The WAYGTDWYL Appreciation Society

[Mr. Brian]

I always love the What Are You Going To Do With Your Life? discussions, Bunnymen fans seem to hate it or love. I think Mac's vocals are superb and the songs are well written and mature. Rust is a big favorite of mine. If it had been on Evergreen it would have been a hit. His voice just soars with passion. Baby Rain is way up there too.

A lot of bad karma surrounded this album with Les leaving, Will left behind, almost quitting, getting dropped by the label, Ian's voice was pretty much gone on that 99 US tour. I know there is more.

Anyway I think if you take it for what it is, it's great as an album of songs written by a great songwriter regardless if there isn't enough Will or "it's not really a Bunnymen album".

My biggest gripe is that it's a tad short. I think 2 more songs would have rounded it out, maybe throw in a couple of rockers like Fish Hook Girl.

There was a great discussion on the ianmcculloch.com forum which appears to be MIA.

[moondance]

I love WAYGTDWYL. I know that others will disagree. It's my personal feeling (totally unsubstantiated) that Ian wrote it all to Lorraine when they were having marital difficulties and rushed into a studio impulsively, thinking that Will would "add his flourishes" which I think is really how he thinks of Will instead of as a contributor, which is sad.
All that being said, I agree that the songs are all very heartfelt and well written. The delivery is heartbreaking and devastating which is what I think he intended.
The lyrics and melodies are beautiful, expressing his thoughts almost effortlessly.
It probably should have been issued as a solo album but I can't deny that I think its amazing.

[Red]

and rushed into a studio impulsively, thinking that Will would "add his flourishes" which I think is really how he thinks of Will instead of as a contributor, which is sad.

Will told me on that tour that the entire album was already written when they went into the studio to record it. He and Les had very little input. (which is quite obvious!)

[blinkilite]

to be honest, i never really gave this album a chance... but then i only got a copy of it recently (within the last year). i think rust is a fantastic song, but without repeated listening (like i have given other albums) i can't compare it fairly.

[Red]

yeah, i love Rust, but the rest of it is just a Mac solo album to me. can't get into it like the rest of the bunnymen albums. i haven't played it for........years? i mean, i don't hate it or anything.....i just prefer the others over it.

i really should play it one of these days.

[Ted]

I think it's a fantastic album. The title track is the best to me...this was really the last great Bunnymen album, solid songs from start to end. It seems strange that Will is so unhappy with it...the Bunnymen would be pretty dull if every album sounded the same I think this one gives their catlouge some real variety and shows a different side of them even if it is more Mac.

[ballywho?]

I think its just a great chill out album - which isn't something you would think you could say about the Bunnymen - I like listening to it when I'm feeling mellow or having a long soak in the bath - Try It !![/b]

[Fish Hook Girl]

When this album came out the NME gave it a rating of 9. They couldn't give it enough praise. Personally, I thought it was (and still is to a degree, but now it does sound a bit dated) one of the finest albums ever released. (Don't ask me to name any other fine albums...) Each song was created and produced with such precision and there was no fluff or filler material in the tracks. My only complaint was that it should have been one song longer.

My favorites songs are Rust, Fools Like Us and Lost On You. I'm saddened when I read that Will hates that album above all other albums. Without his cooperation this album would never have been made. And his guitar flourishes aren't hidden deep down in the mixes like some have suggested. But are right where they need to be to make the songs work.

On a side note, the song Fools Like Us was written for the movie Martha Meet Frank, Daniel and Lawrence. In the U.S. the movie was renamed The Very Thought Of You. A few years ago I taped an overnight airing of it on HBO (or maybe Encore) and when I played it back, the moment the song queued up it took my breath away. It sounded so beautiful and lush with the strings and the vocals and then Will's guitar. It was/is a song that only the Bunnymen could make work.

Also, over the past year during one interview somewhere Will was asked which post-reunion album disappointed him the most and he named Flowers, not WAYGTDWYL. Maybe he's had a change of heart.

[moondance]

Also, over the past year during one interview somewhere Will was asked which post-reunion album disappointed him the most and he named Flowers, not WAYGTDWYL. Maybe he's had a change of heart.

Wow, and Flowers has so much Will. I have heard Mac put that one down too but I don't know why, because I do love it so much. Each album has a different feel to it which I like because this is not a repetitive band.

[Dave Smith]

Brilliant album from start to finish.I will champion its cause to the end.In my top three favs after OR and HUH.Now Flowers........aaaaaagh dont start me on that one please(weakest Bunny related album by a country mile)[/b]

[moondance]

What do you find weak about Flowers Dave?

[black francis]

I think both "Flowers" and "What Are You Going to Do With Your Life" are well crafted albums that don't sully the Bunnymen name but I think they could have been great if they were just a bit less polished. Someone call in Nick "The Basher" Lowe to produce the next one. Or my dream producer would be Kevin Shields but good luck getting him out of the house.

[Mr. Brian]

On a side note, the song Fools Like Us ...It sounded so beautiful and lush with the strings and the vocals and then Will's guitar. It was/is a song that only the Bunnymen could make work.

The last song released with Les. That was the only song on that album that he plays bass on. Was that song a leftover from the Evergreen sessions? I thought Les was pretty much gone when they started recording this album.

I always like pointing out that Rust charted higher than Lips Like Sugar and about the same as Bring On The Dancing Horses, two of the Bunnymen's more well known songs.

[Frank The Bunny]

On a side note, the song Fools Like Us ...It sounded so beautiful and lush with the strings and the vocals and then Will's guitar. It was/is a song that only the Bunnymen could make work.

The last song released with Les. That was the only song on that album that he plays bass on. Was that song a leftover from the Evergreen sessions? I thought Les was pretty much gone when they started recording this album.

I always like pointing out that Rust charted higher than Lips Like Sugar and about the same as Bring On The Dancing Horses, two of the Bunnymen's more well known songs.

Fools Like Us was on the soundtrack to Dark City, a year before WAYGTDWYLOLLYPOP was released

[Mr. Brian]

Fools Like Us was on the soundtrack to Dark City, a year before WAYGTDWYLOLLYPOP was released

No, That was Just a Touch Away in 1998 on Dark City. Martha Meet Frank Daniel And Laurence did come out with Fools Like Us, as pointed out earlier, that same year, a full year ahead of the WAYGTDWYL release.