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Post by Lawrie on Sept 27, 2009 14:54:59 GMT
Apologies if these ladies and gents have already been discussed in some other thread on here, but I did a search and couldn't find anything about them, so new thread it is. Anyway, someone recommended these on the Hope Of The States messageboards, and upon checking them out I'm very much in agreement with that poster that they're a very promising act indeed. They have a free 4-song EP to download on their website: www.agenuinefreakshow.com/Should appeal to fans of Arcade Fire/The Dears/other bands with plenty of instruments all on the go at once. If anyone checks them out and ends up liking them, do tell so there's someone to join in with my little lovefest for them. (Oh, and apparently they're from Reading as well - what is it with that town and sweet bands...?  ) |
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Post by ryan on Sept 27, 2009 15:56:19 GMT
Freakshow are awesome, someone gave me their demo about four years ago! I'm eagerly awaiting the album. They are cracking live as well.
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Post by Lawrie on Sept 27, 2009 16:17:51 GMT
On the live thing - yeah, they sound good. One of the tracks on the free EP is a live song and there is just as much zest in that boy as there is on the studio songs on the record.
Wish I'd known about them 4 weeks earlier, as they have a list of early autumn gigs on their website. There were a handful of dates in the last couple of weeks just gone that I could've gone to, and there's no way I could make either of the two remaining dates listed. Drat and double drat!
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Post by blondeambassador on Sept 29, 2009 22:03:36 GMT
Mmm, I'm undecided. They sound OK but they do remind me of Youthmovies a little too much...not that Youthmovies are bad, they just already exist! I think it's that the vocals are too similar. But I'm open minded...they're not all bad...
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Post by Lawrie on Sept 30, 2009 9:02:37 GMT
I can definitely see the Youthmovies comparison, there's definitely a similarity between the Genuine Freakshow material out there with Good Nature-era Youthmovies. And I like Youthmovies, in general, so it's no surprise that I'm also blowing the AGF trumpet. However, there is a difference between the two bands for me, and one that at this (early) stage means I'm warming a lot more to A Genuine Freakshow than I ever did to Youthmovies: tunes. AGF seem to have a pop-sensibility in their locker that Youthmovies don't quite possess, IMO. They both play a fairly lush (i.e. plenty of brass and strings etc, as well as a standard rock setup) brand of post-rock, but for me A Genuine Freakshow combine that with tunes that stick in my head, whereas I find that I admire Youthmovies' songs more than I love them, if that makes sense. In fact, looking at the difference between my VERY favourite bands in recent years and bands who I like but don't wear out their CDs with constant repeating, it does come down to the ability to combine a pop-tune at heart with interesting instrumentation etc, rather than *just* having the interesting instrumentation with a less 'tightly' written song to base it on. The bands who I've really, really loved over recent years have probably been [in chronological order] Radiohead, Muse, Ladytron, The Music, Hope Of The States and Pure Reason Revolution, with the possibility that A Genuine Freakshow might join them if their debut is as exciting as their current EP is. All of those bands, while retaining the ability to be musically interesting, have got some absolutely killer tunes/melodies in their armory. The likes of Youthmovies (and Porcupine Tree, iLiKETRAiNS, Mew, Sigur Ros etc) make music that's just as interesting to me as any of my favourite bands, but they just don't write tunes that stick in my brain. That said, there are one or two bands I like who probably don't have that 'pop' instinct, but who I'd rate as highly as my top bracket of bands... but those bands are The Mars Volta and 65daysofstatic who are both, in their own special way, batshit crazy and making music that doesn't sound like anyone else out there. So, if you don't have the 'choons', then to make my Hall of Fame you really have to go off the wall and write songs that are just pretty insane. And then, obviously, you're going to really, really like some bands that do that, and really, really dislike other bands that try to do that, but just don't click with you. Anyway, sorry if that was a big self-obsessed essay on my musical tastes, and I wouldn't dream of trying to impose my musical views on anyone else - just trying to get across the reasons why I am getting so worked up on A Genuine Freakshow, even if (quite rightly) other people don't feel the same way I do about them.  |
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Post by AlExMachina on Sept 30, 2009 10:52:47 GMT
I'm inbetween BA, and Lawrie and Ryan. I think the EP is very cool (with the exception of New Houses, which is rubbish). The vocals and instrumentation are lovely and there is some good-to-great songwriting. I wouldn't say it's excellent but most importantly there are are hooks galore and Lawrie is right about the pop sensibilities. I'm excited to hear this album of theirs that has been in the works for an AVO-esque length of time. Very promising, let's see if there is delivery.
As for the Youthmovies thing, I generally agree about less pop-sensibilities but if AGF write anything as catchy as ...Monitor I will be surprised. Also, YM are probably more exciting in terms of instrumentation and technical expertise.
And the new Mew album has tunes galore. What's the emoticon for blowing a massive raspberry?
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Post by Lawrie on Sept 30, 2009 11:15:50 GMT
And the new Mew album has tunes galore. What's the emoticon for blowing a massive raspberry? Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong! The new Mew album is, as is their standard modus operandi, pleasant enough to listen to, but doesn't have anything that burrows its way into your head and won't let go. The high point of their career so far - and the main reason why I like them more than A. N. Other band - is the trilogy of songs on ..Kites: Apocalypso, Special and The Zookeepers Boy are as fine a 3 tracks as you are likely to hear by just about anyone, and that's because they have the hooks. For me, Mew haven't met the standard of those songs on anything they've done before or since, albeit that sounds harsher than it's meant, as they're only 3 albums into their career - I want to believe they'll repeat the feat as they go forward. I like Mew as a band, but No More Stories is decent but not special, if you'll pardon the pun... Oh, and you were presumably looking for the following, Alex:  ;D |
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Post by AlExMachina on Sept 30, 2009 11:26:52 GMT
OK, Repeaterbeater alone proves you, unfortunately, wrong! Cartoons and Hawaii are both majestic pop songs. I'm also going to say also that the bit in Sometimes, Life... when he ridiculously sings the title phrase is gorgeous. And that's leaving out Palace Players and Magic Car which are cool but, yes, perhaps more form and style than content.
Agree abotu Zookeeper's boy but SURELY Am I Wry, No? and 156 are worthy contenders?
I'm sure A Genuine Freakshow's PRR Team (ie the band members themselves) are unhappy about the conversational veer in this thread!
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Post by Lawrie on Sept 30, 2009 11:55:17 GMT
I'm sure A Genuine Freakshow's PRR Team (ie the band members themselves) are unhappy about the conversational veer in this thread! Freudian slip? I'm not having it that you put that in as a deliberate dual-meaning typo!  And AGF need not worry, I'm sure I will be back in this thread singing their praises until I've bored everyone else to tears as soon as their album is released and/or I get to one of their gigs... |
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Post by AlExMachina on Sept 30, 2009 11:57:03 GMT
Damn, did I write that?! Genuinely freudian, unfortunately.
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Post by AlExMachina on Oct 18, 2009 12:13:11 GMT
They've just announced another tour on their myspace - the London date is in a venue called Liquid Nation, which is a recession-busting free gig venue. I'm going to see them at the Oxford date, meself.
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Post by ryan on Oct 18, 2009 12:23:14 GMT
Revere are playing with them at Plug n' Play in Reading on 13th November. Been trying to get a date together for ages!
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Post by Lawrie on Oct 18, 2009 14:29:51 GMT
I'll very likely be going to the Oxford gig, and maybe the gig on the 15th December at the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch. All depends on study and work (I have accountancy exams in early December), but they're the ones that are looking most likely for me. Will give you a shout if I end up at the Jericho, Alex.
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Post by blondeambassador on Oct 18, 2009 16:36:12 GMT
At the theatre on the 5th December and already seeing Depeche Mode on the 15th, otherwise I'd have considered checking them out. Buses all at once and all that, every time!
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Post by AlExMachina on Oct 19, 2009 20:05:37 GMT
Coolcool, deffo let me know if you're coming down to Ox. Now I must stop procrastinating and do some work!
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