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Post by ryan on Oct 19, 2010 3:49:07 GMT
Tiger Girl is better then Debutante by miles. It's one of the best things I've ever seen live in fact.
Anyway. That Fight Fire eh?
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Post by mrguy on Oct 19, 2010 6:13:07 GMT
Each to their own, but a lot of people do agree with you. Also, I said "meh on 65 standards". Which translates to "it's awesome. but they've done more awesome"
Anyway, no one has mentioned the DVD yet... how is it?
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Post by the dark fourth on Oct 19, 2010 8:33:39 GMT
Lawrie - a remarkable album review because I strongly agree with some parts and strong disagree with others.
I personally think this is their LEAST consistent record, only for the reason that it's the only one with a song I don't like on it. TDT has got to be the most consistent, it's basically one long amazing track, and AVO is only just behind. I love Disconnect. I literally love it. I would rather have it than Over the Top any day of the week. And I love VC/exact colour even more. Aeropause is a bit weak as a song but a perfect intro to TDT.
I really agree with what you said about Open Insurrection and Armistice. It's very fleetwood, which I also normally dislike, but it's definitely the only way to follow OI. And OI is very coopers, and certainly better than anything the Coopers did (I also don't say this lightly), but the reason it's better is because it's actually also very PRR.
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Post by dutchprrfan01 on Oct 19, 2010 11:28:48 GMT
Brilliant album. I’ve been waiting for and album as good as this one for ages. Awesome from start to finish with no weaknesses.
- Fight Fire was a grower for me, but, as a ‘declaration of war’, it is a superb start of the album.(The start of the song makes me think of Prodigy’s Firestarter, and that’s not a bad thing)
- Black Mourning is my favorite. Really like the vocals, the riffs being just perfect (Depeche Mode not being too far away) and a really, really good refrain…
- Patriarch is also brilliant; a real good example of how good the vocal harmonies and the cooperation between the two lead vocalists actually are.
- Last Man, Last Round. Wow. Speaking of riffs… It’s like Depeche Mode meets Smashing Pumpkins in their best days.
- Valour, Over the Top and Never Divide are all classic PRR songs. I really like the reference to Depeche Mode (World in my Eyes) in Over the Top.
And then comes the apotheoses with Blitz Krieg and Open Insurrection. Blitz Krieg made me think of Primal Screams sound in the XTRMNTR era. Just love the way the aggressive electronic sound/beats are countered by the vocal part in the middle. Especially Chloe’s voice has a sweet kind of sadness that just kills me…
Open Insurrection reminds me most of TDT. Epic.
Armistice is a song so beautiful, almost soothing... In my opinion it is the counterpart of Fight Fire, which makes the circle complete.
In short: the best, most complete and coherent album they’ve made so far!
One critical remark though: Although I really like Jons voice, I would like to hear more of Chloe’s. Maybe next time?
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Post by Stefan on Oct 19, 2010 20:04:02 GMT
Brilliant album! I can't name a favorite song. Maybe it's Valour or Never
Divide.
There's only one song I don't like - Blitzkrieg. I'm surprised so many
like this one. Okay, the piano/vocal part is nice.
Maybe my favorite is Armistice or Patriarch. Or Black Mourning. ;-)
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Post by stumoo on Oct 20, 2010 16:37:31 GMT
There's only one song I don't like - Blitzkrieg. I'm surprised so many like this one. It's because it's a properly thumping tune, and is its own song. I didn't like the Cedo Simplex remix because it was overly harsh and I always thought I'd rather be listening to the original unmolested song. I have listened to the album a few times through, but need a bit longer before I put my full thoughts down. First impressions are excellent though |
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Post by ryan on Oct 20, 2010 22:53:05 GMT
Stuck it on really loud earlier. Damn good. Damn good.
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Post by sticky on Oct 21, 2010 12:46:05 GMT
There's only one song I don't like - Blitzkrieg. I Agree. The piano/vocal part rips off Coldplay's 'Violet Hill' so badly!! don't like Black Mourning that much, it just sounds like Deus Ex Intention Craft to me. Patriarch is amazing, so haunting  I know I'll get slated by all of you for this, but it's only my observation, and I've been following these guys for a looong time: I can see this as probably being the final PRR album (in the current lineup anyway). I just get the impression that they're evolving into a more Justice/2manyDJs type act. All of the Drums/Beats are looped on the album, so there really isn't any need for Paul, other than live gigs. The guitars have been reduced to a barely anything, so there wouldn't be any need for Jamie other than gigs, or when they play dark third stuff. The lush harmonies that made them so original mean pretty much nothing when it comes to an electronica album. Any computer can replicate harmonies, and these can be put onto a backing track (as we all now know!) It just appears to me that Jon so desperately wants to be in the same position as Tom Bellamy, but can't quit seem to shift the Rock Band he managed to acquire. I'm not a prog girlie by any stretch, but I miss the Rock band! |
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Post by blondeambassador on Oct 21, 2010 12:54:17 GMT
There's only one song I don't like - Blitzkrieg. I Agree. The piano/vocal part rips off Coldplay's 'Violet Hill' so badly!! don't like Black Mourning that much, it just sounds like Deus Ex Intention Craft to me. Patriarch is amazing, so haunting I know I'll get slated by all of you for this, but it's only my observation, and I've been following these guys for a looong time: I can see this as probably being the final PRR album (in the current lineup anyway). I just get the impression that they're evolving into a more Justice/2manyDJs type act. All of the Drums/Beats are looped on the album, so there really isn't any need for Paul, other than live gigs. The guitars have been reduced to a barely anything, so there wouldn't be any need for Jamie other than gigs, or when they play dark third stuff. The lush harmonies that made them so original mean pretty much nothing when it comes to an electronica album. Any computer can replicate harmonies, and these can be put onto a backing track (as we all now know!) It just appears to me that Jon so desperately wants to be in the same position as Tom Bellamy, but can't quit seem to shift the Rock Band he managed to acquire. I'm not a prog girlie by any stretch, but I miss the Rock band! You're not going to get slated...I think parts of what you say probably aren't that far off the mark...I genuinely and with sadness, believe this album has to do well, or we won't see another. And I agree that Jon adores production etc, he makes no secret of it in interviews and obviously he steers the direction of the sound...I also think you're bang on when you say he'll move into production and remixes, if/when PRR does come to an end. At the same time, I also believe the other 3 love the new stuff too...I've never seen Chloe look happier or more proud to be on stage, for a start. While I think Jon's position as 'head' of the band is still strong, I don't see the other three abandoning ship because of the direction he wants to move in, I think if anything it'd be a mutual decision between the 4 of them that they've gone as far as they feel they can go. I do disagree with your point about the harmonies...that's what keeps this a PRR album, that's what keeps me loving it so much and makes them different from Pendulum/Justice etc etc. It's totally unique to PRR, it ISN'T done on computers in this case (whether or not it can be isn't the point, because it wouldn't sound like human voices so clearly.) The fact they've got Susanne Courtney in to do backing vocals on Black Mourning proves that they are still very keen on using live vocals and that they'll get extra vocalists in rather than replacing them with computers. |
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Post by sticky on Oct 21, 2010 13:06:49 GMT
I Agree. The piano/vocal part rips off Coldplay's 'Violet Hill' so badly!! don't like Black Mourning that much, it just sounds like Deus Ex Intention Craft to me. Patriarch is amazing, so haunting I know I'll get slated by all of you for this, but it's only my observation, and I've been following these guys for a looong time: I can see this as probably being the final PRR album (in the current lineup anyway). I just get the impression that they're evolving into a more Justice/2manyDJs type act. All of the Drums/Beats are looped on the album, so there really isn't any need for Paul, other than live gigs. The guitars have been reduced to a barely anything, so there wouldn't be any need for Jamie other than gigs, or when they play dark third stuff. The lush harmonies that made them so original mean pretty much nothing when it comes to an electronica album. Any computer can replicate harmonies, and these can be put onto a backing track (as we all now know!) It just appears to me that Jon so desperately wants to be in the same position as Tom Bellamy, but can't quit seem to shift the Rock Band he managed to acquire. I'm not a prog girlie by any stretch, but I miss the Rock band! You're not going to get slated...I think parts of what you say probably aren't that far off the mark...I genuinely and with sadness, believe this album has to do well, or we won't see another. And I agree that Jon adores production etc, he makes no secret of it in interviews and obviously he steers the direction of the sound...I also think you're bang on when you say he'll move into production and remixes, if/when PRR does come to an end. I'm glad we're in agreement on that point. And it's a really sad thing to have to admit to, but it's not looking likely to do well, and we may never see another PRR album  it makes me sad - The Dark Third was the soundtrack to my 1st year of uni! |
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Post by blondeambassador on Oct 21, 2010 13:19:06 GMT
You're not going to get slated...I think parts of what you say probably aren't that far off the mark...I genuinely and with sadness, believe this album has to do well, or we won't see another. I'm glad we're in agreement on that point. And it's a really sad thing to have to admit to, but it's not looking likely to do well, and we may never see another PRR album it makes me sad - The Dark Third was the soundtrack to my 1st year of uni! That said, I don't think it's a given that we won't see album 4...it may take a while but this album is SO much more commercially viable that TDT and even AVO, especially with the ongoing love affair music fans are having with things on the electronic side. I also remember having quite a similar conversation after the release of AVO and lo and behold, we have an album 3. Fianlly, I think the worst thing for us as fans to do would be to start writing the band off- that's certainly not going to help the case. As far as I'm concerned I know I'm going to be shouting from the hilltops about this one and doing everything I can to help PRR get the recognition they deserve. I think the main difference is that I truly do love this album from start to finish. |
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Post by ryan on Oct 21, 2010 13:56:30 GMT
I was gunna say, let's not be writing them off yet eh?!
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Post by sticky on Oct 21, 2010 14:00:05 GMT
I'm glad we're in agreement on that point. And it's a really sad thing to have to admit to, but it's not looking likely to do well, and we may never see another PRR album it makes me sad - The Dark Third was the soundtrack to my 1st year of uni! I also remember having quite a similar conversation after the release of AVO and lo and behold, we have an album 3. Fianlly, I think the worst thing for us as fans to do would be to start writing the band off- that's certainly not going to help the case. As far as I'm concerned I know I'm going to be shouting from the hilltops about this one and doing everything I can to help PRR get the recognition they deserve. I hear what you're saying, and I think that it's only a good thing to try and publicise this band as much as possible (Heaven knows I have since the Apprentice single!). But the sad, sad truth of the matter is that they are still playing the same venues they played in 3 years ago, they don't seem to be gaining much of a new fanbase. Although H&A may be more commercially viable, no-one knows who they are. It doesn't matter how good Rock Sound think it is, they won't make people buy it. It's an album of dance songs with some harmonies over it, with lyrics about World War II. that doesn't smell like commercial success to me. H&A is nowhere near poppy enough for the pendulum fans that crammed into the radio 1 tent at leeds festival, and it's far too lightweight for rock fans who want some riffage. It's Electronica, but you wouldn't find it played in any electro clubs, nor would you see it played in a rock club. It pleases the PRR faithful, but there's nothing in there that's going to gain them any new fans. Of course we all love it, we're the fans, we're on the fan forum! I'm not writing the band off, but it's just starting to feel a bit like the end for me  then again, I'm a pessimist!!! |
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Post by ryan on Oct 21, 2010 14:38:03 GMT
I've just read Stewart Lees book.
In it he talks about finding a sustainable model for him doing stand up. After years of playing theatres that are too big, to dwindling and apathetic audiences who don't understand his stuff he realised that by targeting smaller venues and crowds sympathetic to what he's doing he could actually make more money, and be happier.
"if you can find 10,000 people who will give you a tenner every year, you're doing okay".
Now I'm not saying that PRR should accept the fan base they've got, but that's not the case, but being 'commercially viable' is irrelevant. Every year major labels pick a band or two each and they get huge (ie, The xx). Everyone else has to get there slowly, building on what they've done the previous year and letting crowds grow organically. That's how it works now. It's all good.
Airplay on Radio One/being written about in the NME does not = success.
The Scala will be the biggest venue PRR have headlined over here (I think), that's pretty good. We don't even know where else they are playing on this tour, but it sort of doesn't matter. Saying the audience hasn't grown isn't true.
PRR also have a pretty dedicated fanbase, their fans seem to be pretty rapid, and there was plenty of hype around the internet for this record. It's certainly better then having crowds full of the fickle Radio One listener this year and no one the next.
I think it's being needlessly pessimistic, consider the album has only been out four days!
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Post by sticky on Oct 21, 2010 15:02:40 GMT
I've just read Stewart Lees book. In it he talks about finding a sustainable model for him doing stand up. After years of playing theatres that are too big, to dwindling and apathetic audiences who don't understand his stuff he realised that by targeting smaller venues and crowds sympathetic to what he's doing he could actually make more money, and be happier. "if you can find 10,000 people who will give you a tenner every year, you're doing okay". Yes, however... they're not selling out these smaller venues. and Stewart Lee is one man. They are a 4 piece band with a crew that all need paying. They've headlined Islington Academy (although, tickets were free), and do you really see the Scala being that full? Does it not? last time I checked Mumford & Sons, The XX, Kings Of Leon, and Muse were all fairly successful. even the bands on Radio 1's 'specialist' shows (Daniel P Carter, Punk Show) bands have seen some form of success. Even so, it would equal more success than they have now. do you count the 'free mp3 in exchange for a tweet' thing as hype? I work at a label that have just rolled out 2 major twitter campaigns for 2 national pop artists, they both flopped. |
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