Some Thoughts on More Will, Less Mac

[Echoflowers]

1. Will is not a songwriting genius
2. Will is the best guitarist, a congenial interpreteur
3. Maybe Will has not improved over the years, maybe he can´t put an extra wow experience to the songs anymore
4. The good old times, the first four albums. They were all in their Twenties. Perfect Songwriting from Mac plus the musical chemistry of all original band members plus nostalgia from the fans
5. Concerning Mac, of course he bears all the work. His songwriting has developed. 30 years on, the recklessness and naivety are gone
6. Will is the good guy, Mac is the bad guy. Whether you like it or not: Mac is the main force. If his songwriting is perfect then he provides us with an astonishing album


Take it like a man! No constant howling anymore!

[Dr Cheese]

Take it like a man! No constant howling anymore!

Right so we just accept whatever sub-standard crap that gets put out under the Bunnymen name and don't dare criticise it? No thanks.

[fat cherry]

well Will is often known to be a grumpy old git isn't he, so not sure he's the good guy as such. And loads of artists manage to sustain a songwrting ability into their middle age. I think both need a foil to work off to produce the best. Mac's the songwriting on slidling and pro patria is toss. So now he's going to shove the same bals out under the bunnymen name. He's not the bad guy, he's just too far up his own arse. But for all we know it may be will has said 'this is what I'll do, and no more'. we should lock them in a room fro a few weeks.

[Dr Cheese]

I think both need a foil to work off to produce the best.

I agree, all their solo efforts are lacking in some respect but I would say Mac's output more so than Wills is below par.
It's a shame Mac appears to have sidelined Will as far as the song-writing goes but Will may be complicit in that, he's already said he can't be arsed any more. Maybe that's because Mac wants control of the song-writing process so Will has lost interest, who knows?

[marco]

For the most part, the first 4 albums were a collaborative effort between four musicians - songs were created with some initial ideas that were brought in and the band worked together to work out the song. This was an organic method of creating songs and while not always perfect, the songs had a uniqueness to them that I think is still there all these years later. Voice, guitars, bass, drums were all integral.

All these years later, only Mac and Will are left. Mac comes up with basic chord progressions that he associates very ordinary lyrics/melodies with. There is no more spontaneity or teeth to the music. At least, thats what it has been like the last few releases - specifically The Fountain and Mac's last solo album, in my opinion. I am excited to hear the new album, and I hope its great. But when I hear choruses like "Holy Moses...Yeah Yeah" repeated 3 or 4 times in a row, I am not very encouraged. It just feels like Mac is trying his hardest to have the Bunnymen be Coldplay...some kind of watered down radio friendly music that you hear in the dentist office waiting room. Even the new cover looks like a Coldplay album.

But I am cautiously optimistic about the new record. You can't judge an album by its cover.

[Kounelaki]

Take it like a man!

Like this?

[Dr Cheese]

You can't judge an album by its cover.

No but you can get an idea what it's going to be like from the clips that are available.

Here if you haven't already had a listen: http://www.429records.com/sites/429reco ... nnymen.asp

[fat cherry]

my record collection is chocca with albums I've bought on the basis of the cover, some good, some not so. So the statement is probably true.

Since Will has released about four albums in the last couple of years you can't say he hasn't the urge. but bunnywise? and maybe what we got on the eva petersen (no idea how you spell that) is what would have been the next bunnies album. Maybe mac needs to take the moz approach, where he takes the music, breaks it up and moulds it into what he wants and then sings over the top. So at least the creative input is there. Cack lyrics aren't that much of a problem with the rigth backing - charts full of nonesense as we know. But you know...

[fat cherry]

i feel a bit like redgumball now, creating a list of what the band ought to do..... Split up probably, and get together ion ten years time.

[marco]

argh. Finally heard the clips. Was hoping for more.

[Voodoo Billy]

Guitar on Constantinople is the highlight so far. Could be good live that one.

[Wabbit]

I was thinking that it would be good live but have a feeling they wouldn't do that live....
but what do I know

[Dr Cheese]

So, one half decent sounding song out of ten ...

[Kounelaki]

Guitar on Constantinople is the highlight so far.

It is.

[5times]

I wouldn't have forked out 18 quid on pledge if I'd heard that before. The first snippet says it all. I can see myself listening to it once and then putting it away somewhere, never to be opened again. Like The Fountain. Time for them to pack in doing new music and just do nostalgia shows.