so... to the next album ..........

by **fat cherry** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:19 am

what do you expect of the future? is there one? will it be a return to form, more poptastic eurovision poop or is that it? the end. kaput. Or, if i can quote costello, is it too soon to know? At the current rate I'll be about 53 by the time it comes out so i'll probably be down the bowls club and have to send out for my copy.

I was listening to Low in the car the other day. now there's a funny album, though funny is probably not quite the word. but half and half. how about one side macster doing his stuff (will he still have a lyrical obsession with the words down and round? who knows) and the other half sergentian nightmares. i'd go for that. wotcha think?

Chez.

ps KOK if you want to start youre own thread on this topic please feel free, or have you already done so?

by **the ghost of guitarplayer** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:12 am

There was a recent interview where Mac said he wanted to do another Bunnymen album and then a solo one after that.

The question that comes to mind with The Fountain is that it now? A single was released as a download and the album has come out. It hasn't charted as they had hoped, although it did better than Siberia (obviously though they are only now promoting it worldwide, but are unlikely to get a Billboard hit with it). Later, do the band release another MP3 single off the album to try and sell some more copies or just get on with the next one after the touring is finished in early 2010? Do they leave another album for a few more years, by which time, they will have to do the PR all over again probably from scratch? Maybe with a Heaven Up Here in its full entirety tour in between.

Personally, I'd like them to get back to writing a new album within the next year. Going for something along the Glide lines, revisting an Evergreen-type sound or even something along Crocodiles where the tunes are pretty basic and stripped bare (with more of a live feeling to it) might provide an interesting album. I suppose come next year, they will have to make a decision one way or another. I reckon a HUH or Crocodiles in its full entirety tour might get more cash wise than releasing more new material.

by **Dr Cheese** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:22 am

I'll be happy as long it sounds nothing like The Fountain!

Seriously get Will to do some Glide style tunes and let Mac write the lyrics for them.

Like that'll ever happen!!

I suppose if we get another one it will just be more Bunnymen Lite Mac stuff with Will adding the odd guitar break here and there, more of the same in fact. How depressing, to be honest I'd prefer it if they just did the decent thing and knocked the "band" on the head, retired the Bunnymen name and just did their own thing on their own.
Will could go back to his dj nights and releasing a Glide album once a decade and Mac could pursue his dream of being a crooner with a residency at Pizza Hut or something.

by **Mr.Sparkle** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:31 pm

I'm starting to wonder why the Bunnymen are even putting new albums out - the albums don't sell, the singles don't sell and the band hardly ever plays any of the new songs live. How ridiculous is it that they release a new album and hardly play any songs off it? What band does that?? From my count they're doing 3 songs off the album right now. That was about the number off Siberia as well. I'm pretty sure that was the count off of Flowers, too. Maybe that's an indicator of the quality of music they're putting out.

If and when they do another album, it's really time to start trying some new stuff. I don't like Pitchfork, but their review of The Fountain was pretty spot on, recycling the same stuff with seriously diminishing returns. Songs like The Fountain and Idolness of Gods are just boring. If you're going to do another ballad-type song at least make it interesting. I don't know if Glide type music would really fit a Bunnymen album to be honest, but it would be cool if the Bunnymen tried some sort of experimental concept album. Never will happen, though.

by **black francis** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:11 pm

I wish they would just come out with some gold old fashioned rock and roll. Something dirty, channel the New York Dolls or something. Nothing fancy. No smoke machines, no pyrotechnics, no high kicks needed. Simple, direct and no keyboard driven melodies.

Mac almost had it on Mysterio. Damnation could have been a classic if the chorus wasn't so generic.

by **vertigone** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:26 pm

Hi, this is my first post.

I'm glad they reformed and they've done some stuff I've really enjoyed since '97, without a doubt. But 5 records on, the patterns are way too easy to spot now. It just seems like Bunnymen by the numbers these days (and of course, not vintage Bunnymen, the Pete and Les rhythm section cannot be replicated). For example, I felt like I knew where every next note of Do You Know Who I Am would be while listening to it for the first time. The chord changes and Mac's vocal patterns are so redundant and predictable. He gets it right in Life of 1000 Crimes when he sings...

"Heard it a thousand times, heard it a thousand times"

That's how i feel these days when I hear "new" Bunnymen. That said, after the initial disappointment I can admit that I like a few songs (Drivetime, Forgotten Fields,and the b-side November) - afterall, I've liked these guys all these years for a reason. I don't think the Fountain is terrible(well, Proxy is ), just boring and predictable, and it sucks when I think that they are no longer capable of actually blowing my mind like the first 4 albums did. And it's probably unfair to expect that. But they've done enough good in the last 12 years that I know they're capable of something more interesting than the Fountain.

Mac is more of a craftsman than an artist these days. He seems more concerned with writing straight forward, standard structured songs to best showcase his voice, with little regard to the sonic adventure that I imagine Will would be up for, if given some control.

It's a shame, and a wasted opportunity. I think they've touched on some greatness on these last 5 records, but the frequency of actual payoff gets less and less. At this point, if they aren't planning on stretching a little bit, I guess I'd prefer they just stop. Mac and Will could each do their solo stuff and expectations will be reasonable. But this is no longer the mighty Bunnymen.

by **black francis** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:05 am

I approve of this message.

I think they can still blow our minds just not sure if they believe it anymore.

by **Mr. Brian** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:10 am

Are we already going on about the next album and how it should be a Glide/Mac collaboration? Oh wait it's Friday. :lol:

by **kook** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:01 am

black francis wrote:

Mac almost had it on Mysterio. Damnation could have been a classic if the chorus wasn't so generic.

Very true. But it was a gazillion years ago. I think his mojo and his muse crept off for a rendezvous after Burned and forgot to come back.

by **Dr Cheese** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 4:50 am

I reckon if you took all the decent songs off the post reunion albums you'd have one fairly decent album.

by **fat cherry** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 4:52 am

new topic coming up.......

by **Dr Cheese** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:10 am

I'd make that new thread but the problem I have is that I haven't heard any of them (apart from The Fountain) for so long I can't remember what the decents songs are. I'd have to dig them all out and listen to them again!

by **Dr Evil** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:08 am

I think when they were a proper band (and I include the Noel Burke era Bunnymen in this definition) they inspired each other-every one of them was a genius, they bounced ideas around almost like a competition. The lack of rhythm on the new songs is astounding. They need to let their session men come up with a drum and bass line to base entire songs around before they sing or play a single note. I am not criticizing the session men for their ability to cover classic Bunnymen songs-they do it well-but this is a band with a creative block when it comes to new songs. Mac should allow the rhythm section complete creative control on the next album-they should record separately so that none of the original band can interfere, and then argue about it later.

by **Dr Evil** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:20 am

Dr Cheese wrote:I reckon if you took all the decent songs off the post reunion albums you'd have one fairly decent album.

Actually if you did that you would have an album as brilliant as the first four original albums or Reverberation. One of the songs from Slidling would make it long enough.
Actually I suppose the album would be a bit short. So I'll add Zephyr/Electrafixion songs...or is that cheating?

Razors Edge
Lowdown
Avalanche
Like a Hurricane
I'll Fly Tonight
Too Young To Kneel
Supermellowman
Of a Life
In The Margins
Kansas
Timebomb

by **the ghost of guitarplayer** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:24 am

Dr Evil wrote:I think when they were a proper band (and I include the Noel Burke era Bunnymen in this definition) they inspired each other-every one of them was a genius, they bounced ideas around almost like a competition. The lack of rhythm on the new songs is astounding. They need to let their session men come up with a drum and bass line to base entire songs around before they sing or play a single note. I am not criticizing the session men for their ability to cover classic Bunnymen songs-they do it well-but this is a band with a creative block when it comes to new songs. Mac should allow the rhythm section complete creative control on the next album-they should record separately so that none of the original band can interfere, and then argue about it later.

What percussion was used on Curvature of the Earth? Is that all samples - could be the way to go, no?

so... to the next album ..........

so... to the next album ..........

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