DJAlbertFreeman

It's good to see an interview with Matt of Jumbo Records here on DiS. He knows his stuff.

I can't believe it. This is terrible news. I'm speechless.

Pardon my Herr Lipp-esque subject but this is a most welcome article!

my promo of this is 1 long continuous track. Anybody know if the finished version of the album is like this too?

Interesting that you say Paul Savage has been involved, because this album reminds me a little of the Delgados.

were called Tindersticks. Crystal Castles should probably call their third album Tindersticks.

ha ha, the silly billies! :-D

Yes, I too had noted a bit of Broadcast influence in this album. The bit that really struck me was the bass and guitar at 2:10 of Siberian Breaks, which incidentally is being released as a 'single' of sorts for Record Store Day.

this really does sound sweet - very sympathetically remastered.

I'm ashamed to say I don't have Live Seeds, but I'm intrigued to hear it now. Downloading the videos off the DVD is a doddle. I did it, and have them all on this computer now.

The strange thing about the documentaries on all these DVDs for me, is not knowing who each contributor is until the credits at the end. So, I'm left thinking, "I wonder who that is?" and then at the end, thinking "ooooh, that's who that was!"

Interesting that these re-issues have not been reviewed by just one DIS person, but more than one.

In writing my own piece about these re-issues I realised a curious fact. The sleeve for The Good Son, a photo from The Ship Song video shoot, is the the only NC&TBS album to feature a photo including anybody other than Nick in it.

Agreed, this is an excellently, and sympathetically, remastered album. Reading about, and watching people speak about, the gestation of The Mercy Seat and Deanna in particular, make the documentary and sleevenotes fascinating.

I too am stuck in pre-5.1 hi-fidelity. But I'm not sure it really appeals to me anyway. Stereo is what you get if you go and see a bunch of musicians playing, unless you stand in the middle of the band, which most of us don't usually do.

Yes, I too look forward to hearing this. I loved the first album, and have been eagerly awaiting this one.

is one of my favourite singles of the year so far, so I look forward to hearing this album.

Nice to see this on DiS. I loved this band for those first few EPs and Whirlpool. I'd be interested to see the full setlist from this gig if anybody knows it.

Ah heck, this is devestating news. I've just texted a couple of friends to tell them. It's hard to imagine what my life would be like without the music of Big Star.

Within 2 weeks of the death of Mark Linkous too. Gutted, totally gutted.

I've written my own piece for the BCB Music Blog, although I had limited time so didn't get much past talking about the first album... http://www.bcbradio.co.uk/musicblog/?p=2008

I'm certainly hoping they do fill those gaps with something around the Leeds / Manchester area.

Funny, how it seems that I'm not alone here in considering Howl to be excellent. Maybe it's their Sister Lovers (Big Star's third album, commercial suicide, not that there was much commercial life before it mind)

...and to the NME too, as they've only put it on their website today too. "All we are saying, is give DiS a chance."

Looks as though this will be a sympathetic remastering project, and not conform to the trend for MAKING EVERYTHING LOUD.

And how young does he look in that pic!?

Sounds like this will be a sympathetic remaster. Phew! No more of that LET'S JUST MAKE EVERTYHING LOUD nonsense.

They'd better not play a duff gig, or it's a reviewers dream - Atoms For Piss.

There is a distinct shortage of rude words on this album, so I feel it my duty to write one here, albeit the radio edit of the word. After about 3 listens "Living In Colour" stands out as a highlight, and a potential future single. I'd not clocked Skip The Youth as being a standout though, so I'll have to give that one more attention on my next listen.

Yes, I understand how that would work at the Brudenel with the low white ceiling. I have wondered myself about doing that, but wasn't sure it was reflective enough. Clearly it is.

I'm glad you started off the review how you did, as for the past couple of weeks I thought they were actually called Nerdy!

Maybe that's the telling factor then - if mah jahb wasn't at the library, and music was more than a hobby I'd have enough time to give proper attention to the detail of all this wonderful aural treasure.

May I ask your advice on pics in gigs? Your pics here (particularly the BH ones, and to a lesser extent the LA ones) have such a wonderful daylight-like tone, and I'd like to know how I can get such good pics at gigs too. I use a Canon 450D. I've taken pics at the Brudenel once but decided it wasn't worth it because the lighting there isn't great.

I saw someone taking pics on the night but had no idea they would be ending up here on DiS! Andy must have a pretty swanky flash, as some of those pics look like they were taken in daylight.

...between you and me is that when I hear a song like Jail La La I think, "yeah, I like that". Yet you have a wonderful knack of expatiating on why you like it, and what's interesting about it. I've played it on the radio a couple of times without really thinking much about the lyrics, and I now feel I've only heard half the song before reading this piece here.

what a beautiful...beautiful song. A little reminiscnent of Long Long Long by The Beatles.

I hate to be the one to tell you, but your left little finger was just a wee bit too close to the Q when typing tUnE-yArDs' record label.

Not heard this album so can't comment, but I'd generally agree that albums are rated too high. At school 7/10 would have got me an A or a B, so 7/10 is a pretty good score. We music consumers (and I include myself) often look upon 5/10 or even 6/10 as a Not Very Good. But if you think about it, your 10/10 should be your All Time Classics, 9/10 should be Pretty Damn Flawless, and if you trace that back, 5 or 6 are actually not bad scores. I'd have got a C at school for that, which in my day wasn't bad. Although, now everyone just gets straight As of course.

I'm delighted you've given this such a positive review. I'm featuring several tracks from it on BCB tonight. It came as a surprise, as I didn't know it was coming out, but oh what a wonderful surprise. The way the two different versions of ‘On Coming From a Broken Home' bookend the album is brilliant.

I thought I commented on this, but it's not here...so take 2...the dissection of the genre of folk is very interesting, and very thought provoking; a jolly good read.

that was a very interesting dissection of the genre known as 'folk'. I'd never thought of it like that, but that's very thought provoking.

I seem to have missed this news story, but saw it mentioned in the Facebook message from DiS. This album is on my wants list, so I'm glad I never quite got round to buying it on CD. FIngers crossed it will be released on vinyl in the UK too! I'll certainly hold off buying it on CD until I hear for sure...keep us informed DiS!

Leeds!!!

From the 4-track sampler I've got, Scarecrows On A Killer Slant is my favourite. Looking forwarding hearing (and seeing) the album.

I think this is the best thing I've heard on Cooking Vinyl for a while.

Bring on April! :-)

I hope you don't mind but I've used the word 'reswizzle' in my own blog..!
http://www.bcbradio.co.uk/musicblog/?p=1706

I'll have to keep my eye on the listings, as I reckon that could be great to see at the cinema. I think my favourite White Stripes 'album' to listen to thus far has been their live Peel Session from about 10 years ago, so a proper live album is very welcome.

this is a welcome return

Well now, never mind this week's singles - I hadn't heard the Pet Sounds reswlzzle before and I'm listening now. How fantastic!

I like what you said about Editors. There was something that made me uncomfortable about them, and I've not managed to figure out why, but you've hit the nail on the head there.

Crikey, yes, it is 18 years, my oh my! I feel old. I like this album. I'll have to have another listen to Factory Girls with Robbie in mind. It struck me as one of the standout songs after a couple of listens.

I have to admit that before December I'd never really listened to Magnetic Fields apart from one or two songs. But now, having heard this new album, I'm defintely going to get 69 Love Songs, and maybe some more too.

I think Stephen's barritone voice, and his lyrics are what really sets them apart and why I now think I've been missing out on something all these years. I played "Everything is One Big Christmas Tree" and "We Are Having A Hootenanny" on BCB over the festive season. And now that is behind me, I'm indulgin in repeated plays of "You Must Be Out Of Your Mind"

What's my next task?

Yes, I too have noticed that this album seems a bit more sugary in its production, and less DIY. Although the result is less ingenuous, Alex and Victoria have retained their endearing charm.

I also think that "thick, throaty, lived in" is a good way to describe Victoria's maturing voice.

I like it, I think it's a good album with a few stand-out tracks.