The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
It remains to be seen if The Fall will be on my list of enjoyable alternative punk rock familiar ski trails, or this will seem like a bad snowboard experiment that I will end up struggling with. I'm certainly willing to try in the meantime...
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OK, Studio, that's plenty...

Live at the Witch Trials - The Fall

I'm not necessarily saying that post-punk is not for me, but I'm ready to get back to my skis and leaving The Falls that came with it on this snowboard trial back at the rental shop.

This was the first time I had heard this album or the band, and while there are parts of the lyrics I enjoyed on a socially conscious level, I do feel these are ones I'm not going to identify with on the whole. It's not all faeces, but I'm not one to want to visit the peephole places either.

The vocals are, um, very distinct. Mark E. Smith certainly delivers what makes The Fall unique in that regard. Did he just say "and I sweat" or "and I sweat-er"?
And why no Christmas for donkey?

The music once heard is very much within its genre, with the keyboard and drums taking a prominent role on this album from the very beginning. Parts I liked, until I didn't hear them go much further than a repetitive loop, and that's probably my biggest complaint here. Future listens didn't work for me either as much as I tried.

Er, what's this thing about? Er, nothing about sums it up in places.

Can I see how this would be popular and resonate for its time? Absolutely. "Industrial Estate" has that gripe against the dirty job workplace where "the crap in the air will f' up your face" and "boss can bloody take most of your wage".

Musically, I liked the more experimental approach to the more slowed down "Two Steps Back" that wasn't as fast paced punk as most of the other tracks.

The title track was short and interesting as another break from the others, and I liked how it transitioned into "Futures and Pasts", which had some nice guitar work on it. The beginning drums and playing in "Music Scene" was also nice, and the song itself sounded quite experimental throughout.

Overall, as a debut post-punk album from 1979, this was poignant in it's anti-establishment approach to music. It just was not something that really resonated with me and lands overall as a 4/10.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
That's the point of Punk isn't it?

Crude poetry by angry young men for societies outcasts?
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threespires said:
I'm beginning to think I might come to the conclusion that The Fall are essentially a category of their own and that's why they confuse me.
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Tried listening in my usual manner on my commute and I just wasnt "getting this", so tried whilst laid up in bed with a chest infection and have to say...it still wasnt much better.
But I certainly agree this is almost out there on its own. With its simplicity and punk basis, there was that little bit of simple riffing on the guitar and it took me back to the simplicyt of The Housemartins...and I pondered...could this be "jangle punk"?
With the added stream of conciousness from MES?
I'm afraid that MES' "poetry" just wasnt hitting the mark...and i thought it wouldf have been bgetter with Dr JCC adding the poetry perhaps.
Going to try and give it another go today as as others have said its certainly a strange one. Not sure you can say its marmite as I cannot make my mind up.
 
This album reminds me of the time I put coleslaw into tomato soup. I mean, I love tomato soup. I love coleslaw. This was obviously going to work right, it was pretty much a match made in heaven. Nope. Won't go into detail, not to confuse the metaphor applying to that extent to this album. But it was not what I had envisioned, and I did not like it as I expected. Still finished it, mind.

This album has everything I love in it. Unrestrained. Doesn't slave to convention. Raw, honest. Strong bass, strong rhythm. Punk, with a post-rationalised sense to it. Pace. Etc. Yet, I just can't bring myself to love it as much as I want to. Something just doesn't click. Sounds hypocritical to say, because I recognise so much in things I DO like, in Idles and other recent endeavours, but also some of the older ones I liked.

And then again, I don't particularly dislike it either. Even with the weight of its own expectation, I still enjoyed it more than a few other nominations. It is also not uncommon for me to take a while to get into something, some of the albums I love most, took a while to click.

So on all of the above, I will score it a 7 on its promise as much as it's current impression. And circle back to it time to time. Rebellious Jukebox the standout song for me.
 
Live at the witch trials: Review - Mr G.
Equipment: Headphones (hd650s), Earphones (Momentum 2.0s), Hifi: Decent enough.
----------------------

I don't know-aaa

Hard to know where to start (or finish) with this review/album. It is an album of much contradiction.
I don't like Punk. Never liked it, never played a song or (God forbid) a full album of it, so I have been caught by surprise with this one. Is it Punk? you may ask, I don't know tbh. It is punk-esque. To me it is poetry 1st and foremost, a snarling, arrogant, care-not poetry with a backing track. Post punk? Dunno.

The album make up is pretty bare bones. Deliberately so. Rhythm sits in the background on purpose so as not to get in the way of the words, which are hammered home by the upfront drumming. Bass seems to be tying it all together somewhat. Recorded in a day (apparently) and it's basic/stripped back enough for you to believe it.
The sound quality and mastering is pretty good imho. The drums especially so, although there is smidge of clipping on some of the more raw tracks. Understandable given the singing techniques on show (Shouting!)
Loved the drums, the Bass, the Singer (!). The lead guitarist was ok I suppose and was helped by being pushed into the background. The musicianship was only really let down by the keyboards which I thought were weak.

Short sharp and snappy. Not a long album by any means as sarcastically noted in the last track (6.40!!)
Played equally well on Headphones or Speakers. I think I preferred the headphones, they suited the direct, intense energy of the album better.

Fav tracks:
Frightened.
Futures and Pasts-aaaa
Music Scene.

Frightened, in particular is a stand out. It is the best track on the album and a perfect 1st hook to reel you in. It sets the narrative of the album and preps you for what you are going to get. This is no mega-polished and over produced Whitney Houston album (although the shouty lead singer is analogous...)
Music scene (ironically) is perhaps the most melodious of the tracks (not saying much here tbh) but it has some wonderful mancunian sarcasm in it.

The lead singer, the words, the short, sharp, arrogant, cock-sure sound craft is as mancunian as I've ever heard on an album. This put me right back into my earlier days kicking around the city, remarkable.

For all it's unmusicality (?) I really liked it in the same manner I like whisky. I don't like Whisky. I enjoy it once I'm pissed and already at a higher altitude. Whisky for me is alcoholic afterburner. I need to be supersonic before I can even touch the stuff, and so it is for this album for me.

I picked up influence and influences all over it. (King Crimson being one) Every track has a point in it where i'm given de-ja vu.
So damn interesting.

Difficult to score. Lovers of the genre likely go for a 10/10, haters likely 0/10. Punk or whatever this is, is highly polarising.
If you can park your musical prejudices for a mo', you will see that it has (for all its flaws) something magic in its boots.

7/10 good.
 
You know what you’re going to get with The Fall, and I think you either love it or hate in with not much room in the middle.
Despite my rockier roots, I’ve always had a soft spot for punkier stuff and I’ve seen The Fall live three or four times. Personally I prefer their later stuff, but given their prolific output they became tricky to keep up with as life got in the way.
Bizarrely for someone who can be easily put off by vocals I’ve never had an issue with MES - I even bought him a pint before a gig in Brum, but I’m sure most people on here have done that!
A nostalgic solid 8/10 for me. I enjoyed picking this up again and the bonus tracks were a great listen as well.
 
Live at the Witch Trials – The Fall

Until I heard JD Vance’s speech, this album was the worst thing I’d heard all week.

Is a banana duct-taped to a wall, art? Objectively, most people would agree that, as a banana duct-taped to a wall, it wouldn’t be worthy of your time. But that wouldn’t stop some people arguing that you’d be missing the point, you see. Why waste hours slaving over your easel, smearing oils on a palette and pouring all of your inspiration into guiding the brush across the canvas to create something that had been done before, or at least something similar, when you could strap a piece of fruit to the gallery wall?

No doubt they would go on to explain that it isn’t just about the banana or even the tape. Look at the angle of the banana, what do you think that represents? That’s before you consider how the light falling through the gallery’s skylight hits the crinkles on the tape creating a spectacular array of proton beams.

But it’s just a banana duct-taped to a wall, bud. No, no, you don’t see it, do you?

I’ve seen this movie before, or at least read the book, or more accurately, the short fable. The Emperor’s New Clothes – it actually says a lot about modern life. How about a copy of The Emperor’s New Clothes duct-taped to the wall? Now that would be a powerful statement.

Listening to Live at the Witch Trails, I can only assume that “you had to be there”, but I wasn’t and never would be because I’d probably run a mile if I heard this blaring out of the doors.

They are a band who play their instruments and that’s where any positives stop for me. Their music is largely gimmick-free, the only issue being the one gimmick that they do employ is standing in front of the mic.

@journolud - your passion for this band and album shine through, and I respect your choice of an album that obviously means a lot to you and possibly helped you through a tough period in your life - that’s one of the things that this thread is all about.

But I’m afraid that unlike The Housemartins, The Strokes, and even Echo and the Bunnymen (which I expected to hate but found some things that I liked), I cannot find any common ground on this one. Looking back to previous nominations for a reference point, I think I’m aligning it with Eyeless in Gaza and The Incredible String Band, but with worse lyrics and random shouty bits, so 3/10 it is.
 
GornikDaze said:
You know what you’re going to get with The Fall, and I think you either love it or hate in with not much room in the middle.
Despite my rockier roots, I’ve always had a soft spot for punkier stuff and I’ve seen The Fall live three or four times. Personally I prefer their later stuff, but given their prolific output they became tricky to keep up with as life got in the way.
Bizarrely for someone who can be easily put off by vocals I’ve never had an issue with MES - I even bought him a pint before a gig in Brum, but I’m sure most people on here have done that!
A nostalgic solid 8/10 for me. I enjoyed picking this up again and the bonus tracks were a great listen as well.
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Did you ever catch them at the River Rooms towards the end? I couldn't go but I'm sure it was fairly shambolic
 
If Gil Scott-Heron had grown up in Prestwich instead of Chicago, rather than becoming a jazz poetry bluesologist would he have become a misthanthropic punkologist ? Probably not. He's one of about 50 wildly varied comparisons I've tried for size this last week none of which particularly fit.

Two Steps Back probably sums up the entire album. On some levels complete bollocks and yet hypnotically brilliant at the same time.

It's not at the level of a Seagram Mural but as bananas duct-tapped to a wall go, this is one of the better ones. 8/10.
 
I think I'm aligning with Rob but coming to a different conclusion. I like bananas and duct tape but failing to hear some of the magic that's being alluded to but my tastes are simple and I like bananas. I loved how MES describes a packet of crisps but on frightened he takes too lines to say he paced the street #shrugemoji
 
mrbelfry said:
I think I'm aligning with Rob but coming to a different conclusion. I like bananas and duct tape but failing to hear some of the magic that's being alluded to but my tastes are simple and I like bananas. I loved how MES describes a packet of crisps but on frightened he takes too lines to say he paced the street #shrugemoji
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I also forgot to mention my position on bananas, which is thus:-

They are OK when slightly green and underripe, but as soon as they start to taste like a banana, there's only two things you can do with them:-
  1. Throw them in the bin.
  2. Make a banana cake.
They are, however, always good for comedy purposes - i.e. using them as a fake microphone or duct-taping them to a wall.
 
RobMCFC said:
I also forgot to mention my position on bananas, which is thus:-

They are OK when slightly green and underripe, but as soon as they start to taste like a banana, there's only two things you can do with them:-
  1. Throw them in the bin.
  2. Make a banana cake.
They are, however, always good for comedy purposes - i.e. using them as a fake microphone or duct-taping them to a wall.
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I love bananas personally. I like bananas like I like my women. Hanging from a tree in bunches
 
RobMCFC said:
Live at the Witch Trials – The Fall

Until I heard JD Vance’s speech, this album was the worst thing I’d heard all week.

Is a banana duct-taped to a wall, art? Objectively, most people would agree that, as a banana duct-taped to a wall, it wouldn’t be worthy of your time. But that wouldn’t stop some people arguing that you’d be missing the point, you see. Why waste hours slaving over your easel, smearing oils on a palette and pouring all of your inspiration into guiding the brush across the canvas to create something that had been done before, or at least something similar, when you could strap a piece of fruit to the gallery wall?

No doubt they would go on to explain that it isn’t just about the banana or even the tape. Look at the angle of the banana, what do you think that represents? That’s before you consider how the light falling through the gallery’s skylight hits the crinkles on the tape creating a spectacular array of proton beams.

But it’s just a banana duct-taped to a wall, bud. No, no, you don’t see it, do you?

I’ve seen this movie before, or at least read the book, or more accurately, the short fable. The Emperor’s New Clothes – it actually says a lot about modern life. How about a copy of The Emperor’s New Clothes duct-taped to the wall? Now that would be a powerful statement.

Listening to Live at the Witch Trails, I can only assume that “you had to be there”, but I wasn’t and never would be because I’d probably run a mile if I heard this blaring out of the doors.

They are a band who play their instruments and that’s where any positives stop for me. Their music is largely gimmick-free, the only issue being the one gimmick that they do employ is standing in front of the mic.

@journolud - your passion for this band and album shine through, and I respect your choice of an album that obviously means a lot to you and possibly helped you through a tough period in your life - that’s one of the things that this thread is all about.

But I’m afraid that unlike The Housemartins, The Strokes, and even Echo and the Bunnymen (which I expected to hate but found some things that I liked), I cannot find any common ground on this one. Looking back to previous nominations for a reference point, I think I’m aligning it with Eyeless in Gaza and The Incredible String Band, but with worse lyrics and random shouty bits, so 3/10 it is.
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This score closes the open wound i had about my 2/10 for the Strokes.
 
As much as I find the lead singer an irritation on other stuff I've heard from The Fall it seems to suit a punk style album very well. What has also helped this week has been the mood/ music I've been having/ listening to. From The Stranglers...which this album reminds me of, to Teen Mortgage...and quite a lot in the middle.

Are they any good musically? Not really. The drumming is laughable. But there's an innocence in this record. The lyrics are trite. The "singing" is piss poor. But all that doesn't really matter really...it's punk. Sort of. And I like a bit of punk.

The album flew by. I felt myself tapping my toes. Nodding. Feeling like I was 14 years old again. Obviously outside looking in as proper punk didn't make it to rural Hampshire.

Will I listen to it again? I might, if the mood takes me. I'm not going to buy it though!

Score...

6/10

Enjoyable for what it was.
 
Hating The Fall — or maybe more precisely, this record — would be like hating the lungfish, or whatever that creature was who climbed out of the sea a few billion years ago and started living on land, breathing air. Sure, it’s ugly and awkward and crude and doesn’t move about too well, but you also owe your own existence to it, so you have to respect its efforts.

Not that the future of music owes or owed anything to The Fall, but it’s emblematic of the effort of thousands of bands to alter the narrative — to do something new, even if dirty and tuneless and unkempt; to make a statement, or at least an impression. This is why I love, love, love these transitional periods in pop music history when any sound except what was “safe” seemed possible. As Archers of Loaf sang so wonderfully (albeit in 1995): “Underachievers / Attack at your leisure / Hoist up your guitars / And make them all believers.”

That said, the rawness of this as well as the caterwaul makes it a pretty bog-standard punk record — but more a British punk record than the NYC/LA punk I knew, in that the drums, bass and keys play a bit more of a melodic role than the guitar. So the opener sounds like The Stooges; elsewhere they sound like The Stranglers. I like that fine, but I prefer punk bands that sound like Black Flag — or, in English terms, Wire. Guitar first, speed second (though Wire wasn’t all that speedy to be fair), all else (to paraphrase The Minutemen) tied for last.

That’s probably why I liked “Rebellious Jukebox” best here, though as noted previously, my college roommate played “John Quays” to annoy people and right well succeeded. Elsewhere I’m a sucker for music industry self-referentialism like the closer (with its California Dreamin’ quote — cute) and there was plenty of melody scattered about in chunks to make this a reasonable listen all the way through. I found the effort winning, a certain lack of snottiness (a feature of so much punk) refreshing and the tunes themselves interesting. Nothing grabbed me and shook me though — this seemed like a band finding its feet, like a newborn giraffe (perhaps one with a bad haircut smoking a fag at birth).

6/10 seems fair as it will be bits I remember rather than overall impact, but like so many other records I’ve heard on this thread, it does make me want to explore more than I have of The Fall’s frightening, kurious world. Most Manc bands don’t let me down when I do.
 
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