Album 15

[rosetree]

The Cure have put some happy and popular known songs out on most of their albums to say they are a gothic band. They have compromised and become more famous through it, so now they are lamenting their early days in the new song. I don't see the realness in doing that to be honest. Unlike the Manics who don't pretend they are still their GT days.

[Bartek Wyre]

Well yeah, the Cure have gone from new wave to goth to pop, then back to goth, then for a brief period they've experimented with shoegaze and psychedelia, then they've pretty much gone back to goth. That's their definitive sound.

Whereas the Manics have gone from punk to hair metal to alternative rock/grunge to brit pop to whatever the fuck KYE is to synthpop to proper indie rock (IKTZG & TGW) to a puzzling amalgamation of the worst aspects of all of the above. They've dabbled with so many different genres that they don't even have a definitive sound at this point.

[IntlDebris]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

They've dabbled with so many different genres that they don't even have a definitive sound at this point.

This is a really good point, and I think it kind of highlights why a lot of us are frustrated at the sound of the new song - it sometimes feels like the band believe they do have a definitive sound, and consciously lean into it a lot, but it always feels a bit false. That was how I saw SATT when it came out, and it's how PFAYM and RiF were received here, as well, and this feels like it too. But it's all the stuff in between that's kept fans happy over the years.

[Dac X Lee]

Honestly, at this point of the band members' life and career, I don't think too deep about all this, about their sound, I mean. I think they make the more rock'n'roll-ish ones just because the guys wanna have fun. The ones that are more conceptual are, well, more artistic, obviously.

[savemejebus]

Artistic is fine, artistic is good. Recent output is about as related to art as the scribblings on a pound shop greetings card are related to the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

[*Found That Soul*]

Decline & Fall rose to number 72 in the download chart last week, not bad 6 weeks in.

Will we get another new song this year do we think?

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

Well yeah, the Cure have gone from new wave to goth to pop, then back to goth, then for a brief period they've experimented with shoegaze and psychedelia, then they've pretty much gone back to goth. That's their definitive sound.

Whereas the Manics have gone from punk to hair metal to alternative rock/grunge to brit pop to whatever the fuck KYE is to synthpop to proper indie rock (IKTZG & TGW) to a puzzling amalgamation of the worst aspects of all of the above. They've dabbled with so many different genres that they don't even have a definitive sound at this point.

I don't think they need fans to help them write and their albums don't have to be defined and specific that would be boring. They know how to write and perform whatever their sound being distinct with successful albums, numerous b sides and bonus tracks over the years.

[Son of Stopped]

Let's try posting...
Yes, I'd like to see another song released and then another one released early next year before the album. It seems to be the done thing releasing track after track before the album.
As opposed to first single then album release. Eeh, I remember when this was all fields as far as the eye could see. (Bet you that posts)
EDIT: Bollocks

[Oh Nick...!]

Is it possible that this is just a song left over from TUVL, which they thought was too good to waste given the success of that album, and the new album will be completely different? I mean they really caught me out with JFPL - I hadn't even booked tickets for the tour as I hated their SATT mode so much, and then had to spontaneously go to Llandudno on the day when I realised how different and brilliant Journal was.

[savemejebus]

TUVL only sold 43000 units in its home market. Is that really classified as a success these days?

[Bartek Wyre]

Originally Posted by Oh Nick...!

Is it possible that this is just a song left over from TUVL, which they thought was too good to waste given the success of that album, and the new album will be completely different? I mean they really caught me out with JFPL - I hadn't even booked tickets for the tour as I hated their SATT mode so much ...

That's a good question. JFPL had "Jackie Collins" as the lead single, which seemed to pick up where SATT had left off, bleh. However, if I recall correctly, the first track we heard off of JFPL was "Peeled Apples" (Zane Lowe played it on his show), and it was more in line with the album's sound and mood... and it blew everybody away. So here's hoping Critical Thinking is like that as well!

[savemejebus]

Originally Posted by rosetree

They know how to write and perform whatever their sound being distinct with successful albums, numerous b sides and bonus tracks over the years.

Their sound isn't distinct (anymore), James voice may be distinct, but their sound is whoever they've decided to be 'inspired by'. Granted it's not as bad as the Sculpture of a Man and Hazelton Avenue days but they aren't bringing anything new or distinct to the table these days

[Routine Builder]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

That's a good question. JFPL had "Jackie Collins" as the lead single, which seemed to pick up where SATT had left off, bleh. However, if I recall correctly, the first track we heard off of JFPL was "Peeled Apples" (Zane Lowe played it on his show), and it was more in line with the album's sound and mood... and it blew everybody away. So here's hoping Critical Thinking is like that as well!

Well actually....(I know), Jackie Collins wasn't a single but a focus track. There was a video, a few promos sent to radio stations but didn't have a physical/digital release. Remember it being warmly received by the fan base and don't fully understand the SATT reference as it sonically/structurally sounds distinct from that era.

[Bartek Wyre]

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

don't fully understand the SATT reference as it sonically/structurally sounds distinct from that era.

To me it sounds like "Autumnsong"

[Routine Builder]

Clearly someone who has never fucked a Catholic...