So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

General music discussion.
Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

gkbill wrote:
09 Dec 2020, 12:18pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
09 Dec 2020, 7:40am
BostonBeaneater wrote:
09 Dec 2020, 12:56am
And all America succumbed to Wiremania. Crazy times.
Hello,

The post-session interview is telling - Suzanne Somers doesn't get Wire doesn't do perky.

All parties involved were preparing to talk to their managers afterwards about what they hell they were thinking.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Just read the chapter on Wire in Graham Duff's Foreground Music. I forced myself not to skip ahead, to read things in order. But it's glorious. Not just because I'm a Wire fan and get where he's coming from, but because it's probably his strongest expression in the book about being a fan of any artist. It's just joyful without the shitty asshole behaviour of fandom.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »



Bold Wire assertion: Wir's The First Letter (plus the Vien ep) is the best of their Mute records. I've come to regard the cold production as one of its assets.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 3:38pm


Bold Wire assertion: Wir's The First Letter (plus the Vien ep) is the best of their Mute records. I've come to regard the cold production as one of its assets.
It's better than Manscape and I like that Groovy Graham is all over it, but nothing beats those first two for me.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 5:37pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 3:38pm


Bold Wire assertion: Wir's The First Letter (plus the Vien ep) is the best of their Mute records. I've come to regard the cold production as one of its assets.
It's better than Manscape and I like that Groovy Graham is all over it, but nothing beats those first two for me.
The production seriously hurts the other Mute records—they succeed despite the sterility. But it meshes with Wir.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 6:16pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 5:37pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 3:38pm


Bold Wire assertion: Wir's The First Letter (plus the Vien ep) is the best of their Mute records. I've come to regard the cold production as one of its assets.
It's better than Manscape and I like that Groovy Graham is all over it, but nothing beats those first two for me.
The production seriously hurts the other Mute records—they succeed despite the sterility. But it meshes with Wir.
I'm weirdly not that turned off by the production on the first two for some reason. I'm not sure why but it works for me.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 6:16pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 5:37pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 3:38pm


Bold Wire assertion: Wir's The First Letter (plus the Vien ep) is the best of their Mute records. I've come to regard the cold production as one of its assets.
It's better than Manscape and I like that Groovy Graham is all over it, but nothing beats those first two for me.
The production seriously hurts the other Mute records—they succeed despite the sterility. But it meshes with Wir.
I'm weirdly not that turned off by the production on the first two for some reason. I'm not sure why but it works for me.
It's my go-to example of lousy 80s production that has aged abysmally. I think it still works for BAD, but it just suffocated Wire.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:50pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 6:16pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 5:37pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 3:38pm


Bold Wire assertion: Wir's The First Letter (plus the Vien ep) is the best of their Mute records. I've come to regard the cold production as one of its assets.
It's better than Manscape and I like that Groovy Graham is all over it, but nothing beats those first two for me.
The production seriously hurts the other Mute records—they succeed despite the sterility. But it meshes with Wir.
I'm weirdly not that turned off by the production on the first two for some reason. I'm not sure why but it works for me.
It's my go-to example of lousy 80s production that has aged abysmally. I think it still works for BAD, but it just suffocated Wire.
PiL tends to be my touchpoint for that kind of thing.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 1:36pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:50pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 6:16pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 5:37pm


It's better than Manscape and I like that Groovy Graham is all over it, but nothing beats those first two for me.
The production seriously hurts the other Mute records—they succeed despite the sterility. But it meshes with Wir.
I'm weirdly not that turned off by the production on the first two for some reason. I'm not sure why but it works for me.
It's my go-to example of lousy 80s production that has aged abysmally. I think it still works for BAD, but it just suffocated Wire.
PiL tends to be my touchpoint for that kind of thing.
Ugh, Happy? and 9 are terrible sounding. I think Lydon ran out of necessary piss and vinegar after Album, but maybe I'd feel better about those next records if they didn't sound like Stock Aitken Waterman.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 1:47pm
Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 1:36pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:50pm
Kory wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 7:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
26 Jan 2021, 6:16pm


The production seriously hurts the other Mute records—they succeed despite the sterility. But it meshes with Wir.
I'm weirdly not that turned off by the production on the first two for some reason. I'm not sure why but it works for me.
It's my go-to example of lousy 80s production that has aged abysmally. I think it still works for BAD, but it just suffocated Wire.
PiL tends to be my touchpoint for that kind of thing.
Ugh, Happy? and 9 are terrible sounding. I think Lydon ran out of necessary piss and vinegar after Album, but maybe I'd feel better about those next records if they didn't sound like Stock Aitken Waterman.
Did he have a falling-out with Laswell? I know he wanted to bring in his own musicians, but the album sounds good enough that using the same producer could have been fruitful if there wasn't a schism already.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:12pm
Did he have a falling-out with Laswell? I know he wanted to bring in his own musicians, but the album sounds good enough that using the same producer could have been fruitful if there wasn't a schism already.
I checked his second memoir. This is the only relevant passage:
With hindsight, we were beginning to fall into the treadmill of album-tour-album-tour. We initially started recording 9 in New York, with Bill Laswell. It wasn’t at the record company’s instigation, although they’d doubtless have loved an Album Part Two at that point. This was very much Bill volunteering his services. After a couple of days in the studio he said the band couldn’t play and he hated all our songs. He said he’d written songs and I should sack everyone and use his people, and come out with a U2-type product. I told him to fuck off and we packed our bags and left. I was fully committed to the band.

The more I think about this, the more my memory grows about poor old Bill and what he had to endure with me. In his head, I was the lead singer he always knew I could be, but I wouldn’t do it because I’ve got my own way. I’ve got my own learning curve. There is a point where I can take influence but I can’t take teaching. It goes back to school really. Don’t tell me what to do, tell me how to do it. That’s how it works with me.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:20pm
Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:12pm
Did he have a falling-out with Laswell? I know he wanted to bring in his own musicians, but the album sounds good enough that using the same producer could have been fruitful if there wasn't a schism already.
I checked his second memoir. This is the only relevant passage:
With hindsight, we were beginning to fall into the treadmill of album-tour-album-tour. We initially started recording 9 in New York, with Bill Laswell. It wasn’t at the record company’s instigation, although they’d doubtless have loved an Album Part Two at that point. This was very much Bill volunteering his services. After a couple of days in the studio he said the band couldn’t play and he hated all our songs. He said he’d written songs and I should sack everyone and use his people, and come out with a U2-type product. I told him to fuck off and we packed our bags and left. I was fully committed to the band.

The more I think about this, the more my memory grows about poor old Bill and what he had to endure with me. In his head, I was the lead singer he always knew I could be, but I wouldn’t do it because I’ve got my own way. I’ve got my own learning curve. There is a point where I can take influence but I can’t take teaching. It goes back to school really. Don’t tell me what to do, tell me how to do it. That’s how it works with me.
Laswell sounds like a bad producer, but the album could have been arguably better if he'd kept the band and songs, while implementing a different sound approach.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:25pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:20pm
Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:12pm
Did he have a falling-out with Laswell? I know he wanted to bring in his own musicians, but the album sounds good enough that using the same producer could have been fruitful if there wasn't a schism already.
I checked his second memoir. This is the only relevant passage:
With hindsight, we were beginning to fall into the treadmill of album-tour-album-tour. We initially started recording 9 in New York, with Bill Laswell. It wasn’t at the record company’s instigation, although they’d doubtless have loved an Album Part Two at that point. This was very much Bill volunteering his services. After a couple of days in the studio he said the band couldn’t play and he hated all our songs. He said he’d written songs and I should sack everyone and use his people, and come out with a U2-type product. I told him to fuck off and we packed our bags and left. I was fully committed to the band.

The more I think about this, the more my memory grows about poor old Bill and what he had to endure with me. In his head, I was the lead singer he always knew I could be, but I wouldn’t do it because I’ve got my own way. I’ve got my own learning curve. There is a point where I can take influence but I can’t take teaching. It goes back to school really. Don’t tell me what to do, tell me how to do it. That’s how it works with me.
Laswell sounds like a bad producer, but the album could have been arguably better if he'd kept the band and songs, while implementing a different sound approach.
Assuming Lydon's version of events is reasonably accurate. The theme of that memoir was how tolerant and curious and loyal and forgiving he is, despite all the people in the world who have taken advantage of him.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:53pm
Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:25pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:20pm
Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 2:12pm
Did he have a falling-out with Laswell? I know he wanted to bring in his own musicians, but the album sounds good enough that using the same producer could have been fruitful if there wasn't a schism already.
I checked his second memoir. This is the only relevant passage:
With hindsight, we were beginning to fall into the treadmill of album-tour-album-tour. We initially started recording 9 in New York, with Bill Laswell. It wasn’t at the record company’s instigation, although they’d doubtless have loved an Album Part Two at that point. This was very much Bill volunteering his services. After a couple of days in the studio he said the band couldn’t play and he hated all our songs. He said he’d written songs and I should sack everyone and use his people, and come out with a U2-type product. I told him to fuck off and we packed our bags and left. I was fully committed to the band.

The more I think about this, the more my memory grows about poor old Bill and what he had to endure with me. In his head, I was the lead singer he always knew I could be, but I wouldn’t do it because I’ve got my own way. I’ve got my own learning curve. There is a point where I can take influence but I can’t take teaching. It goes back to school really. Don’t tell me what to do, tell me how to do it. That’s how it works with me.
Laswell sounds like a bad producer, but the album could have been arguably better if he'd kept the band and songs, while implementing a different sound approach.
Assuming Lydon's version of events is reasonably accurate. The theme of that memoir was how tolerant and curious and loyal and forgiving he is, despite all the people in the world who have taken advantage of him.
Yeah, he's a real victim. :rolleyes: I liked his first autobio better, if only because he doesn't say "wowzers" once a paragraph.

Funnily enough, today turns out to be the 35th anniversary of Album.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115994
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: So- how didn't I know the new Wire was out?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
27 Jan 2021, 3:00pm
Funnily enough, today turns out to be the 35th anniversary of Album.
Huh. That was the gateway record for me to discovering punk.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Post Reply