Futurology

[Scarecrow]

I agree about inconsistency. I understand why this album has made an impact, because it seems (to my ears at least) like a continuation of the Lifeblood version of themselves, but a warmer and more optimistic version. Where Lifeblood was the summation of a band feeling lost, Futurology is that same band with purpose. However, the album doesn't flow for me. There are songs I like individually which seem awkward together (the Europa/Divine Youth/SPLAM section) or during which the energy and focus appears to peter out (Stow Hill, Mayakovsky). Overall I like this era and enjoy every song, but the album feels awkwardly sequenced. Unsurprisingly, it makes the middle section of my album rankings list.

[Dancing Kirby]

My first thought on the album was that the sequencing was all wrong. Time hasn't changed that. The title track remains an anti-opener and the Divine Youth, SPLAM and Dreaming a City middle section couldn't be more of an incongruent mess. It's the fine line between the art of eclecticism and throwing a load of things together that clash horribly.

There's a good 12th album to be made out of the songs but they didn't come up with it IMO.

[someone, somewhere, soon]

a sequence that works well in my RTF / Futurology playlist;

Walk Me To The Bridge
Europa
Black Square
Divine Youth
Misguided Missile
Between The Clock & The Bed
The View From Stow Hill

the Black Square > Divine Youth > Misguided Missile run works especially well.

[everlasting]

I skip a few tracks - mainly the last song and sometimes Between the Clock.... no because I don't like them but they're the least ones I listen to. Mostly just keep repeating Let's Go To War, Black Square and Misguided Missile. LOVE those.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

My first thought on the album was that the sequencing was all wrong. Time hasn't changed that. The title track remains an anti-opener and the Divine Youth, SPLAM and Dreaming a City middle section couldn't be more of an incongruent mess. It's the fine line between the art of eclecticism and throwing a load of things together that clash horribly.

There's a good 12th album to be made out of the songs but they didn't come up with it IMO.

i have more of a problem with songs being left off albums rather than what sequence they're in. Sequences can be changed

[Flint]

Still in love with this. In fact, each listen makes it clearer and clearer that not only do we have a really strong album of the year contender, but also an album that might actually get closest to the 1998-2004 golden years than the band has been in ages.

Mayakovsky is still the only bit that wrecks the joy slightly. Stow Hill would make the perfect closer...

[AK47]

Originally Posted by Flint

Still in love with this. In fact, each listen makes it clearer and clearer that not only do we have a really strong album of the year contender, but also an album that might actually get closest to the 1998-2004 golden years than the band has been in ages.

Mayakovsky is still the only bit that wrecks the joy slightly. Stow Hill would make the perfect closer...

I skip Mayakovsky altogether. It's not even a very good peice of music. I've added Last Time I Saw Paris in to the tracklist and ended it with Black Square.

[mrdavidj]

I've started listening to it as an album of two halves (the a side and b side of the vinyl)

It makes much more sense this way than it does as a whole.

[Radiomanic]

I enjoy most of it now, but the title track really should not have been let on the album. It's the worst MSP album opener in history, just doesn't do the rest of the record justice. Other than that, Black Square is not as strong as other songs. My favourite is easily still EGDM, followed by Between the Clock & The Bed..

As people are saying, it doesn't gel too well as an album. The genre changes are too sudden and although i believe it worked on KYE it doesn't quite work here. It actually helps i find to shuffle the songs up.

Still wish they'd done a proper Krautrock album.

[Flint]

I find it pretty funny that I'm usually the nerd who goes way too anal about running orders and song flow, and here I'm pretty much the only one thinking that the tracklisting is perfectly fine (apart from Mayakovsky).

[ZiZi]

Originally Posted by Radiomanic

but the title track really should not have been let on the album. It's the worst MSP album opener in history, just doesn't do the rest of the record justice. [/I].

I share your opinion on this one. I think it could be on the album, as the 5th track or something. It doesn't have the quality to be standing in the series of Yes, 1985, Sleepflower, Peeled Apples etc.

[LadyWoodbee]

Originally Posted by ZiZi

I share your opinion on this one. I think it could be on the album, as the 5th track or something. It doesn't have the quality to be standing in the series of Yes, 1985, Sleepflower, Peeled Apples etc.

Yup. Terrible choice for a single, too, imho.

[db26]

Agree with comments on Futurology. Needs to be in the middle or end of the record. Also, what is that annoying twinkly sound effect running through it? Does my head in.

[Porco]

Originally Posted by db26

Also, what is that annoying twinkly sound effect running through it?

That is the sound of the future, man!

It reminds me of playing Wipeout 2097 or something, for some reason.

I love Futurology.

[Bobafettish]

Title track is the only one I find myself regularly listening to still! You're all nuts I tell ya!