so... to the next album ..........

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Going from the last five, mine would go something like this:

"The greatest album since the last greatest album"

1. I'll Fly Tonight
2. Rust
3. In the Margins
4. Just a Touch Away
5. Too Young to Kneel
6. Nothing Lasts Forever
7. Empire State Halo
8. Sideways Eight
9. Forgiven

[fat cherry]

what i was proposing was a non collaboration - half each, a bit like ELP in the 70s. oh and maybe recording it at hansa in the hope that some of that desperation and gloom might seep into it. did i read somewhere that hansa has actually gone now? U2 must have broke it. oh noooooo, nearly turned it into a U2 thread.

just listened to it again and though i quite like bits, as I've said, if this was by some other band and I'd heard it i dont think i'd go out and buy it. lyrically its embarrassingly bad. not to mention illogical - i cried a fountain dry? how does that work then? he's pumping a fountain up his nose and out through his eyes? sorry shouldn't mention mac putting anything u his nose should I?

[redgumball]

I am optimistic around another album. The Fountain is manging to get some notice (right time, wrong album) in the press and via the online boards. It has a few singles dashed off to help pay the mortgage -- all in all glad to have some press and some new tunes. If there is another album (most likely we'll get re-hashes and old material dredged up and re-packaged) it will probably go down in a manner we all won't expect.

You can cross off the Glide wishlist album, most likely strike any return to the rock/punk sounds of the 80's and forget about any type of dark/goth Joy Division inspired sound (circa the current Editors album). Feels to me the Bunnymen are eyeballing the likes of The Killers, Coldplay and the lot. The mainstream never felt so good. Remember it was the Bunnymen of old that were cutting edge and daring enough to record and sell Nocturnal Me and other experiments in sound.

This band is doing it's best to court Glasvegas and Nouvelle Vogue - both less exotic bands with low goals. I would suspect you get another "autopilot" (blame Pitchfork review) album with possibly a nod to another outside producer to help smooth things a bit. Maybe Hugh Jones (if we're lucky) or perhaps another bloke looking to give The Bunnymen "the comb over". After all the band is in it's 50's!

Even so I am optimistic and looking forward to some more music , instead of months of uninspired silence. (Another poll on favorite Bunnymen albums anyone?).

"Indeed, playing albums live can be liberating for bands who feel they're stuck in a groove. Echo & The Bunnymen are a case in point: according to singer Ian McCulloch, "We were [being] perceived as maybe just a band that does release really good records and does the tours, but it was getting too routine. For me, drudgery had set in a bit. I wanted to feel right onstage again, as great as I should."

You can see that perhaps "The Fountain" is at least liberating and helpful in stirring the creative juices (however sour they may be at the moment).

With a new book "Silverfish", an Ian Mcculloch bio, on the horizon and possibly a solo album (as mentioned earlier in the thread) we may be waiting a bit longer for a true Bunnymen project, and can expect another "best-of" or "Live" release at least.

--CORRECTION -- New iTunes Glasgow just released via iTunes ---

Even so some songs and news are better than no songs and news.

[fat cherry]

i particularly enjoyed the part where you reminded us (like you know, on this forum, just in case the obvious passed you by....... oh no, the obvious, of course.....) that the singer is ian mcculloch.

[fat cherry]

. Remember it was the Bunnymen of old that were cutting edge and daring enough to record and sell Nocturnal Me and other experiments in sound.

see i think thats a basic misunderstarnding of rock music and rock musicians. nt to mention youth. thats what they did. 'daring' suggests there was some method or intent. now it seems its all method and intent but none of that other stuff i dont know the name of.

[fat cherry]

a band that does release really good records and does the tours, but it was getting too routine. For me, drudgery had set in a bit.

well, i mean, do need to say it...... setlist issue and all that. youre not mac are you RGB? I mean you do apparently have the freedom of thebunnymen city and poor old KOK gets chucked over the ramparts. and yes i notes the quotation marks. pass the bucket please

[withahip]

Nicely written reg - but I will keep pinning for a Glide/Ian album.

[withahip]

Never Stop just plyed at bar here and people loved it.

[Dr Cheese]

They must have all been over 30 because, you know, that sort of stuff isn't what the "kids" want to hear. Apparently.

[Lancashire Fusileer]

Dunno where to start.
I truly hope they don't make another b.o.r.i.n.g. rec. like the Fountain, whether it's good for Mac's psyche or not is neither here nor there. We're not care nurses.

And all these excuses that "it's the way the industry is maan" seem hopelessly out of date and wide of the mark, especially when you consider what other bands/labels try during these days of comparative artistic freedom and invention.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I still think that is the worst statement that I have read from a band to its fans. Put two fingers up and say it's what the people want, and you are all wrong. I can't think of anywhere that I have read that before.

Still, on the positive note, The Fountrain beat Bernard Sumner's shenanigans with Bad Lieutenants in the UK album charts and the producer is probably able to sleep at night knowing that it wasn't that far off beating a greatest hits album released by his evil nemesis, Boyzone. Ten more places or so and it would have beaten Spandau Ballet and their chicken in the basket release.

[fat cherry]

I still think that is the worst statement that I have read from a band to its fans.

couldn't agree more, but thats what you get having your mates doing PR, and roadying, and telling you what you want to hear.

[Mr.Sparkle]

Given the fact that almost half of the Fountain basically is a solo album by Ian, what's the point of doing another solo album next? Especially given the fact that the new album hasn't sold that great?

Honestly, if they don't try something new and creative on the next album then I hope they just split up. Also, if it's going to take 4 years to put out another barely above average album (by Bunnymen standards) with just 10 songs, then again, just split up. Ian stating in a recent interview that he's more into ballads (both new and from the older stuff) than other kinds of songs doesn't bode well for future Bunnymen releases.

Will can go do his Glide thing and collaborate on other people's albums (his guitar on that Primal Scream song was awesome and showed that he can still rip up it when given the opportunity) and Ian can continue his never ending quest for a Top Ten hit and album...Just do it under the appropriate name, Ian McCulloch and not Echo and the Bunnymen.

[Dr Cheese]

The above post mostly sums up my feelings too. Just stop.

[Dr Evil]

I think they should keep doing shows. At their best they are still a good live act, and with a rarities set-list would be a great one. But they really need a committee of hardcore fans to produce any new album, and reject anything sub-standard.