From: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org (seven-seas-digest) To: seven-seas-digest@smoe.org Subject: seven-seas-digest V4 #38 Reply-To: seven-seas@smoe.org Sender: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Precedence: bulk seven-seas-digest Friday, February 11 2005 Volume 04 : Number 038 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 08:42:49 +1300 From: "Kristin Smith" Subject: [none] This is from last September, but I don't think I've seen it before. http://www.ocweekly.com/printme.php?&eid=57075 September 24 - 30, 2004 Really? The Best Song Ever? Yes, and itbs by Echo & the Bunnymen by Sarah Tomlinson Ian McCullochbs manager, Peasy (as in easy-peasy), sounds worried about me. bAre you okay, mate?b he asks when he calls to tell me that Mac will be ready for our phone interview after he makes tea for his daughter and before he goes to watch his team (Liverpool!) play a match against Monaco. And the truth is he should be a little worried. Ibm not at my best today. McCullochbs fault, really. I tied one on a bit too tight the night before while watching the Killers, and the Killers wouldnbt exist if it werenbt for a little band called Echo & the Bunnymen, who have helped define what it means to play stylish, atmospheric pop music for the past 25 years. And McCulloch would agreebhe takes a lot of pride in having influenced a new generation of young popsters, including the Killers. bItbs great,b he says over the phone before heading out to cheer on Liverpoolbs coming victory over Monaco. bIf therebs a new band thatbs doing well and theybre influenced by us, it proves to me that webre just as contemporary now as we were then.b And the nod toward his brand of moody-yet-lovely alternative music is particularly sweet, as McCulloch acknowledges that trends are fickle and pop went out of vogue there for a little while. bIt always goes in cycles, and the fact that itbs 25 years on since we started and webre affecting, in a way, whatbs going on in the charts or in modern music, itbs great,b he says. bItbs proof that if you listen to bThe Cutterb now, itbs stillbto be fair, even if not modestbit blows most of the new stuff away, and it still sounds vibrant and like a new thing.b But while there was a time when grunge and rap metal ruled the roost and those more sensitive souls out there listened to their Echo & the Bunnymen cassettes in obscurity, McCulloch has no doubts about why his band has returned to prominence since releasing their comeback album Flowers in 2001 or why they were worth emulating in the first place. They did, after all, write the best song. Ever. You see, McCulloch has been known to claim that bThe Killing Moonb (off 1984bs Ocean Rain) is the preeminent tune in the history of pop music. (Hear that? Thatbs the sound of two Beatles and two Beach Boys grave-rolling in perfect syncopation!) bSomebody asked me why I thought itbs the greatest song of all time, and I said because itbs more than a song,b he says. bAnd they said, bWhatbs it about?b And I said, bEverything.bb But McCulloch isnbt an old codger who sits in his rocking chair, telling tales about the glorious good old daysbhe is more interested in looking forward to the songs he and Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant are writing for their new album, which they plan to record in October and release next spring. In fact, when Rhino Records released a bunch of their classic albums with additional goodies, including live and unreleased tracks, last year to celebrate the bandbs 25th anniversary, McCulloch didnbt contribute to their selection. He found he just wasnbt interested in wading through all of that old stuff. bI donbt like to go back,b he says. bIbm always looking forward, and Ibm writing loads of songs for the next album, and theybre the tunes that go round me head. Itbs always the next batch for me.b And McCulloch has good reason to be excited as he looks ahead to the new material. He and Sergeant have a legendarily vibrant partnership that feeds the bandbs songwriting. And Sergeantbs guitar work is what really defines the Echo & the Bunnymen sound, according to McCulloch. bHebs my favorite guitarist since Mick Ronson, who played with Bowie,b he says. bItbs as lyrical, almost, as the words. And thatbs what I love. I donbt just like guitarists who think itbs all about rock & roll.b But while McCulloch credits the elegant riffs Sergeant lays down under his own rich, smoky vocals, hebs also confident hebs got a few new tricks. Oh, and the NEW best song ever. Coming soon, he says. bI was saying to someone a few months ago, therebs another bKilling Moon,bb he says. bLike a brother or a sister to, or a son or a daughter of. You kind of have touchstone kind of songs that you always think, bThis one is actually as good as or betterb . . . and there are quite a few new songs that are just some of the best things that Ibve ever done.b Echo & the Bunnymen WITH EARLIMART AT THE House of Blues, 1530 S. DISNEYLAND DR., ANAHEIM, (714) 778-BLUE; WWW.HOB.COM. MON., 8 P.M. $28-$30. ALL AGES (16 and under must be accompanied by a guardian). ===================================================================== Bunnymen Online Presence: http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info * http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ * http://bunnymen.nexuswebs.net/ * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ * ====================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:35:48 +1300 From: "Kristin Smith" Subject: seven-seas Aack! That spamish-looking post I sent earlier should have been headed: ocweekly.com Ian McCulloch interview -- but I typed all that into the wrong field. - K :) ===================================================================== Bunnymen Online Presence: http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info * http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ * http://bunnymen.nexuswebs.net/ * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ * ====================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:23:47 -0500 From: "David Whiting" Subject: Re: seven-seas-digest V4 #37 Alright, so I'm a lame ass who works 50+ hours a week and can't seem to keep up with anything anymore, but I just got around to realizing the Bunnymen are recording with Hugh Jones again. This conjures epic possibilities in my mind. Are Ian and Will ready to swim in the murky deep waters again? I'm sure it's all been covered here already and I apologize for being asleep at the wheel, but somebody please enlighten me. :) Cheers all, David - ----- Original Message ----- From: "seven-seas-digest" To: Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 4:10 AM Subject: seven-seas-digest V4 #37 > > seven-seas-digest Friday, February 11 2005 Volume 04 : Number > 037 > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 17:02:13 -0000 > From: "Steve Griffiths" > Subject: seven-seas Ian McNabb Friday in Milton Keynes [area] > > Any of the 7's going tomorrow? > > I know Stoobie is. > > See you there. > > Stevie G. > > > > ===================================================================== > Bunnymen Online Presence: > http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info > * > http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ > * > http://bunnymen.nexuswebs.net/ * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ > * > > ====================================================================== > > ------------------------------ > > End of seven-seas-digest V4 #37 > ******************************* > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.7 - Release Date: 2/10/2005 > - -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.7 - Release Date: 2/10/2005 ===================================================================== Bunnymen Online Presence: http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info * http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ * http://bunnymen.nexuswebs.net/ * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ * ====================================================================== ------------------------------ End of seven-seas-digest V4 #38 *******************************