From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V8 #164 Reply-To: loud-fans@smoe.org Sender: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk loud-fans-digest Tuesday, September 1 2009 Volume 08 : Number 164 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [loud-fans] Meat Is Murder/How Soon Is Now? [treesprite@earthlink.net] Re: [loud-fans] Meat Is Murder/How Soon Is Now? ["Stewart Mason" Me, I'd say that "two great songs, not much else" is more descriptive >of the debut, which I think has a number of fairly weak songs ("Still >Ill," "Miserable Lie," etc.): some of the album tracks on MEAT IS >MURDER are among my favorites on the album. Yeah, that echoes my feelings pretty closely. Some of the debut songs probably would've sounded better with a more lifelike production job. Actually, I really like "Still Ill", but the debut has not aged well. It's funny to listen to it now and remember some quotes i've read about various Manchester movers and shakers responses to early Smiths gigs -- things along the lines of "they remind me of The Hollies"! I guess a little jangly guitar was a big deal at that moment in post-Joy Division Manchester. >I've always been under the impression that the first Stone Roses album >was the UK consensus choice for best of the '80s, although I'm of the >camp that thinks THE QUEEN IS DEAD is the high point of the proper >albums. I can go that way or to Strangeways with equal enthusiasm. I still absolutely adore that Stone Roses record -- is it the greatest record ever made by a band that was probably not very good? John Leckie deserves some kind of award for transforming that mess of meandering tuneless groovers into a world-beating guitar pop album! >(Though personally, if I'm reaching for a Smiths album, it's >usually either of the singles and sessions discs, HATFUL OF HOLLOW or >THE WORLD WON'T LISTEN.) Agreed -- and the new Rhino two disc best-of has the kind of sound quality i've always dreamed about for those records, so it's the new first one off the shelf. I'm in the camp that would rather not have "How Soon Is Now" on Meat Is Murder, even though it's the reason I bought it when I first heard the song. How many examples are there of a band whose signature song is nearly unplayable live? I always feel for them when I hear live recordings. I kind of demand that "Elephant Stone" be included on The Stone Roses, though.... B ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:43:46 -0400 From: "Stewart Mason" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Meat Is Murder/How Soon Is Now? - ----- Original Message ----- From: > Yeah, that echoes my feelings pretty closely. Some of the debut > songs probably would've sounded better with a more lifelike > production job. Google "Smiths Troy Tate Sessions" and you will likely find multiple links to downloads of the original rejected sessions for the Smiths' debut album, which are much less polished, mannered and subdued than what was eventually released. You may well find it more to your liking: in many cases, I prefer these takes to the proper LP. S ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V8 #164 *******************************