The Fall - Complete POLL Sessions, 1978–2004

fuck a fall poll!

He is not appreciated.

It's number four, isn't it?

It just is.

#5 is my fave.

#3, #4, #5 #6, #11, #12 and #19 are all candidates,

but it's #22 for me.

It came after the group had exploded in America, amidst uncertainty about both The Fall's future and the quality of what they would produce. The session that The Fall came up with - #22 - to announce their return was remarkable for this reason alone.

However, it was exceptional in other ways. It was incredibly raw sounding, as Peel said at the time it was like they had gone back to a Dragnet sound. Smith has never recorded sourer more rancorous vocals; the incredulous stuttering anger of Bound Soul, the impenetrable pained howling on Antidotes, the thin misanthropic nihilism of the Saints cover This Perfect Day, and the deranged Shake Off, the lyrics of which sound like they're being heard through a fever.

The black void behind the music is palpable, a feeling increased by the way Smith's pre and post tune instructions are left in - you are aware of the alchemy of The Fall, the something out of nothing, the something strange out of the perfectly ordinary. It's a dreadful, sinister, corruscating session and sounds utterly timeless so primitive is it.

It has the characteristics of the best Fall - sparse and dense at the same time, detailed but primal, mundane and magical - and it has them in

Not since early versions of The Hip Priest has music sounded less like music and more like invocation, incantation and exorcism - 'bad unafeared art'.

I remembering listening to it through headphones as it was broadcast - I still think that's the best way to listen to it - the hairs on the back of neck bristling with the febrile excitement that it invoked, terrifyingly reminded of the statement of intent from Fantastic Life -

Ours is not to look back, ours is to continue the craft.

and it has them in ... what? Spades? Surely not. Oh, i don't know, instead of that try 'and it is one of the most extreme expressions of those characteristics they ever produced.

laboured and pointless, but it gets the job done.

#3 because of "New Puritan"

FWIW, I went with #6.

'Smile' is so massive, and it's hard to go wrong with the rest.

Damn, persuasive work from Gamaliel but went with #5. Love that Deer Park (doesn't quite have the storm of the Hex version, but Smith is clearer), & Look, Know spends a lot of time in my head. Shame they didn't get one in during Dragnet period.
Maybe should have given more thought to this - #6 has great versions, #4 has "You wouldn't even know the sun was up unless there was a press release on it", didn't give thought to Kimble, and #11 is good. Have I been too hasty?

This Fall poll carnage must stop. I have to start listening to other bands once in awhile!

Ladybird is bracing onna Peel vers.

#3, 16/09/80: The Container Drivers, Jawbone And The Air-Rifle, New Puritan, New Face In Hell

#6, 21/03/83: Smile, Garden, Hexen Definitive/Strife Knot, Eat Y'Self Fitter

decisions.

3. It doesn't get much better than that really.

London based Fall fans: we're throwing another Fall night on MES's birthday in March, where we play The Fall all night. (We tried to play related stuff two years ago and some fucker nearly beat me up when I played The Creepers saying he wouldn't have come if he'd realised it was an indie disco.) There'll be details on Visi and The Quietus nearer the time.

Mess Of My is one of the best Fall songs ever,so that

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

The Fall are without question the most overrated band of all time. I hate them.

#3 because of "New Puritan"

...is the right answer.

#6 is an all-destroying monster

I want 3 and 6 so I'm voting 9.

#6 FTW

#5 win(ter)s

#6 even though i don't really like Eat Y'Self Fitter

OMG Arthur Askey's been shot!

#3, #5 or #6. Can't decide yet.

I'm gonna go w/ #5 on this, but #7 has their best single performance with Words of Expectation

it's #3 vs #4, or New Puritan vs. Hip Priest. i'll go for the former - the most brutal piece of music the fall ever did, although this version of hip priest is a close second.
on the other hand, #4 also has hassle schmuck, smith's most hilarious rant: "you wouldn't even know the sun was up unless you read a press release on it."

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Surprisingly tight, for those that got votes. Nice finish for #24 — I wouldn't be here now if not for that recording of 'Blindness'.

I keep coming back to #16 (28/02/93: Ladybird (Green Grass), Strychnine, Service, Paranoia Man In Cheap Shit Room)

What a fabulous racket they make.

The last two are up there with the best they ever did, but how did #22 get a vote? Terrible versions.

#9 is crazy good, too. That version of "Man Whose Head Expanded" is transcendent.