Sebastian C. could tell you more

[vovat]

The newest They Might Be Giants podcast includes some early recordings, which is always cool. I've heard some of them before, but I'd never been exposed to the weird demo version of "Road Movie To Berlin" (complete with the "king of liars" line) or the organ-heavy version of "Hell Hotel." I have to wonder why that song is that only one from the 1985 demo tape not to be re-released. Maybe they want to keep something in reserve as a Lost Song, so they can bring it out for the new fans every few years. I remember hearing a rumor that it would have appeared on the EP for "Till My Head Falls Off" if such a thing had ever been released, but I have no idea whether that was true.

TMBG's new kids' album, Here Come the 123's, came out yesterday, but I haven't gotten it yet. I put in an order for it at Amazon, but I probably won't get it until everyone else is sick of it. Actually, though, I haven't seen any of the other TMBG fans on my friends list talking about it, so maybe I'm not as far out of the loop as you might think.

And now for a few thoughts on some albums that I DID get this week, although they're not new by any stretch of the imagination:

The Olivia Tremor Control albums that I've heard are somewhat odd mixes of psychedelic pop and and weird ambient noise kind of stuff. The Circulatory System's self-titled album is more consistent, with a style sort of in the middle of those two things. It's all quiet and dreamlike stuff, but it's usually melodic as well. It also has just as interesting a mix of instruments and sounds in the arrangements as the OTC's songs do. I probably won't listen to the album all that much, but I do like it. It's kind of hard to pick a favorite track, but if I did, I think it would have to be "Lovely Universe."

Utopia Parkway is a good pop album, although I don't know if I like it as much as Fountains of Wayne's self-titled album or Welcome Interstate Managers. I'm pretty far behind where FoW are concerned. Didn't they put out a new album last year?

Comments

[zaph.livejournal.com]

"Road Movie To Berlin" (complete with the "king of liars" line)

The version on Flood is actually the only one without that line. But if I'm remembering right from those Flood shows they did a few years ago, they always sing the original lyrics when they do it live.

Utopia Parkway is a good pop album, although I don't know if I like it as much as Fountains of Wayne's self-titled album or Welcome Interstate Managers. I'm pretty far behind where FoW are concerned. Didn't they put out a new album last year?

I think the most recent one is a collection of rarities and b-sides, but I might be misremembering. Welcome Interstate Managers is definitely their best, though.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I used to have a recording of "Road Movie" that included the "king of liars" line, but not the "time won't find the lost" part. I'm pretty sure they did both at the Flood shows, though.

Utopia Parkway is a good pop album, although I don't know if I like it as much as Fountains of Wayne's self-titled album or Welcome Interstate Managers. I'm pretty far behind where FoW are concerned. Didn't they put out a new album last year?

I think the most recent one is a collection of rarities and b-sides, but I might be misremembering. Welcome Interstate Managers is definitely their best, though.

Out-of-State Plates was a rarities collection, but they put out another regular album after that. WIM is the best of the first three, but it still kind of bugs me that people tried to claim they were "emerging artists" with their third album.

[colbyucb.livejournal.com]

Totally out of the loop over here. And I knew it was coming out soon a few weeks ago, and still it slipped my mind to get it (I just made an amazon order 2 days ago....)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Well, I just made the order yesterday morning, used the free shipping option, and ordered some other stuff with it. So you'll probably get it before I do.

[colbyucb.livejournal.com]

Well I actually I meant that I made that unrelated amazon order recently and still forgot that 123s was coming out. So I still have yet to order it. XD

[onib.livejournal.com]

I'm holding off in my purchase of the new album. I've been buying every TMBG and related album and EP since the 80s, but I was deeply disappointed with ABCs. No! was so amazing, I was really surprised I didn't like it. So, anyway, I'm holding out until I hear more reaction to it. I have a friend that preordered it from Amazon and got his on Tuesday. I expect to hear a reaction from him sometime today, but I'd still like to get more other fan reaction as well.

I really hate not liking one of their albums, and would not want to repeat that situation.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

ABCs was definitely not TMBG's best work, but I think there were enough good songs on it to make it a worthwhile purchase. I hardly ever actually listen to it, though. Mind you, I'm probably such a non-discriminating fan that I'd buy anything TMBG puts out, even if it really DOES suck.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Ooo, The Circulatory System one sounds right up my alley (right in my vein?), doesn't it? I really like the OTC I've heard and still mean to get hold of more, but that one sounds just perfect!

[revme.livejournal.com]

I've had 123s on order forEVER (since it went on pre-order, I think), so I should have it here shortly. Luckily, though, it was pretty cheap -- only 8 bucks because apparently sometime over the last like year or so the pre-order price went down that far, so, hey! Neato!

I didn't care as much for the '83 Hell Hotel as the '85 one, but I LOVE that one. I woudl have loved for them to release that for reals again. If'n I ever get a big band or something, and there's another TMBG tribute, I am totally doing that one.

I'm intrigued by this idea of the Head Falls Off EP -- never heard of such a beast even potentially existing, so that's kinda cool. Anything else that was going to be on it?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I've had 123s on order forEVER (since it went on pre-order, I think), so I should have it here shortly. Luckily, though, it was pretty cheap -- only 8 bucks because apparently sometime over the last like year or so the pre-order price went down that far, so, hey! Neato!

And here I am paying list price (well, Amazon list price, anyway, which is usually less than you'd pay at a store) like a sucker! {g} I usually don't like to pre-order because I think it's fun to pick up a new album on the day it comes out, but since the Amazon version of 123s has bonus content, I probably should have just gone ahead and put in the pre-order back when they first announced it. Or did they know about the bonus content at that point? If I remember correctly, ABCs had different bonus tracks on the Amazon (which is what I have) and Best Buy releases, although I think the only extra song on the latter was "I Never Go To Work," which is now on 123s (although I don't know if it's the same recording).

[k1cup.livejournal.com]

Just scanning quickly so maybe someone already mentioned it. FoW put out Traffic & Weather last year and toured to support it. In fact, they did a show together with TMBG in San Jose. T&W is really excellent and not much different from WIM. Sort of an extension. I would try it if you can get a used copy.

I too didn't like UP as much as FoW or WIM at first. But it does grow on you, particularly if you like poppy tunes like It Must Be Summer or...okay, pretty much the rest of the album. :P You can see I really like FoW.