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james mercer is the best song-writer of the 21st century

smoglet [Edit] [Delete] 55 replies 01:32, 18 May '06

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  • Hmm.

    Well.

    Stephen Adams is 21st century
    Chris T-T is 21st century
    Gruff Rhys is 21st century
    Iain Ross is 21st century

    etc, etc.

    So i say not quite.

    thommo | 18 May '06, 01:36 | X
    • Facts:

      Chris T-T is patchy
      Gruff Rhys..he's the guy off of Super Furries, right? Yeah, he's alright.

      The others? I have never heard of them. Not knowingly, anyway.

      I've just seen the Shins though, so I've got to agree with the original post. BIG BAG OF ACE.

      bamos @thommo | 18 May '06, 01:41 | X
      • I thought they were disappointing tonight

        but I think he is a fantastic songwriter.

        bobbygeorge @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:43 | X
      • Maybe we should have a lyric-off or something.

        Iain Ross is from Bearsuit. Unless i got his name wrong.
        Stephen Adams is from Broken Family Band.
        i forgot to include Grandmaster Gareth...

        thommo @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:43 | X
        • Bearsuit suck

          Broken Family Band I have to concede to being unfamiliar with.

          Grandmaster Gareth - now you're talking :)

          And Bob - you're wrong. Last time I saw them, I thought they were awful on toast, seriously boring and just plain shite. Tonight though, they were special. In my opinion, obviously...

          bamos @thommo | 18 May '06, 01:46 | X
          • Ban request.

            Oh and that reminds me - add Jimbob Carter to that list. And yes i mean his 21st century stuff...

            thommo @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:48 | X
          • I think YOU are wrong

            They were ordinary in places. Some songs, such as Kissing The Lipless and Girl on the Wing were really great but they were lacklustre at times, particularly on Those to Come and Pressed in a Book. I really don't like Koko though. I'm still looking forward to seeing them on Sunday though, just not as much as I was.

            bobbygeorge @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:49 | X
            • did they play New Slang?

              I'm still not really convined I like them, apart from that. Maybe Sunday will convince me.

              nice_squirrel @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 01:50 | X
              • New Slang was disappointing too.

                I still love a lot of their songs.

                bobbygeorge @nice_squirrel | 18 May '06, 01:51 | X
                • New Slang was BRILL

                  You were watching a different gig. Obviously.

                  bamos @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 01:55 | X
                  • You were too pissed.

                    You could have watched Battle and loved it.

                    bobbygeorge @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:56 | X
                    • Pissed?

                      I've had about three pints all night! I ain't no drunk.

                      And I could never, ever watch Battle and love it. That's just rude.

                      bamos @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 01:59 | X
            • Nah

              I think they were pretty much consistent all the way through. Good rapport with the crown, good energy, good 'vibes' (god, that sounds awful doesn't it?!)...just a great live band. They reaffirmed my faith tonight.

              bamos @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 01:51 | X
              • Well, I'm going to re-appraise them on Sunday

                but tonight I was not impressed.

                bobbygeorge @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:54 | X
              • yeh

                i loved tonight, hence the post.. turning a square makes me grin. as does the little guy who stands in the middle. "Borderline!.."

                smoglet @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:54 | X
        • /

          Adams of BFB is a skilled writer, but his tendency to make everything 'a joke' annoys.

          If he actually wrote something from the heart rather than playing this arch character he's assumed, it'd be killer.

          grockle @thommo | 18 May '06, 11:28 | X
  • he's good

    but he's no Jeff Tweedy, John Darnielle, Sufjan Stevens, Will Sheff, Conor Oberst or Jamie Stewart is he?

    OceanStorm | 18 May '06, 01:44 | X
    • Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

      Conor Oberst.

      thommo @OceanStorm | 18 May '06, 01:46 | X
      • (sorry).

        thommo @thommo | 18 May '06, 01:48 | X
      • I know that it is freezing
        But I think we'll have to walk
        Keep waving at the taxis
        They keep turning their lights off
        But Julie knows a party
        At some actor's West Side loft
        Supplies are endless in the evening
        By the morning they'll be gone

        When everything is lonely
        I can be my own best friend
        Get a coffee and the paper
        Have my own conversations
        With the sidewalk and the pigeons
        And my window reflection
        The mask I polish in the evening
        By the morning looks like shit

        And I know you have a heavy heart
        I can feel it when we kiss
        And many men stronger than me
        Have thrown their backs out trying to lift it
        But me, I'm not a gamble
        You can count on me to split
        The love I sell you in the evening
        By the morning won't exist

        You're looking skinny like a model
        With your eyes all painted black
        Keep going to the bathroom
        Always say you'll be right back
        Well, it takes one to know one, kid
        I think you've got it bad
        But what's so easy in the evening
        By the morning's such a drag

        I've got a flask inside my pocket
        We can share it on the train
        And if you promise to stay conscious
        I will try and do the same
        Yeah, we might die from medication
        But we sure killed all the pain
        But what was normal in the evening
        By the morning seems insane

        And I'm not sure what the trouble was
        That started all of this
        The reasons all have run away
        But the feeling never did
        It's not something I would recommend
        But it is one way to live
        Cause what is simple in the moonlight
        By the morning never is

        Yeah, it was simple in the moonlight
        Now it's so complicated
        It was so simple in the moonlight
        So simple in the moonlight
        So simple in the moonlight

        ***

        I don't think I need say any more.

        OceanStorm @thommo | 18 May '06, 01:49 | X
    • tweedy

      jeff tweedy's a good shout. as is oberst, despite thommo's scoffs!) honestly can't think of many other real contenders. i'm feeling narrow minded.

      smoglet @OceanStorm | 18 May '06, 01:57 | X
      • sorry i scoffed.

        i should respect people's opinions more.

        Even if they are wrong :P

        thommo @smoglet | 18 May '06, 02:00 | X
  • Thank you for proving my point

    (sorry i really can't see the fuss over Bright Eyes. Desaparacidos, yes. Bright Eyes, no.)

    thommo | 18 May '06, 01:54 | X
    • I actually agree with Thommo on this

      Bright Eyes is shite.

      YES. Shite Eyes. I rule the world of wit.

      bamos @thommo | 18 May '06, 01:56 | X
      • Okay

        you're un-ban requested :)

        thommo @bamos | 18 May '06, 01:58 | X
    • so

      you like his political side and not the personal stuff? Its interesting that a lot of people who don't like Bright Eyes that much seem to like Desaparecidos.

      OceanStorm @thommo | 18 May '06, 01:56 | X
      • More because the music

        drowns out his singing more.

        thommo @OceanStorm | 18 May '06, 02:03 | X
  • Can I say

    Regina Spektor? Or do I like her a little bit too much?

    John_K | 18 May '06, 01:56 | X
    • You can.

      As long as i can say Emmy too.

      Yeah. Emmy.

      Oh and Caroline Martin.
      And Nina Nastasia.

      thommo @John_K | 18 May '06, 01:58 | X
      • Oh and Lianne Hall.

        And etc.

        Sorry.

        thommo @thommo | 18 May '06, 02:00 | X
    • a little,

      yes

      smoglet @John_K | 18 May '06, 01:58 | X
    • I'm afraid

      you need to say more for my money OceanStrom. Mercer is superior to Oberst in my opinion. I like 'em both though.

      Tonight was great fun by the way. Why pick holes in it? Just enjoy!

      benrith @John_K | 18 May '06, 02:00 | X
      • *Strom?

        sorry

        benrith @benrith | 18 May '06, 02:00 | X
        • oh

          you will be, penrith.

          OceanStorm @benrith | 18 May '06, 02:02 | X
      • Er... why pick holes in it?

        because this is a discussion forum and not everyone is going to share your opinion.

        bobbygeorge @benrith | 18 May '06, 02:02 | X
        • Yeah, picking holes is fine

          Last time I saw the Shins = one of the worst shows I've ever seen, ever.

          Tonight = pretty darned aces.

          bamos @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 02:03 | X
          • It wasn't one of the worst shows I've ever seen

            I liked parts of it a lot, I just was underwhelmed and I LOVE both their albums. Maybe second time will be better and thankfully it won't be at Koko.

            bobbygeorge @bamos | 18 May '06, 02:04 | X
            • Yeah

              I'm talking arse while drunk. I really enjoyed it though.

              benrith @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 02:06 | X
            • is Koko shit?

              I will be seeing The National there at the end of the month. Also I've heard people saying The National are disappointing live but I'm refusing to believe it.

              OceanStorm @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 02:07 | X
              • I would have gone if it was still at Scala

                I thought The National were pretty good live.

                bobbygeorge @OceanStorm | 18 May '06, 02:08 | X
                • well

                  that's good to know anyway!

                  OceanStorm @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 02:09 | X
                • I like Koko

                  And I'll be at that National gig. They rule my world live.

                  bamos @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 02:10 | X
              • The sound was a bit dodgy

                especially for Dungen. The National were ace at Reading and slightly less so at ULU, but still well worth it.

                benrith @OceanStorm | 18 May '06, 02:09 | X
  • Mercer is an ace songwriter

    And The Shins were good last night. They just needed to speed up the wait between songs and stop pratting about quite so much and it would have been proper great.

    New Slang was disappointing though, they could have done more with it.

    Judge's verdict: 7/10.

    colonol_k | 18 May '06, 10:19 | X
    • Yes.

      I'd say 6/10.

      bobbygeorge @colonol_k | 18 May '06, 10:43 | X
      • In the cold hard light of day

        i.e. while not drunk:
        7/10
        Roll on Sunday!

        benrith @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 10:47 | X
        • I can't wait for ATP

          or Radiohead tonight.

          bobbygeorge @benrith | 18 May '06, 10:48 | X
          • ho is Radiohead?

            i'm only going for willy mason.

            ahem.

            guntrip @bobbygeorge | 18 May '06, 10:49 | X
  • i dunno

    i'd quite like channel 4 to do "the 50 greatest miserable-bastard indie songwriters".

    actually, no i wouldn't as they'd probably put fucking morrissey at the top.

    guntrip @magpieboy | 18 May '06, 10:59 | X
    • I

      saw the Shins at the Scala and I've seen James and the guitarist do an acoustic set in Rough Trade Covent Gdn. I have to say the acoustic set was much better, as a live band band they sound a tad lack lustre but in Rough Trade the songs sounded amazing and his voice was superb.

      Without calling him the best I cant think of a much better songwriter.

      fur-trousers @magpieboy | 18 May '06, 11:16 | X
      • Um...

        Google the lyrics to 'The Mercy Seat' by Nick Cave then repent your sooooooul.

        dale | 19 May '06, 09:50 | X
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