"Commercial suicide, but artistically satisfying": Draper reveals all about Six
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- Mansun »
Marking the ten year anniversary of its release, Mansun frontman Paul Draper has revealed all about the making of the band's epic-rock/prog-rock/brit-pop/indie masterpiece (DELETE AS APPROPRIATE) Six, in a lengthy two-part posting to his mailing list.
Revelations include the swiping of most of the song's lyrical ideas from the 'mobile library' of guitarist Dominic Chad (aka a nylon sports bag) who was in no way responsible for the title of the album, although he happened to be reading Now We Are Six by A A Milne at the time. Draper also refutes the ides that the record was supposed to be a prog-rock album: 'It was just a product of the songwriting and recording processes intertwining', he says, and muses that he should have titled it 'about 30 little pieces of music'
Calling it 'commercial suicide, but artistically satisfying', Draper provides a track-by-track account of the laborious recording process which was all done on analogue equipment, musing that 'there would be no point in making a record like 'Six' in this digital age, it would be all to easy to do with todays computer technology'.
He also reveals rejected material from the Mansun sessions that had been intended to be released as second CD to the album Kleptomania, entitled THE DEAD FLOWERS REJECT PROJECT.
For those with too much time on their hands, you can read the blog in its full glory - Side 1 here and Side 2 here
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Mansun
Is it me
Or why so much fuss about this record? I thought it was pretty dismal the first time round and I am at a total loss as to why there's so much press about the fact that it's 10 years since it came out?
Not to sound like a grumpy 14 year old but "Ooooh big wow".
Sad thing?
Sorry you're completely correct. You're right. I shouldn't come on here and spoil that party. I'll exit stage left now shall I? All I'm saying is I don't understand why THIS record is getting all the fuss when there were quite a few records that came out at that time which deserve recognition as well I feel.
IT'S JUST AN OPINION, JOHN
Excellent reading
Amazing to hear how this record was made, especially considering it was pretty much entirely an analogue creation. The level of thought and creativity put into Six puts most other bands to shame!
It's
a bloooooooody long blog tho.
Great read but I had to skip a lot of it. I do like the bits where Paul seems to shout at himself and does admit to digressing several times... ;->
Great record too, and I really hope there might be a 10th anniversary edition with loads of extras, Dead Flower Rejects and vast sleeve notes etc.
Okay
I have given some consideration to your point above...
My life is officially more enhanced now I have taken on board your zen-like positive attitude.
Thanks. I was lost in the woods of negativity before, you see.
I always enjoyed Attack of the Grey Lantern more
I've been listening to this recently and it still feels as though it flits between the genius and the absurd. There is nothing wrong with that, mind
Oh, bore off
seriously. The whole point of DiS is that it's about discussing music and music news. You're the one twisting the meaning here sunshine.
And as for post counts - wut???
SIX
sgt. peppers only BETTER!!!!
Sgt Pepper's only better?
Brian Peppers more like.
Six
As a critic once said, "Paul Draper is a genius, i hope he gets better soon"
Six
Josh, why not go to that village thats looking for an IDIOT. (this is a MUSIC forum)
finchleydisco
I have just realised who you really are, only Eric Morecombe called people SUNSHINE.
80s
Hmm. I thought about this. There are some candidates for album of the 80s:
Smiths - Any one you want, really.
Michael Jackson - Again, take your pick.
ABC - Lexicon of Love
Associates - Sulk
Bowie - Scary Monsters (just makes it in)
Human League - Dare
That would be appropriate
From the blog:
"You see there was a lot of irony in those first 2 Mansun albums, but rock n roll and irony just don't mix, people don't get it. (Except for Achtung Baby, of course.)"
Wow
It's great that PD is prepared to write such a massively in depth account. I can't think of many other artists who are prepared to forensically deconstruct their work like this. More great revelations:
- Negative is about a mortgage application.
- Shotgun is the theme for an imaginary Hanna Barbera cartoon.
- Fall Out was Mansun's response to Bitter Sweet Symphony.
Six
Read the blog very carefully, did anyonelse notice Stove was never mentioned? Maybe the rumours over the years have been true, Stove couldent play the Bass and session men(or Draper himself) played on the albums? Somebody told me years ago that was the case!
Stove
Kleptomania probably referes to Stove King outside the studio, after all thats why he was sacked , allegedly
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