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'Who Can Say' by The Horrors.

poptimusgrime [Edit] [Delete] 54 replies 00:58, 23 April '09

Look at the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx09S-E_ufA

Faris looks like a real rock star. I wish it was in better quality, but I can't find a better version on the internet at the moment.

The song itself is phenomenal. I think this is probably going to be one of my favourite songs of 2009; I think it might be one of my favourite songs ever. I love the last part, just after the spoken word, when the guitar erupts into that glorious symphonic feedback. It's like the sun erupting through black clouds. I haven't even heard the rest of the album.

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  • Yeah, brilliant album...

    They have seriously ripped of the jesus and mary chain here though, I don't mind at all...

    wecancreate | 23 Apr '09, 01:02 | X
    • If it was on Psychocandy, it would've been my favourite song from it.

      poptimusgrime @wecancreate | 23 Apr '09, 01:07 | X
  • faris is a hero

    too_black_too_strong | 23 Apr '09, 01:06 | X
  • it's a HUGE rip

    but it's fucking great!

    champo | 23 Apr '09, 01:20 | X
  • fuck.me.....this is good

    i agree......i rekon this album could be the sound of the summer.....good, good stuff.

    michael_w | 23 Apr '09, 01:22 | X
  • insanely good album

    almost tempted to say its my favourite i've heard this year, i think i would commit to that if it wasnt The Horrors haha. Either way, fantastic record. Especially love the two seven minute songs.

    tv_party | 23 Apr '09, 01:30 | X
    • You shouldn't close yourself off like that, tv_party.

      It'll stop you enjoying some music.

      poptimusgrime @tv_party | 23 Apr '09, 01:50 | X
      • You're not wrong poptimus, youre not wrong

        im taking the first steps - i have been raving about this record to anyone who will listen (even the girl im trying to impress who is really into Sleep and Harvey Milk)

        tv_party @poptimusgrime | 23 Apr '09, 02:01 | X
  • I've just noticed they're playing the Ruby lounge in Manchester

    in a few months. Seems like a really small venue for the guys??!

    Ricky_B | 23 Apr '09, 01:49 | X
    • *these guys

      I'm not down with them enough to refer as 'the guys' hey.

      Ricky_B @Ricky_B | 23 Apr '09, 01:50 | X
    • Yeah, I've noticed they're playing some smaller places on the tour dates.

      Last time I saw them touring they were playing at the bloody Carling Academy and that.

      poptimusgrime @Ricky_B | 23 Apr '09, 02:02 | X
    • I saw them a couple years ago at a really small place in Leeds

      (can't remember the name, but i do remember they opened for...Black Wire?) and i thought they were really really good, so if i were you and get on this one!
      Plus, i hope im not the only one who thinks that more venues/bars should be called something Lounge?

      tv_party @Ricky_B | 23 Apr '09, 12:35 | X
  • rubbish video, frankly

    Looks too professional, doesn't suit them or the song. And it's completely uninteresting. I liked the low budget approach of Sea Within A Sea's video, really enigmatic. I don't think Faris looks like a real rock star either, the thing that he does where he opens his arms is so try-hard. He is a poser - I'd rather he didn't care.

    One of my favourite songs from the album though, i like the drumming, and it's catchy.

    It's a good album, if samey and slightly boring.

    aszx | 23 Apr '09, 01:55 | X
    • I really like the posing.

      I think he looks cool - it's quite tongue in cheek, I think, instead of try-hard.

      poptimusgrime @aszx | 23 Apr '09, 02:05 | X
  • Look at my JAGuar.

    http://tonywithahook.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/who-can-say/

    I wrote up a wee 'single review' for this song, on my woefully underused blog. PS: I apologise if you're offended by the overpowering wankishness in that small piece - I'm a fan of Robert Christgau. PPS: Give me a job writing single reviews, please. Ta.

    poptimusgrime | 23 Apr '09, 02:11 | X
    • Hyperbole much

      aszx @poptimusgrime | 23 Apr '09, 03:11 | X
  • The spoken word part

    of this song is one of the worst things I've ever heard. Shame...

    DarknessDoubled | 23 Apr '09, 04:14 | X
    • the spoken word part

      is actually lifted from a Jay & The Americans song called 'She Cried'. The Shangri-Las covered it too under the title 'He Cried'.
      I agree with DiSassociated that there are definitely similarities with early Psychedelic Furs, before Richard Butler started wearing bacofoil jackets

      DNADNA @DarknessDoubled | 23 Apr '09, 15:25 | X
      • I didn't know that...

        I haven't heard the songs you mentioned... Maybe that's why it sounds wierd to me, it just wasn't written for someone doing a Bauhaus impression!

        This band infuriate me on both their albums. I love their music, but then he opens his mouth and ruins it. And I usually like 'unusual' or 'non-singing' voices...

        DarknessDoubled @DNADNA | 23 Apr '09, 15:55 | X
  • it is indeed a great song and a great album

    Despite there being a number of solid albums released so far this year, Primary Colours, It's Blitz and Alpinisms are the only ones that I keep *wanting* to come back to and listen to again. When Sea within a Sea finishes, I just want to start the album again.

    BTW, Mary Chain? Kind of, I guess -- Honey's Dead or Munki maybe, but I wouldn't have said it's a Psychocandy sound, as the latter is much more trebley, ear-piercing than "Who Can Say". Am I the only one who hears some touches of the Psychedelic Furs.

    DiSassociated | 23 Apr '09, 07:46 | X
    • SECRET MACHINES NO?

      Yoblonski | 23 Apr '09, 09:44 | X
      • NO-

        where near as good i'm afraid.

        Reckoning @Yoblonski | 23 Apr '09, 15:10 | X
      • Secret Machines = bit of a yawnfest

        julian_in_public @Yoblonski | 23 Apr '09, 21:41 | X
    • Apart from the spoken word part, I really like it.

      Sibley | 23 Apr '09, 09:47 | X
    • I think I prefer that 'sea within a sea' song

      but that's near perfection, whereas this is just fucking good

      Chunky_Lover | 23 Apr '09, 11:08 | X
    • the only problem with this

      is that its so good its almost certain to bring a shoegaze revivial, which is just going to bring hundreds of watered down copyists.

      im a massive fan of that sorta music, but whenever it becomes a scene theres just too much shit to sift through.

      Jordan_229_2 | 23 Apr '09, 11:33 | X
    • i still prefer the old stuff.

      this is too longwinded for me.

      wrightylew | 23 Apr '09, 12:41 | X
    • I really don't like this

      not as good as Sea Within A Sea.

      Far too eighties. Hideous synth sound and terrible nu romantic vocals.

      lemonbrickcombo | 23 Apr '09, 12:41 | X
      • i'm with lbc on this

        wrightylew @lemonbrickcombo | 23 Apr '09, 13:02 | X
    • My way

      The song and the band are great...His moves strangely remind me of this gem-

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIXg9KUiy00

      Haha!

      messthetics | 23 Apr '09, 12:48 | X
    • its a brilliant song but the spoken word part is appalling

      really quite excruicitating...'she cried'...who, peaches?

      bit of a shame really, because the rest of it is fantastic.

      mattgoesfaster | 23 Apr '09, 13:04 | X
    • the album is fucking good.

      and it seems to have got amazng reviews all round. i cant think of many bands that have changed public opinion (partcularly muso opinion) so much. I think we are going to have to put them on the main stage this year to be honest, by the summer they might be pretty huge.

      fieldday | 23 Apr '09, 13:27 | X
    • 1st album > 2nd album

      lovely organ > nasty synth
      60s > 80s
      garage rock > krauty shogaze
      Mark E impression > Robert impression

      codpieceface | 23 Apr '09, 13:29 | X
      • Ultimately I think I would have to agree with this ^

        though I have been quite enjoying the new album. The synth on Who Can Say is far too close to Joy Division.

        moribund @codpieceface | 23 Apr '09, 15:43 | X
      • I agree, kind of.

        I prefer 'lovely organ', '60's', 'garage rock' etc but I think they rip their influences off to produce a better piece of work on the second album. I almost prefer reading about their first album's sound than listening to it...

        That means I don't agree, doesn't it?

        DarknessDoubled @codpieceface | 23 Apr '09, 16:02 | X
      • The first record is not as bad as a lot of people would like you to believe

        however the big different here i think is that they've shaken the gimmicky image that they had before which i think is largely what held them back. No doubt some of you will argue that going shoegaze at the moment is a bit of a gimmick, but thats really more just about the sound, where as before they were too into dressing like vampires and songs about jack the ripper. It was a little hard to take seriously at times, but not fun enough for you to just be down with it anyway. Thats what this album has: a focus on straight up quality tunes.

        tv_party @codpieceface | 23 Apr '09, 18:07 | X
    • This song is distinctly average IMO...

      bordering on gash during the spoken word part. The video is poor as well.

      In conclusion: Average/poor.

      Reckoning | 23 Apr '09, 15:11 | X
    • ok finally got the album

      on the first track, this my bloody valentine guitar rip off is pretty unbearable. i've got a feeling a pattern is forming

      lazerlife | 23 Apr '09, 15:29 | X
    • It's rubbish.

      Quite frankly. And I don't get why everyone is just sooooo amazed by this completely uninspired album. They don't have any ideas of their own, nicking bits here and there. Last time they tried hard to be the new Cramps, this time MBV, next time probably... Milli Vanilli or whatever. They don't have any identity. Full stop.
      The spoken word bit is quite... embarrasing.

      madsquirrel | 23 Apr '09, 16:31 | X
    • Really? I rather like that part in particular and I'm not a crazed fan of this album, but anyway...

      You can't hate it and it doesn't really warrant total adoration. It's decent and it's interesting but it's no masterpiece. Move on.

      Anyone who thinks this album is rubbish has probably vanished up their own backsides (and no it does not sound like JD, or at least it does in so far as almost anything most bands were playing in the eighties sounded a bit like JD, which is not saying much), and anyone who hails it as the album of the year needs to take a deep breath and wash the sticky stuff out of their pants.

      There is a correct and fair reaction to this album (as usual) and it's reserved appreciation, nothing more, nothing less.

      Violator | 23 Apr '09, 17:57 | X
    • how this album is getting so many people talking is beyond me.

      like there haven't been enough of these wall-of-sound musicians with dourly-delivered lyrics.
      much much preferred 'sheena is a parasite'.

      fishplums | 23 Apr '09, 21:00 | X
    • lets see what the fuss is about then hey

      it sounds a bit like subtle chemical brothers remix of my bloody valentine and gary numan all at once. I can't stand his voice but the rest of the track is alright I guess, not doing to much for me.

      jimitheexploder | 23 Apr '09, 22:18 | X
    • About fucking time.

      Sure it's nice that lots of people took the time to deride this and stuff, but I was really posting this to hear what you had to say, and for 2black and other clever people like michael_w and that. I knew you'd be in agreement anyway.

      poptimusgrime @kissinginkansas | 23 Apr '09, 21:34 | X
      • this band is the clever option then huh ¬_¬

        fishplums @poptimusgrime | 23 Apr '09, 22:00 | X
        • bit of a rip off of this, don't you think?

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5KZ4nlFBY0

          douchebag | 23 Apr '09, 22:28 | X
          • No, silly.

            Liking this song is.

            poptimusgrime @fishplums | 23 Apr '09, 22:05 | X
        • Christ, note for fucking note.

          poptimusgrime @douchebag | 23 Apr '09, 23:33 | X
    • Mmm.

      I actually think their songwriting is still in the same vein as it was on the strongest parts of the first album; its got what was an organ riff thats now a keyboard riff that's still kind of hypnotic and circular and drives the whole thing forward to a point at which it burns out. And they always had the noise guitar, except it was a garage noise guitar, and now its a shoegaze noise guitar. Its not a huge transformation, they've just toned down certain stylings that people found a bit abrasive. Basically they've just taken away the silliness.

      I've got to say the vocals are ruining it for me. It's a shame, I like everything else about it, (although I wouldn't go as OTT as some people here are).

      ring_tailed_lemur | 23 Apr '09, 23:14 | X
    • Scarlet Fields is better

      untrue | 23 Apr '09, 23:25 | X
      • The talking bits

        sound like Sonic Boom from Spacemen 3 on Playing With Fire. They are basically ripping off all my favourite bands but they tunes seem to be there and thats what matters really.

        iamdamosuzuki @untrue | 23 Apr '09, 23:59 | X
        • I meant to say it sounds like

          the tune How Does it Feel?

          iamdamosuzuki @iamdamosuzuki | 24 Apr '09, 00:02 | X
    • fucking hell

      I've heard so much about the Horrors 'becoming a good band', and... this is it? Horrific synths, the world's dullest bassline and the singer pretending to be Ian Curtis? (Why does everyone try to sing like Ian Curtis anyway? His singing voice was hardly his strength.)

      OceanStorm | 24 Apr '09, 00:08 | X
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