The Weekly DiScussion: What the hell happened to Tom Vek? (And others artists we're missing...)
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It’s always strange, and rather unsettling, when an artist turns up in a blaze of glory, garners a degree of popular and / or critical success, and then disappears back into the ether. Of course, many long-standing artists will have a period where they tend to their families, drug addictions or large amounts of cash in the attic. Tom Vek’s case is a strange one, though: neither rich enough (presumably) nor popular enough (certainly) to really disappear from the limelight in as complete a way as he seemingly has.
Visit his MySpace and you’ll see a long litany of comments, simply saying: “Where are you?” Go to his essentially abandoned website and there’s nothing. No plans for recording beyond the vaguest of implications that work is afoot, and no tentative release dates or fill-in shows. Absolute disappearance. Possibly, the man much derided for his Talking Heads love is brewing up a record to slay the naysayers forever more. _Or_, maybe he’s taken his aural easel, folded it up and gone home for good.
Not uncommonly, many of our favourite bands have disappeared for years – sometimes decades – without a word, surrounded by fervent whispers of ‘difficult fifth records’, cocaine frenzies and satanic rituals in the Hollywood hills.
Beyond Tom Vek, here are a few others who’ve been troubling us:
Radiohead
Obviously there are plans for a record this year, but they’re worth a mention purely on the basis of the fact that they’re serial take-their-timers. The wait between OK Computer _and _Kid A was hell on earth for their many obsessive fans, and the results were typically confounding. Hail To The Thief, their last record, is a good three years old now. We wait with baited breath for the new one.
*Stephen Malkmus *
The last record that Malkmus released was 2005’s Face The Truth. The last record reviewed by DiS was the very patchy Pig Lib in 2003. Face The Truth appeared with such a whimper that you wonder what Malkmus is going to do next to get his career back on track.
*Mylo *
Dance-indie-pop crossover king of a couple of years back, Mylo has been royally fucked by the appearance of his compatriot, the much taller and much, much more irritating Calvin Harris. Still, after such an unfeasibly large hit record, you wonder when the bedroom king will be dropping the new shit. Or maybe he’s feeling the pressure… dum dum dum de dum…
*Limp Bizkit *
2003’s Results May Vary (no shit) was their last proper LP, and marked the fall from grace of a band who once were (probably) the biggest turd-rock band in the world. Wes Borland left, he came back, he left again… who cares? Well, us enough to write about it. Apparently the follow-up to their last release, The Unquestionable Truth_ EP, will be out this year. Expect some mirth-making in the process.
*AC/DC *
No record since 2000’s Stiff Upper Lip – which was great – there’s word of a release early next year. Which is all well and good, but the main thing we’re waiting for is the return of probably still the best rock ‘n’ roll band in the world. AC/DC to headline Download 2008? Here’s hoping...
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Their last record, Yanqui U.X.O, appeared in 2002. In 2004, guitarist Roger-Tellier Craig left the band to concentrate on Fly Pan Am. Last year, at a Silver Mt Zion show, Efrim responded to a question about Godspeed's hiatus by saying that he “[Does not] believe that anyone has given up on the group, but it's very complicated”.
Blur
No record since the Coxon-less Think Tank_, which seems older than its four years. There’s mooted talk of a recording session this September, and even more mooted chat about the return of our Graham. But another Blur record looks a bit of a long-shot.
The Postal Service
One record, one of the biggest-selling Sub Pop-released albums of all time. Somewhere between massive cult hit and quasi-mainstream crossover, Give Up _is better than all the Dntel and Deathcab records put together. Ever. No wonder everyone’s waiting for a follow-up and, hell, even a couple of live shows would be awesome. There’s talk of something appearing this year, but as ever, it’s very, very quiet…
*Fischerspooner *
After the really-quite-good Odyssey _in 2005, the band were dropped by their label, Capitol/EMI. Unabated, we should be hearing something from the former electroclash duo before the end of this year. In the meantime, fans can sate themselves by clapping in time to their tracks which have recently appeared on Nip/Tuck.
Other people we want to know what’s going on with: Roots Manuva, The Kills, Breeders, Cassius, Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Constantines and John Squire. Yes, John Squire…
DiScuss: Are you waiting impatiently for these bands to get themselves into gear? Who else do you miss? What’s the most common reason for bands and artists taking such hiatuses? Do they need that long a holiday…?
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are on strike tomorrow.
I know the new stuffs out
but My Vitriol were the ones i have been waiting for like, i dunno, 6years or so.
i am happy they are back, but not sure they'll be any good
^
They've fucked up my morning tomorrow rather nicely, the shits. Anybody fancy organising about 20 individual couriers to America for me?
And yeah, tis strange about Tom Vek. I thought that album showed great potential. And we all know where Radiohead are, and their recent cryptic YouTube appearance made me moist
I want the Kills to make the
Cabaret Voltaire-referencing record they were mumbling about around the time of their last record
I hope Tom Vek does some new stuff
I loved his first album. I know he did the Print is Dead and Cable tribute stuff last year so its not like hes completly gone.
On a similar note, what happened to Sons and Daughters?
The only one
I miss is Godspeed.
Mylo can stuff his head up his own arse for all I care, the talentless cheesemonger fuck.
Yes
hope the kills come back soon. Although rather worryingly VV popped up on a placebo song, last year i think. Please don't go off down that route. Wasn't Tom Vek doing something with one/some of Test Icicles a while ago.
Tom vek..
is working I believe? My sister was in his studio not long ago and seemed to have alot to say about it.
I miss Tom Vek
:[.
I really hope Tom Vek comes back
but not with any of Test Icicles...although Lightspeed is pretty good. Vek's album was my favourite of 05 (was it then?), a really great debut.
John Squire
Was on the radio the other day saying he has given up music for good to concentrate on his paintings.
The Avalanches
The delay of their second album has surely been one of the great tragedies of the early 21st century.
Mylo
appears to spend all his time going on holiday and then writing about it in the Guardian's travel section.
John Squire...
He has an exhibition on at the Smithfield Gallery right now
Might be a good idea..
for bands to have long breaks. When you consider that bands have contracts with record companies and are often pressured to have something else out every 2 years, maybe taking your time over a new album might benefit it generally?
I was wondering where Tom Vek had gone. I've also been wondering what Idiot Pilot were up to, but strolling on to their myspace seemingly they're back with a new songs and their second album out this year. Also Secret Machines have gone off the radar a bit.
Most likely
The Postal Service had to wait while Tamborello got the Dntel and Figurine albums out of the way. Come to think of it, it's been a while since Plans too.
What about Mew? They seem to have been touring America for about two years non-stop.
...which
aren't much better than his music really. Quite good as Pollock copyism...fifteen years ago.
i'd like to know
what happened to bands like crashland, cay, the animal house etc... (circa reading 2000)
i think it's because they weren't very good, but i quite liked them once upon a time.
much love Tom Vek
big tunes for a rather small man
Malkmus
is playing Green Man, non?
oh yeah
Naked Babes
mew
have been working on a new lp for some time now; there's some video blogs on their website. hopefully it's be out this winter or something (complete guess)
Hopefully
the Secret Machines are being made to listen to Ten Silver Drops on repeat 24 hours a day for at least 8 months so that they can be left in no doubt about how horrible it was.
what
the fuck happened to Kait0?
didn't
Hail to the Thief come out 4 years ago?!?!
Hail to the Thief
is FOUR years old! 2003!!!!
it wasnt that bad
it could have been complete trash. theres at least 3 decent songs, if not more...
but since Ben's left,hmmmmmmmmmmmm
didnt they play loads of new stuff at 2 new york shows?
on the other hand School Of Seven Bells are wicked
discover...
wasnt their guitarist in some new project -really recently written about on DiS?
harsh
maybe they're taking their time!
Morons
I love Ten Silver Drops, and I know plenty of other people who do too. School of Seven Bells sucks, and unfortunately, no matter what Brandon Curtis says, there is no Secret Machines with out Ben Curtis.
Yes
and they have split up (several months ago). :(
DiScover feature
The guy DiS wrote about wasn't on either of their albums. I guess he was in the band early on.
CHIKINKI!!!
CHIKINKI!!!
What about
Zach De La Rocha? Where is his solo album , I've been stood here with my fist in the air for God knows how long waiting for something to get angry about.
Crispin Hunt?
Where art thou?
Mew
can take their time. If you make two absolutely perfect albums in a row, make sure the next one is equally perfect or you break hearts.
I think although sadly missed godspeed had their day
and recent silver mount zion is way better than the last godspeed
Works as a parliamentary researcher
although he's been promising a solo album for about three years.
Noel Gallagher
promised a solo album back when Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants came out.
Oh wait. This is a thread for albums we WANT to be released. My bad.
i miss godspeed
it's so much fun pointing out to godspeed fans they've got shite all over their face
what happened to
Dogs Die In Hot Cars?
Ten Silver Drops is awesome.
School Of Seven Bells are awesome.
Let's just leave it at that.
Good question!
Although I never liked 'em much, they did roll in on a wave of hype and then VANISH...
I NEED
another Auf Der Maur album in my life. I really do. The first one was fantastic.
We tried to book them...
... for a gig recently and were informed they were no more.
I wonder when the new B*Witched album will be out?
She just released another one though
didn't she?
distophia
they got a gig next friday at some place in birmingham i've never been to before, apparently they serve cocktails!
Careful what you wish for
I wanted a new Black Rebel record. They released one. It blew.
awww
they were fun! though god knows why they were hyped so much, i'd have thought they were far too uncool to be an nme band. didn't drownedinsound have them on the cover of their magazine once? in fact, whatever happened to the drownedinsound magazine?
yes it is
sorry, but your opinion was incorrect.
mind you, i've done farts better than all the deathcab records put together, and that's an insult to farts.
Don't think so
Think she's currently faffing around with some dangerously Spinal Tap-esque rock fantasy comic book film type thing-ma-doodle.
'Give Up is better than all the Dntel and Deathcab records put together. Ever.'
Better than Dntel's 'Life is Full of Possibilities', or Death Cab's 'Something About Airplanes'/'We Have the Facts...'
Really?!
No.
The Constantines
haven't been away for long at all!!!
i was
shocked when wheat came back
still haven't got round to getting the new album, but the ep was pretty good..
on the subject
of long-awaited albums, I have two words:
CHINESE DEMOCRACY
Man, you just KNOW it's going be terrible.
triumph of a man
is pretty perfect to - half the world is watching unfortunately breaks their perfect record
They're recording in August
And will hopefully have a new record out sometime in the first half of next year. The Constantines will. On Sub Pop.
secret machines' guitarist left...
... so i have doubts about their future, frankly.
radiohead
it's actually over 4 years since radiohead's last album. mogwai's happy songs for happy people was released on the same day and they've done a soundtrack and a full album in the meantime...
alden penner
should really be making more music.
THE GO TEAM?
Where did they disappear to?
sons and daughters...
are alive and well. saw them at the ballads of the book gig a month ago (they contributed a track to the album) and they were playing new stuff which sounded pretty good. i believe they're also going to be at connect festival.
The Go-team are currently touring
and had a single out on the 2nd July. Album is due out soon as well.
it is.
really. it is.
Tom Vek
I reckon he'll come back with a completely different style.....like Tibetan temple music crossed with Porn funk.....just a thought
I'm Still Waiting For
'Chinese Democracy'
*shakes fist*
haha
like that album's EVER gonna happen..
Fugazi - there's a fucking band I want to hear from soon!
I loved Distophia
*sob*
John Squire's...
art exhibition is a pile of shit - severely disappointing (sp?) ...but then if the Seahorses were anything to go by maybe we weren't expecting much from his coke fuelled ambitions...as for GodSpeed, *sigh* I dream of the day I'll hear from them...
Tom Vek? oh yeah. where's he then? Not that I'm missing him much, god bless him and his very nice bass playing.
Secret machines...
played some shows earlier this year, I caught them in Manchester. Wouldn't worry too much about them.
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