The Official Needles and Grooves 1001 Album Generator Project (aka Preachin’ about the Preachers if today’s selection sucks)

Here’s a thought I had recently. I occasionally hear people compare Pavement to The Fall and while I can understand that there is likely some influence there I really don’t feel like the two bands sound that similar.

Also, I hope the new pavement biopic, Pavements starring Joe Keery as Stephen Malkmus ends up at a streamer here shortly I am really looking forward to it.

 
I think the Fall comparison is on songs like Two States which seems the most overt (purposely so). But for me the Fall connection was more the vocal delivery with cut & paste lyrics. I remember reviews of them from Slanted and early often made the Mark E. Smith comparison. But by Crooked I think that comparison was no longer valid, just lazy short hand to make a critic look like “I knew them before they were popular”
 
This is good stuff. I’d heard whatever singles were from it back in the day but never listened to the whole thing. 5-4=Unity was a standout to me with Jazz and Beatlesque sounds coming from the band. Will definitely revisit. Think I like it more than Slanted and Enchanted.
 
Oh boy..

For what it’s worth, I think War and Achtung Baby are their best albums. The Joshua Tree and This are just under those. They are both a little long in the tooth. This one is a tad front loaded too, but I love it.

Okay, y’all feel free to shit talk now.
 
Nee Lewman said:
Oh boy..

For what it’s worth, I think War and Achtung Baby are their best albums. The Joshua Tree and This are just under those. They are both a little long in the tooth. This one is a tad front loaded too, but I love it.

Okay, y’all feel free to shit talk now.
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I agree with this for the most part. Achtung Baby is the only album that I feel is five star, then War, Joshua Tree, and All You Can’t Leave Behind are all really good but a step down. I even have a soft spot for for the singles on Pop and Zooropa.

I think a lot of the blowback they receive has to do with their enjoyment in being a “big” and “important” rock band. A lot of rock bands when they reach that height kinda hate it or at least are a bit conflicted about it. R.E.M., Nirvana, Radiohead, etc… bands that embrace the role; U2 and Coldplay are always gonna get shit.
 
TenderLovingKiller® said:
I agree with this for the most part. Achtung Baby is the only album that I feel is five star, then War, Joshua Tree, and All You Can’t Leave Behind are all really good but a step down. I even have a soft spot for for the singles on Pop and Zooropa.

I think a lot of the blowback they receive has to do with their enjoyment in being a “big” and “important” rock band. A lot of rock bands when they reach that height kinda hate it or at least are a bit conflicted about it. R.E.M., Nirvana, Radiohead, etc… bands that embrace the role; U2 and Coldplay are always gonna get shit.
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With the exception of October and Unforgettable Fire, I enjoy everything through No Line for the Horizon. I have huge soft spots for Zooropa and Rattle & Hum. After No Line, it’s all just kind of the same (even before that - How to Dismantle feels like All You Can’t Leave Part II And No Line feels like the bastard child of All and Joshua.)

I saw the 360 tour which was probably the single worst concert experience I’ve ever had. That was probably Karma getting me for skipping out on a cousin’s wedding but it was just a shit show getting in and out, I missed Muse which I would have like to have seen).

Elevation and Walk On might be my favorite songs by them.
 
dbarila said:
Everyone calls this their "return to form" record. To be honest, I liked what they were doing in the 90's more and didn't really want them to return to form. If I was ranking all of their albums this one would be below Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop.
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I never really thought of it as a return to form. It was the clear beginning of a third phase. I think those three albums are all more fun but only Achtung is better. Pop is maybe just below. Take Lemon off of Zooropa and it would be better than this.
 
Nee Lewman said:
I never really thought of it as a return to form. It was the clear beginning of a third phase. I think those three albums are all more fun but only Achtung is better. Pop is maybe just below. Take Lemon off of Zooropa and it would be better than this.
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I think when people were using the term "Return to Form" at the time they just meant "not weird anymore." But yeah, it was definitely a transition record for them.
 
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