mikehaydock

with Mr Ben Myers - trouble is, there are so few magazines that seem to do that and so few bands/artists that generate the good tales!

I agree with something that's rated at number one on a DiS list. I love this album, and you're spot on Rob - you can get involved with the "back story" if you want, but you can also just love this record for its musical intelligence.

this an 8, by the way - I messed up in uploading it! The heights of professionalism, I think you'll agree.

You've totally misunderstood what I'm saying. It's fine to have songs you love more than others in a band's set, but when you love a band, don't you at least TRY to educate yourself about the band's latest material and the direction they're going in? Don't you at least try and make them feel welcome in your city? I'm not blaming people who like 'Letters To You' - I just want them to show some respect.

beyond belief. Wish I could have been there! Nice review.

...and my conclusions are not based on how much the crowd jumped around. I, for one, more often than not stand still at gigs, but if the band play well, I make sure they know they're appreciated in some other way. This Finch crowd barely bothered to clap even though the band rocked. It was a disgrace.

that they really were ill. He sang mightily well, considering!

Strangely, I kind of hoped that The Automatic weren't done, and that I'd be proved wrong. Oh and also I wanted to get on the telly and have my photo taken with Zane Lowe...

Afraid so.

fantastic album. One listen, hooked. And it only gets better from there on.

Top work, Dom. I'm impressed with how you held your own!

I thought they were pretty impressive!

I didn't concentrate so much on describing the music because (a) as you say, that's what most other reviews have already done to death, and (b) I was trying to convey more a sense of the gig atmosphere than the tunes. But you point has been noted!

and raise you another five. Rock on.

To me, yes, an 8/10 is a masterpiece. I don't think I've ever given a nine in my short life thus far. You may quibble, but that's just my way I'm afraid. So, deal.

the circumstances of the reunion matter hugely, and impact on how the music will be received, but fair dos if you think I went a bit OTT on it. The vocals comment I stand by, though, and did at least try to explain it in the piece - Corgan smothers them in reverb yet again, rather than trying something new. But I do take your point - his voice is a tricky badger, and might sound odd without some sort of effect on it. I'd just like to see some invention, that's all, because without it, this song sounds lumpen.

but i'm a huge pumpkins fan, and i spent a long time assessing why i don't think this song is much cop. a genuine question: what are your reasons for thinking it isn't that great? my actual reasons for not liking it are 100% based on what it sounds like - the rest of the review is moaning about the circumstances of the release. really tried to like it, honest!

Iha is a genius, even if his solo material is a bit wishy-washy.

was clearly a bit too oblique! Apologies. There's nothing wrong with a click track per se, but the slow-and-steady nature of this song makes it feel like everyone's concentrating too hard on the click track, rather than injecting energy.

he's a bit rubbish! never mind.

grrrr

contains the line: "In the gaps, in between words / Are the things that really intrigue me / It’s the gasps and the sighs / That say more about what’s inside you." Need I elaborate further? ;-)