The Organ - classic or dud?

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I am a sucker for that peter hook-style bass!

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

I've listened to this once or twice and I'm definitely gonna listen to it some more. I definitely like the sound but I haven't gotten into the songwriting.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:22 (twenty years ago)

The Organ - for folks who ain't heard about it. I didn't actually know what they looked like. Someone put it in our format book at the station and I dug it.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:24 (twenty years ago)

do you put that disclaimer in because they are so amazingly HOTT!???!?

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

in a way! I'm more interested now that I know they're all young and cute and stuff.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

before I googled that, I just knew their retro tones.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

I admit that I first heard them on the L word.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

and here I was all ready to go on extolling the virtues of Jimmy Smith, Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Brother Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, Jim Patton, etc.

However I like New Order! I'll check this motherfucker out.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:29 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad you did, Teeny! I had no idea if anybody else had heard of these folks and I hadn't decided yet whether I was a big champion or not.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:29 (twenty years ago)

I've somehow never gotten around to seeing this band, even though they've been through town a few times. I did plan to see them one time, they were playing some Canadian Music Week event but I couldn't get in.

Who here has seen them live?

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

oh I haven't decided either miccio, I share your speculation about the songwriting. They're playing in chicago at the end of april so maybe I'll go see them.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 12 March 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Who here has seen them live?

Haven't seen them, but I did hear their live show that aired on CBC radio last year. Judging by the audience comments after the show, they don't really do much up there, so you probably go to hear the songs, not be overly entertained.

I had no idea if anybody else had heard of these folks and I hadn't decided yet whether I was a big champion or not.

The album was co-released in Canada on 604, the label owned by the Nickleback singer. Chew on that!

― Vic Funk, Saturday, 12 March 2005 22:31 (twenty years ago)

When played by Fats Wall---oh, I see. I've actually been curious to hear them...good timing on this thread. Thanks!

― Ian Riese-Moraine as Jack Nance as Henry Spencer in Eraserhead (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 12 March 2005 23:57 (twenty years ago)

i like them! my pal signed them to his label in australia and paid a ton of money for it, and are touring them soon. he's betting they're gonna be huge. hope it goes well

― phil-two (phil-two), Sunday, 13 March 2005 00:10 (twenty years ago)

yah absolutely no emotion on stage. not that it was bad. but they just looked like they werent having fun at all. never heard the cd. liked the music enough though.

― dogonwheels (dogonwheels), Sunday, 13 March 2005 01:20 (twenty years ago)

i thot they were sorta blah live, but that was two years ago. they could be better now.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 13 March 2005 02:05 (twenty years ago)

i think i saw one of their first shows many years ago (they weren't so good). people in vancouver have very very strong feelings about them, but i've managed to avoid forming an opinion.

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Sunday, 13 March 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

this band are great, the singer is phenomenal. everything about their image would indicate a twee pop band but they're so far from that.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Sunday, 13 March 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

but they just looked like they werent having fun at all.

absolutely true, especially the keyboardist. she looked like someone had just run over her cat. it must be difficult being a cute indie girl being completely and utterly outshone by your androgynous singer.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Sunday, 13 March 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

ok I've listened to this album twice now and I think I really like it.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 13 March 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

About as exciting as early 10,000 Maniacs trying to re-write Smiths songs and doing a poor job of it.

DUD!

― Hector Savage, Sunday, 13 March 2005 17:39 (twenty years ago)

i saw their early shows too; not so good, but they're pretty good live now. seen them... 5 times, total? i took a philosophy class with katie, the singer some years ago. they're decent people, and it's fun to see them picking up steam. i'm just hoping for some new songs soon... the 7", EP and LP all overlap.

― derrick (derrick), Sunday, 13 March 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

what about The Organ G? 'With Wings' is fantastic!

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:06 (twenty years ago)

They get a pass from me for having a couple of attractive in a scenester way chicks but they really are a Pat Benetar tribute act.

― Chris Davis (Chris Davis), Monday, 14 March 2005 03:25 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

their uk tour starts today:

March
29 Cambridge Portland Arms
30 Nottingham Social
31 Bristol Mr Wolf’s Noodle Bar

April
2 Liverpool Academy
3 Glasgow Nice & Sleazy
4 Leeds Joseph’s Well
5 London Artrocker @ The Buffalo Bar
6 London Forum (supporting The Wedding Present)
7 London Monarch
9 London Club Motherfucker @ Upstairs at the Garage

― emsk, Tuesday, 29 March 2005 15:54 (twenty years ago)

They're playing our indie night, Roustabout, in May!!!

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 29 March 2005 17:09 (twenty years ago)

The bar is tiny too. This is gonna rule.

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 29 March 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

"yah absolutely no emotion on stage. not that it was bad. but they just looked like they werent having fun at all."

Just saw them in Waterloo on Saturday. I'd heard about them being bored/boring live, but it's something different. The musicians don't move at all. Kind of unsettling.

― todd (todd), Tuesday, 29 March 2005 17:44 (twenty years ago)

It's definitely different than just boring, I agree. I was kind of impressed at how aloof they where when I saw them, all of them staring off into space, the organist, guitarist and bassist standing in the same spot for the whole set.

― La Monte (La Monte), Tuesday, 29 March 2005 17:52 (twenty years ago)

Aloof, or just boring? It's a pretty fine line. I like the album though, especially the singing.

― everything, Tuesday, 29 March 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

they were fucking great in cambridge. aloof?? not even slightly! they weren't leaping around and gurning, but they would have looked stupid if they did. they all looked like they were having a good time to me.

― emsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 09:53 (twenty years ago)

Some of their newer songs are untouchable (Memorize The City is my fave by a mile). Formula is precariously close to caricature but when they hit it right it's pure murder. Hey Shmool I saw the last Vancouver show w Esther and it was BUMPING and really moving - hey, WHERE THE FUCK did Esther go? Her phone is still working but has anyone actually seen/talked to her during the last 2 months? We should write her a GET OUT HERE card.

― LeCoq (LeCoq), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 10:13 (twenty years ago)

Hey, Phil, who is your Auzzie connect? He's jacking everyone I've been thinking about jacking, but shit, if he beat me to jacking Chad Kroger, good on him!

BTW did you get my mail re: Dandi dealio?

― LeCoq (LeCoq), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 10:19 (twenty years ago)

this could be the last time, maybe the last time, i don't know

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 10:21 (twenty years ago)

Played with them last night - I thought they were excellent. Their flavour is, I guess, pretty retro (yes, elements of Smiths, New Order, Cure), but a) they have their own style, b) do it all with panache, and c) who wants to get into a discussion about the inescapability of musical history? Despite the fact that I'm probably one of the most irritating types of people with regards to 'seen it, heard it all before'-dom, a good pop band will win me round every time.

Going to see them again, in my town tonight, so ner to you detractors.

― emil.y (emil.y), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

I just saw them a couple of days ago in Montreal. The guitarrist looked like a robot (actually most robots are more dynamic)! But that wasn't a bad thing and I loved them. They had an easy unpretentious vibe, especially in comparison with the rest of the bands (Stars, Wooden Stars and Montag). Plus Katie Sketch is definitely charming, she has a very early Morrissey thing going on. Classic!

― daavid (daavid), Monday, 18 April 2005 01:38 (twenty years ago)

Memorize The City is my fave by a mile

OTM!

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Monday, 18 April 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

they are the female version of THE STILLS.

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 21 April 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Is anyone going to see them in London tonight?

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 09:09 (twenty years ago)

keep missing them this time round. last time i saw them i came out thinking "wow, proper goths" only to get slapped down by my IN DENIAL colleagues. like their styles tho.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 09:55 (twenty years ago)

I would like to go but Charlie's just put me off (actually I've other plans, involving Toffeemen).

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 09:57 (twenty years ago)

The music is occasionally on the generically JoyDiv side of Goth, but I think the singer saves them.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

I've heard some of their records and didn't get that goth feeling (what's gone WRONG with me?). In fact I rather liked them. I would go, on another night.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:24 (twenty years ago)

sorry, don't mean to misrepresent - i mean goths in the same way that interpol or the bunnymen are goths. the singer sounds like a female morrissey too.

man, they should be my favourite band.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 10:26 (twenty years ago)

the singer *is* them. without her they'd be irrelevant.

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Chuck, are you going tonight?

I'm trying to make up my mind if it's worth risking sleep deprivation and making my illness worse.

― Alce Tea-Skirt (kate), Thursday, 11 August 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

Why are people suckers for this shit? Get out of your teenaged years, it's the 21st century!

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 11 August 2005 13:24 (twenty years ago)

Last time I saw them was a couple of weeks ago in Montreal and boy, you could feel the tension. The sound was unbareably bad. The girl from 'the organ' kept raising the volume and all the others too. It's a shame because I quite like some of their songs.

― daavid (daavid), Thursday, 11 August 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

who is comin to see them on this tour?

― emsk ( emsk), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 11:22 (nineteen years ago)

I would like to. When are the London dates?

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

October
26 London ULU (supporting Electrelane)
27 Nottingham Liars Club

November
1 London Water Rats
15 Lincoln Bivouac (supporting The Wedding Present)
16 Reading Fez " "
17 Leicester University SU " "
18 Salisbury Arts Centre " "
19 Sheffield Leadmill " "
20 London Shepherd's Bush Empire " "

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 11:30 (nineteen years ago)

Oh dear I don't think I'm going to be making any of those.

I am also going to miss the excellent Playwrights. Gah.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 11:39 (nineteen years ago)

My organ is a classic.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

I saw them last night when they supported Electrelane and I was very very impressed. I read some reviews and most people seem to think that the singers voice is really amazing but that was difficult to hear during the gig cause the sound of her microphone was crap. But the rest of the music was sublime.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 27 October 2005 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

Wow, I finally saw them last night, and I wish I hadn't waited so bloody long!

Ned alert! Ned alert!!! Check them out, you'd like them. They will push all your buttons.

I don't get the Joy Division comparisons. To me, it's the Smiths that ring most obviously through those chiming guitar riffs. But filtered through the sonorous organ and atmospherics of the Chameleons, with a bit of the bouncy fractured rhythms of early to mid Cure.

― We might force K8 to change her name to Marie. (kate), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 10:11 (nineteen years ago)

It's the Smiths, yes. Even her voice.

― naranjito (Koens), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, when I heard the slight vibrato in her voice, oh yes, it's very "tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be Morrissey" - not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a different take on it.

― We might force K8 to change her name to Marie. (kate), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 10:47 (nineteen years ago)

kate i think i am gonna go see them in reading want to come?

OT but tim, can you explain the playwrights to me? i got 'good beneath the radar' whenever it came out and i thought it was wicked (esp 'the national missing person'... wow... hm, i may have to go play it again right now...), but everything i've heard since doesn't really do it for me, and when i saw them live they didn't blow up my skirt either. i think i can see what they're doing and i admire it and they're obviously very talented and i like their cerebral approach, but it just doesn't touch me. i would like it to, though. way in?

― emsk ( emsk), Friday, 4 November 2005 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

Er um not sure. I think my way in to them was the fact that they reminded me of seeing the Wolfhounds in 1986, and I loved the Wolfhounds in 1986. I like how the cerebral kind of pokes its little head through the attack of the sound.

I loved them live and thought GBTR less good, like they hadn't been able to work out how to translate the clangy noise into a studio setting. I still really like it, though.

I must admit I haven't listened much to "Guy Debord Is Really Dead" but I'm told that the forthcoming LP is a bit special.

I don't imagine that helped at all, I'm sorry.

― Tim (Tim), Friday, 4 November 2005 16:36 (nineteen years ago)

Mutter mutter, I really shouldn't go to Reading so much. I don't want to seem like I'm ... you know, stalking or anything.

― Streatham's Paisley Princess (kate), Friday, 4 November 2005 16:37 (nineteen years ago)

Must hear band soonish. Yes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 4 November 2005 16:43 (nineteen years ago)

ok ta tim... i don't understand why there's no space left in it at all: every place where it would've been good to leave a little room is filled up with some more clever drumming or another jaggy guitar bit or something and it ends up being dense (which generally i like) in a uniform way (which i don't). i can't always discern a melody other than a very short repetitive one, and perhaps there isn't meant to be one but it doesn't seem that way.

live i probably saw them at their worst actually, cos it was at club fandango and they were running late and most of the crowd had gone home and they seemed a bit discombobulated.

ok kate no need to decide yet... it's a couple of weeks away anyway.

― emsk ( emsk), Friday, 4 November 2005 17:41 (nineteen years ago)

four months pass...

What do people think of the album?

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Monday, 3 April 2006 09:40 (nineteen years ago)

'Brother' is still classic

― splates (splates), Monday, 3 April 2006 09:43 (nineteen years ago)

My number 25 for 2005 even though it is much older. It's very simple but highly addictive, worth at least hearing because of it's 80's vibe.

― BeeOK (boo radley), Monday, 3 April 2006 09:46 (nineteen years ago)

Hammond B3 is classic.
:)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 3 April 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

i have to weigh in with a big CLASSIC on three counts:

1. it's still an awesome album
2. saw them live last year and they were wonderful
3. seeing them live again next week and i can't wait!

― Lee F# (fsharp), Monday, 3 April 2006 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

So no-one's commented on their early break-up?

― baaderonixx, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 18:33 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't know they had broken up until now. Too bad...

― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

i still play this album a lot. apparently katie is a model now and not doing music :( i don't mind the first part (dude i can see why) but i don't like the second part much

― emsk, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

they just basically killed each other and themselves, i think - 5 girls too long in a van

― emsk, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 18:17 (eighteen years ago)

You heard it here first

― everything, Friday, 6 July 2007 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

so how's the new posthumous EP?

― baaderonixx, Monday, 27 October 2008 13:46 (sixteen years ago)

I didn't think much of them live, but their LP was maybe one of the best I have heard this decade. I played it a lot. I am sorry they broke up, whenever or however they did. The idea of the singer becoming a model is odd; maybe it makes her lots of $$$

― the pinefox, Monday, 27 October 2008 13:57 (sixteen years ago)

Oh, that is bloody sad. I didn't even know.

― post-apocalyptic time jazz (Masonic Boom), Monday, 27 October 2008 14:15 (sixteen years ago)

five months pass...

Finally a spin-off band: http://www.myspace.com/loverslovehaters

― Carroll Shelby Downard (Elvis Telecom), Friday, 24 April 2009 08:10 (sixteen years ago)

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