I hated it for the same reason the first time I heard it but when I went back to it and just let it wash over me (ponciness alert) it went down really well. A geeat album for the headphones, particularly the remastered version(s) from a few years ago.

Quote from: Eoin McLove on November 26, 2024, 10:30:32 PMI had Loveless on just now. The opening song is cool but it goes too warpy in some of the songs after that. I'm guessing it's supposed to sound like a tape that's been left on the dashboard of the car in 35° heat? That's their thing? Again, I applaud the idea but it melts me to listen to it for long :laugh:

One of the better descriptions of MBV I've heard  :laugh:

Quote from: Eoin McLove on November 26, 2024, 10:30:32 PMI had Loveless on just now. The opening song is cool but it goes too warpy in some of the songs after that. I'm guessing it's supposed to sound like a tape that's been left on the dashboard of the car in 35° heat? That's their thing? Again, I applaud the idea but it melts me to listen to it for long :laugh:

If I had to pick only one off that album, it'd probably be this, and it's the closer so not sure if you stuck it out that long  :laugh:

Really nails the sound of infinity they were pushing for, great bouncy bassline underpinning it


#18 November 27, 2024, 12:44:54 AM Last Edit: November 27, 2024, 01:18:40 AM by Eoin McLove
I've lashed Loveless on again now. Maybe it's a perseverance thing. That first song is so good and as I'm addicted to the new Cure album which isn't a million miles away in style maybe now is the time for MBV to finally click. I'm nothing if not a melted cunt and you can't take that away from me.

I must have a look at live footage. Do they manage to replicate the woozy, stretched sound live or is it a different experience?

Quote from: Eoin McLove on November 26, 2024, 10:09:16 PMThey have yet to click with me. I bought three of their CDs around fifteen years ago when they were being somehow linked to black metal as an influence. I reckon that was bullshit. I can understand why people like them and I admire the creativity and weirdness, but just couldn't quite get into what they were at. I think I'll stick on one of their albums now and see if the time is right.

I think I was first prompted to check them out under similar circumstances, the only thing I can think of is that maybe a few bands like Alcest had that shoegaze-y influence at the time and that's where the influence was coming from? But yeah, I didn't really get the fuss on my first listen and it only really sank in after a few repeats.

Thought the newest one was very good and quite like Loveless but their massive popularity sort of confuses me given that they seem like they aren't very catchy or anything

Quote from: Eoin McLove on November 27, 2024, 12:44:54 AMI've lashed Loveless on again now. Maybe it's a perseverance thing. That first song is so good and as I'm addicted to the new Cure album which isn't a million miles away in style maybe now is the time for MBV to finally click. I'm nothing if not a melted cunt and you can't take that away from me.

I must have a look at live footage. Do they manage to replicate the woozy, stretched sound live or is it a different experience?

Maybe give the 'EP's 1988–1991' compilation a spin. I think their best tunes are on that release, it's fucking brilliant.

Quote from: Maggot Colony on November 27, 2024, 10:52:45 AM
Quote from: Eoin McLove on November 27, 2024, 12:44:54 AMI've lashed Loveless on again now. Maybe it's a perseverance thing. That first song is so good and as I'm addicted to the new Cure album which isn't a million miles away in style maybe now is the time for MBV to finally click. I'm nothing if not a melted cunt and you can't take that away from me.

I must have a look at live footage. Do they manage to replicate the woozy, stretched sound live or is it a different experience?

Maybe give the 'EP's 1988–1991' compilation a spin. I think their best tunes are on that release, it's fucking brilliant.

Pretty sure I have that CD too. I'll give it a spin.

#23 November 27, 2024, 11:53:05 AM Last Edit: November 27, 2024, 11:54:50 AM by Pentagrimes
I'd not forget "Isn't Anything". The perfect point between their more straight up Sonicy Youthy noisy indie rock stuff of the earlier years and the dreamier otherwordly vibe of "Loveless". I'd say "No More Sorry" might be their finest moment after "Soon" and "You Made Me Realise". Genuinely chilling song.

Hearing "Soon" as a kid was absolutely as lifechanging a moment for me as hearing Metallica's "Battery"for the first time.

Loveless is lethal start to finish but in particular it is Come In Alone that always wrenches the guts out of me.  It's the pure sloth off the rhythm guitar on the kick in and the weak little lead over the top.  Lush misery.  Great fuckin stuff

Quote from: Eoin McLove on November 27, 2024, 12:44:54 AMI've lashed Loveless on again now. Maybe it's a perseverance thing. That first song is so good and as I'm addicted to the new Cure album which isn't a million miles away in style maybe now is the time for MBV to finally click. I'm nothing if not a melted cunt and you can't take that away from me.

I must have a look at live footage. Do they manage to replicate the woozy, stretched sound live or is it a different experience?

I mean Loveless is very much a cooked in the studio album so it's not exactly like that live. They go for a more punish you with a wall of sound vibe that is generally like the songs on the album. That sounds a bit like a criticism, but it's not!

The live sets famously have a section referred to as "The Holocaust" (during "You Made Me realise") that can go on for the bones of an hour if it takes them, which is just sheer noise. I have yet to encounter anyone who's witnessed it say that it wasn't the most punishing thing they've ever encountered. My kid brother who has been an absolute MBV obsessive since his early teens has seen them a few times and even he was like "yeah, it was too much".

Wonder how punishing it'll be in the arena, given Colm wrote a letter to complain how tame the sound is there  :abbath:

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/sound-opinions-1.2951126

(I know it's a blank space with a different hire/spec for every show, just think it's funny)

Quote from: Yung Led Zeppelin on November 28, 2024, 05:44:37 PMWonder how punishing it'll be in the arena, given Colm wrote a letter to complain how tame the sound is there  :abbath:

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/sound-opinions-1.2951126

(I know it's a blank space with a different hire/spec for every show, just think it's funny)

Fair play to him, he's right.

Who wants to go to a quiet rock gig like?

Even with earplugs you'd want to feel it

I was at that Sabbath gig. It could have been louder but sound was good and loud enough I thought. But I agree with his general comment. At russian circles recently, up the front and had to take the ear plugs out to hear them. Could easily have been another 10 to 15 decibels.