Red Mosquito

I like the studio version, it's just on an album that doesn't know what it is, so it sounds even worse as a symptom.

And yeah, any time they want the band can just put their collective foot down and refuse BOB's ideas. They either can't be arsed, or this is just what they wanted to do.

harmless wrote:I like the studio version, it's just on an album that doesn't know what it is, so it sounds even worse as a symptom.

I don't dislike the studio version (I just typed stupid version...), and I may even like it more than (or as much as) the demo, but it could have been so much better. More than any other song on Backspacer except maybe Unthought Known there was potential here that wasn't reached.

the studio version is just unlistenable for me, even outside the context of the album

Heathen wrote:They listened to him

Woman: Is that a fact?
Man: No, it's not. It's just what I heard.
Woman: Who told you this?
Man: They.
Woman: They talk a lot, don't they?
Man: They certainly do.

harmless wrote:And yeah, any time they want the band can just put their collective foot down and refuse BOB's ideas. They either can't be arsed, or this is just what they wanted to do.

I suspect they cared less compared to when they worked with him in the past.

Heathen wrote:the studio version is just unlistenable for me, even outside the context of the album

My main issue with it is that it sounds like a parody of the original (demo). Less would have been more here but they threw it away.

less is always more

Studio is an abomination. Demo is one of the best things ed has done this decade.

Mine wrote:

harmless wrote:And yeah, any time they want the band can just put their collective foot down and refuse BOB's ideas. They either can't be arsed, or this is just what they wanted to do.

I suspect they cared less compared to when they worked with him in the past.

I felt this too. God i hope that weird vibe from the B'oB interview was because the band did what they wanted this time.

stip wrote:

harmless wrote:I like the studio version, it's just on an album that doesn't know what it is, so it sounds even worse as a symptom.

I don't dislike the studio version (I just typed stupid version...), and I may even like it more than (or as much as) the demo, but it could have been so much better. More than any other song on Backspacer except maybe Unthought Known there was potential here that wasn't reached.

Agreed, it's just not one of the clunkers imo. If pushed, I'd add it to UK and Supersonic as songs that could've been more. Backspacer is a strong album without those three (or is it an EP?). Maybe that's what Mike meant when he said there's a new E.P in six months; most of you will delete three or four of these from your playlists by then.

harmless wrote:

stip wrote:

harmless wrote:I like the studio version, it's just on an album that doesn't know what it is, so it sounds even worse as a symptom.

I don't dislike the studio version (I just typed stupid version...), and I may even like it more than (or as much as) the demo, but it could have been so much better. More than any other song on Backspacer except maybe Unthought Known there was potential here that wasn't reached.

Agreed, it's just not one of the clunkers imo. If pushed, I'd add it to UK and Supersonic as songs that could've been more. Backspacer is a strong album without those three (or is it an EP?). Maybe that's what Mike meant when he said there's a new E.P in six months; most of you will delete three or four of these from your playlists by then.

Supersonic was never going to reach much higher than it did. GSMF, the Fixer, Force of nature, and The End are probably the four songs on that album I wouldn't want to change anything about expect some small things.

Heathen wrote:less is always more

But I agree with you-- the castanets, the hammered dulcimer, the sleigh bells and the lasers make it a big, ugly mess.

The castanets are an even bigger WTF than the lasers.

I love the studio version ...the demo was ok for what it is, just Ed with his acoustic. But the band version is great, it took some time to really like it.

Love the lyrics too.

On a good day, the "over-egging the pudding" in terms of instrumentation just makes it sound like an off-the-wall Pink Floyd b-side. I don't like all of PF's instrumentation either. But because it's surrounded by totally conventional rock and country songs with totally conventional instrumentation, it just sounds like a weird mess. I still like it for the aforementioned reasons.

I'm gonna be honest. I dunno where the lasers are in this song. I'll put it down to having not listened to the song more than 2 at the most.

I'm not sure what they are. We've been calling them lasers. But they go 'wee--aaah--oooh' before the band goes into the louder third (?) chorus. I think of it as the part where Matt opens his hi-hat, starts smashing a china cymbal, and the song gets good. The lasers kind of wail through that too. Think Jean Michel Jarre.

harmless wrote:I'm not sure what they are. We've been calling them lasers. But they go 'wee--aaah--oooh' before the band goes into the louder third (?) chorus. I think of it as the part where Matt opens his hi-hat, starts smashing a china cymbal, and the song gets good. The lasers kind of wail through that too. Think Jean Michel Jarre.

I love that moment.

VinylGuy wrote:

harmless wrote:I'm not sure what they are. We've been calling them lasers. But they go 'wee--aaah--oooh' before the band goes into the louder third (?) chorus. I think of it as the part where Matt opens his hi-hat, starts smashing a china cymbal, and the song gets good. The lasers kind of wail through that too. Think Jean Michel Jarre.

I love that moment.

It's one of the few successful climaxes on Backspacer I think.