I think I officially stopped listening to Echo & The Bunnymen around "Evergreen," which is almost 30 years ago. I was in the mood and dragged a few records into my iPod. I also did some reading on All Music and was surprised to see that the band released eight records since "Evergreen." The review for their 2014 release "Meteorites" stood out, so I decided to go with that one first.
Holy moly!
This record is insanely good. There wasn't a bad clam in the bunch. Produced by Youth, this record reminds me of what Oasis might sound like if they were interesting. It's epic, melodic, psychedelic and I think it rivals any one of the 80's classics.
If you know this record and love this record, is there another Echo & The Bunnymen record post-"Evergreen" that comes close to the sound of "Meteorites?" Please inform.
Siberia is good, not at this level but a good listen
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed "The Fountain", but haven't heard "Meteorites" (yet), I always appreciate your tips!
ReplyDeleteMeteorites is a fine addition to the Bunnymen catalogue. One of my favorite releases by these guys is not an official Bunnymen release. It was under the band name Electrafiction. It came out in the early 90s I think. Had a bit of a grunge element to it
ReplyDeleteGreat record. I wrote this in May of 2024:
Delete(This Echo & The Bunnymen side project got a Record Store Day vinyl release last month and it was the first time I heard it since its initial release. I really enjoyed it, like Echo with balls.)
Try the song "Scissors in the Sand" from Siberia. Play it loud.
DeleteWhat Are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999) sounds more like Ian’s Candleland. The bass player had left the band and the guitarist is more understated - almost acoustic vibe. I love it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the introduction to Meteorites. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)
Always surprised to remember that the Electrafixion project began life as a collaboration between Ian and Johnny Marr. Apparently the album was completed but eventually lost in a hijacking. Ian reunited with Will Sergeant and Electrafixion was born. ‘Lowdown’ and ‘Too Far Gone’ were originally written for the initial collaboration. #BIG riffs :)
Deletei love what are you gonna do
DeleteI have listened to Meteorites yet, but had already marked it as one to play.
ReplyDeleteLove that Joe Strummer cover version, but hadn’t noted the composer. Will have to check out the original.
- Paul in DK
Sal, the cover song of the day sounds exactly like Grow to Old by Bobby Charles? Are they the same song?
ReplyDeleteYes Joe. The song has been known as "Before I Grow Too Old," "Grow Too Old" and "Silver & Gold." The writing credits at various times list Fats Domino, Bobby Charles and Tommy McLain. Since Tommy passed, I chose to post his photo. It's a great song by anyone!
DeleteI always felt like I needed to be in an "altered state" to listen to music like this, and never followed them, but good stuff! I'll have to dive deeper. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome that you post music that sends me down a rabbit hole. Dug out Electrafixion. A great start to the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI guess I never listened to side 2 of Porcupine very much. Just found Gods Will Be Gods and what a propulsive tune just charging through your speakers. Anxious to check Meteorites. Seems like a lot of British bands have very successful albums much later in the careers. Squeeze, Tears for Fears, Elvis, Weller, etc. Pretty long list worth exploring.
ReplyDeleteHad the first four albums. And they were pretty decent. But I could only play when in the right frame of mind. You can get too much of the hypnotic moroseness. They call that stuff neo-psychedelic, but I didn't enjoy them very much on mind altering substances. They were even a downer on Molly. Saw them at the Whisky their first time out. The band hadn't blossomed yet as a live act. At least not the night I checked them out.
ReplyDeleteNow Electrafixion is another story. I saw them live and liked it so much I bought the CD (and later, the 2-CD reissue). Big Mac with gonads for sure. I fluked into the tickets. A friend of mine that used to be a DJ (her face was too good for radio) turned me on to them because she had a conflict. The band had postponed the original date because of Ian's voice issues. She couldn't make the rescheduled date so ...
I thought they left Echo & the Bunnymen in the dust. Especially live.
Too bad there was no follow up.
As far as Meteorites. I listened to the record today for the first time. A generous B-.
VR
Those are great songs Sal! I have seen them live a few times in the past several years and they don't play anything after 'Songs to Learn & Sing'. I was surprised that they have so much newer material, and that it is good! I wonder what the point of making new records is if you aren't going to get out there and play the new material and sell it.
ReplyDeleteGreat SOTD. I believe Andrew Gold was very underrated.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I love those four Asylum records. And the "Oh Urania" always reminded me of 10cc.
DeleteEcho is yet another of those bands that I "kinda liked" in their heyday but am totally smitten with these days. I play them all the time - those first few albums in particular are just brilliant - to such a degree, I'm amazed they're not even more big than they are.
ReplyDeleteBut to your point about excellent releases from them after Meteorites - one that I play a TON is Ian McCullough's solo record "Holy Ghosts" from 2013.
This is cheating a bit, because the first disc is him remaking key Echo songs in a new style. But they just KILL ... just bowl me over ... so good.
And the second disc is excellent too - all new Ian songs.
Check it out, you're in for a treat.
https://drownedinsound.com/releases/17594/reviews/4146306