The Czars. C/D?

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Goodbye was my favourite album of last year, and they were great live too in a tiny venue in front of about 40 people. The end of year lists seemed to overlook them and they dont get much discussion on here. Whats the deal? Does everyone else think theyre a big dud?

dmun, Tuesday, 1 March 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

Spencer is a huge fan, I seem to recall -- have one album and have heard another (the new one), they're good but I'd need to think more about why they're good (for some reason I keep comparing them with the Tindersticks in my mind, which isn't necessarily fair).

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

everything i've heard other than "drug" has disappointed me, but that's probably a reflection on the brilliance of "drug" rather than anything else. i need to make a conscious effort to listen to them more, i think.

and yes, they're filed neatly next to tindersticks in my mind too.

grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

Goodbye was supremely fantastic, but then I went in search of their earlier stuff with high hopes and have to say I wasn't too impressed.

rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 18:54 (twenty years ago)


I think Ugly People Vs Beautiful People is classic, but I don't have anything else right now. At first the only thing that struck me was "Drug" as well, but it's one of those slow burn albums that needs time.
So, what I've heard, classic...need more.

Garibaldianne (Garibaldianne), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 19:16 (twenty years ago)

This is one of my favorite bands ever. I'd actually say that The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People is their finest moment, beautiful straight through - with the caveat that there's an acoustic version of "Drug" on a CD single that's far better. Goodbye is amazing as well, especially "Goodbye", "Paint the Moon" and the surprisingly uptempo "Pain". Their first proper album
Before...But Longer
is excellent too, but there's nothing on it to compare with the last two.

My Czars "portable" CD80 Go!

1. Drug ('Music from the film I'd Rather Be ... Gone')
2. Side Effect
3. Killjoy
4. Caterpillar
5. Lullaby 6000
6. This
7. Black and Blue
8. Anger
9. Catherine
10. Accident
11. My Funny Valentine/Val
12. Goodbye
13. Paint the Moon
14. Pain
15. Song to the Siren (for me the definitive version of this song)
16. I Fall to Pieces

(79:02)

I see The Tindersticks comparison, but frankly The Czars songs are much stronger and John Grant's voice is a national treasure.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 19:19 (twenty years ago)

So it seems everyone likes the Czars without actually being very bothered about listening to them. (Apart from me and Spencer.) Which would explain why there were only 40 people at the gig, and why John Grant seemed so self conscious on and off stage.

As for Song to the Siren, the Robert Plant version was my favourite ever song until i heard John Grant sing it.

dmun, Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:06 (twenty years ago)

Haha, I went to their show in L.A. about a year and a half ago and there were like 12 people there. It was shameful - I was going to ask who there manager was so I could berate them. The set was really beautiful too. I think they should have multiple Grammys at this point.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

keith to thread

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:11 (twenty years ago)

i've only heard half a dozen of their songs (i consider this a bit of an oversight) but what i have heard is lovely. it really comes down to the vocals for me, too. wonderful, wonderful voice.

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:12 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone heard the secret track on Ugly People?
Very strange.

peter d (peter dee), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:54 (twenty years ago)

I still haven't heard it and I've owned the CD for years! I always forget about it!

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:16 (twenty years ago)

Heh, same here -- that's before the songs, yeah? Hidden tracks at the start of CDs are mystery objects.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 01:30 (twenty years ago)

Are they rippable?

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 02:17 (twenty years ago)

only by analogue means as far as i'm aware

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 02:20 (twenty years ago)

Interesting. I wonder if Total Recorder could do it?

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 02:26 (twenty years ago)

i love the czars although i've seen devotchka live a few times int he past few months and they might be my new favorite denver band. it is all about the voice with the czars, he's got a terrible haircut but man he can break your heart in an instant. 'ugly people...' is their best record i agree, it's got that cool mix of goth, country and shoegaze going for it. the new one was excellent too but a bit too polite and his lyrics are always a drag but 'hymn' might be my favorite czars song ever. i used to go see them whenever they played here but i kept getting annoyed when i'd close my eyes on the slowies and all i would hear is the chatter at the bar, ugh. all of the czars affiliated bands are horrible, no idea why but andy monley hasn't a clue on his own.

keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

spencer is immortalized in the liner notes to goodbye.
i would put 'dave's dream' and 'concentrate' on a czars cd80. they did a wonderful version of 'leaving on your mind' too.
devics girl over paula from tarnation but maybe that's only cause i see the devics as a female version of the czats.

keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

roger's song and hymn should be on a cd80 too. i am listening to devothcka now, his voice is even prettier than john grant's. two obscure talents so close to one another, funny.

keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 04:50 (twenty years ago)

his lyrics are always a drag

Well, if you're putting on The Czars, you probably should be in the mood for it. I wouldn't really call them a "drag" - the lyrics are really well written, but yes they are often sad and bitter - and even if they're not, he sings them that way.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 06:25 (twenty years ago)

Personally, I thought Goodbye was stunning. My favourite album of 2004, no question.

I can't fathom out why they're not huge - they certainly have the potential to be as popular as REM, say...

braces tower, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:52 (twenty years ago)

very good, although for some reason when I first heard them I didn't think so. they took a while (like, two years) to really click for me. I suppose like others I compared them with tindersticks in my mind and to me they came up short (I'm a huge Tindersticks fan); now I don't think they're necessarily comparable.

John Grant does some vocals on the forthcoming Piano Magic album.

kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

Hidden tracks at the start of CDs are mystery objects.

this is a phenomenon of which i'm not aware. i assume you have to track backwards from the beginning to hear it? hmm. sounds irritating.

grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

i didn't mean drag in the 'oh he's moping again' sense, i just find a lot of the words silly. it doesn't detract from my enjoyment. the last one was a bit like a john grant solo album, lots of piano and his voice, not a lot from the other guys. at least on a good number of the songs. or i could be imagining things. elin palmer, she's beautiful.

keith m (keithmcl), Thursday, 3 March 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

the forthcoming Piano Magic album

A phrase that at one point would have made me very happy.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 3 March 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

i just find a lot of the words silly

Really? I don't think this at all! The lyrics are consistently excellent! Maybe a bit maudlin or overwrought, but always in a "I'm drunk and bitter and I'm going to be maudlin and overwrought" kind of way.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 3 March 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

well the song he sang on Writers was one of the best songs on that record, and I thought the last PM album was one of their best ones. The new ep, eh. But married with Grant's vocals I think the next record could be really great.

anyway, listening to Goodbye again today, and thinking the leaps and bounds by which the Czars improve with each album is stunning. Really, one only needs it and Ugly People; but you might appreciate them even more if you hear La Brea Tar Pits and Before but Longer.

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 3 March 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

I wonder what their problem is. They should be on a major label selling millions of records.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 3 March 2005 18:50 (twenty years ago)

Goodbye never even came out in the US! Bella Union is a weird label. Even though it has those names behind it, I think they're a pretty small operation and don't have a very big reach; also, they have a weird roster of acts. the Czars seem to concentrate more on Europe than anywhere else, I guess when you live in Colorado you may as well go and play over there, it costs as much to fly there as it does to drive to NYC and play to no-one.

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 3 March 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

Good points, and maybe they need to move to L.A. or NYC or something.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 3 March 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Oh, they broke up! I was wondering why the contact on their website said the site and the domain name was for sale. end of the history page:

"Little would it last. Like hydrogen in the Hindenburg, the band imploded in flames and over the course of the ultimately prophetic “Goodbye”, there would be the departure of five out of six members, including founding members Jeff and Chris, plus long-time guitarists Andy and Roger, as well as violinist Elin Palmer. Apparently “potential” apparently had an expiration date. This web-site is dedicated to all that supported the band from 1994 to 2004."

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 3 March 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)

everyone appears to have been replaced, since the bella union site lists the members as:
John Grant - vocals, piano
Dave Devine - guitar
Jeff Eliassen - guitar, backup vocals, trumpet, keyboard
Paul McDaniel - bass, keyboard
Marc Dalio - drums, electronics

Sounds like a nasty fight happened and everyone got fired.

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 3 March 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

Wow! Sad, but still I hope they end up doing well on other projects.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 3 March 2005 19:17 (twenty years ago)

I found their other new site (czarsmusic.com). It looks like they're still active and touring and playing SXSW, it is just all new members though. I'm sure they're still good! I hope they eventually get back to the west coast since I missed the only time they ever played in SF

kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 3 March 2005 19:22 (twenty years ago)

If anyone wants to make their life better, I recommend going here:
http://www.theczars.net/mp3.html

and downloading "Song to the Siren"

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 3 March 2005 19:24 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...
okay, the song on the new piano magic album is "your ghost" (not the kristin hersh song) and it's pretty amazing.

"Goodbye" is being released in the US later this year.

kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

sad and slightly embarassed to read my earlier comments on this thread, as the last few years have shown The Czars grown into one of my treasured and favorite bands. it's a tragedy they weren't huge.

And yes, Spencer's note I'd actually say that The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People is their finest moment, beautiful straight through is incredibly OTM

"Just one vice is all any man needs to keep him happy..."

anyone know if John Grant is doing anything these days?

rentboy, Monday, 17 August 2009 19:05 (fifteen years ago)

hmmm the last Google results I could find is:

"All of Midlake is also co-producing, engineering and playing on an album for their friend John Grant. It's something they work on each night after the Midlake workday ends. Smith is working on yet another album, drumming for St. Vincent's next LP. He'd like to finish up his own band's record too -- they'll all have to get 9-5 jobs if Midlake doesn't tour soon"

http://stereogum.com/archives/progress_report/progress-report-midlake_035761.html

rentboy, Monday, 17 August 2009 20:08 (fifteen years ago)

anyone know anything more about that? from last November, almost a year old :(

rentboy, Monday, 17 August 2009 20:08 (fifteen years ago)

i read an interview with him from last year or earlier this year, he mentions a solo album but he seems terribly unhappy.

keythkeythkeyth, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 01:43 (fifteen years ago)

unhappy as in unsatisfied or unhappy as in depressed

you! me! posting! (electricsound), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 02:04 (fifteen years ago)

as in depressed.

keythkeythkeyth, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 02:12 (fifteen years ago)

:(

rentboy, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 13:26 (fifteen years ago)

i didnt know there was a czars thread i didnt post to, but their final three albums are each fantastic. the songs are quality (with some occasionally derivative production tastes), but man, that voice. i hope really good things happen for grant, and soon.

i just dont get how they didnt achieve more success in the market.

iro with the brown bag (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:25 (fifteen years ago)

the autotune on 'goodbye' is unforgiveable but otherwise yeah

akm, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:31 (fifteen years ago)

five months pass...

Check out the feb 2010 issue of MOJO magazine, 10 for 2010. John Grant is #9

wolverine25, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 01:22 (fifteen years ago)

two months pass...

OK So this new album is really, really GOOD.

"Jesus Hates Faggots" is maybe my SOTY 2010

rentboy, Monday, 19 April 2010 12:34 (fifteen years ago)

hmmm...not really liking this. i guess roger green and andy monley were important after all.

keythhtyek, Wednesday, 21 April 2010 03:44 (fifteen years ago)

cover art a little upsetting tbh

, Wednesday, 21 April 2010 05:22 (fifteen years ago)

http://www.atlantamusicguide.com/wp-content/thumbnails/2613.jpg

, Wednesday, 21 April 2010 05:23 (fifteen years ago)

i guess roger green and andy monley were important after all.

weird to hear you say that... because to me other than some noticeably, obvious Midlake-sounding musicianship on a couple of songs, it strikes me as much the next logical Czars album as it does a solo John Grant album. Meaning, if someone had played it for me and said "this is a new Czars album" I would've never batted an eye or even questioned it.

Some of the lyrics are truly wonderful. Some, not so much, but it's been that way all along.

rentboy, Wednesday, 21 April 2010 14:55 (fifteen years ago)

the parts ive heard do sound like the czars ep x would rather listen to y than listen to a c of z's.

fat mantis (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 21 April 2010 22:00 (fifteen years ago)

maybe i just imagine they kept his confessional side reined in and seemingly they added most of the ethereal bits as this is lacking in that area as well.

keythhtyek, Thursday, 22 April 2010 03:42 (fifteen years ago)

ok actually loving this album

, Thursday, 22 April 2010 03:48 (fifteen years ago)

This album is kind of kooky. I like it, obviously very personal but maybe bording on TMI in a strange way.

Spencer Chow, Tuesday, 27 April 2010 21:51 (fifteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

OK so I just found out there's a "deluxe edition" out there with a second disc.... Is that just a standard release mechanism for everything nowadays?

rentboy, Friday, 14 May 2010 14:24 (fifteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Second bonus disc - "That's The Good News" - Holy OMGWTFLOL?

rentboy, Friday, 4 June 2010 12:31 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

So the new solo album is about to come out...

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 30 January 2013 16:16 (twelve years ago)

the song 'Blackbelt' off this is awesome. actually I think I really like the whole album. hard to tell if it's gonna make much of a splash but I wouldn't be totally surprised if this time next year lots of posters on here were describing everyone who voted it to #8 in the AOTY poll as human garbage

ima go (DJ Mencap), Friday, 1 February 2013 16:22 (twelve years ago)

don't really remember the Czars altho I know I've listened to them and possibly seen them live, but I think I'm right in saying that this album is p different. there are tons of synths, not many guitars

ima go (DJ Mencap), Friday, 1 February 2013 16:25 (twelve years ago)

one year passes...

"best of" is out on Bella Union, does a fair job of the highlights, omits la brea era stuff.

chemical aioli (Hunt3r), Friday, 12 December 2014 20:31 (ten years ago)


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