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Post by arepeatingloop on Dec 25, 2013 14:56:36 GMT 1
I like what I'm hearing so far and it seems they're trying to make a statement again after Hardcore which was well made but a bit too predictable and all over the place That seems like a bit of a contradictory statement to me... ? I really like Rave Tapes so far, but to me HWNDBYW was a necessary jolt to the more current Mogwai discography. It was still the band we know and love but that album felt infused with a new-found energy and desire to push things in new directions. I was listening to it again just prior to the Rave Tapes leak and I thought "yup... still holds up!" That said, I get the impression that Rave Tapes is a nice progression of the experimentation of "Hardcore..." but maybe lacks just a bit of the punch of the former. Overall, I think it's great and I'm so pleased to hear that the band seems far from running out of steam. "Hexon Bogon" to me is maybe the weakest track and I really like "Master Card" but I wish it had a teeny bit more "oomph" (a la "San Pedro")... although, as I said before, the "live" version is quite nice. "Heard About You..." is a sublime opener and I find myself singing "Blues Hour" in my head without even realizing it, fairly often.
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Post by metatron on Dec 25, 2013 21:03:56 GMT 1
No what I meant is: certain songs were a bit too predictable for me (e.g. You're Lionel Richie, certainly not a bad song but you know, if you listened to Mogwai or post-rock in general a lot it's fairly predictable from the start where it's going to end 8 minutes later, another example is Death Rays following the same pattern as Friend of the Night) while the album as a whole doesn't really flow that well. It's more a collection of 10 new Mogwai songs than a cohesive whole.
I didn't really hear a lot of "new directions" either, Hardcore is more a "band doing what they're good at" kind of deal which isn't a bad thing in itself but I found it to be a bit of a step down after the more complex songs on Hawk (a criminally underrated album imo) and in the end I like the Music for a Forgotten future bonus track and Drunk and Crazy from the EP probably more than anything on the album proper from that era.
And yeah, I think it's a good thing as well Master Card doesn't go for an all out obvious climax with a lot of "oomph" because again, that would've been the predictable thing to do in my opinion. And they can always do that in their live shows.
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Post by superfuzz on Dec 25, 2013 21:51:18 GMT 1
"Hexon Bogon" to me is maybe the weakest track and I really like "Master Card" but I wish it had a teeny bit more "oomph" (a la "San Pedro")" I heard the whole album about 20 times..in my opinion "hexon bogon" is the best track regarding the care to the guitars. I prefer "Master Card" then "San Pedro"..."San Pedro" is one of the most weak track in the whole Mogwai discography because of it has't nothing of the music mood and taste of the band.... every guys with guitars can write "San Pedro".... at least "Master Card" has some fascinating arrangement dynamics although the rhythmics is basilar. i'm so sorry but i have made my point. Marco
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Post by arepeatingloop on Dec 26, 2013 0:13:59 GMT 1
Eh. We'll agree to disagree... there's plenty on HWNDBYW that's "new" for Mogwai (White Noise, Mexican Grand Prix, George Thatcher) or at least they were trying to do something new with what we expect from them. And that's what I meant about pushing in new directions. No one expects them to reinvent the wheel. And I wasn't saying that Master Card should come to a climax... just that it seems a little TOO SAFE on the album version where as San Pedro has a pretty driving rhythm and I disagree that any band with guitars could have written that... there's some really great things going on rhythmically and texturally that aren't necessarily obvious right away. It was a nice break from some of the songs they had written that were just heavy for the sake of being heavy (We're No Here, Batcat).
Not trying to argue at all here. Just happy to have a place to discuss Mogwai rock songs.
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Post by metatron on Dec 26, 2013 1:05:33 GMT 1
I dunno Arepeatingloop, I kinda agree with Superfuzz... Not that San Pedro is horrible or anything but I feel like it's the kind of song any number of instrumental rock bands could've written by now. It's probably the kind of tune that would've been massive in 1997, but in 2010 after 15 years of "post-rock"... not so much in my opinion.
You're right about George Square trying something else but it didn't really work out that well. Maybe if they made more songs in that vein but coming from Letters from the Metro I always found it a bit jarring. Rave Tapes has at least the advantage of being a more singular album imo so minor tracks can still go along with the flow. I don't think White Noise is all that progressive but it's the song on Hardcore that has grown the most on me and probably my favorite track on that album. It's effortless whitout being autopiloty. Really nice.
For what it's worth I thought Mr Beast had similar problems but the stand outs were better than the best songs on Hardcore.
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Post by arepeatingloop on Dec 26, 2013 3:11:15 GMT 1
Ha. That might be why I like it so much... It sounds like a kickass song from 1997.
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Post by superfuzz on Dec 27, 2013 8:57:59 GMT 1
Ha. That might be why I like it so much... It sounds like a kickass song from 1997. Ok, I heard "San Pedro" again with more attention. I have to admit that i have overrated the song, specially the john part on 12 strings guitar is very good. however i think that the Mogwai's songs like "San Pedro" haven't the cathartic mood which characterised the Band, there is a lack of atmosphere. A solid and catartic atmosphere is the best thing that i feel on "Rave Tapes" unlike from the "Hardcore(...) .
Marco
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Post by tnaugler on Dec 30, 2013 4:39:21 GMT 1
I haven't broken down and grabbed a listen via the leak so far. I want to... but I think I'll hold off till I get my box set (or if i were to get an advance copy to review for my site *wink wink*)
That being said, the comments that everyone have been sharing, have greatly peaked my interest. We'll see if I can make it till the end if January!
Sent from my GT-S7560M using proboards
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Post by blindsummit on Dec 30, 2013 14:31:29 GMT 1
I'm hanging on for the box set, looks amazing.
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Post by rob strong on Jan 5, 2014 21:02:52 GMT 1
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Post by superfuzz on Jan 6, 2014 1:55:45 GMT 1
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Post by doomerian on Jan 6, 2014 20:05:18 GMT 1
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Post by rob strong on Jan 6, 2014 21:12:16 GMT 1
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Post by superfuzz on Jan 7, 2014 18:12:57 GMT 1
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Post by rob strong on Jan 7, 2014 19:37:37 GMT 1
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Post by brash on Jan 8, 2014 9:57:27 GMT 1
A few weeks in now and love this record more and more each listen...fair play to them- 8 quality albums in and no signs of slowing down.
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Post by tnaugler on Jan 8, 2014 17:06:57 GMT 1
ok, I failed myself, and downloaded it yesterday. I've been listening to it on and off ever since, in between work and whatnot, and I can already honestly say that it already falls into my favorites category.
There is definitely a more electronic feel to the album, then those in the past, but at the same time those notable Mogwai guitar tones are still raging in there! Hexon Bogon & Mastercard are favs at the moment, but I'm sure it will rotate, the more listens I give.
Seriously can't wait to see these tracks live!
edit: I should probably add, that by "more electronic" I basically mean, more synthy... haha.
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Post by rob strong on Jan 9, 2014 19:44:32 GMT 1
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Post by indiewindy on Jan 10, 2014 22:08:01 GMT 1
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Post by superfuzz on Jan 11, 2014 11:25:21 GMT 1
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Post by jontosh on Jan 13, 2014 15:20:46 GMT 1
the album is streaming for people in Belgium on Deezer: www.deezer.com/album/7263142I guess it'll go up on NPR or something at some point for the rest of us.
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Post by mrsrf on Jan 13, 2014 19:01:24 GMT 1
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Post by jontosh on Jan 14, 2014 13:55:30 GMT 1
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Post by benrowe on Jan 14, 2014 18:15:38 GMT 1
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Post by tnaugler on Jan 14, 2014 19:04:20 GMT 1
It's a lovely intro as well.
I broke and had an early listen, but I'm holding out for the real deal before getting any real reviews for my site done.
Even on an early listen though, I'm positively in love with it. Although, I wish Hexon Bogon was longer. Such a great track.
Sent from my GT-S7560M using proboards
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Post by noise is a friend on Jan 14, 2014 19:38:59 GMT 1
Still to hear the album other than the two tracks I have on the promo CD.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by jontosh on Jan 14, 2014 21:31:04 GMT 1
Well, spun it five times today. So so disappointed. The album feels really unimaginative and constrained. I don't think any of the tracks would get into my Top 20 Mogwai tracks, although a couple I'm looking forward to hearing live.
Feeling even more stupid for rushing in and buying the expensive boxset.
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Post by benrowe on Jan 14, 2014 22:03:58 GMT 1
So...I caved in and gave it *one* spin via The Guardian. I was apprehensive given the mixed reviews on here but...based on the one play, I liked it overall. Couple of tracks stood out as future favourites, a couple of tracks stood out as possibly going to be tough to make friends with. It needs some serious headphone time on the bus early in the morning! I'm looking forward to devouring both the Steve Gullick book and the album...hoping it turns up before Monday. RFH next Friday, too!
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Post by rob strong on Jan 15, 2014 8:40:31 GMT 1
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Post by brash on Jan 15, 2014 9:57:23 GMT 1
Interesting to read people seem to hate 'Repelish'...I think it's the best track. The album isn't immediate - but then again 8 albums in that'd be pretty hard to do. Awaiting the boxset eagerly - curious to hear the three other tracks. I loved the bsides from HWNDBYW so should be good to hear more new tracks.
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