mojo - new album etc

by **fat cherry** » Fri May 16, 2008 1:25 pm

Good news for fans of the rock superlative. Once again, Echo &The Bunnymen announce the greatest album of all time. "The new one is the best thing we've ever done," frontman Ian McCulloch tells MOJO. "So, Ocean Rain is now the second greatest album ever made..." On release in 1984, the Bunnymen's Ocean Rain was advertised as 'The greatest album ever made'. Now it seems this achievement has been exceeded.

"It's a tough record," says McCulloch. "Overall, it has more energy than any of our other albums. It's a fantastic guitar record. There's one song that sounds better than Smells Like Teen Spirit. There's also some beautiful Mellotron, taking you right into heaven. Apart from that it's just guitars and the best voice in the world. It's rock'n'roll. lt's tough, but it'll also break your heart.'

To be released in late 2008, the album was mainly recorded at Parr Street Studios in the band's native Liverpool. Track titles includeThe Idolness OfGods, Forgotten Fields, Proxy, Shroud OfTurin. Think I Needed To and Life Of A Thousand Crimes. "There's one song where the bass is like The Laughing Gnome meets Peter Hook," says McCulloch. "We did mention to Hooky the idea of him playing bass on the album, but once we'd ripped him offthere was no need. Everything Will [Sergeant,Bunnymen guitarist] does on the album is brilliant. The subject matter is the usual-god, destiny and me thinking everyone's a tit-head. It's me looking down and thinking What the fuck is going on? Why is the lowest common denominator still higher than most people aspire to? Shroud OfTurin is about me and Jesus. We get on pretty well. The album title will probably be The Fountain':.

On September 16 the band perform Ocean Rain in its entirety at the Albert Hall. "We thought about other venues', says McCulloch. "But it had to be the Albert hall. When we played there in 1983 we got rock bands back in the place. Ocean Rain will the last 40 minutes - before that there'll be a real mixture ofstuff. The strings are being overseen by Rupert Christie, who played on Lou Reed's Berlin. There'll also be other shows. There's a theatre in Stockholm where Josephine Baker used to perform. I also want to do Moscow. And we're doing the Arena in
Liverpool as our 30th anniversary gig."

A timely feel accompanies both the new album and the Ocean Rain retrospective. In parts, Arcade Fire's Neon Bible album methodically reconstructed the Ocean rain sound. "My mates said, 'You should be suing this lot," says McCulloch.
"But I like them. People say his singing's like me, but Idon't get that. Sinatra was the only competition as far as I was concerned. He [Arcade Fire's Win Butler] warbles OK, but I'm a voice,"

Last month it was also announced that Ian McCulloch's memoirs would be published by Transworld in summer '09,

by **crystal daze** » Fri May 16, 2008 4:52 pm

Thanks FC. Bit of deja vu there, some of those quotes sound a wee bit familiar.

by **Red** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:21 pm

fat cherry wrote: There's one song that sounds better than Smells Like Teen Spirit.

is that hard to do?? :lol:

by **Mr.Sparkle** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:56 pm

So they did think of asking Hook to play with them...It was bound to happen, although who knows if Mac is just joking or not.

Some interesting song titles. Thanks for the news. I have a feeling that this album will be a sort of continuation of Siberia, the more I've listened to Think I Need It Too, the more it sounds like a continuation of that album, even with the heavier guitar that was more prominent with the Electrafixion stuff. At least I hope it is, it's the best album they've done since getting back together, IMO.

by **Lancashire Fusileer** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:46 am

song titles sound good don't they? Actually Mac sounds a tad more upbeat this time. THe idea of Hoky & Mac in the same band mind..

by **guitarplayer on here too** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:32 am

Well at least they are continuing their current trend of big and bold, in your face song titles, more akin to earlier years. Same with some of the titles on Siberia. Compare and contrast "Life Of A Thousand Crimes", "Proxy", "Shroud Of Turin" or "The Idolness Of Gods" to "I'll Fly Tonight", "Make Me Shine", "Alright" or "Get In the Car". Hope the sound of the songs also match the titles.

by **Dr Cheese** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:45 am

fat cherry wrote: Sinatra was the only competition as far as I was concerned. He [Arcade Fire's Win Butler] warbles OK, but I'm a voice."

Do you think Mac actually believes this bullshit? Someone should remind him that he was a voice, these days he just about manages to get by.

by **fat cherry** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:37 am

i often wonder that - the belief thing. when I'm in a good mood i imagine hime with a cheeky twinkle in his eye and that little smirk he has. At other times i imagine him in his harry potter coat bobbing up and down being an arse like he was on the telly just before that 'liverpool is great' gig. Dunno. Loses its edge after 25 years or so really doesn't it?
C.

by **octavia** » Tue May 20, 2008 3:22 pm

Dr Cheese wrote:Do you think Mac actually believes this bullshit? Someone should remind him that he was a voice, these days he just about manages to get by.

Part of his charm, though, is how into himself he is.

by **The Ice Turns Green** » Tue May 20, 2008 5:13 pm

The new song titles sound great, but I really hope the album cover is better this time.

By 'better' I don't mean a sepia picture of Mac leaning out of the window at the Albert Dock Premier Travel Inn whilst Will is making a cup of tea with one of those tiny plastic kettles in the background.

And another thing - Why do they make it so hard to get those kettles under the taps in the bathroom?

Hello all anyway. I really didn't intend my first post to be so 'travel inn' heavy.

Simon.

by **Miracat** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:12 am

I really hope the new album lives up to Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here, Porcupine, Ocean Rain etc. How is Mac's voice these days? Has he wrecked it with smoking/screaming in Electrafixion?

by **withahip** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:42 am

I hope the new album lives up to that interview. The interview was great and the daring chance of turning off old fans with a boy band producer was even gutsier.

If Will (sgt. Fuzz) was allowed to come up with the beats to the demos - we may have a winner.

by **JackT** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:53 am

Miracat wrote:I really hope the new album lives up to Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here, Porcupine, Ocean Rain etc. How is Mac's voice these days? Has he wrecked it with smoking/screaming in Electrafixion?

His fine work in Electrafixion has nothing to do with the state of his voice.

by **Miracat** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:56 am

Hmmm, we'll just have to wait and see. In the old days, the Bunnymen were a really great band and had the music to show for it. Let's hope that Mac isn't just bigging the new album up without good reason. And I really hope he's got some of his range back, in the 80s he had a magnificent voice...

by **Dr Cheese** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:49 am

I'll buy it of course but I fear the new album will just be Siberia pt.2.