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Post by ♫ ♪ on Jan 13, 2012 9:57:33 GMT -5
In a small interview for Q magazine this month, they ask pretty much the same questions as they did in Mojo, and he repeats the point about how he composed some of the songs on Blues Funeral on the keyboard rather than guitar. That's important, I think, as the two instruments often produce completely different rhythmic results. He also gets asked about what he got from the seven years of collaborative work since Bubblegum. His response is telling - he says he learned a lot from all that experience and enjoyed working with Soulsavers particularly, because that electronic side of things scratched an itch. He mentions someone telling him that electronic artists secretly want to be rock musicians and rock musicians wanting to be electronic. So I think its something he saw as fulfilling an urge and providing new perspective on his songwriting. I think if you approach this song and the album in particular with an open mind and with the view that it is not retreading past ground then that will be the best attitude and will reap rewards. I have never understood that deep division between rock and electronic audiences, as when push comes to shove all music is about making air move. this makes a lot of sense actually. HCTWC and Bubblegum were heavily influenced sound wise by QOTSA, if he really enjoyed working with the Soulsavers so much it's only natural for this record to have more electronic elements. |
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Post by calm ocean on Jan 13, 2012 10:26:38 GMT -5
Alain Johannes is an incredible musician, not a "beatmaker", but he's not the first that i would have chosen to produce an "electronic record", so my question is: why mark has not chosen to work with a "real" and more experienced electronic producer ? maybe he listened to Chris Cornell's solo album Scream (produced by timbaland) |
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Post by bennyboy on Jan 13, 2012 10:37:07 GMT -5
I get the impression the album is first and foremost guitar driven but with electronic accents.
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Post by neutro on Jan 13, 2012 10:45:00 GMT -5
Maybe not all the songs are "electronic", jack irons is mentioned as guest so at least in one song we should hear REAL drums.
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Post by bennyboy on Jan 13, 2012 10:48:38 GMT -5
EXACTLY
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Post by wheels132 on Jan 13, 2012 12:37:12 GMT -5
Alain Johannes is an incredible musician, not a "beatmaker", but he's not the first that i would have chosen to produce an "electronic record", so my question is: why mark has not chosen to work with a "real" and more experienced electronic producer ? maybe he listened to Chris Cornell's solo album Scream (produced by timbaland) haha oh the horror |
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Post by zombyboy on Jan 13, 2012 13:45:14 GMT -5
It is absolutely driving me crazy that I still haven't heard the song. Every time I drop by, there seems to be a new link that no longer works.
Apparently I have offended the musical gods and they are retaliating by blocking me from hearing the songs...
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Post by nobody on Jan 13, 2012 13:58:20 GMT -5
Just search for Harborview Hospital on YT...it's right there. As much as I like HH, and alluding to some comments in this thread, The Gravedigger's Song is absolutely the correct choice for the initial single. Let's give Lanegan some credit here...yeah, there are record companies but I suspect this was Mark's choice and Beggars agreed.
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Post by cokboydeluxejr on Jan 13, 2012 14:28:43 GMT -5
I for one am still extremely excited that Alain is the main man as far as production and instrumentation is concerned for this album. That guy is absolutely incredible. I remember the first time I ever saw him perform. He was introduced by Josh Homme at a qotsa show. Josh said something like "Hey this is our new bass player Al. He speaks seven languages, studies astro physics, and is better than all of us on every instrument. That's why he's on the bass."
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Post by kingdomsofrain on Jan 13, 2012 15:53:00 GMT -5
I've realised im completely rubbish at disliking any Lanegan songs cos im getting into this one now as well after about 10 spins!!! ;D
I think in the context of the album it will be a nice change of pace. Im hoping Mark explores the upper registers of his vocal range on this album a bit though, 2 songs in and 2 gravelly vocals!
Can' wait, feeling positive now.
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Post by nobody on Jan 13, 2012 16:08:37 GMT -5
Never worried about Mark's "production sound." Loved HCTWC when many were complaining about the sound quality...gotta let Mark do his work on you...Skeletal History is still my favorite Lanegan song, but the new album is driving me mad...
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Post by wishbringer on Jan 13, 2012 17:41:56 GMT -5
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Post by trench on Jan 13, 2012 18:24:33 GMT -5
That blog has it down as the second single to be released from Blues Funeral. Can anyone find any actual confirmation of this, because I can't.
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Post by wheels132 on Jan 13, 2012 18:47:59 GMT -5
I've realised im completely rubbish at disliking any Lanegan songs cos im getting into this one now as well after about 10 spins!!! ;D I think in the context of the album it will be a nice change of pace. Im hoping Mark explores the upper registers of his vocal range on this album a bit though, 2 songs in and 2 gravelly vocals! Can' wait, feeling positive now. Dude, totally agree. His upper register is the best, such versatility...I think just about all of my favorite songs of his have him either going all upper register or mixing highs and lows. Fucking sublime. |
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Post by Lungsey on Jan 13, 2012 18:57:04 GMT -5
Ooooh i LOVE how Lanegan is making this board nice and busy again ;D It is so good to be back!
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Post by Stephanie on Jan 13, 2012 22:25:37 GMT -5
I find it an encouraging and hopeful sign when I don't immediately like something a favorite artist has released. It means something about it is different and challenging to the ear (or eye, etc., depending on the form). It doesn't always mean it is better, or that I will ultimately like it, but it does mean an artist is continuing to experiment and expand rather than deepening an aesthetic rut. I'm thrilled to see Mark still growing as an artist and putting such diverse material out there. I think this album is going to be fantastically interesting and powerful.
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Post by neutro on Jan 14, 2012 2:22:30 GMT -5
I for one am still extremely excited that Alain is the main man as far as production and instrumentation is concerned for this album. That guy is absolutely incredible. I remember the first time I ever saw him perform. He was introduced by Josh Homme at a qotsa show. Josh said something like "Hey this is our new bass player Al. He speaks seven languages, studies astro physics, and is better than all of us on every instrument. That's why he's on the bass." Not in this song, but in the gravedigger's song you can recognize his trademark... |
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Post by chravez on Jan 14, 2012 21:32:48 GMT -5
the "Harborview Hospital" in Seattle near "9th & James" according to googlemaps and also the actual lyrics of the song, is not a fucking hospital at all! We've been duped! ...it's called "Harborview Medical Center"...Mark just mind-fucked all of us subliminaly! Now we all need to protest his shows until he changes the lyrics and song title to "Harboview Medical Center" I think he's going crazy...singin' French n' shit on "The Gravedigger's Song" tout est noir, mon amour (everything is black, my love) tout est blanc (everything is white) je t’aime, mon amour (I love you, my love) comme j’aime la nuit (I like the night) ...and givin' us wrong names n' shit to important metropolitan buildings...check for urself...here's a googlemap link maps.google.com/maps?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=harborview+hospital+seattle&fb=1&gl=us&hq=harborview+hospital&hnear=0x5490102c93e83355:0x102565466944d59a,Seattle,+WA&cid=0,0,7958865868843762857&ei=JjcST4qUKq_WiALS382FDA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CBIQ_BI ...I don't think I posted the link correctly but just copy and paste all the rest of that shit n it'll work. |
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Post by Grumpella on Jan 14, 2012 21:52:03 GMT -5
Yer funny, chravez.
"Harborview Medical Center" doesn't have the same poetic ring to it as "Harborview Hospital," don't you think?
And, yeah, we Seattleites on the board have been having a little giggle about that.
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Post by ch3no2 on Jan 14, 2012 21:55:16 GMT -5
It may be officially Harborview Medical Center, but it is most definitely a hospital. And yes, it is located close to the intersection of 9th and James. Mark lived somewhere near there in the mid-'90s.
Incidentally, that neighborhood is called First Hill, but because several hospitals and medical clinics are located there people sometimes refer to it as Pill Hill.
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Post by chravez on Jan 15, 2012 0:04:06 GMT -5
intersing stuff ch3no2 - on googlemaps u can even see apartments called "First Hill Apartments"...makes me wonder if it's a seedy or ominous neighborhood...like a gnarly dope spot or a block full of shady territorial pill heads to serenade!
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Post by chravez on Jan 15, 2012 0:25:37 GMT -5
ok I've jot down the lyrics to "Harborview Hospital" for anyone else out there saying "fuck a lyric sheet...let my ears do the translating" ...and like Mr. Yorke once said, "I might be wrong" ...so if I am and u catch it then help me out... Harborview HospitalI walked by Harborview Hospital I heard the Agnus Dei (definition: lamb of God who takes sins away from the world) oh sister of mercy I've been gone too long to say and all around this place I was a sad disgrace they're singin' they're singin' way up on the hill they're buildin' they're buildin' a mystical union beautiful and still but down here in the dirt you say it doesn't hurt the devil's ascendin' upon some crystal wings in the city the lightning splits a cloud of butterflies and fiends with a vacant stare leave a flower there they're ridin' they're ridin' ahead and down the hill they're sinkin' they're sinkin' into the ocean beautiful and still yet it's hard to leave wealth for poverty I walked by Harborview Hospital and stopped at 9th & James (street intersection near Harborview Hospital in Seattle near where Mark used to live) oh sister of mercy I've been down too far to say are they supposed to be as sick as you and me? ...thats what I heard and I got 20/20 hearing  ...so listen up as Mark slowly brings back the 80's electronic movement. Maybe Mark is tipping his hat to Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode for covering "Low" live last year at Club Nokia, May 6th 2011 (YouTube) ...as for Harborview Hospital...it's just the fucking echoey part of the guitar that resonates throughout the track that makes me automatically wanna start humming "I still haven't found what I'm looking for"...but then I'm like wait a minute! damn my mother for leaving top40 on in the car when driving me around as a kid in the 80's! It seems that only Lanegan can get away with laying down his gnarly golden vocals on this otherwise pretty lame ass beat. I've heard it over 20 or 30 times now and I just can't shake this fucking U2 vibe. I hope Blues Funeral has at least a few tracks that are more rockin', blatent and obvious like Bubblegum's "Sideways In Reverse" or "Driving Death Valley Blues"...gotta keep the Johnny Cash spirit alive with the fat middle finger sometimes...na meen? One of my favorite Lanegan joints is "Hangin' Tree" and I'm a rocker at heart so I'm praying for a "Here Comes That Weird Chill" style bonus "garage thrash-lounge" 8-song Blues Funeral disc 2 secret hidden side EP with appearances from HR of Bad Brains and Elliott Smith's ghost...titled "Figure You're Banned In Ellensburg's Top Of The Pill Hill". ...with the 80's electronic vault cracked we can all begin to squeeze out a nice warm dainty queef (not too loud now) and finally begin to simmer in those stanky 80's punk plumes and scrumptious plumped up juicy tendrils of delectable savory delight! ...not to mention all the essential vitamins and minerals! ...scared ya, didn't I? ...if we're goin' 80's with it then let's steer clear of the fairywinkle side of things and stay more in tune with the inner punk that dwells within...the punk tinge is what keeps Lanegan on the top shelf in my book. all these soft and flowery calaborations over the past few years are hella nice and all and I fuckin' luv em, but we all know how Lanegan can get str8 in ur face rockin' at times...so let's hope for a few head bangers also! side note: Chino Moreno singer of Deftones also released an 80ish electronic sounding album with his sidegroup called ††† (Crosses) with Shaun Lopez from the band Far...it's pretty good shit...so far they've got the 5-song "EP †" and a song on the "Batman: Arkham City - The Album". Black Rebel Motorcycle Club also have a song on the soundtrack. A second EP from ††† will be released on January 24, 2012. wow <Enter> key...what a concept! ;D ...thanks nnf...now it's all purdy. |
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Post by nnf on Jan 15, 2012 4:53:34 GMT -5
... What? Might want to hit the <Enter> key every once in a while  |
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Post by magicdairyfairy on Jan 15, 2012 11:58:20 GMT -5
"Figure You're Banned in Ellensburg's Top Of The Pill Hill" !!!! jejeje!  |
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Post by bibi on Jan 15, 2012 15:08:54 GMT -5
I hope Blues Funeral has at least a few tracks that are more rockin', blatent and obvious like Bubblegum's "Sideways In Reverse" or "Driving Death Valley Blues"...gotta keep the Johnny Cash spirit alive with the fat middle finger sometimes...na meen? Quiver syndrom. |
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...so listen up as Mark slowly brings back the 80's electronic movement.
