Good record alert! I decided to start a new thread for this record rather than bump a previous Hagerty/Hex one, because this one definitely for sure represents a new phase. XI will surely please Hagerty partisans and possibly re-convert fence-sitters who think he was really on to something with his third solo album, but have been frustrated/turned off by what's come out under the Howling Hex imprimatur, what with all the merciless wanking, and less-than-full-formed sketches. People who never even liked Hagerty or Royal Trux may even get into this one. What we get this time is a nice range of pop blues folk rock SONGS (and one spoken work piece). This feels much more like the work of a living, breathing band - in part due to the fact that Neil only sings lead on four of the albums' 12 tracks - than the cold manifestation of an auteur's concept. But mostly it's the joyful performance of a bunch of nifty rock band moves with a velocity and urgency that was largely missing from the three previous 'official' releases that carries this thing over the top.
― Mike Dixn, Monday, 2 July 2007 15:31 (eighteen years ago)
O RLY
I like the Howling Hex stuff I have a lot
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 2 July 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)
nice, i love the howling hex
― sleep, Monday, 2 July 2007 17:02 (eighteen years ago)
is it out???
― Dr. Superman, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 16:13 (eighteen years ago)
hmmmmmm.......
― Stormy Davis, Saturday, 8 September 2007 06:00 (seventeen years ago)
this might be the first ever Hagerty record that has disappointed me. On the other hand: it's been Twenty years, so that is OK. it happens.
― Stormy Davis, Saturday, 8 September 2007 06:12 (seventeen years ago)
really? i think it's awesome! harmolodic catchy stonesy jams! reminds me of saccharine trust and slovenly and similar sst jazzy rock stuff, but the songs are all really catchy. awesome record. "live wire," "keychains," "lines in the sky" = so clutch.
― pretzel walrus, Monday, 17 September 2007 17:35 (seventeen years ago)
well at least this one is on vinyl
― omar little, Monday, 17 September 2007 18:03 (seventeen years ago)
I've been listening to this pretty much nonstop since it came out -- the songs are SO great! (Especially the ones by Mike Saenz -- he's the secret weapon!) Don't know what it all reminds me of, though Mike S.'s stuff = a particular Drag City "sound" (Chestnut Station, especially).
I gotta admit that I was a little skeptical about what this band would come up with (based on the blog, video clips, and stuff), but this record rules!!
― morris pavilion, Monday, 17 September 2007 18:15 (seventeen years ago)
Besides the quality of the songs themselves, the playing is just so good -- it's what's really "makes it," and keeps you coming back. Like any bar band could perform (though not write!) the same songs, and they'd sound good, but it wouldn't have the same swing, zing, spark, groove... it's all in the notes! (It's that harmolodic playing you guys!!)
― morris pavilion, Monday, 17 September 2007 18:39 (seventeen years ago)
gah I just cannot keep up with this guy, much as I love virtually everything I've gotten... I still haven't heard the last two Howling Hex albums! Glad to hear its on vinyl at least.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 17 September 2007 19:35 (seventeen years ago)
yeah, but for some reason the vinyl is limited and will run you $20
― mizzell, Monday, 17 September 2007 19:45 (seventeen years ago)
$18 at fusetron
― hstencil, Monday, 17 September 2007 19:57 (seventeen years ago)
I don't know what Fusetron is... otoh I have a $60 credit slip for Amoeba so maybe I'll get this and I dunno some Animal Collective or something...
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 17 September 2007 20:01 (seventeen years ago)
try one google.
or i'll just post it for you: fusetron
― hstencil, Monday, 17 September 2007 20:13 (seventeen years ago)
not as bad as I had anticipated. I was hot & cold over "Evybdy's Doing It" and feared weird non-Hagerty HHex. But is mostly v. good. A friend of mine saw them in Tx (spring or last fall???) and Hagerty was playing bass and not singing. He was v. disappointed, and I was vicariously disappointed.
― Dr. Superman, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 21:22 (seventeen years ago)
That's like saying "dammit, why Mingus gotsta play that dang piano for??"
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 02:41 (seventeen years ago)
this friend of mine (actually a friend of a friend) is a giant guitar nerd who wanted to worship at the feet of etc. it's the whole dashed expectation trip, and you've gotta work thru that if you want to. I like it more than I liked Nightclub, but not as much as YCBT or All Night Fox.
― Dr. Superman, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 04:11 (seventeen years ago)
They're playing this Sat. night in SF ("EXTENDED SET, NO OPENING BAND, FIRST SHOW AFTER RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM.", quoth MySpace) -- if anyone here goes, report back!
― morris pavilion, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 16:58 (seventeen years ago)
wait what where is this?!??
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 17:14 (seventeen years ago)
Probably the Hemlock or something
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 17:17 (seventeen years ago)
yep - I am going, will report back
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 17:18 (seventeen years ago)
show Saturday night was great, fantastic even - lot of instrument switching and vocal trading, Hagerty alternating 6-string bass and guitar. bunch of material I didn't recognize, a few that I did - one big long sprawling two-hour set. got the CD but merch guy had no vinyl :(
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 24 September 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago)
will try to post a couple pics later - show made new fans of my wife and a buddy we brought along
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 24 September 2007 15:58 (seventeen years ago)
That's great to hear, I'm sorry I couldn't have been up there for it!
Who all was in the band?
― morris pavilion, Monday, 24 September 2007 16:21 (seventeen years ago)
I didn't recognize anybody, but judging from the photos in the sleeve of XI it was all the guys who recorded the album - Mike Signs (gtr/voc), Phil Jenks (drums/perc/voc), Andy Macleod (drums/perc/voc), Rob Lee (sax/flute/voc) - but like I said there was a lot of instrument trading.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 24 September 2007 16:32 (seventeen years ago)
sure it was magic andy? thot he was on tour with endless boogie.
― hstencil, Monday, 24 September 2007 21:46 (seventeen years ago)
I'm not sure - I'd never seen any of them before. All I know is the guys on the sleeve look like the guys I saw play on Saturday.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 24 September 2007 21:57 (seventeen years ago)