The Fountain

by **Scouser** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:54 am

I know, it'll be rubbish

by **Dave Smith** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:25 am

I know Bono and he knows Yoko and he knows Eno's phone goes thus.
My sister saw the Bunnymen play up Dudley JB's in 1980.Unfortunately,being as I was 10 at the time,I didnt want to go as I couldnt drink(I'm a bit like that with gigs now).She did however say they were post punk greats and decided to dedicate her life to the world of sound producing such essential artists as 911,Westlife,Mark Owen and wait for it,Busted.
C'mon Jimbo lighten up.If this was anybody else except for somebody you know and a fellow Scot you'd be saying exactly the same thing.The guy is a very successful POP producer.Thats disposable candyfloss that sells to girls under 16 and women over 40.Not the finest post punk band ever that should be pushing back musical boundaries and challenging themselves at this stage in their career.I'm not suggesting he isnt a great producer or a Bunnymen fan and the album may turn out to be the best thing since Ocean Rain.But is he a Bunnymen producer?Time will tell.

by **guitarplayer on here too** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:37 am

JackT wrote:Well in that case, let's start complaining about the next album after this one. I mean, why wait?

Well if you want to. Who will produce it? Will it draw on the vintage Bunnymen sound or just be a load of tat that people will lap up because it's by the Bunnymen and everything they do is the dogs bollocks, and, of course it will be hailed as the greatest thing since the last one. As for the presently untitled album penned for release in 2012, well that's just terrible. The use of Timbaland for the backing vocals and Justin Timberlake as producer is just taking the piss.

by **Thin White Devil** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:13 pm

I just can't believe some people's negativity.

I never post much on the Bunnymen forums anymore. The official forum has a bit of a 1984-feel to it, but this forum often feels like the complete reverse, with people going on and on about how Ian can't sing anymore, can't write proper lyrics anymore and how everything he's done since either Ocean Rain or Evergreen stinks.

And now after one interview from a tabloid... there's already instant posts where everything Mac's said is being used against him. Fantastic.
Building up an overdose of low expectations like some of you are doing, before anybody has even heard the new album, will probably force the negativity on it so much that you can't be convinced anymore that it's any good. I doubt that all those who are so negative right now will be pleased with the album, or anything Echo & the Bunnymen will ever do in the future.
So why even bother??? They will never make another Heaven Up Here or Porcupine or Ocean Rain anymore anyway. I don't get why whoever hates Mac, his lyrics and ballads and the last couple of albums so much keeps sticking around with all the pessimism.

I'm very happy with the news of the new album, the title, the producer and Ian's enthusiasm.
I also love all of Ian's work from the past 30 years, and I'm not the only one (I know of several people who absolutely love WAYGTDWYL). The ballads are for many people still state of the art. I do consider songs like Kansas and What If We Are to be some of the best songs of the millennium so far. I know and understand that sort of sappy stuff doesn't appeal to everybody, but it still holds for a lot of people, and for the rest it's take it or leave it. Be happy with the albums you love. If the new album's going to be another 'Mac'-album... great for us! Leave us be. And try to smile once in a while.

The new producer sounds to me like a fresh take with a devoted professional, who knows a thing about producing to the appeal of the general listener. That doesn't automatically mean that it's going to be Dire Straits mainstream tackiness or dance-routine focused nonsense. It's still the Bunnymen creating the songs in the first place. They have bad memories of the fifth album's overproduction so it shouldn't get to that.
And a touch to help them gain more popularity again won't hurt at all. They've been massively underrated for too long as it is... (even by some of their fans!)

Just a rant to vent my frustration with the perceived negativity (while I'm 'all smiles' with the news), not meant to challenge or insult anybody in particular.

Tijn

by **Dave Smith** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:33 pm

A number of points:
-I have heard two songs played live at Xmas.The new single featured Gordy and the bass player sidling up to each other like Status Quo ,singing along to a one note drone of a chorus.The song was basic A D E chords.The live performance cringeworthy.
If you dont believe me ask anyone who was there.Except Red -she loved it.
Made mental note.This isnt very good.The other song had potential but ran out of steam.Made another mental note-I hope the producer is bloody good
-JM is fine producer who has made quite a name for himself producing and writing radio friendly pop bands such as Busted and Westlife.i.e the type of bands most people on this forum would laugh at.(Busted were good btw).So why is is not fair game to discuss,debate,and argue about the pro's and cons of such at appointment?This is a forum not a one-eyed sickly love up to all things Bunnymen.I;d have the same reservations if Albini was producing.

How do I spell it out.The Bunnymen who are fifty,have appointed a producer of boy bands.If that doesnt provoke somekind of reaction then nothing will.

by **JackT** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:38 pm

Dave Smith wrote:The song was basic A D E chords.

OMG who gives a sh*t about what chords a song uses? How many chords do you want and which ones? When does a song become complicated enough for it to be good?

I can picture it now--"Sure the song had 5 chords, but some of them were diminished, so it's really more like 4, 4 1/2 tops."

by **guitarplayer on here too** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:05 pm

Most of the Bunnymen's songs traditionally use three to four chords anyway, and many are basic chords.

by **blinkilite** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:12 pm

Thin White Devil wrote: Be happy with the albums you love. If the new album's going to be another 'Mac'-album... great for us! Leave us be. And try to smile once in a while.

...And a touch to help them gain more popularity again won't hurt at all. They've been massively underrated for too long as it is... (even by some of their fans!)

i totally agree. i am looking forward to the new album. i like the title, and if this producer guy did boy bands, then so what!

i was at the christmas shows and i thought the 2 new songs they played were decent. they weren't AMAZING, but that didn't mean I hated them or thought the new album would suck.

i appreciate this forum and am glad to have a place to criticize as well as praise the band, but it seems there is far too much on the negative side...

by **Thin White Devil** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:17 pm

Indeed, Jack, and besides: most of the Heaven Up Here songs use one or two chords. This has never been an issue with EATB.

Red loved the new song? I'm very happy to hear that. I know that Red hasn't been too excited about most of the post-evergreen work. That a new song appeals to a die-hard 'old school' fan as she might be seen, is actually a good sign for more than just the 'we love WAYGTDWYL' sappy song lovers such as myself.

Of course the choice of producer provokes reactions. Of course the bands this guy worked with before are bands for fourteen year old girls and lower lifeforms. But I still find the avalanche of pessimism totally unjustified, since we're talking about a succesful pro who's working with a fantastic songwriter and a brilliant guitar and sound wizard who both have 30 years of experience in music. I think we should expect the band to be able to make a carefully considered, good choice for who's going to handle their material... which is still their material so probably great in the first place.

I wasn't responding to just the posts made in this thread. Every time I'm skimming through this forum I come across topics such as 'would it have been better if Mac had died after Ocean Rain' (probably meant to be funny in some way... but obviously coming from dissatisfaction with the band's recent outings) and posts where Mac's current skills are severely doubted. I don't follow the forum that well so I don't know if it's maybe just one or two people repeating themselves over and over again, but coming across instant negativity right after the album announcement urged me to vent my frustrations.

To each his own, but I love this band and I don't need to hear over and over again that the man who I still regard as the best musician in the world can't write or sing anymore or whatever.

by **guitarplayer on here too** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:27 pm

It's funny though. Usually I'm fairly mellow on what is viewed by some as negative posts other than taking the piss out of such postings as the "Mac should have died after Ocean Rain". Besides, some of it has been done before stretching yonks back. For the first time though, I do have a bee in my bonnet largely as I am not that impressed about some of the news on The Fountain, and get shot to pieces for posting any thoughts on the subject. Perhaps I should just stay in the background and agree.... it's great, all is great, your'e great, we're great :razz:

by **stu** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:23 pm

Dave Smith wrote:.I;d have the same reservations if Albini was producing.

I'd fricking love it if Albini was producing.. or indeed maybe even some Butch Vig-ness !!

by **JackT** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:32 pm

guitarplayer on here too wrote:It's funny though. Usually I'm fairly mellow on what is viewed by some as negative posts other than taking the piss out of such postings as the "Mac should have died after Ocean Rain". Besides, some of it has been done before stretching yonks back. For the first time though, I do have a bee in my bonnet largely as I am not that impressed about some of the news on The Fountain, and get shot to pieces for posting any thoughts on the subject. Perhaps I should just stay in the background and agree.... it's great, all is great, your'e great, we're great

Oh come on nobody shot you to pieces, and nobody said everything is great. I think the sentiment was that it is too early to complain.

If you can't handle people responding with thoughts of their own in response to your posts, then maybe you SHOULD "stay in the background".

by **guitarplayer on here too** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:45 pm

Jeez. Yeah right...

by **Dave Smith** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:49 pm

You've gotta love a good argument!

by **guitarplayer on here too** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:53 pm

Too true. Heated debates. A torrent of verbal abuse. Jokes about each person's mums from normally restrained and polite members. I think there was an overwhelming criticism compared to a few posts in support. Where will it go now...

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