Comments on: Coconut Records http://crookedtimber.org/2009/06/23/coconut-records/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:14:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ben Alpers http://crookedtimber.org/2009/06/23/coconut-records/comment-page-1/#comment-280275 Ben Alpers Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:11:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=11673#comment-280275 As a longtime Bishop Allen fan, I think that their best album is still their first: <i>Charm School</i>. Their songwriting has improved since then, but their last two albums are overproduced IMO. And I agree that the songs that appear on both the monthly EPs and <i>The Broken String</i> are all better on the EPs (like a lot of fans who bought the EPs when they came out, I was disappointed by <i>The Broken String</i>, despite that fact that, taken on its own merits, it's a fine album). In fact, I think the very best versions of many of these songs--e.g. "Come Clean"/"A Toast from Benefit Street" (which appeared in a less good form as "Clementines" on the <i>October</i> EP), "Middle Management," "Rain"--were the studio recordings of them from before the EP project. These were made for the second album, which then had the working title <i>Clementines</i> and were leaked to the internet before they were eventually scrapped. In many ways they're the band's best studio recordings. As a longtime Bishop Allen fan, I think that their best album is still their first: Charm School. Their songwriting has improved since then, but their last two albums are overproduced IMO. And I agree that the songs that appear on both the monthly EPs and The Broken String are all better on the EPs (like a lot of fans who bought the EPs when they came out, I was disappointed by The Broken String, despite that fact that, taken on its own merits, it’s a fine album). In fact, I think the very best versions of many of these songs—e.g. “Come Clean”/”A Toast from Benefit Street” (which appeared in a less good form as “Clementines” on the October EP), “Middle Management,” “Rain”—were the studio recordings of them from before the EP project. These were made for the second album, which then had the working title Clementines and were leaked to the internet before they were eventually scrapped. In many ways they’re the band’s best studio recordings.

]]> By: JSE http://crookedtimber.org/2009/06/23/coconut-records/comment-page-1/#comment-280204 JSE Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:33:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=11673#comment-280204 I saw Bishop Allen play a free show here last summer, before I'd heard any of their records -- they rocked out in an easy-going way, if that makes sense. <i>Grrr</i> left me with a good impression but I remember little about it; so far "Click Click Click Click" has to be counted their in-no-way-original-yet-kind-of-perfect masterpiece. Would go see them play again in a second. Listening to Coconut Records myspace right now. Sounds good but compared to Bishop Allen is one step towards '70s AOR and away from, I dunno, Big Star, and to me that's a step in the wrong direction. I saw Bishop Allen play a free show here last summer, before I’d heard any of their records—they rocked out in an easy-going way, if that makes sense. Grrr left me with a good impression but I remember little about it; so far “Click Click Click Click” has to be counted their in-no-way-original-yet-kind-of-perfect masterpiece. Would go see them play again in a second.

Listening to Coconut Records myspace right now. Sounds good but compared to Bishop Allen is one step towards ‘70s AOR and away from, I dunno, Big Star, and to me that’s a step in the wrong direction.

]]> By: Rob S. http://crookedtimber.org/2009/06/23/coconut-records/comment-page-1/#comment-280140 Rob S. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:56:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=11673#comment-280140 I've found all Bishop Allen's full length albums a little overproduced. The stripped down sound on the monthly ep's fits their songs so much better (to my ear). I’ve found all Bishop Allen’s full length albums a little overproduced. The stripped down sound on the monthly ep’s fits their songs so much better (to my ear).

]]> By: John Holbo http://crookedtimber.org/2009/06/23/coconut-records/comment-page-1/#comment-280138 John Holbo Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:38:42 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=11673#comment-280138 You can listen to the whole album on the myspace page (at any rate several full tracks.) Now that the Amazon sale is done, no need to click over there for the pitiful short samples. I've been having tip of the tongue sensations about this album all day. Sort of a High Llamas-y Teenage Fanclub Beach Boys thing. It's not a Truly Great album, but I'm enjoying it. You can listen to the whole album on the myspace page (at any rate several full tracks.) Now that the Amazon sale is done, no need to click over there for the pitiful short samples. I’ve been having tip of the tongue sensations about this album all day. Sort of a High Llamas-y Teenage Fanclub Beach Boys thing. It’s not a Truly Great album, but I’m enjoying it.

]]> By: Phil http://crookedtimber.org/2009/06/23/coconut-records/comment-page-1/#comment-280136 Phil Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:31:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=11673#comment-280136 From the preview clips, <i>Davy</i> is a bit "earthbound cousin of the Shins' second album", which is no bad thing to be. Horrible cover art, though. From the preview clips, Davy is a bit “earthbound cousin of the Shins’ second album”, which is no bad thing to be. Horrible cover art, though.

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