Let's shower with praise: 16 Lovers Lane by the Go-Betweens

Not to rain on your parade, but I really don't like it. I didn't want to get it and I regretted it when I did; they'd been my favourite band and this was the last of the original six I got - an unpleasant end to my discovery of the original Go-Betweens. It's just so boring and conservative-sounding. Even on songs about being miserable they don't sound miserable. On their happy love songs they're sickening; I can't identify with it at all, that complacency. Their personalities are buried under layers of polish and quality guitar playing by a guy who didn't even like their music. There are a couple of nice moments but as a whole album it's a lifeless listen.

I can understand why people like it, though. It *is* graceful and lovely-sounding. It all depends whether you see grace as an admirable quality in music. I kind of preferred them when they sounded like they might fall apart at any minute.

Believe me, this is a record that, on paper, doesn't appeal to me at all; I listen to VERY little stuff in this vein. But this is such a complete and convincing work to me, and it just comes together so beautifully.

This is a magnificent record, though I admit it did sound a bit too slick when I first heard it. But I've actually grown to love that slickness. The whole record just shimmers. I have to say, however, "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is my least favorite -- I was always baffled by that one kicking off one of their "greatest hits" comps. But I could listen to everything else here on repeat forever ...

I have to say I kind of like "Was There Anything I Could Do?", but that's really only for sentimental reasons - I got into them through the Bellavista Terrace comp, so it was the first Go-Betweens song I ever heard. It's one of Grant's better songs on 16LL, by virtue of its being a little bit punchier than "The Devil's Eye" or "Quiet Heart".

I reviewed the reissue a few years ago...

The production is the most genius element! I've never heard a record with such an airy coat-of-many-colors vibe -- certainly the best production job the Go-Be's got until Oceans Apart. Forster's hot streak ("Love is a Sign," "Clouds," "Dive For Your Memory") compensates for a certain rote quality to McLennan's songwriting. And "I'm Allright" is one of their greatest numbers, period.

"Quiet Heart" is U2's "With or Without You" done right!

I think the punchiness of "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is very welcome, very well-placed, and adds a jab of minor-key intensity in a spot where the record needs it. The acoustic guitar figure is a nicely insistent Smithsy jangle, and the emotional content is devastating; the delivery of "I don't know where she's living/ all I got was a card/ a picture of her at the Pyramids/ a knife held to her heart"... I mean, fuck! I feel like I did it to her myself when he sings it!

"You Can't Say No Forever" is the Smiths-y track.

The intensity of "Was There Anything I Could Do?" is what's missing on the rest of the album, really. Even Robert doesn't sound intense. There's no vocal performances there to match Part Company, Head Full of Steam or the single version of Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea.

"Streets Of Your Town" is the Prefab Sprout-y track.

I hear plenty of intensity in "Dive For Your Memory" -- love how he almost throws away the "and I miss my friend" bit; or the Dylan-esque rant in "Love is a Sign" ("you down by the river, and LON-DON no longer EX-ISTS!)

Man O'Sand to Girl O'Sea

An appalling song title, frankly.

I think the problem is the Go-Betweens had grown up and learned the power of subtlety for 16 Lovers Lane, whereas I still haven't.

How do the other albums compare to 16LL in your view? In what ways is it superior?

You asking me? I'd rank them: Tallulah-Before Hollywood-Oceans Apart-Spring Hill Fair-16 Lovers Lane-The Friends of Rachel Worth-Liberty Belle-Send Me a Lullaby.

great bunch of songs, probably their most consistent, although none of their best songs (i would put 'clouds' in RF's top 5 though)

as for the production, i don't love it, but pretty much all of their records excepting before hollywood and the first two reunion records are produced badly. springhill fair is the worst offender.

the CD pressings of Oceans Apart are famously awful, of course...

Beautiful album. I especially like the oboes.

the CD pressings of Oceans Apart are famously awful, of course...
Yes, but a better pressing was eventually released by Lo Max.

Changing course a bit, saw this on the Yep Roc site:
"Go-Betweens co-founder Robert Forster to release new solo album The Evangelist, April 29th on Yep Roc Records"
Forster says: "I've written seven of the songs, and three are co-written with Grant. Adele and Glenn from The Go-Betweens are with me. It's not Oceans Apart 2 - it's something else, but with trails going into the past and I'm proud of it."
Can't wait.

this was the first record i got by them and i still love it to death. when my friend told me that jay reatard had done a go-betweens cover on a record of his, he originally thought it was "was there anything i could do?". it turned out to be "don't let him come back", which is a great cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klv9JLjJ4DI). i still think "was there anything i could do?" could stand to be a great punker cover.

http://www.sbs.com.au/blogarticle/108260/Episode-1-The-Go-Betweens-i-16-Lovers-Lane-i

The full 50 minute documentary was posted to usenet last night.

AC Newman covers "Love Goes On!" live.

"anyone who soens like this song is fucked up in the head"

otm.

the 16LL doc is great, especially for lindy going completely bonkers at a couple of points. awesome.

"soens"?

"doesnt".

it was an awesome show btw.
(Newman covered Go Betweens and A-ha's Take On Me for a new Starbucks compilation ("i'll do anything for money"..), but he didnt do the A-ha song live.)

I thought it was "doesn't," just fucking around.

the other albums aren't like this one are they? i think they'll forever be one of those bands i only like one album by.

I like Before Hollywood considerably, Considerably, CONSIDERABLY more than this one!

if you like 16 lovers lane, just work backwards -- tallulah next!

They're perfect. Just perfect.

Agreed -- go backwards.

One Week//One Band's recent roundup: http://oneweekoneband.tumblr.com/tagged/the_go_betweens/chrono

also, the bonus discs on the last batch of reissues are totally worth everyone's time.

this album. proper autumn music.

Good lord this is gorgeous

Going to see Robert next week (hopefully)

this is the one of theirs i have played the most - i guess it is not the most 'critically acclaimed' though

i guess it is not the most 'critically acclaimed' though

Doesn't deserve to be. I was disappointed with this album when it came out and haven't changed my mind in the occasional times I've played it since, though Robert's songs are pretty good.

This is the album that confirmed Forster would keep growing while McLennan was content to keep strummin' the hooks.

But!

"Quiet Heart"! "Streets of Your Town"!

I've got a problem with the Go-Betweens in general in that they are so closely associated with a certain period in my life, they were my favourite band at the time, that I feel as if I can't really listen to them anymore. Nick Drake is the same, though he was never as big a deal with me. Frankly I'm incapable of being that soppy and wet now, lol.

I thought this was one of their weaker albums when I was really into them. But now I'm more casual and it's obviously the best. It is the most acclaimed by some distance http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/The%20Go-Betweens.htm

What the hell is that?

Now that I'm a lot more objective than I used to be, I think there's problems with all their albums.

which explains why no consensus exists

This was the first Go-Betweens album I bought and it nearly put me off them for good. I thought it sounded like Crowded House. Luckily a friend played me some of the early stuff and I liked that way more. I don't mind some of the songs on this now but still don't like this album much.

I love Crowded House too.

I cringe at idea that the Go-Betweens might be linked with Crowded House, my old indie kid hackles rise. I interviewed Robert Forster after a Go-B's gig once, it was in his silver haired Blake Carrington phase, which was when? Tallulah? Needless to say, a gentleman and poet.

Love Crowded House, love the Go-Betweens, don't think they sound even a little bit similar. But as I suppose the most traditionally "produced" GoBe album, I suppose it bears a passing resemblance to ... "Woodface?"

My favorite on this in recent years has been "Clouds." I saw Grant and Robert play a duo show here shortly after they reunited, and it was inexplicably at 6 in the afternoon and only maybe half an hour long. But this was such a beautiful highlight.

Woodface is the most Rubber Soul of Crowded House albums. My favorite too. Also about as uneven as any Go-Be's.

"I'm Allright" is my jam.

I'm a Temple of Low Men guy.

Together Alone man here

take that, Tom D and Col. Poo!

I actually never checked this out cuz I generally love the early GBs and sort of figure that bands of this vintage usually get pretty bad by the end, so I'm impressed they were able to do a "mature" polished major type album so well. I also listened to Tallulah for the first time and that felt like a little less comfortable mix of trying to be slick but still like they were

FYI my fav is probably the lost album with Lee Remick that Jet Set put out

I love Forster on Tallulah

never forget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olhYleAqMoY

Had a dream last night that I saw Robert Forster duet with Kim Gordon. They had dance moves!

such great lyrics

The people next door got their problems
They got things they can't name
I know a thing about lovers
Lovers don't feel any shame
Late at night with the lights down low
The candle burns to the end
I know a thing about darkness
Darkness ain't my friend

they code as gay

i could see that

continuing to be really impressed by this album

i makes you say such corny stuff like "great songcraft"! "elegant lyricism!" etc etc haha but it's all true