1993) -- Catherine Wheel's "Ursa Major Space Station" vs. Slowdive's "Souvlaki Space Station"

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I don't think I could possibly choose...Slowdive puts up one hell of a shoegaze throwdown in that song but Catherine Wheel is fucking majestic. Both songs are my favourites from their respective albums, too.

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 26 February 2005 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I came up with the thread idea when I realise I put both of those on the same mixtape and spotted a few things in common with each.

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 26 February 2005 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

realised^

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 26 February 2005 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, this is a good TS. But I will pick Slowdive's, because that Catherine Wheel b-side paled in comparison to a few other Catherine Wheel b-sides from the same time period.

I never ever ever ever listen to Slowdive now. I guess I should feel guilty for that? I just never feel the need. But hey, I don't play Ride either, and the other day I heard "Vapour Trail" out of the blue on the radio in the middle of my busy day and WOW was I ever transfixed.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Sunday, 27 February 2005 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

GREATEST T/S THREAD EVER!

"Ursa Major" was my fave on "Chrome" at the time (=1993) too, although now I'd have to rank it behind "The Nude", "Crank", and "I Confess".

The problem with "Souvlaki SS" is that it starts too strong and can't sustain itself. The first minute is gigantic, but the momentum starts to peter out and the last two minutes are basically noodling over the beat while waiting for the song to end.

"Ursa Major", OTOH, bursts out of the gate and manages to save its strength for the finish, which is even grander than the beginning.

So, Catherine Wheel win this one.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 27 February 2005 07:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Catherine Wheel!

This was one of my most listened-to albums in the mid-'90s, and this is one of the best tunes on it.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 27 February 2005 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Catherine Wheel for me. Chrome is just a great record through and through. And Ursa Major is one of my favorites on there fo sho. And I never really did get into Slowdive so this is an easy one for me.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 27 February 2005 08:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll take Slowdive over CW and Souvlaki over Chrome, but I'll have to take Ursa Major over SSS.

― derrick (derrick), Sunday, 27 February 2005 09:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Having listened to both several times in the past 24 hours...I'd say "Ursa Major Space Station", too...not by a lot, though.

I haven't listened to Slowdive much lately either, but it's been really difficult to pry CW, Talk Talk, Scritti Politti, and Disco Inferno out of my CD player these days.

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Sunday, 27 February 2005 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it a coinidence, then, that these bands toured together during the summer of 1993 - right after the release of Chrome and Souvlaki, respectively. I was 15 and had to borrow someone's ID to get into the 18+ show. Worth it (in spades). Still one of the best shows I've ever seen..

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Friday, 4 March 2005 01:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Big ups to ya Ian Riese-Moraine. I hadn't listened to Chrome in a long time and dug it out last night cause of this thread. Man I often forget how GREAT a singer Rob Dickinson is. Great fucking record.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Friday, 4 March 2005 06:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Slowdive, maaaan. I mean, they had the Eno production, for added extra SPAAAAAACE, didn't they?

― Masonic Cathedral (kate), Friday, 4 March 2005 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Slowdive, hands down. Not even a close one.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

i love chrome waaaaaaay more than ferment. have we gotten to that point on this thread yet? maybe cuz i heard chrome first and that production just kills and slays and flays me. i musta played that thing a zillion times when it came out.(i love those ferment-era 12-inches though.)

oh, and also: Jack Rabid to thread!

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Catherine Wheel, hands down. Not even a close one.

― ian in brooklyn, Friday, 4 March 2005 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

The first [measure] is gigantic, but the momentum starts to peter out and the last [six] minutes are basically noodling over the beat while waiting for the song to end.

Slowdive in a nutshell.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i love chrome waaaaaaay more than ferment. have we gotten to that point on this thread yet?

Oh yes, "Chrome" > "Ferment" (Side 1 is still great, "I Want to Touch You" remains unassailable, "Black Metallic" bores me these days ("Pain" from "Chrome" is the same song done better), and side 2 weakens badly after "Flower To Hide").

"Chrome" > "Souvlaki" too, although that's a closer call.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 4 March 2005 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

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