New Song Snippets on Myspace

[Mr.Sparkle]

It's not looking good. Proxy and Do You Know Who I Am both sound like they belong on Slideling. I actually like the production and music (Will's guitar sounds awesome in the short snippets) but Ian's lame, lame, lame lyrics and backing vocals are driving me crazy and could ruin some of these songs. At least to my ears that's what it sounds like.

Honestly, my very first impression on hearing the new songs is they should probably break up, after hearing the songs a few more times they sound better, but hopefully it gets better.

[Frank The Bunny]

What's with the shitty backing "doo-doot"s and "ooh-wah"s?

Fucking sucks.

[candelabro]

What's with the shitty backing "doo-doot"s and "ooh-wah"s?

Fucking sucks.

Yeah, please someone tell the man!

[Mr.Sparkle]

What's with the shitty backing "doo-doot"s and "ooh-wah"s?

Fucking sucks.

That's what I'm talking about! Just embarrassing. It sounds just like Slideling, Pt. 2. I guess Will wasn't kidding when he said this album was more of Mac's album than his.

Hopefully these songs sound better heard in their entirety, but when I Think I Need It sounds like the best song of the four on there, things aren't looking good. On the plus side, Will is making some awesome sounds on the guitar.

[marco]

not blown away...but these are just snippets. Unfortunately Drivetime sounds like it came from a Coldplay album from 3 years ago and I agree with some others on how some of these songs sound like Slideling Pt. 2.

[black francis]

I wanted to hate them but I actually liked Do You Know Who I Am? and Proxy.

Think I Need It Too still sucks and Drivetime could definitely suck but I'll make that final decision later.

I have to say though it does sound like a departure from the jangle pop they've been aping and they should be commended for that if nothing else.

And thank God for Will.

[black francis]

Label: California Surfing?
Type: Major?

[black francis]

People are probably wetting themselves at the official forum. Time for a look see.

[withahip]

Will's guitar playing on Drivetime and Do You Know Who I Am? is excellent!

[redgumball]

Listened to the snippets and I can't say I am too excited. I will probably wait to get this in the bargain bin...

Perhaps this explains the delay. The songs sound a little like the "(How Does It Feel To Be) On Top Of The World" type jinggley pop. I suppose one could blame it on the producer, or mega-control excerted by Mcculloch. Either way it panders to Coldplay-light and doesn't seem as edgey as some of the better Bunnyen moments.

The horse may be dead before he's out of the gate.

Seems like McCulloch has managed to deliver his "Pet Sounds" complete with solo inflections and some very overtly produced mixes.

Drivetime - Sounds like a Coldplay B-Side. The final mix badly misses the soaring depths this band is capable of. Hollow in delivery and spirit. Ian and hired guns doing their impression of Chris Martin. Mcculloch has managed to sand-off all the edges and deliver a middle-age, orchestra-rich softie.

Proxy - From the 60's girl group, sound of "Proxy" (Ginger Spice on backing vocals?) to the badly mixed bass and rythm section to the almost hidden guitar work by master Will Sargent -- this song doesn't even stand beside some of the Bunnymen's lesser songs. The pace is quickened and forced and the Bunnymen fail to catch up, never choosing to wallow in the depths that made classics like The Killing Moon so good. Mid-tempo range with no thrills, like a staring contest instead of a punch in the gut.

Do You Know Who I Am? - Possibly a left-over Mysterio song, complete with the same stylized wall-of-sound. Could be saved with a live version or stripped demo, featuring just simply the band. I can almost hear this track trying to break out of the formula and into a solid hit. "Need it, Got it -- down.down. down" -- dies from the drum machine, so performed live it could actually be something of a keeper.

Think I Need It Too - The best song out of the 4 snippets posted to Myspace on 7/19/09. It actually sounds like there is a whole band on this one. From the hitting guitars to the Will Sargent shriek played over the gruff-Mcculloch vocals. Sounds like the atmospheric rock of the Bunnymen bygone era. Having been out a while now, this single is a favorite on tour and on Youtube.

I am holding out hope, however on the overall album. I am feeling a C- on this album from what's been posted so far. It will be a shame to have to wait out this album and to pine for the next, hoping the band comes to some consensus on their legacy.

The experimental songs and the hard-charging sounds of Bunnymen past, may have to come to light as b-sides on this album. The white-wash has managed to sap most of the life out of what i've heard as titles on the CD and dowload only release.

I don't suppose shelving the album and only kitting-off some of the singles as an EP is an option?

[withahip]

Seems like Ian may have been listening to Walk On The Wildside over and over.

[Mr.Sparkle]

I wonder what Will must've been thinking while recording this album with Ian doing those woo-woo's in the background on Proxy. Was he saying to himself "just give me the money and let me go home"?

I'm sorry but Ian's lyrics keep getting worse and worse and more cliched with each new album he releases, whether it's with the Bunnymen or solo. Maybe Proxy gets better heard in it's entirety but man, I gotta say just based on the 40 second snippet, it's got to be one of the lamest and most embarrassing songs the Bunnymen have ever done. "Everybody look at us now, Look at us now, woo-woo". Those are some of the gayest lyrics I've heard in some time. That could be a Spice Girls song just based on the lyrics (not music).

Also, is that snippet of I Think I Need It Now the single edit? The beginning is cut off by a second or two from the album version I have.

[guitarplayer on here too]

Some might say a bit harsh given that these are very short samples that tell you nothing. Drivetime certainly must be the Chris Martin penned song. I thought Do You Know Who I Am was alright, at least it does sound like a Bunnymen song circa grey album. Is it something different to what has gone before (post Evergreen)? Yes. Is it that exciting from the snippets? No. But I'd still like to hear a bit more before making my mind up. Certainly, Think I Need It Too does stand out, even if I can't stand the chorus.

[guitarplayer on here too]

I went back and listened again. The songs are goddam awful.

[moses (2)]

I actually like them -- 40 seconds and all