I bought The Things We Make from Play a while ago because it was cheap and I saw them mentioned alongside mclusky as a band that should have been much bigger.
It is quite possibly the worst album i have ever heard; the chord progressions are arse-burningly dull, every song lasts at least 2 minutes too long and the lyrics are woeful beyond all belief yet every review i've read has been positive and one compared them to Pink Floyd, Joy Division and The Velvet Underground.
Is there something i'm missing here? was 1998 so dull that this shit was thought to be good or are there any fans to stand up for them and tell me why they're a band worth bothering with?
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Home > Community > Music forum
Six By Seven
30 votes
?
by bill-bones
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I thought the first album was pretty good.
I remember them getting compared to Radiohead around that time. I would recommend you getting the second album (don't remember the title) as it is very different. That is probably where the Mclusky comparisons come in, though I don't really know Mclusky.
Yep, second album
The Closer You Get is my favourite, but it isn't a massive departure from the first, just a bit harder and more developed. I guess the Mclusky thing must just have been referring to their lack of fame and fortune, as there's no other overlap.
They do drones pretty well - I guess if you're not into that it'd be pretty monotonous. I like 'em, but they massively went off the boil after the first three albums.
^exactly this
I do think the first album is really good but it is flawed.
'The Closer You Get' is one of my top ten albums ever.
Its just odd because
if someone enthusiastically described their music to me I'm sure I would think it was right up my street, i love shoegaze and psychadelic stuff. The album just feels completely dead to me, there's no soul to it.... plus the lyrics really are lolworthy
Most of their lyrics are poor
I forgot to mention they were also absolutely incredible live.
(Note: were)
^ Around the 2nd album, some of best gigs I saw
I used to be a really big fan until my band supported them - Chris Olley was a big grumpy c*nt and that put me right off. Also (this was on album 4 or 5 I think) they basically played to massive amounts of samples, and it was getting too close to a backing track for my liking.
But when they had Sam doing his weird drumstick guitar playing and all of that they were ace.
Wasn't that
when half the band had left, forcing them to sample loads of it? They're much improved now again with the core five back together.
First album was pretty good
I didn't care for the second one very much. But around that era they were one of the best live bands around.
... I quite liked their lyrics
They re-recorded a couple of songs on the For You single (title track and Oh! dear) that sound much better than the album versions, and get played a bit better too. I think some of the other singles might have been re-recorded as well.
First album suffers due to under production, but is still decent. Second and third album are where it's at with Six by Seven though, as well as the assorted eps that were released around them.
And they used to be great live. Haven't seen them for three years, but I've still got my Manchester Academy poster from 99 somewhere. That was a sweet show.
Really?
The 'For You' singles I've got have 'I'm Wide Open', 'Get A Real Tattoo' and a live version of 'Oh! Dear'.
The re-recording of 'For You' isn't as good as the original IMO.
what everyone else had said
first album was good (esp Candlelight) but the second better and that they were excellent live.
thats the only one I quite like
the drums sound like Let Forever Be
I think 1998 might have something to do with it
Britpop had just about finished, but guitar music was still dominated by clueless knobheads with an unhealthy Beatles fixation.
Six by Seven came along at about the same time as the Beta Band and Mogwai (ok they were a year earlier), and all three bands were just a breath of fresh air- people trying to do their own thing, their own way. Admittedly now it sounds a lot like Spaceman 3's way as well, but hey.
I love their first three albums, to the point where I can't judge them objectively anymore. What you find dull, I found strange and compelling, although I'm more than happy to admit that is due to my own limited music collection at that time.
I saw them live supported by ...Trail of Dead. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen.
I agree
with everything here.
There will always be a very, very big roped off place in my heart for Six By Seven. Amazing live. First 3 records immense. Still good live, though not quite such a force of nature. They droned with aplomb, and never ever sounded wishy-washy or fey. They sounded like they wanted to smash things, and were keeping a tight rein on their anger.
I can't remember if I saw them with TOD. It rings a bell but I can't place the occasion. If I didn't, I am very very angry.
I loved what a grumpy bastard Chris Olley was. It wouldn't have been right if someone making such miserable music went about with a sunshine smile. He was tall and menacing and intimidating, and it was awesome. I met him not too long ago and he was a bit drunk and very friendly. That threw me off balance a bit.
^Jesus, but he was grumpy when his band were big
Trail of dead were the Astoria, London april 2000. They were called in as a late replacement, just after their shit-hot ATP performance.
Ahhh
I did miss that one then. First time I saw Trail of Dead was Jan. 2001. Gay. Think I first saw Six by Seven in mid 2000...
Personally they're one of my favourite bands ever...
what you see as arse burningly dull chord progressions I see as tension building drones, with a real sense of menace, sadness and dynamics... that said, they were exponentially better live - the first time I saw them they supported the Dandy Warhols and completely won me over from the off...
It's pretty much all been said
above but another thumbs up from me. Must have seen this lot around 15 times live and they never failed to excite. For once the first album was probably not the best place to start but it's done now. If you ever come across 'The Way I Feel Today' or 'The Closer You Get' cheap invest.
I saw them supporting the
Dandy Warhols too! Not at the SB empire by any chance?
Nah - Portsmouth Pyramids
back in t' day...
I think
it's two things: Firstly, as has been said, they were incredible live. Secondly, 1998 really was a very, very bad year for guitar music.
a totally underrated band
saw them at the hoxton bar & grill in march this year and still amazing live.worth picking up thier collection 'any colour so long as it's black' to find lost gems from their later years like so bochum,push & ocean.they should be 1,000 bigger ten they are.
Hmm
I was put off the tracklisting for the best of because it doesn't have '10 Places to Die' on it. I imagine it's quite hard approaching The Things We Make 10 years down the line, I guess they're one of those bands you 'had to be there' with. Especially if you approach them with McLusky in mind.
haha
i just read the first post and thought WHhhaaat!? thankfully i read on and found im not the only person who likes them. and yes they are great live... havent they got a new album out soon?
this album is great!
Though I take the point about the lyrics. Maybe you needed to see them live - they really were amazing in the early days.
I'm sure everyone has said this already.
I'll have to agree with all the above
Definitely an 'of the era' thing. Although listening to them now still makes me very happy. In fact looking down my iTunes shuffle it looks like 'get a real tattoo' is heading my way in a few plays time. Smart!
Also saw them with ...ToD. Outstanding.
^ Get A Real Tattoo!
Forgot about that one, brilliant tune!
it most certainly is
never saw them do it live though which has mildly bummed me out now I think about it.
heh
they did it at the hoxton bar & kitchen show recently. was ace.
'So Close' & 'I Owe You Love'
are top tunes, with loads of promise, but a lot of their stuff does descend into the territory of the bland..
Wow!
Mass agreement breaks out on DiS!
A lesser man would listen again
but i have not got where i am today (unemployed, sitting in my pants and the tshirt i slept in on a wednesday afternoon) by changing my mind
Great band
Ive seen them a couple times over the last year, Luminarie in Kilburn & Hoxton bar & grill where they took our banter/heckling in good spirit.
they are back to a full line up now after a few years as a three piece & sound all the better for it.
we missed them at the Electric ballroom supporting the dandy warhols who were lame on the night, but did catch them for a chat & a beer at the bar, nice blokes.
Looking forward to hearing what they come up with now they are all back together.
Live..
...is how best to experience Six By Seven.
I caught them live back in 2000 when they were supporting Placebo. I'd never heard of them before but they completely blew me away. Over time they have become one of my favourite bands.
Admitedly all of their albums have their flaws...sometimes it's the production, sometimes the lryics and sometimes its the inconsistency of some of the tracks.
They've lost members, gotten dropped, split up, started their own label and then reforemd with pretty much the original linup and manage to sound angrier than they ever have.
The fact that this band continue to power on despite what people think is pretty inspirational I think, and thats another thing I really like about them.
Their first 3 albums are their best, along with their most recent album 'If Symptoms Persist...'
The best of is basically a collection of their shorter, snappier numbers...hopefully part 2 will be released with the more epic numbers. More people need to hear 'Get A Real Tattoo'. :-)
Their recent gigs have been great, especially the one at Hoxton Bar. At the Dandy's gig they didnt get to have their volume as loud as they normally would've done which is a shame.
They're scheduled to play Glasto this month, and then the free Godiva festival in Coventry next month. Go see them.
Oi!
Didn't you used to do their website olliemorr?
Not the main website itself,
but I look after the forum part and do all the tech stuff that goes with it.
olliemorr thanks
Great work on youtube fella, brilliant to see those old live performances. Cheers.
They were one of the boring bands I've ever seen.
Have you ever seen
The Mars Volta?
I loved the Mars Volta live,
but I was on some quite good drugs.
Fair enough
can't argue with that.
Every band is 'one of' the boring bands
shoooorely?
*most boring (obvs)
Great band
I always liked the 'throw in as many guitars as humanly possible + kitchen sink' recording approach and in their heyday, they did it well. My life is an accident is awesome
Nostalgia
Six by Seven at the Double Bubble in Notts in 97, at Highbury Garage in 98, and at the Astoria (with Trail of Dead and Zan Lyons supporting, wtf!) in 2000 still rank as some of the best gigs I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure Sam left about a week after the Astoria gig and it all basically went to shit after that, the couple of few times they played here after then were embarrassingly poor.
Like many others it seems, they will always have a special place in my heart though. European Me, 88-92-96, Get a Real Tattoo and Oh Dear are still all total belters. Speaking of which, HAPPY TIMES OF MY YOUTH CAPTURED IN TELEVISUAL FORM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf4XVFTVV1E
This Saturday....
...they're playing the Godiva Festival in Coventry. The reformed line up (including Sam Hempton). A FREE festival.
Exit Calm and Glasvegas are playing also.
Oh, and that was me who uploaded that video...there's loads more I've uploaded as well.
godiva will be brill
looking forward to seeing the Calm on a bigger stage.
Me too..
...another great live act. Exit Calm are on their way to bigger things methinks.
yah
i saw them at Glastonbury last weekend. There were about 60 people watching them and it was tremdenous...the same dynamic, same intensity and same mesmerising GREATNESS.
Sam left and became guitarist for Matthew Jay. Matthew Jay died and now Sam is back with 6x7.
this band =
fucking awful
What was...
...on the setlist?
They recorded the Glasto gig and are going to make it available on their site soon. Woo!
The Glasto 08 recording..
...is available to download from their website now at www.sixbyseven.co.uk.
Woo!
Setlist was:
1. A Beautiful Shape
2. Get A Real Tattoo
3. So Close
4. Sometimes I Feel Like
5. Enemy
6. Ten Places To Die
7. Oh! Dear
8. Ocean
Just having a listen now. It's great to hear 'Get A Real Tattoo' in all it's live glory.
B-)
Mark Beaumont had great things to say about the band's set on his blog on the NME website:
"For the last few Glastonburys Six By Seven have played peripheral sets at random stages around the site and I
couldn't recommend more that you catch them next year, wherever they may be. Here's a band long since forgotten by the hype machine who have steadfastly
continued making fantastically melodic post-rock noise that's the kind of music that Radiohead, Interpol and even, to a degree, Massive Attack think they're making. Feral, epic, ferocious and loud as My Bloody Valentine playing in a wind tunnel, SXS were the best
band I saw this weekend, effortlessly eclipsing far more hype-heaped acts on the main stages."
He also listed his Glasto best bits and number one was:
"1) Rocking out to Six By Seven in the Glade, which was undoubtedly better than all of the drugs taken onsite all weekend combined."
thats loyalty for you
way to go Sam
idiot
the first album is incredible you cunt.
The Way I Feel Today
is probably my favourite. They weren't great at Godiva but that probably had more to do with the sound quality than anything else.
Yeah..
...the sound was flat and not very loud at Godiva so they lost pretty much all of their impact. They're must better suited to smaller indoor venues.