'Think I Need It Too' due out on July 14?

[black francis]

I'm not suggesting this is the truth but could it be Warners dropped them because the new album lacks real quality?Nobody has heard it have they?When we finally get to hear it will anyone still care?It could be released at least two years after recording so the band will stuggle to get any enthusiasm to tour it properly.This is probably why Mac is going around talking about the new songs he's been writing.The Fountain's arrival could end up being as monumental as a piss in the breeze if the management arent careful.Get it out over the internet now.£6 -£7 digital download and then move on.

re Flowers-worst Bunnymen album.But Siberia is class.

That was my first thought. Like the Grey album maybe they were told you fuckers got some more work to do on this before it will ever see the light of day. It can't be that bad though. I mean the jangle pop they've been mining is pretty safe and inoffensive stuff. Good for about 10,000 in sales. I just hope the masters aren't lost in any courier hold ups. I still wanna hear the album.

[moondance]

re Flowers-worst Bunnymen album.But Siberia is class.

I LOVE Flowers!

[rimmel65]

I still think the best thing would be to forgo all that and just release it for free, and then they can fund their own tour by first opening for one of these younger more popular bands that owe their very existence to the Bunnymen. That would get them visibility and exposure in the US market and boost it in Europe.

Sorry!It would be an humiliation....maybe there are other chance to increase visibility...

[withahip]

Agreed - nothing could save those albums.

The next album will come free with The Mail On Sunday - you heard it here first

I am cool with Scouser expressing his opinion (some others are gona skin you) -

however I wasn't saying they were terrible - or bad - just lacked anything that would have spread by word of mouth like their earlier albums.

[guitarplayer on here too]

Free in The Sunday Mail? I don't think things are that bad yet. Another suitable label could be the Liverpudian Deltasonic (The Coral, Zutons and any other scouser band). Half owned by Sony and judging by their artist list, you don't have to have get into the top 40 with every single or album you release. If not, they can go back to the Cooking Vinyl retirement home for stray musicians. Their artist page remains and a little bit of tweaking and editing, nobody know that they left.

".blah, blah, history, etc... 20 track version with a DVD featuring 8 videos from their career.

[s]In March 2007, the Bunnymen announced that they had re-signed to their original record label, Korova/Warners, and are also working on [/s] The Bunnymen have completed a new album out soon."

[In The Margins]

You know it's nice that even though Warners kicked the band to the curb they (Warners) continue to make money off the band by licensing the back catalogue to anybody who asks so another greatest hits compilation can be released every few months. Big corporations are the best.

[Mr.Sparkle]

I know this is going to upset a lot of people - but had those albums really been any good they would have sold.

Send the h8.

Flowers is one of the worst Bunnymen albums, Siberia is the best album they've put out since getting back together.

The problem, if you've never heard the Bunnymen, is all of the new albums aren't really doing anything special or groundbreaking or, I hate to say it, even that interesting for people to pick up their albums outside of the already established fanbase, IMO. I think that may be one big reason Warners dropped them. Their stuff is just too safe and middle of the road. I hate to say that, and I still think Siberia is a really good album, but that's the way it is. If they were doing stuff more inline with Glide, mixed with some old-school Bunnymen, it may be a different story, maybe not. The Bunnymen were always trying new stuff with the first 4 albums, definitely not the case with the last 4.

There are tons of younger "indie" and "alternative" bands, and while most are pretty bad, they look much more marketable to bigger labels and they probably are.

I just hope the new album is released soon on whatever label and that it kicks ass. I never fail to get excited for a Bunnymen release, even though the recent stuff has been mostly ho-hum, outside of Siberia and a handful of other songs.

[Dr Cheese]

I think that may be one big reason Warners dropped them. Their stuff is just too safe and middle of the road.

I find it incredibly depressing that the band that released HUH and Porcupine are now considered "middle of the road".

[Lancashire Fusileer]

No. Please check out the kranky label and now sub pop is back to the DIY for example. There are plenty of niche DIY labels out there. You are going by the ones you know that have become big.

http://www.kranky.net/

http://www.subpop.com/


There are PLENTY more like this - that fans of a certain taste get into (metal blade for super heavy metal for example)

Absolutely. There are tons of good labels. Kranky, Morr, Karaoke kalk, Monika Staubgold etc etc (and those are just some German ones)
There are plenty of labels per se who would see the Bunnymen as a great addition. And would probably give them loving care & attention.
The key is internal (ie band management/band acolytes/band promotion people) who are talented and committed.
The key is to get your bloody arse in gear and work properly & stylishly for the band (Franz Ferdinand, British Sea Power, Long Blondes, I could name more in my direct personal experience) all have people who work hard for them and promote them above and beyond the dictates/limitations of their record company. The DIY aesthetic (which the Bunnies via Zoo helped trailblaze) is the way, hand in hand with your label.
Right now, it's how the modern music world works

[Frank The Bunny]

Absolutely. There are tons of good labels. Kranky, Morr, Karaoke kalk, Monika Staubgold etc etc (and those are just some German ones)
There are plenty of labels per se who would see the Bunnymen as a great addition. And would probably give them loving care & attention.
The key is internal (ie band management/band acolytes/band promotion people) who are talented and committed.
The key is to get your bloody arse in gear and work properly & stylishly for the band (Franz Ferdinand, British Sea Power, Long Blondes, I could name more in my direct personal experience) all have people who work hard for them and promote them above and beyond the dictates/limitations of their record company. The DIY aesthetic (which the Bunnies via Zoo helped trailblaze) is the way, hand in hand with your label.
Right now, it's how the modern music world works

That's all well and good if you're a young band.

Older bands who aren't currently on the A-list are embracing their back catalogues and are constantly playing the oldies circuit.

Put a great guitarist who hates to tour with a singer who lets his vices take over while on tour, and you don't exactly have a recipe for quality or longevity on the road.

Maybe they should do a reality show.

[Mr.Sparkle]

I find it incredibly depressing that the band that released HUH and Porcupine are now considered "middle of the road".

Maybe that's not the right phrase. I still think their recent stuff is better than most new bands, but, again, I just don't think most of the new material is going to attract too many newer or younger fans. Or is even going to be remembered in the same way in another 15 years like the earlier stuff. Maybe I'm wrong.

It kinda seems that the Bunnymen are simply playing to the hardcore fans but not really moving forward musically in a lot ways, but hey, they're a lot older and putting stuff out that is better than most bands their age. I think my expectations are just unrealistic for the most part with this band.

[Jikan Myshkin]

Think I Needed Two

.

i'd be happy with just one being released

[Dr Cheese]

Maybe that's not the right phrase. I still think their recent stuff is better than most new bands, but, again, I just don't think most of the new material is going to attract too many newer or younger fans. Or is even going to be remembered in the same way in another 15 years like the earlier stuff. Maybe I'm wrong.

You're not wrong, Mac seems to have his own blueprint for writing songs and is either unwilling or unable to deviate from it which results in safe albums like Siberia. Another problem is the fact that the Bunnymen have been around for nearly 30 years and as such are probably considered outdated by a media always looking for the next bunch of 17yr old kids with guitars which means they are almost universally ignored by the unwashed masses.

[black francis]

Release the Johnny Marr stuff. I know someone has the masters. Like some hold up gang has been sitting around enjoying them when not robbing courier vans. Dr. Cheese is right about Mac and his song writing. He needs to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING different. I am VERY curious to hear a collaboration with another artist even if it was some 12 odd years ago. As for the Bunnymen if you're gonna hire a boy band producer, then do a boy band album. I would take that over Siberia part II which I'm eagerly awaiting as the album called The Fountain.

[Lancashire Fusileer]

That's all well and good if you're a young band.

Older bands who aren't currently on the A-list are embracing their back catalogues and are constantly playing the oldies circuit.

Put a great guitarist who hates to tour with a singer who lets his vices take over while on tour, and you don't exactly have a recipe for quality or longevity on the road.

Maybe they should do a reality show.

I hear what you're saying but in all honesty they could be a lot more creative in their thinking promotions wise. BSP's stuff is done by their older brother, who's 40++... and his ideas appeal to the Bright Young Things pretty damn well.


I really believe the Bunnymen's set up have somehow missed out on tapping into a lot of goodwill their back catalogue & reputation generated recently.