God Tier GEER version

[Dr. Medulla]

I like the Clash.

Ugh. That's like the lamest opinion ever offered here.

[Marky Dread]

I like the Clash.

Third isle on the left, sir.

[Kory]

I've come to the conclusion that the songs are all actually good. The problem is that they're needlessly long so there's only 10 of them,

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

[matedog]

I've come to the conclusion that the songs are all actually good. The problem is that they're needlessly long so there's only 10 of them,

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

That's definitely what I've said. I relistened last week and some interesting chord changes and rhythm changes caught my ear as a natural extension of some of the same from the first album, but more evolved I suppose. Some outros are more interesting than I give credit for (ATYP for example). I've bitched about some of the production choices (double tracking Joe on ECW), but also some arrangements are a bit misguided, like the sax on DST doesn't do much for me. The live version with Mick's leads are way better to my ears.

I guess the constant guitar noodling throughout the album doesn't serve to elevate the songs as they should, for the most part. Like Guns on the Roof has this great break down/build up to this limp guitar solo. The outro vocals are kinda fun, but just kinda peters out with the noodling trailing off.

I don't know. I try to love GEER periodically and I wish I could better and more accurately ascertain why it has never moved me. SEH and TG are probably top 5 Clash songs for me. It's like they took all their best ideas at the time and put them in those two songs.

[Kory]

I've come to the conclusion that the songs are all actually good. The problem is that they're needlessly long so there's only 10 of them,

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

That's definitely what I've said. I relistened last week and some interesting chord changes and rhythm changes caught my ear as a natural extension of some of the same from the first album, but more evolved I suppose. Some outros are more interesting than I give credit for (ATYP for example). I've bitched about some of the production choices (double tracking Joe on ECW), but also some arrangements are a bit misguided, like the sax on DST doesn't do much for me. The live version with Mick's leads are way better to my ears.

I guess the constant guitar noodling throughout the album doesn't serve to elevate the songs as they should, for the most part. Like Guns on the Roof has this great break down/build up to this limp guitar solo. The outro vocals are kinda fun, but just kinda peters out with the noodling trailing off.

I don't know. I try to love GEER periodically and I wish I could better and more accurately ascertain why it has never moved me. SEH and TG are probably top 5 Clash songs for me. It's like they took all their best ideas at the time and put them in those two songs.

Yeah it's pretty definitively a "difficult second album." Of course, that designation for a band like the Clash means it's still a world beater but you can definitely catch a whiff of aimlessness to it aside from the really constructed songs like SEH and SF. Tommy Gun to me has always seemed a little half-baked, even.

[Marky Dread]

Whatever happened to ZoroasterTheCat?

[laxman]

Whatever happened to ZoroasterTheCat?

Pretty impressive single post, got a good reaction.

[Marky Dread]

Whatever happened to ZoroasterTheCat?

Pretty impressive single post, got a good reaction.

Two posts I think.

[Mark^Bastard]

I've come to the conclusion that the songs are all actually good. The problem is that they're needlessly long so there's only 10 of them,

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

That's definitely what I've said. I relistened last week and some interesting chord changes and rhythm changes caught my ear as a natural extension of some of the same from the first album, but more evolved I suppose. Some outros are more interesting than I give credit for (ATYP for example). I've bitched about some of the production choices (double tracking Joe on ECW), but also some arrangements are a bit misguided, like the sax on DST doesn't do much for me. The live version with Mick's leads are way better to my ears.

I guess the constant guitar noodling throughout the album doesn't serve to elevate the songs as they should, for the most part. Like Guns on the Roof has this great break down/build up to this limp guitar solo. The outro vocals are kinda fun, but just kinda peters out with the noodling trailing off.

I don't know. I try to love GEER periodically and I wish I could better and more accurately ascertain why it has never moved me. SEH and TG are probably top 5 Clash songs for me. It's like they took all their best ideas at the time and put them in those two songs.

Yeah it's pretty definitively a "difficult second album." Of course, that designation for a band like the Clash means it's still a world beater but you can definitely catch a whiff of aimlessness to it aside from the really constructed songs like SEH and SF. Tommy Gun to me has always seemed a little half-baked, even.

The problem with Tommy Gun is the drum blasting leading into that drawn out "tommm-mmy gun". The lyrics/vocals (the arrangement, not the performance) let it down imo.

[Kory]

I've come to the conclusion that the songs are all actually good. The problem is that they're needlessly long so there's only 10 of them,

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

That's definitely what I've said. I relistened last week and some interesting chord changes and rhythm changes caught my ear as a natural extension of some of the same from the first album, but more evolved I suppose. Some outros are more interesting than I give credit for (ATYP for example). I've bitched about some of the production choices (double tracking Joe on ECW), but also some arrangements are a bit misguided, like the sax on DST doesn't do much for me. The live version with Mick's leads are way better to my ears.

I guess the constant guitar noodling throughout the album doesn't serve to elevate the songs as they should, for the most part. Like Guns on the Roof has this great break down/build up to this limp guitar solo. The outro vocals are kinda fun, but just kinda peters out with the noodling trailing off.

I don't know. I try to love GEER periodically and I wish I could better and more accurately ascertain why it has never moved me. SEH and TG are probably top 5 Clash songs for me. It's like they took all their best ideas at the time and put them in those two songs.

Yeah it's pretty definitively a "difficult second album." Of course, that designation for a band like the Clash means it's still a world beater but you can definitely catch a whiff of aimlessness to it aside from the really constructed songs like SEH and SF. Tommy Gun to me has always seemed a little half-baked, even.

The problem with Tommy Gun is the drum blasting leading into that drawn out "tommm-mmy gun". The lyrics/vocals (the arrangement, not the performance) let it down imo.

Good thought. It may have been more effective to have it go from the machine-gun drum parts into the staccato style of the B sections ("I'm gonna get a jacket just like yours..."). The song would be a lot more hoppin' that way. Then the B sections could maybe be in the more legato style of the current A sections, giving them more grandeur.

[matedog]

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

That's definitely what I've said. I relistened last week and some interesting chord changes and rhythm changes caught my ear as a natural extension of some of the same from the first album, but more evolved I suppose. Some outros are more interesting than I give credit for (ATYP for example). I've bitched about some of the production choices (double tracking Joe on ECW), but also some arrangements are a bit misguided, like the sax on DST doesn't do much for me. The live version with Mick's leads are way better to my ears.

I guess the constant guitar noodling throughout the album doesn't serve to elevate the songs as they should, for the most part. Like Guns on the Roof has this great break down/build up to this limp guitar solo. The outro vocals are kinda fun, but just kinda peters out with the noodling trailing off.

I don't know. I try to love GEER periodically and I wish I could better and more accurately ascertain why it has never moved me. SEH and TG are probably top 5 Clash songs for me. It's like they took all their best ideas at the time and put them in those two songs.

Yeah it's pretty definitively a "difficult second album." Of course, that designation for a band like the Clash means it's still a world beater but you can definitely catch a whiff of aimlessness to it aside from the really constructed songs like SEH and SF. Tommy Gun to me has always seemed a little half-baked, even.

The problem with Tommy Gun is the drum blasting leading into that drawn out "tommm-mmy gun". The lyrics/vocals (the arrangement, not the performance) let it down imo.

Good thought. It may have been more effective to have it go from the machine-gun drum parts into the staccato style of the B sections ("I'm gonna get a jacket just like yours..."). The song would be a lot more hoppin' that way. Then the B sections could maybe be in the more legato style of the current A sections, giving them more grandeur.

I don't know. I like the sparse verses that build up so well. How the bass drum starts driving about halfway in before the kinda double time feel when the full drums finally kick in. Maybe I'm too drum focused, but I love the start/stop feel of the song. Everything is always building up and dropping out before building up again.

[Marky Dread]

My take on GEER is there is too much Mick going on.

On the first album Mick can be heard in the left and right channels with these brilliant little riffs complementing each other.

On GEER Mick can be heard in the left, right channels and also in the centre of the mix. All three areas playing different things. Plus I guess some of Joe's scratchy rhythm is in there It's simply over kill. It doesn't add to the albums power it creates a claustrophobic sound leaving little breathing space.

Add to this Pearlman originally mixing Joe lower in the mix then you get more guitar. And another thing Pearlman loved Topper's playing which is beyond doubt excellent but Topper is also mixed too loud in the mix on most tracks.

[Kory]

My take on GEER is there is too much Mick going on.

On the first album Mick can be heard in the left and right channels with these brilliant little riffs complementing each other.

On GEER Mick can be heard in the left, right channels and also in the centre of the mix. All three areas playing different things. Plus I guess some of Joe's scratchy rhythm is in there It's simply over kill. It doesn't add to the albums power it creates a claustrophobic sound leaving little breathing space.

Add to this Pearlman originally mixing Joe lower in the mix then you get more guitar. And another thing Pearlman loved Topper's playing which is beyond doubt excellent but Topper is also mixed too loud in the mix on most tracks.

The best thing about GEER is how present the bass is.

[Mark^Bastard]

My take on GEER is there is too much Mick going on.

On the first album Mick can be heard in the left and right channels with these brilliant little riffs complementing each other.

On GEER Mick can be heard in the left, right channels and also in the centre of the mix. All three areas playing different things. Plus I guess some of Joe's scratchy rhythm is in there It's simply over kill. It doesn't add to the albums power it creates a claustrophobic sound leaving little breathing space.

Add to this Pearlman originally mixing Joe lower in the mix then you get more guitar. And another thing Pearlman loved Topper's playing which is beyond doubt excellent but Topper is also mixed too loud in the mix on most tracks.

Would it in theory be possible to mix the instruments differently with the software you use? Place them more specifically in the stereo spectrum and change their levels? It sounds far fetched with how thrown together everything is (like they were sharing the one mic haha).

[Mark^Bastard]

As I recall, this is Matey's assessment as well. He dislikes all the songs ending with interminable outros, and (I think) also dislikes that there are too many guitar solos instead of distinct sections on many songs.

That's definitely what I've said. I relistened last week and some interesting chord changes and rhythm changes caught my ear as a natural extension of some of the same from the first album, but more evolved I suppose. Some outros are more interesting than I give credit for (ATYP for example). I've bitched about some of the production choices (double tracking Joe on ECW), but also some arrangements are a bit misguided, like the sax on DST doesn't do much for me. The live version with Mick's leads are way better to my ears.

I guess the constant guitar noodling throughout the album doesn't serve to elevate the songs as they should, for the most part. Like Guns on the Roof has this great break down/build up to this limp guitar solo. The outro vocals are kinda fun, but just kinda peters out with the noodling trailing off.

I don't know. I try to love GEER periodically and I wish I could better and more accurately ascertain why it has never moved me. SEH and TG are probably top 5 Clash songs for me. It's like they took all their best ideas at the time and put them in those two songs.

Yeah it's pretty definitively a "difficult second album." Of course, that designation for a band like the Clash means it's still a world beater but you can definitely catch a whiff of aimlessness to it aside from the really constructed songs like SEH and SF. Tommy Gun to me has always seemed a little half-baked, even.

The problem with Tommy Gun is the drum blasting leading into that drawn out "tommm-mmy gun". The lyrics/vocals (the arrangement, not the performance) let it down imo.

Good thought. It may have been more effective to have it go from the machine-gun drum parts into the staccato style of the B sections ("I'm gonna get a jacket just like yours..."). The song would be a lot more hoppin' that way. Then the B sections could maybe be in the more legato style of the current A sections, giving them more grandeur.

Yeah at least for the start of the song. I don't know much musical theory or anything, but drawing out the words "tommy gun" over a bar(??) immediately after setting a machine gun pace with the drums just feels wrong.