The problem faced by any band with a few albums behind them: any new material will be compared with what has gone before and it is an unfairly weighted comparison. You've got this thing that has been a much loved part of your life for years and which you associate with some really great experiences and if there were any bits you didn't like ten years ago they've grown on you.... and then you have this new thing which is unfamiliar. Which do you like most? Which would anyone? It's not just going to have to be "as-good-as" for you to hold it in the same esteem, it's going to have to be literally* amazing*, and on first listen, but with the capability of still delivering after many listens. This is exactly why the traditional concept of "the difficult third album" came about (though more usually it's the second these days as gaps between albums are longer and attention spans shorter) - of course it's going to be difficult to make an album when there's that weight of expectation on you.
* I am aware that the words "literally" and "amazing" are somewhat over-used these days but I do mean both in their, er, literal sense here.
pomfob wrote:why all the hate for Canvey Island? It's quite sweet.
I have no idea why anyone else doesn't like "Canvey Island", in my case I just find it really fucking boring and ploddy, though should they ever return to playing sets of over 90 minutes I'd welcome its reinstatement exactly half way down.
Skinku wrote:I don't count them but that post from Blackout made me feel like I see more than I can remember.
This wouldn't surprise me :)
Wicker Man wrote:Just realised I've seen Tindersticks more times than the Cardiacs
Actually laughed out loud at this, the sort of startling revelation only real music geeks can ever experience... yep, had a few like that :)
mick wright wrote:Ohh I was at that gig too - have we had that conversation? Smoking monitors? Carlos setting off the fire alarm post gig?? My embarassingly non-verbal communication with Sam during Roland???
I was right in front of said monitor. And yes, we have. :)