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Post by ant on Feb 18, 2009 16:07:09 GMT
"For me the high point is Les Malhuers!!!.. " " where the hell is the guitar..lost in action.. "
Whilst I may agree about the lack of guitar, not sure you can have it both ways and say Les Malhuers is the high point - not a guitar in sight....
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Post by Neillwith2Ls on Feb 18, 2009 17:16:11 GMT
Don't shoot thefishey for having an opinion  I'm on the fence at the moment having given my 'listening copy' a few listens now; for me it's definitely an album of two halves. Unfortunately the first half, is mainly stuff we've all heard before and (for me) there's a cut off around track 6 Bloodless (which I actually don't mind) and the last three tracks are essentially 'dance' tracks with (to this mind) little live band involvement. Like Fishey I do get the distinct impression there wasn't much material knocking around, particularly considering its length and the stuff we've been hearing for a while now. Without doubt, the best stuff is what I've already heard; Victorious Cupid being the best I think. Opener Les Malheurs is quite good though, and tracks 3 & 4 definitely up there too. Maybe it'll make more sense when I've heard it more, seen it live... who knows. I'm definitely enjoying it, but maybe not as much as The Dark Third at the moment. It'll be interesting to see what they do with the live shows in March; will they be trying to play a lot of the new stuff live, or just stick to their regular show which we're all familiar with? I've got a ticket for the Brighton gig, which will be a good litmus test I think. Oh, and I've had my copy on pre-order for ages now as well |
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thefishy
Ambassador in Training
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Post by thefishy on Feb 18, 2009 22:28:08 GMT
"For me the high point is Les Malhuers!!!.. " " where the hell is the guitar..lost in action.. " Whilst I may agree about the lack of guitar, not sure you can have it both ways and say Les Malhuers is the high point - not a guitar in sight.... well discounting the two old tracks..what are you left with...? Les Malhuers is a cut above the rest of the repetitive dance tracks... |
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Post by blondeambassador on Feb 18, 2009 22:37:51 GMT
For me the high point is Les Malhuers!!!.. seems to me like a lack of material with this one.. we have two tracks that have been kicking about for awhile.. the albumm clocks in at just over 40 mins... where the hell is the guitar..lost in action.. tracks 6-9 are just lost on me completely..repetitive lyrics on some tracks.. the vocoder style vocals are awful... the last track is woeful ... finding it very poor at the mo... I guess it just comes down to what it is about PRR you love (assuming you did love The Dark Third that is) but of course you're entitled to your opinion. Unfortunately, with such a change in direction it was always obvious that some people simply weren't going to find what they are looking for in it; for me, one of the keys to PRR is the vocal work, the harmonies and beautiful melodies and that is certainly there in vast abundance. What you call 'repetitive lyrics' I hear as cohesive (for the most part) But you're right. This isn't the album of a 'guitar band,' that's not what they are trying to be anymore and that IS a change. And I do, slightly miss the big riffs such as when Ambassadors kicks in or in Trembling Willows. But for me, I love the electro and other elements of the album more than live up to it. I do also disagree with this notion of 'a lack of material' because PRR don't write in the same way other bands do, it seems to me, they dont write loads of tracks then pick an album out of them like some bands, its all written very much with the album in mind and each track is ridiculously carefully crafted, with layer upon layer which is, as we all know too well, what takes them so long to produce new material. But no, to dav1d saying we're all just going to lay into you because you dared say you don't like it, I don't think thats fair at all- I love it but I can see why others might not...I'm in all honesty quite nervous for them, that the publicity etc is done right to make sure they gain fans where they are inevitably going to lose some because of the change in direction. |
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Post by musecubed on Feb 19, 2009 2:03:23 GMT
Have to agree it sounds like Jon singing "putrid heart" at some point in Apogee... Or if you're from french canada : Poutine heart  Eh, I think my interpretation of Apogee's lyrics is the worst. I keep giggling because in the chorus I hear "All I want is you...to suck me off". Especially considering that Chloe's vocals predominate in that bit. |
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Post by isador21 on Feb 19, 2009 5:28:26 GMT
I keep hearing Chloe singing "smack my dack" in The Gloaming... Can't wait to see the actual lyrics  Oh, and it's " Les Malheurs" Never reverse the " e" and the " u", it makes it longer to pronunciate and isn't even a word... |
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Post by butler on Feb 19, 2009 9:57:20 GMT
With such a radical shift in sound from The Dark Third to AVO, I think it's inevitable that the band can expect to shed as many old fans as pick up new with this release.
To an extent I think that's healthy, as it shows the band is evolving and experimenting, but if you swapped the voices, I think many people would be hard pressed to identify both albums as being from the same band.
I've loved everything I've heard from AVO (not got the full thing yet though) but if I'm honest, I will say that I am slightly disappointed by the amount of new material on offer. After the double CD treat of The Dark Third, a 40 minute follow up is on the slim side. Don't get me wrong, I'd take Deus Ex Machina alone, above many other 2 hour albums, but that doesn't change the fact that 40 minutes is a slim length for a full album release.
For those who have the album, how different are the studio versions of the tracks they've played live to the live performances? Requiem hasn't got me that excited played live, yet a lot of people are noting it as the best on the album, which has got me curious.
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Post by dav1d on Feb 19, 2009 11:48:06 GMT
For me the high point is Les Malhuers!!!.. seems to me like a lack of material with this one.. we have two tracks that have been kicking about for awhile.. the albumm clocks in at just over 40 mins... where the hell is the guitar..lost in action.. tracks 6-9 are just lost on me completely..repetitive lyrics on some tracks.. the vocoder style vocals are awful... the last track is woeful ... finding it very poor at the mo... What you call 'repetitive lyrics' I hear as cohesive (for the most part) But you're right. This isn't the album of a 'guitar band,' that's not what they are trying to be anymore and that IS a change. . You say they're not a guitar band...why do they have 3 guitarists then........? (OK, the bass is sometimes on a backing track). Sometimes I get confused................... |
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Post by blondeambassador on Feb 19, 2009 12:09:03 GMT
They have 4 musicians, as far as I'm concerned, and while I'm not expecting Paul to jump up and whip out a ukelele anytime soon, I don't think they view themselves as 'guitarists' or anything, simply as musicians.
As seen in the album credits on wikipedia...
* Jon Courtney - Vocals, Guitar, Programming Bass and keyboards
* Chloe Alper - Vocals & Keyboard
* Jamie Willcox - Vocals, Guitar
* Paul Glover - Drums
Sometimes I get confused as to why you post...while I'm not saying everyone has to be super chirpy and never criticise the band, I don't think I've EVER seen you say anything positive...
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Post by dav1d on Feb 19, 2009 12:31:21 GMT
They have 4 musicians, as far as I'm concerned, and while I'm not expecting Paul to jump up and whip out a ukelele anytime soon, I don't think they view themselves as 'guitarists' or anything, simply as musicians. As seen in the album credits on wikipedia... * Jon Courtney - Vocals, Guitar, Programming Bass and keyboards * Chloe Alper - Vocals & Keyboard * Jamie Willcox - Vocals, Guitar * Paul Glover - Drums Sometimes I get confused as to why you post...while I'm not saying everyone has to be super chirpy and never criticise the band, I don't think I've EVER seen you say anything positive... Calm down, calm down, it was only an observation - it still holds water. Should I expect a ban soon? |
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Post by blondeambassador on Feb 19, 2009 12:34:20 GMT
Ha, as was my post...I just disagreed with you.
And my final comment, on your posts, certainly also still 'holds water. '
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Post by dav1d on Feb 19, 2009 12:43:25 GMT
Ha, as was my post...I just disagreed with you. And my final comment, on your posts, certainly also still 'holds water. ' I shall try to live up to my epithet in that case |
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Post by Neillwith2Ls on Feb 19, 2009 12:52:11 GMT
Good to see some decent debate, some varied opinions and (above all) toys still firmly in place in all prams versions of the tracks they've played live to the live performances? Requiem hasn't got me that excited played live, yet a lot of people are noting it as the best on the album, which has got me curious. I think the songs I've heard live are very similar to how they've recorded them for the album; a fair chunk of 'live' material is on tape anyhow, and I assume they're using the same backing tracks in the studio. That said I don't go to nearly as many PRR gigs as, say, Róisin so maybe she's better qualified to answer that? It raises an interesting point actually, and apologies if this is trawling over old content; how do you feel about band members playing (miming?) over content that's clearly on a backing track? I'm not say PRR mime all the time, but there's got to be an element of this when they have so much going on 'behind the scenes'. The recent Rockpalast DVD highlights this quite well I think. I am still looking forward to, and will no doubt enjoy, the upcoming live shows by the way! |
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Post by ryan on Feb 19, 2009 14:06:06 GMT
the miming is and always has been, stupid. backing track i understand, miming i do not. After the double CD treat of The Dark Third Only on the newest version. PRR have never had loads of tracks though. TDT stuff was kicking around for ages, and the Intention Craft b-sides predate PRR as a band! |
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thefishy
Ambassador in Training
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Post by thefishy on Feb 19, 2009 14:58:25 GMT
yeah watching the Rockpalast vid..just how much of the new stuff is actually being "played" live..les malheurs for eg. the keyboards are all sampled aren't they ?..
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