The Czars. C/D?

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

"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."

Sounds like a nasty fight happened and everyone got fired.

and downloading "Song to the Siren"

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

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?

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

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

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

unhappy as in unsatisfied or unhappy as in depressed

as in depressed.

:(

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.

the autotune on 'goodbye' is unforgiveable but otherwise yeah

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

OK So this new album is really, really GOOD.

"Jesus Hates Faggots" is maybe my SOTY 2010

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

cover art a little upsetting tbh

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

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.

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

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.

ok actually loving this album

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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