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Post by Poster Saint on Aug 2, 2003 14:31:40 GMT -5
I'm expecting replies from all over the spectrum here, what songs off the top of your heads are greatly underrated, in your perception? I've noticed some people don't care for singles "Waltzing Along", "We're Going To Miss You"; "Say Something" -- all of which I consider gems. I think Wah Wah as a whole is underrated. Those songs are just being born, I think some songs are truly amazing and proof of how well they communicate through their instruments with one another. I keep discovering songs on that record that I had neglected, some you instantly fall in love with. But I think Wah Wah is far superior to pretty much any progressive rock record you could name. It's a living entity and it tells a story, like a soundtrack for a really mind-boggling film. It is fun to see what images one's mind will conjure while listening to this record though. A recent new favourite is "Basic Brian". I love the guitar work in "Billys Shirts", well the whole song really "Gold Mother" totally merits its title track honour. An absolute classic. I think they could write a listenable song about just any theme you could name. "Sound" as a single took guts and integrity because it's not radio friendly but it is by far my favourite from Seven. I should let others have a turn.
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Post by scarecrow on Aug 2, 2003 15:14:23 GMT -5
Underrated songs? hmmm, I absolutely love Scarecrow (who'd have guessed ;D) and Chain Mail is one of my favourites but not sure if thats classed as an underrated song!
Agree that wah wah is vastly underrated, I love that album especially Jam J BUT disagree on the merits of Gold Mother (song not album) which I cant even listen to!
I do think Next Lover is underrated, I just love thr lyric 'Im so full of desire Ive forgotten your name'. Its got me out of many a sticky situation hee hee.
And finally why Crescendo, one of the all time great James songs ,was removed from Gold Mother is beyond me!
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Post by BlackHole on Aug 5, 2003 12:09:09 GMT -5
While agreeing with you 100% about Wah Wah, I also find the following songs underrated:
Homeboy- I'd imagine a lot of people would look at me strange upon hearing that this is actually my favorite James song of all, especially given the general popularity of the Whiplash LP. But in all honesty, I do find this song an understated gem, a subtle epic.
Avalanche- I view this one as a kind of 'introduction' to Homeboy. The two songs go together really well, I can't imagine listening to Avalanche without Homeboy following on afterwards.
Billy's Shirts- not sure what the lyrics are about here- quite possibly just a load of random nonsense- but I find this a great song nevertheless. I'd imagine it would be particularly good live.
Medieval- my favorite track on Strip-Mine, well-structured with a nicely paced rhythm.
Vulture- another often overlooked track from Strip-Mine. Seems most people view this as a filler track, but I personally find it one of the more important tracks on the album because it's the only one that really touches upon the rarely heard country-esque side of James. I also like the contrast between the spaced-out, mellow feel of the verse and the determined, sharp edge of the chorus.
Mosquito- this track often gets slated, but I think what people fail to realise is that it's an experimental track; the unevenness of the tune and structure is intentional. It's an experiment that in my opinion works very well.
Sky is Falling- something about this song just really gets me going. I like the rhythm structure, while the seemingly tinny feel of the song (I believe it was never anything more than a demo!) seems to suit it 100% if you ask me. It also reminds me to some extent of "Strange Little Girl" by The Stranglers, it's quite similar in sound and feel.
Walking the Ghost- I would have liked to have heard this one done live more often. A suitably haunting and captivating tune.
Next Lover- this one I consider to be the focal point of the Seven album, the strongest track. This song is constructed as an epic which wouldn't sound out of place in a musical, and definitely deserved to be performed live more often. The song's constant range of tempo and mood, from relative mellowness to total frantic insanity brilliantly mirrors the theme and subject matter.
Knuckle Too Far- while most people consider Five-O to be the focal point of the Laid album, I personally consider it to be this track. The song's somnolent spontaneity conjures up a vivid, dreamlike landscape that keeps me enthralled throughout. This song essentially makes the album for me, I'm surprised more people don't rate it high.
Van Gogh's Dog- by far one of my favorite B-Sides. I think this one would have been strong enough to have been an album closer. I believe it was originally from the Laid sessions and re-recorded for the Whiplash B-Sides, so I guess it had the potential to have been the closer on either of these albums, but wouldn't have flown quite right with the other tracks, so it was a B-Side instead.
All One to Me- just a really good tune, I'm surprised this one didn't make it onto B-Sides Ultra.
Your Story- again, same deal as with All One to Me. I personally think it could have been strong enough to have gone on Whiplash. Definitely deserved to be on B-Sides Ultra.
Afro Lover- OK, it's ultra cheesy, the lyrics are dumb, but that's all part of the fun with this track! And the sheer power and clarity of Tim's vocal delivery on this track contributes to making it IMO an epic and something a little more than just a regular cheesy pop tune. IMO should definitely have been a single- while the Millionnaires singles performed poorly chartwise, I think if one track off the album stood the chance of going top 10, it was this one.
Mary- I can't believe this one didn't make it on Millionnaires, let alone B-Sides Ultra! I thought personally that one or two tracks that made it onto Millionnaires were a little weak for the album and would have made better B-Sides, so the fact that this song didn't make it onto the album astounds me. By far one of the best James B-Sides, although sounding slightly dated for the time it was made (very OMD-esque) I feel it could possibly have even made a good A-Side.
Meanwhile, I might as well also state that I find the Whiplash LP in general to be very underrated- it's my personal favorite James LP, I find it to have a very captivating, trippy flow to it that completely enthralls me on every listen.
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Post by Johnny Yen on Aug 7, 2003 15:39:58 GMT -5
Heavens, Strangers, Shooting my mouth off-Great.
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Post by Johnny Yen on Aug 9, 2003 6:48:01 GMT -5
I really love Homeboy on Whiplash as well, a classic.
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cat
Hero
Posts: 314
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Post by cat on Aug 9, 2003 13:59:48 GMT -5
Building A Charge, Seconds Away, Basic Brian, Shooting My Mouth Off, Next Lover, Space, Pleased To Meet You, Avalanche, America, Stand, Fine, Falling Down. (Really, all of PTMY).
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cat
Hero
Posts: 314
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Post by cat on Aug 11, 2003 14:00:32 GMT -5
Oops, a glaring ommission! forgot to include "Hands In the Rain" from BATBA, in my opionion, just a fantastic song which has been criminally ignored.
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Post by saysomething on Aug 11, 2003 14:20:53 GMT -5
For me, Really Hard stands out as the most underrated James track. It sits there quite beautifully in the middle of the madness of Stutter.
I have a thing for How Much Suffering as well, I think it's a great tune with great lyrics, but it never seems to get the credit it deserves.
Have to agree on Afro Lover as well. Strangers and Hello are horrible on Millionaires, they just kill the momentum of the first five tracks stone dead. At least Afro Lover tries to bring it back to life. Surprise then sounds like it was strangled at birth, which was a shame as it was possibly the best of the bunch of tracks that were previewed on the 1998 winter tour.
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Post by lostinsound on Aug 11, 2003 15:09:53 GMT -5
Surprise then sounds like it was strangled at birth You know, I've always had a hard time describing why I dislike Surprise so much other than, "I just don't like it," but that's probably the best description I've heard yet. Easily the worst track on Millionaires in my opinion.
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Post by saysomething on Aug 11, 2003 15:21:04 GMT -5
The live versions are great though, the tune just got lost somewhere and Tim made some cringing lyrical changes, that bit about "deep down in your carpet" used to be "from the hard shoulder" which sounded much better. He did a similar thing with Senorita's lyrics as well, but the tune was strong enough to hold it.
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Post by lostinsound on Aug 11, 2003 16:17:34 GMT -5
That's funny because the "deep down in your carpet" line has always made me cringe as well. That and "what the doctor ordered." With Seniorita, I assume you're referring to the hullabaloo line. I did think it was strange at first after listening to the Shepards Bush version for a while but it's grown on me now. Along with Kulas' odd backing vocals on the chorus.
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Post by saysomething on Aug 11, 2003 16:27:42 GMT -5
I guess listening to the songs for a year before the lp comes out doesn't really leave you too open to lyric changes though!
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Post by Poster Saint on Aug 11, 2003 20:05:24 GMT -5
I think "Really Hard" would have been a single. It's one of those songs that gets better with age, but a lot of my favourite tracks end up being the ones that have to grow on me. "Really Hard" ages well but I loved it since the first time I heard it.
Being on the wrong side of the Atlantic and missing virtually every James concert, it might give me quite a different view of records like Millionaires, etc. But I think that James hit every note. "Hello" is the most bittersweet song of all time, intentionally. The lines "somebody dreams a brave new world, etc." I think are gorgeous. I understand that many must find it depressing, but I think it's just a gorgeous piece of work.
I love the way the guitars are tuned in "Surprise". I think they sound very raw but steadfast, Tim has a commanding voice in this one, I think.
"Dumb Jam" is just groovy. I have no real connection or fascination with the lyrics, but it really does rock.
"Someone's Got It In For Me" is an absolute masterpiece. I don't know how else to describe it.
"Vervaceous" on its own I find quite compelling, I love the instrumental part between Tim and Sinead; but no track should follow "Someone" in sequence. Feels a little anticlimactic to me.
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Post by lostinsound on Aug 13, 2003 12:14:03 GMT -5
I just listened to Fire Away for the first time in a while. What a great song. I love that keyboard part during the first verse. The trumpet's great also. So that's my pick as an underrated song. In case anyone cares.
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Post by Sawdust on Aug 14, 2003 16:24:55 GMT -5
Building A Charge, Seconds Away, Basic Brian, Shooting My Mouth Off, Next Lover, Space, Pleased To Meet You, Avalanche, America, Stand, Fine, Falling Down. (Really, all of PTMY). Couldn't agree with you more. Pleased to Meet You is an absolute wonderful album... and I think Stand, Space, Confusion, Coffee and Toast are really fantastic songs that don't get much credit. Also loved Stripmining, One of the Three, Don't Wait that Long, Wisdom of the Throat and Blue Pastures. Very underappreciated!
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