The Mary Onettes

I like it. Unfortunately though, I think that sounding like the Bunnymen, Joy Division, etc. works against them, since so many other bands of the past 5 years or so share those influences; so it's hard to stand out. But they DO stand out IMO.

it's mostly a drag, too po-faced. definitely the least impressive thing that labrador has released in the past few years. they seem to think they are an epic rock band but they aren't really. they look really bad too.

Bimble?

Curtis?

Grimly?

Ned?

The Bunnymen influence is almost too pronounced at times, which isn't really a problem since I'm a big fan. However, I'd like to see them move away from aping bands/styles and use those urges instead to do something more genuinely interesting.

A friend of mine is a much bigger fan and drove to Indianapolis from Nashville just to see them play live. She said it was worth it (though I can't think of any reason important enough to make me go to Indianapolis).

Their sound isn't very original but IMO what's special about them is their melodies. And "Lost" sounds pretty fucking epic to me. There was another one, I think "Void" which I thought was also very good.

One of my top 10 discs of last year, "Void" is a personal favorite. They do a fantastic job of incorporating the fun pop element of new wave which so many of the new post-punk leaning bands seem to lack.

They sounded absolutely terrible at Primavera. Horribly derivative, boring, mainstream pap.

Ditto on the top 10 inclusion, and second the love for "Lost", which has the same instant engagement factor as Editors' "Munich".

"Void" and "Henry" are keepers, too. Looking forward to their follow-up album.

They aren't the sum of their easy-to-identify influences but calling them derivative seems too obvious. "Lost" and "Void" were two of my favorite songs from last year, even if it's a little like unearthing a long lost John Hughes soundtrack from a Swedish time capsule.

Oh yeah, "Pleasure Songs" is great too.

never heard of these guys before - upon first listen "Explosions" sounds like Ian McCulloch doing Coldplay (which is at least better than Coldplay doing Coldplay)

Looks like the opinion on these guys is pretty polarized then.

Carry on.

Awful name.

More and more I think if Coldplay took the time to make more simple, pleasurable pop songs without most of the sappiness and a more direct Bunnymen influence, they would sound EXACTLY like this. Which is a very good thing.

I'd like to see them move away from aping bands/styles and use those urges instead to do something more genuinely interesting.

Not sure this would work.

Interpol tried it after their first album, but the results were more genuinely shitty than interesting.

So new album was co-produced with Dan Lissvik, and it sounds really nice! So light and airy. Still retro as hell.

"Unblessed" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHHYCKWhMaI
"Years" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yunQYiC1Jc

i dig p much everything these guys do. the new one is no real departure but the songs are as good as ever

this is my summer jam album. sounds great running, swimming, driving around. everywhere.

my fave from the latest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMvlzmdf3nc

Blues and Unblessed are my favorites, but the whole thing is solid from start to finish.

I was surprised to learn from an interview with these guys that they didn't get a long with Dan Lissvik all that well and that he only agreed to produce the record because they "had money" (link). Kinda ruined my enjoyment of it slightly :/

well, they said he was difficult to work with... doesn't necessarily mean they didn't like like him?

New mini-album, Portico, is really good. No idea if Lissvik is involved again but to my ears it sounds a lot less shiny than his usual production style.