John B Posted April 14, 2003 Report Posted April 14, 2003 Is anyone else here a fan of this band? Their new disc, Summer Sun, has just been released and I gave it a first spin last night. First impression was that it is a nice disc. It is more of a mellow "late night vibe" disc than anything else. It is nowhere near "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" or "Painful" in my book, but a nice album nonetheless. I think my expectations may have been too high for Summer Sun to not be set up to disappoint me, to some degree. Quote
Jazz Posted April 14, 2003 Report Posted April 14, 2003 I am also a fan of this band, but I haven't heard this album yet! I love it when they do that "late night vibe", in my opinion its what they are best at. Quote
John B Posted April 14, 2003 Author Report Posted April 14, 2003 I enjoy the late night vibe, but really dig it when Ira goes absolutely apeshit with feedback and pure guitar skronk. My wife *hates* those moments and much prefers the more sedate YLT releases. Quote
Jazz Posted April 14, 2003 Report Posted April 14, 2003 Are you a big fan of Electr-o-Pura then? I think that's the most distorted/feedback-y album I own by them. Quote
BFrank Posted April 14, 2003 Report Posted April 14, 2003 I'm sure it's great. YLT is one of those bands that you just pick up their latest release no matter what. EMusic has it already, so it's just a matter of downloading it when I get the chance. Quote
John B Posted April 15, 2003 Author Report Posted April 15, 2003 Are you a big fan of Electr-o-Pura then? I think that's the most distorted/feedback-y album I own by them. Definitely, but I Can Hear the Heart Beating is still my sentimental favorite. Quote
.:.impossible Posted April 15, 2003 Report Posted April 15, 2003 Sounds like it may be more like "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out"? We are going to see them here in Providence next week! Quote
BFrank Posted April 16, 2003 Report Posted April 16, 2003 I'm 3/4 of the way through this now. I LIKE it. "Late night" for sure, but very interesting. As usual, an album that will take several listenings to get the full weight of this thing. Yo La Tengo! Yo La Tengo! Quote
John B Posted April 16, 2003 Author Report Posted April 16, 2003 Do you have any idea who is playing the horns on track 12? I got this off of emusic and don't have any liner notes to refer to. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted April 17, 2003 Report Posted April 17, 2003 It's nice to hear someone mention Spacemen 3. Back in the late 80's, I listened to them and the band Loop all the time. The Perfect Prescription was my favorite album, though Playing With Fire was a close second. :rsmile: Quote
John B Posted April 17, 2003 Author Report Posted April 17, 2003 Playing with fire would get the nod from me, if only for the live version of "Suicide." Quote
AfricaBrass Posted April 17, 2003 Report Posted April 17, 2003 John, I can't believe that we have three Spacemen 3 fans here. Usually when I mention them, I get a blank look from people. They were a huge influence on me musically for a long time. Playing With Fire is really good. I think both of these albums are essential. As far as Yo La Tengo is concerned, I haven't really given them a chance. Any recommendations on where to start? :rsmile: Quote
John B Posted April 17, 2003 Author Report Posted April 17, 2003 are you on emusic? they have all of their albums up for download. I started with I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One and was sold. Most people seem to recommend Painful or Electr-O-Pura as the best albums to start with. You really can't go wrong with any of those albums. To start, I would avoid Ride that Tiger, President YLT/New Wave Hot Dogs, Genius + Love and Nothing Turned Itself Inside out, although you will probably want to grab all of them, eventually. As far as Spacemen 3 goes I enjoy listening to Spiritualized (who still do "Walking with Jesus" live) but Sonic Boom lost me a while back with his Spectrum and E.A.R albums. I would love to hear more live recordings from the Playing With Fire tour. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted April 17, 2003 Report Posted April 17, 2003 Thanks for the suggestions, John! I am on emusic - I'll go ahead and download what you suggested. Thanks for the tips on what to avoid. I hate when I'm listening to a band for the first time and I've picked the wrong album to start with. It's hard to get past an initial bad impression. I'm with you as far as Spacemen 3 and their offspring. I think I gave up on Sonic Boom after the second E.A.R. album. I last saw him play live in 1994. That was a pretty interesting show. The Spiritualized stuff is good. I've got all their albums, but I don't listen to them that much. After the band broke up, I enjoyed the Spectrum stuff the most. :rsmile: Quote
Usual Channels Posted April 17, 2003 Report Posted April 17, 2003 I would like to officially cast my vote for Spacement 3 as well! Ever their dancy major label pre-breakup-full-of-inter-band-tension-record (don't recall the name of it--haven't heard it in years...). Still, Perfect Prescription is aMAZing... Not really into the E.A.R. stuff and haven't heard Spectrum. Spiritualized records always sound great to me on first listen, and then gradually depreciate from then on... Have you guys heard Thh Deviants? Late 60's pre-punk British band. Sometimes they pop into my head as one of many interesting SM3 influences. Oh yeah, Yo La Tengo, Ra Ra Ra! Quote
AfricaBrass Posted April 17, 2003 Report Posted April 17, 2003 I would like to officially cast my vote for Spacement 3 as well! Ever their dancy major label pre-breakup-full-of-inter-band-tension-record (don't recall the name of it--haven't heard it in years...). Still, Perfect Prescription is aMAZing... Not really into the E.A.R. stuff and haven't heard Spectrum. Spiritualized records always sound great to me on first listen, and then gradually depreciate from then on... Have you guys heard Thh Deviants? Late 60's pre-punk British band. Sometimes they pop into my head as one of many interesting SM3 influences. Oh yeah, Yo La Tengo, Ra Ra Ra! The pre-breakup album was Recurring. I never really got into it. I should re-listen to it. You could definitely see that the game was almost over for them. Thanks for the tip on the Deviants! I've never heard them before. I'll keep my eye out. As far as the Spectrum is concerned. Look for "Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)" - this album from 1992 is probably my favorite post-Spacemen release. Good insight on the Spiritualized albums, I feel the same way. I have to give Spacemen 3 for coming up with one of the greatest album titles ever: "Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To" :rsmile: Quote
AfricaBrass Posted April 17, 2003 Report Posted April 17, 2003 Clementine, You're right about that first Spectrum album. That is a great record. I only have it on vinyl. I've never seen it on cd. I think I need to make a digital transfer..... Quote
BFrank Posted April 18, 2003 Report Posted April 18, 2003 are you on emusic? they have all of their albums up for download. I started with I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One and was sold. Most people seem to recommend Painful or Electr-O-Pura as the best albums to start with. You really can't go wrong with any of those albums. To start, I would avoid Ride that Tiger, President YLT/New Wave Hot Dogs, Genius + Love and Nothing Turned Itself Inside out, although you will probably want to grab all of them, eventually. As far as Spacemen 3 goes I enjoy listening to Spiritualized (who still do "Walking with Jesus" live) but Sonic Boom lost me a while back with his Spectrum and E.A.R albums. I would love to hear more live recordings from the Playing With Fire tour. AfricaBrass - Don't listen to him. "President YLT/New Wave Hot Dogs" is a GREAT album - 2 albums, actually. It's different from the type of music they are doing now, but for a REAL good time, it's a lot of fun - especially the "Hot Dogs" tunes. "Ride The Tiger" is similar 'garage-like' rock. "Genius + Love" is a collection of singles and B-sides that is worth grabbing just for the "experience". Anyway, I'm really liking the new album. It keeps getting better - like a good album should. Quote
John B Posted April 18, 2003 Author Report Posted April 18, 2003 AfricaBrass - Don't listen to him. I *could* have told him to start with the Nuclear War EP. It is a riot hearing all of those little kids chanting "it's a motherfucker!" behind Ira's deadpan delivery. I still believe that neither President YLT / NWHD nor Ride the Tiger would be the best place to start with YLT but, as I said, eventually you'll want them all. Best advice, since AfricaBrass is on emusic is just download everything. All of their albums have moments of brilliance Quote
AfricaBrass Posted April 18, 2003 Report Posted April 18, 2003 Thanks guys! I'm downloading it all. Quote
Aggie87 Posted December 31, 2003 Report Posted December 31, 2003 up... John, I want to thank you for turning me on to Yo La Tengo. I don't remember if it was because of this thread, or noticing them from the "July etc listening" threads, but I picked up one of their discs on a whim about 6 months ago (...and then nothing turned itself inside out), and was hooked enough to start picking up more. Now I've got eight of their albums, and am always on the lookout. Before leaving Stuttgart, I came across the "Today is the Day" and "Nuclear War" eps, in one of my old favorite used stores. Love 'em both! -Erik Quote
John B Posted December 31, 2003 Author Report Posted December 31, 2003 Erik - I'm glad you're enjoying their music! If you ever get the urge go to their website and check out their self-released discs. The Sounds of the Sound of Science is a really enjoyable disc. They are also well worth checking out live if they ever come around. Quote
Brandon Burke Posted January 2, 2004 Report Posted January 2, 2004 I've been a big time fan of YLT for about 12 years now and can't seem to get into Summer Sun. Too much noodling for me. It's a bummer because they're the only currently existing rock band who has yet to disappoint me. The live show was great, however, as expected. They never disappoint live and did something like a 10-12 minute version of the Sun Ra cover. I especially enjoyed And then Nothing... and can safely claim Painful as my all time fave. I definately prefer their more down-tempo material since they sound entirely too much like Sonic Youth when the try to *rock* (think "Cherry Chapstick", "Flying Lesson [Hot Chicken #1]" and "Big Day Coming"). Anyways, YLT have managed to create an aesthetic both avant-garde and romantic; which is a rare and beautiful thing. "Music to fold your girlfriend's laundry by" I once read. Couldn't have said it better myself..... Nice people too. Quote
.:.impossible Posted January 2, 2004 Report Posted January 2, 2004 Anyways, YLT have managed to create an aesthetic both avant-garde and romantic; which is a rare and beautiful thing. "Music to fold your girlfriend's laundry by" I once read. Couldn't have said it better myself..... Nice people too. That's great! Quote
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