Determine Your Favorite Underworld Album - With SCIENCE!

[khouri]

For some dumb insomnia reason I counted the number of tracks I like on each album and scored it like a school test. For example, I like every song on Dubnobass, so that’s 9/9 or 100%. On Barking I like four out of nine tracks, and 4/9 is 44%.

So here are Underworld’s albums ranked from most to least favorite as determined by science.

Tie:
Dubnnobasswithnyheadman - 100%
Second Toughest in the Infants - 100%

Beaucoup Fish - 90%
Oblivion With Bells - 73%
A Hundred Days Off - 70%
Barbara Barabra, We Face A Shining Future - 50%
Barking - 44%

[joethelion]

Do you include both discs for Barking, or just the 'main album'

Dubnnobasswithnyheadman - 8/9 (I just can't 'get into' Surfboy)

Second Toughest in the Infants - 8/8 = 100%

What's funny, is that I didn't like the album at all when I first bought it. It wasn't until after I bought BF, and something clicked. I think I maybe just wasn't 'the right time'. I probably wouldn't have become a fan of UW had I not been up late one night watching Mtv, and saw the video for "Push Upstairs."

Beaucoup Fish - 11/11 = 100%

A Hundred Days Off - 7/10 = 70%

Oblivion With Bells - this was a hard one for me, b/c it's a really great album, but I also feel that you need to be in just the right mood / headspace for a bulk of the album... 6/11 = 54.5%

Barking - 7/9 = 77.8%

Barbara Barabra, We Face A Shining Future - 4/8 (if you include 23 Blue) = 50%

[khouri]

Do you include both discs for Barking, or just the 'main album?

Just the standard issue. I figured bonus tracks would vary from person to person and mess up the SCIENCE.

BTW I didn’t like Surfboy either until the remaster, then it sounded like a brand new song to me.

[potatobroth]

wow, fun! for Science! Here are mine and the songs I'd typically skip in (parentheses).
Bold highest score, Itals lowest score.

88% – Dubno: 8/9 (Surfboy)
87% – STiTI: 7/8 (Stagger; never did much for me)
90% – BF: 10/11 (Push Downstairs; I'd skip Shudder if I could :/)
80% – AHDO: 8/10 (Ess Gee, Little Speaker: i prefer the demo album to the released one with longer Twist and MoMove)
66% – OwB: 8/12 inc Loads of Birds (Crocodile, Boy Boy Boy, Cuddle Bunny, Cockerel)
70% – Barking: 7/10 Inc Simple Peal (Grace, Between Stars, Simple Peal)
75% – Barbara Barbara: 6/8 incl 23 Blue (I Exhale, Nylon Strung)

[dubman]

[puts on multi-lens glasses & zizek voice]
yesh but have you chried ranking eash track indivishually, zshen calculating zshe averagshe to get zshe mosht realishtic zhcore


short version:

Second Toughest in the Infants: 91%
Dubnobasswithmyheadman: 82%
Beaucoup Fish: 80%
Riverrun: 75%
Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future: 74%
A Hundred Days Off: 66%
Oblivion With Bells: 64%
Barking: 42%


even though this extremely scientific ranking takes a deep backseat to the rating i'd give out of personal sentiment/impact, there aren't too many surprises in here, even though this was fun to do. If I had more time I'd go by era to include b-sides/rarities

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dubno
----------
Dark & Long: 10/10, MmmSkyscraper: 9/10, Surfboy: 7/10, Spoonman: 8/10, Tongue: 8/10, Dirty Epic: 10/10, Cowgirl: 10/10, River of Bass: 8/10, M.E.: 4/10
Total: 74 / 9 = 8.222 = 82%

Second Toughest
--------------------------
Juanita: 10/10, Banstyle: 10/10, Confusion: 10/10, Rowla: 8/10, Pearl's Girl: 10/10, Air Towel: 10/10, Blueski: 8/10, Stagger: 7/10 (-2 points for the "cover your teeth..." part tbh)

Total: 73 / 8 = 91.25 = 91%

Tonight, Matthew, I'm Going to be Underworld
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cups: 10/10, Push Upstairs: 10/10, Jumbo: 8/10, King of Snake 9.5/10, Winjer: 7/10, Skym: 6/10, Bruce Lee: 7/10, Kittens: 6/10, Push Downstairs: 8/10, Something Like a Mama: 7/10, Moaner: 10/10
Total 88.5 / 11 = 8.04 = 80%


AHDO
---------
Momove: 7/10, Two Months Off: 8/10, Twist: 6/10, Sola Sistim: 4/10, Little Speaker: 9/10, Trim: 2/10, Ess Gee: 7/10, Dinosaur Adventure 3D: 6/10, Ballet Lane: 7/10, Luetin: 10/10
Total: 66 / 10 = 6.6 = 66%


Riverrun
------------
Lovely Broken Thing
JAL to Tokyo: 9/10, Billy Goat: 8/10, Peggy Sussed: 6/10, Dub Shepard: 8/10, Lenny Penne: 8.5/10, Monkey Witness: 7/10, Witness: 7/10
Total: 53.5 / 7 = 7.6 = 76%
Pizza For Eggs
Food A Ready: 8/10, Back in the Fears: 7/10, Vanilla Monkey: 10/10, (Skipping Flatz tbh), Ancient Phat Farm Coat: 8/10, Play Pig: 7.5/10
Total: 40.5 / 5 = 8.1 = 81%
I'm a Big Sister And I'm A Girl, And I'm A Princess And This Is My Horse
Peach Tree: 9/10, Mowed Path: 6.5/10, Showlder: 6/10, Wedge: 7/10, 11 Hundred Hz: 6/10
Total: 34.5 / 5 = 6.9 = 69%
226 / 3 = 75%


Oblivion With Bells
----------------------------
Crocodile: 7.5/10, Beautiful Burnout: 9/10, Holding the Moth: 8/10, To Heal: 6.5/10, Ring Road: 2/10, Glam Bucket: 9/10, Boy Boy Boy: 0/10, Cuddle Bunny: 8/10, Faxed Invitation: 8/10, Good Morning Cockerel: 6/10, Best Mamgu Ever: 6/10, Loads of Birds: 6.5/10

Total: 76.5 / 11 = 6.38 = 64%

Barking
------------
Bird 1: 7/10, ALAF: 4/10, Scribble: 3/10, Hamburg Hotel: 6/10, Grace: 5/10, Between Stars: 5/10, Diamond Jigsaw: 3/10, Moon in Water: 3/10, Louisiana: 2/10
Total: 38 / 9 = 4.2 = 42%

Barbara Barbara
------------------------
I Exhale: 8.5/10, If Rah: 8.5/10, Low Burn: 6/10, Santiago Cuatro: 7/10, Motorhome: 5/10, Ova Nova: 9/10, Nylon Strung: 8/10, Twenty Three Blue: 7.5/10
59.5 / 8 = 7.4 = 74%

[dubman]

dunno why my post isn't showing up on the thread list but i'm too vain to let it disappear so i'm posting again

[khouri]

Holy shit. Dubman has thrown down the gauntlet. Will have to revisit.

[purlieu]

Revelling in just how staggeringly different mine and dubman's opinions are. Excellent post.

[dubman]

Revelling in just how staggeringly different mine and dubman's opinions are. Excellent post.


Yeah i got a hint of that from your posts in the other thread i hijacked. plus my preferences have subtly morphed on their own over time. i wanna get in your head and see your list though!

[purlieu]

i wanna get in your head and see your list though!

Ok then

Dubno
----------
Dark & Long: 8/10, MmmSkyscraper: 9/10, Surfboy: 6/10, Spoonman: 6/10, Tongue: 9/10, Dirty Epic: 10/10, Cowgirl: 7/10, River of Bass: 4/10, M.E.: 10/10
Total: 69 / 9 = 7.666 = 77%

Second Toughest
--------------------------
Juanita: 9/10, Banstyle: 10/10, Confusion: 6/10, Rowla: 4/10, Pearl's Girl: 9/10, Air Towel: 7/10, Blueski: 6/10, Stagger: 7/10
Total: 58 / 8 = 7.25 = 73%

Beaucoup Fish
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cups: 9/10, Push Upstairs: 9/10, Jumbo: 9/10, King of Snake 6/10, Winjer: 8/10, Skym: 7/10, Bruce Lee: 8/10, Kittens: 6/10, Push Downstairs: 6/10, Something Like a Mama: 10/10, Moaner: 7/10
Total 85 / 11 = 7.7272 = 77%

AHDO
---------
Momove: 9/10, Two Months Off: 7/10, Twist: 6/10, Sola Sistim: 8/10, Little Speaker: 6/10, Trim: 7/10, Ess Gee: 9/10, Dinosaur Adventure 3D: 4/10, Ballet Lane: 8/10, Luetin: 10/10
Total: 74 / 10 = 7.4 = 74%

Riverrun
------------
Honestly never paid attention to the separate 'tracks' (and don't even know what half of them are called), but I'd give Lovely Broken Thing an 8, Pizza for Eggs a 5 and I'm a Big Sister 8 probably. Lack of physicals mean it's also an era I know far less than the others.

Oblivion With Bells
----------------------------
Crocodile: 7/10, Beautiful Burnout: 10/10, Holding the Moth: 9/10, To Heal: 8/10, Ring Road: 9/10, Glam Bucket: 9/10, Boy Boy Boy: 7/10, Cuddle Bunny: 7/10, Faxed Invitation: 8/10, Good Morning Cockerel: 10/10, Best Mamgu Ever: 10/10
Total: 94 / 11 = 8.5454 = 85%

Barking
------------
Bird 1: 7/10, ALAF: 5/10, Scribble: 6/10, Hamburg Hotel: 7/10, Grace: 8/10, Between Stars: 3/10, Diamond Jigsaw: 8/10, Moon in Water: 4/10, Louisiana: 9/10
Total: 58 / 9 = 6.44 = 64%

Barbara Barbara
------------------------
I Exhale: 8/10, If Rah: 8/10, Low Burn: 8/10, Santiago Cuatro: 4/10, Motorhome: 6/10, Ova Nova: 8/10, Nylon Strung: 9/10
51 / 7 = 7.28 = 73%

The most obvious differences are M.E., Diamond Jigsaw, Louisiana, and the bulk of OWB.

[ultradave]

For some dumb insomnia reason...

I get those all the time. Great post! I always end up listening to UW while visiting the forum. I'm going w/your science. I've listed the tracks in my calculation for LP's that do not get my 100%. It doesn't mean that I do not like these tracks, they are just the weakest links to my for each LP.

I'm also including the 2 previous UW LP's which obviously have fallen through the cracks... :D

Underneath The Radar
50% (Call Me No. 1, Miracle Party, I Need A Doctor, Bright White Flame, The God Song) - Overall not a terrible release for the sound they were going for, however, I think Freur was a bit better.

Change The Weather
30% (Fever, Mercy, Mr. Universe, Texas, Thrash, Sole Survivor, Beach) - This LP marks the end of a New Wave/Pop/Funk era and likely could have been the end of UW...

dubnobasswithmyheadman
100% - Pivotal.

Second Toughest In The Infants
100% - Going strong with a hard beats and thus reaching Techno King status.

Beaucoup Fish
64% (Winjer, Skym, Kittens, Something Like a Mama) - I do like this whole LP, it was really when I got into them and I was fortunate enough to see them perform live when they came to the U.S. and played a show in Santa Monica, CA. It's what ignited my desire to see them every time I could when they make it out to the west coast.

A Hundred Days Off
50% (Twist, Little Speaker, Ess Gee, Dinosaur Adv 3D, Ballet Lane) - Exit Emerson. As a duo, this LP was a test to their creativity and whether or not they could survive. It had some very strong tracks, which still stand as a few of my favourites.

Oblivion With Bells
73% (To Heal, Cuddle Bunny..., Faxed Invitation, Good Morning Cockerel) - My % may be boosted because I included Loads of Birds, which should have been released on every version of OWB because it's one of their better tracks.

Barking
60% (Hamburg Hotel, Diamond Jigsaw, Moon In Water, Louisiana) - Most of the tracks that I don't mind, I just feel like they would have been fine as a B-Side... You Do Scribble and some of the other River Run tracks would have been more successful had they been released w/this LP... IMO...

Barbara, Barbara...
80% (If Rah, Santiago Cuatro) - I still rank it a 10 because Twenty Three Blue is absolutely amazing and Nylon Strung is still an instant repeat almost every time I play it.

Well, this has been fun!

[darmok]

OK, I'll bite:

dubno:

d&l: 10/10 | mmm skyscraper: 10/10 | surfboy: 8/10 | spoonman: 6/10 | tongue: 9/10 | dirty epic: 10/10 | cowgirl: 10/10 | river of bass: 8/10 | me: 7/10

total = 78/90 = 87%

STITI:

Juanita/Kiteless/TDOL: 10/10 | Banstyle / Sappys Curry: 7/10 | Confusion: 7/10 | Rowla: 5/10 | Pearls Girl: 10/10 | Air Towel: 7/10 | Blueski: 6/10 | Stagger: 7/10

total = 59/80 = 74%

BF:

Cups: 10/10 | Push: 10/10 | Jumbo: 10/10 | King of Snake: 9/10 | Winjer: 7/10 | Skym: 5/10 | Bruce Lee: 10/10 | Kittens: 9/10 | Push Downstairs: 2/10 | Something Like a Mama: 8/10 | Moaner: 9/10

total = 89/110 = 81%


EE: not an album, but rating it just to give Nuxx no points out of spite

Juanita / Kiteless: 10/10 | Cups: 10/10 | Push: 10/10 | Pearls: 10/10 | Jumbo: 9/10 | King of Snake: 10/10 | Nuxx: 0/10 | Rez/Cowgirl: 10/10

total = 69/80 = 86%

AHDO:

Mo Move: 9/10 | TMO: 9/10 | Twist: 5/10 | Sola Sistim: 3/10 | Little Speaker: 5/10 | Trim: 3/10 | Ess Gee: 2/10 | Dino Adventure 3D: 8/10 | Ballet Lane: 5/10 | Luetin: 6/10

total = 55 / 100 = 55%

riverrun: not going to try to rate this, it's not an album

OWB:

Crocodile: 10/10 | BB: 10/10 | Holding the Moth: 7/10 | To Heal: 0/10 | Ring Road: 9/10 | Glam Bucket: 9/10 | BBB: 7/10 | Cuddle Bunny: 6/10 | Faxed Invitation: 9/10 | Good Morning Cockerel: 7/10 | Best Magmu: 8/10

(not including Loads of Birds because it was never part of the album for me, I got the JP version way later, and it wouldn't change the score anyway)

total = 82/110 = 75%

Barking:

Bird 1: 7/10 | ALAF: 10/10 | Scribble: 7/10 | HH: 6/10 | Grace: 4/10 | Between Stars: 9/10 | Diamond Jigsaw: 0/10 | Moon In Water: 7/10 | Louisiana: 9/10

total = 59/90 = 66%

BB:

I Exhale: 7/10 | If Rah: 9/10 | Low Burn: 7/10 | Santiago Cuatro: 5/10 | Motorhome: 0/10 | Ova Nova: 8/10 | Nylon Strung: 6/10 | 23 Blue: 9/10

total = 51/80 = 64%

======================================

That puts my bythenumbers ranking at: dubno, BF, OWB, STITI, Barking, Barbara, AHDO

[joethelion]

okay, so if we're ranking each individual song...

If a track gets a 10, does that mean we think that there's not a better edit or remix of the track?

Or just that you really like it?

And, if it's a track that you always skip - does that mean that it'd have to be ranked '5' or lower?

[khouri]

okay, so if we're ranking each individual song...

If a track gets a 10, does that mean we think that there's not a better edit or remix of the track?

Or just that you really like it?

And, if it's a track that you always skip - does that mean that it'd have to be ranked '5' or lower?

YOU MUST BE RUTHLESS. Rate only the album versions of tracks. No skipping tracks. You must listen and rate it with ruthless honesty. If you always skip the track, is it a 1? A ZERO?

[khouri]

I was at that Santa Monica show! It started an hour late.

[dubman]

Ok then

The most obvious differences are M.E., Diamond Jigsaw, Louisiana, and the bulk of OWB.


it's interesting because you don't seem to be into the quieter, textural tracks off their early albums as you are into their later ones. and for me that's almost completely flipped


okay, so if we're ranking each individual song...

If a track gets a 10, does that mean we think that there's not a better edit or remix of the track?

Or just that you really like it?

And, if it's a track that you always skip - does that mean that it'd have to be ranked '5' or lower?


SOME THINGS YOU DON'T GET TO KNOW.



Nuxx: 0/10
Little Speaker: 5/10

Luetin: 6/10
ALAF: 10/10

Louisiana: 9/10
Motorhome: 0/10



.........huh.

is hating on Nuxx really a thing?

[darmok]

.........huh.

is hating on Nuxx really a thing?


It is for me I guess? All opinions subject to the whims of my idiosyncratic brain.

[purlieu]

it's interesting because you don't seem to be into the quieter, textural tracks off their early albums as you are into their later ones. and for me that's almost completely flipped
I dunno, I rate M.E. and Tongue, and not Santiago Cuatro. But I get what you mean: I love stuff like Ess Gee, Good Morning Cockerel and Louisiana. Maybe it's the more acoustic sounds of these that appeal to me, and my love of music at the point where ambient / classical / folk / post rock meets. Stuff like Stagger is nice but doesn't quite grab me in the same way. I suppose it's less conventionally pretty / emotional. I'm a sucker for that stuff. It might be Edgeland is my second favourite thing Karl's been on (behind OWB).
is hating on Nuxx really a thing?
I get finding its over-exposure grating (as a FSOL fanboy I've had my moments of disliking Papua New Guinea), but giving it a 0/10 no redeeming features score seems baffling to me.

[joethelion]

Okay - this was harder than I thought it'd be... and plus I kept going "well, if I gave 'song A' an 8 then I can't give 'song B' an 8 too"

Dark & Long - 8
Mmm Skyscraper - 10
Surfboy - 2 (it only gets points for the last 3 minutes, but even that goes on a bit too long)
Spoonman - 7
Tongue - 9
Dirty Epic - 10
Cowgirl - 10
River of Bass - 9
M.E. - 6

Juanita / Kiteless / To Dream of Love - 10
Banstyle / Sappys Curry - 8 (“Sappys Curry” goes on a bit too long)
Confusion the Waitress - 8
Rowla - 7
Pearls Girl - 10
Air Towel - 6
Blueski - 8
Stagger - 7.5

Cups / Pins - 10
Push Upstairs - 10
Jumbo - 9
King of Snake - 6.5… although it’s hard for me to rank it, as it’s fantastic live… but it’s missing something on the studio version.
Winjer - 7
Skym - 7.25
Bruce Lee - 8
Kittens - 7
Push Downstairs - 9
Something Like a Mama - 7
Moaner - 10

Momove - 8
Two Months Off - 9
Twist - 6 (prefer the early version, or the live version)
Sola Sistim - 8
Little Speaker - 7
Trim - 3
Ess Gee - 7
Dinosaur Adventure 3D - 6 (prefer the RCM, or when they played it live)
Ballet Lane - 4
Luetin - 10

Crocodile - 7
Beautiful Burnout - 8
Holding the Moth - 9
To Heal - 3
Ring Road - 9
Glam Bucket - 9
Boy Boy Boy - 5
Cuddle Bunny - 7
Faxed Invitation - 4
Good Morning Cockerel - 6
Best Mamgu Ever - 8
Loads of Birds - 7

Bird 1 - 9
ALAF - 5
Scribble - 4
Hamburg Hotel - 6.5
Grace - 7.75
Between Stars - 6
Diamond Jigsaw - 6.5
Moon in Water - 4
Louisiana - 5


I Exhale - 8
If Rah - 1 (the only version that I can stand is the Herbert remix)
Low Burn - 7
Santiago Cuatro - 8
Motorhome - 3
Ova Nova - 6
Nylon Strung - 5
Twenty Three Blue - 10

[dubman]

Air Towel - 6
Faxed Invitation - 4
If Rah - 1 (the only version that I can stand is the Herbert remix)



YOWZAH
good to see another River of Bass fan though.


i want more numbers so fringe patterns can come up and we can have, like, factions.

[deepfriedbeans]

I’m new to the forums and comparatively new to Underworld so I hope my feedback is of value, anyway here goes:

Dubnobass
Dark & Long: 8/10, Mmm…Skyscraper I Love You: 10/10, Surfboy: 7/10, Spoonman: 6/10, Tongue: 8/10, Dirty Epic: 10/10, Cowgirl: 10/10, River of Bass: 7/10, M.E.: 10/10
76 / 90 = 84%

STITI
Juanita: 10/10, Banstyle / Sappy's Curry: 10/10, Confusion the Waitress: 7/10, Rowla: 6/10, Pearl's Girl: 10/10, Air Towel: 7/10, Blueski: 8/10, Stagger: 10/10
68 / 80 = 85%

Beaucoup Fish
Cups: 10/10, Push Upstairs: 7/10, Jumbo: 10/10, King of Snake 10/10, Winjer: 7/10, Skym: 7/10, Bruce Lee: 9/10, Kittens: 10/10, Push Downstairs: 7/10, Something Like a Mama: 8/10, Moaner: 7/10
92 / 110 = 84%

AHDO
Mo Move: 9/10, Two Months Off: 10/10, Twist: 8/10, Sola Sistim: 7/10, Little Speaker: 7/10, Trim: 4/10, Ess Gee: 5/10, Dinosaur Adventure 3D: 5/10, Ballet Lane: 6/10, Luetin: 10/10
71 / 100 = 71%

OWB
Crocodile: 9/10, Beautiful Burnout: 10/10, Holding the Moth: 9/10, To Heal: 8/10, Ring Road: 2/10, Glam Bucket: 8/10, Boy Boy Boy: 7/10, Cuddle Bunny Vs. Celtic Villages: 6/10, Faxed Invitation: 10/10, Good Morning Cockerel: 10/10, Best Mamgu Ever: 10/10
89 / 110 = 81%

Barking
Bird 1: 8/10, ALAF: 10/10, Scribble: 7/10, Hamburg Hotel: 7/10, Grace: 6/10, Between Stars: 5/10, Diamond Jigsaw: 6/10, Moon in Water: 6/10, Louisiana: 3/10
58 / 90 = 64%

Barbara Barbara (inc. 23 Blue)
I Exhale: 9/10, If Rah: 10/10, Low Burn: 10/10, Santiago Cuatro: 5/10, Motorhome: 5/10, Ova Nova: 10/10, Nylon Strung: 8/10, 23 Blue: 7/10
64 / 80 = 80%
------------------
In order:
STITI, dubnobass / Beaucoup Fish, OWB, Barbara Barbara, AHDO, Barking

Not too surprised by these results. I’ve only known the band for a few years (and dubnobass was released before I even was born) so I wonder if I would feel differently about certain songs if I’d grown up with them.

Okay - this was harder than I thought it'd be... and plus I kept going "well, if I gave 'song A' an 8 then I can't give 'song B' an 8 too"
This was my experience too.

[dubman]

As fun as this is, and it is fun
And as much as I’ve exacerbated it, and I’ve absolutely done that.
And as non-serious as it is, unless khouri is taking this very seriously indeed

Rowla is a pretty good flashpoint to argue for The Album as beyond a collection of well or badly ranked tracks. I understand everyone being a bit down on it, but within the context of the/an album it’s a beautiful spot to stop the train and let this glide over and around you. Uncomplicated, subtle, not too exciting on its own but a great addition to the slate.

Anyway onto the fan thing again

[purlieu]

That's funny, because I find 'Rowla' really derails the album for me. It brings me out of the ambience of the rest of it.

[holden]

I'll add to the stats/discussion:

Dubnobasswithmyheadman:
Dark & Long: 8/10, Mmm…Skyscraper I Love You: 9/10, Surfboy: 6/10, Spoonman: 8/10, Tongue: 6/10, Dirty Epic: 10/10, Cowgirl: 10/10, River of Bass: 7/10, M.E.: 8/10
72 / 90 = 80%

Second Toughest In the Infants:
Juanita: 10/10, Banstyle / Sappy's Curry: 9/10, Confusion the Waitress: 7/10, Rowla: 7.5/10, Pearl's Girl: 7/10, Air Towel: 8.5/10, Blueski: 6.5/10, Stagger: 9/10
64.5/ 80 = 81%

Beaucoup Fish
Cups: 10/10, Push Upstairs: 9/10, Jumbo: 9.5/10, King of Snake 10/10, Winjer: 7/10, Skym: 7/10, Bruce Lee: 8/10, Kittens: 9/10, Push Downstairs: 7/10, Something Like a Mama: 7.5/10, Moaner: 9.5/10
93.5/ 110 = 85%

A Hundred Days Off
Mo Move: 9.5/10, Two Months Off: 9/10, Twist: 8/10, Sola Sistim: 7.5/10, Little Speaker: 7/10, Trim: 5/10, Ess Gee: 6/10, Dinosaur Adventure 3D: 9/10, Ballet Lane: 8/10, Luetin: 10/10
79 / 100 = 79%

Oblivion With Bells
Crocodile: 8/10, Beautiful Burnout: 9/10, Holding the Moth: 9/10, To Heal: 7/10, Ring Road: 6.5/10, Glam Bucket: 8/10, Boy Boy Boy: 5/10, Cuddle Bunny Vs. Celtic Villages: 5/10, Faxed Invitation: 10/10, Good Morning Cockerel: 7.5/10, Best Mamgu Ever: 8/10
83 / 110 = 75%

Barking
Bird 1: 8.5/10, ALAF: 8.5/10, Scribble: 8/10, Hamburg Hotel: 9/10, Grace: 6.5/10, Between Stars: 6.5/10, Diamond Jigsaw: 6/10, Moon in Water: 9.5/10, Louisiana: 6/10
68.5 / 90 = 76%

Barbara Barbara We Face a Shining Future
I Exhale: 7.5/10, If Rah: 9.5/10, Low Burn: 10/10, Santiago Cuatro: 6/10, Motorhome: 6.5/10, Ova Nova: 10/10, Nylon Strung: 9/10
59 / 70 = 84%

So,
1) Beaucoup Fish @85% (no surprise)
2) BBWFASF @ 84% (somewhat of a surprise to me, but...science!)
3) STITI @81%
4) Dubno @80%
5) AHDO @79%
6) Barking @76%
7) OWB @ 75% (and that's not bad, i just don't really feel the more ambient tracks, whereas something like the I'm A big Sister... EP is just bliss).

Fairly tight clustering, it seems. It all points to the fact that i really like most UW tracks, and there are just a few (Surfboy, Trim, Boy Boy Boy, Cuddle Bunny, Diamond Jigsaw, Louisiana, Santiago) that i'm ambivalent about, not even strongly disliking, just not my faves. Also through doing this, i note that for me, most records have a 2 or 3 song lull in the middle.

Another observation...i was strongly influenced by nostalgia in this rating. Some tracks just bring memories that up the score. If i were to listen objectively today, certainly scores would change.

And, like some of you, after seeing the scores, i immediately started questioning, second guessing and comparing. But that is manifestation of bias. Again, i like all of the UW mkii/iii releases...they just jockey for affection.

[potatobroth]

Rowla: 6/10

this is my 11/10

[joethelion]

YOWZAH
good to see another River of Bass fan though.


i want more numbers so fringe patterns can come up and we can have, like, factions.

yea - I just think "River of Bass" is just a perfect closer (...except, well - it's the penultimate track on the album). That song, and "Tongue" don't get enough praise.

"Air Towel" is good, but it goes on a bit too long, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was something started around the time of Dubno, but not finished until STITI

As far as "Faxed Invitation" I don't know... it's not a terrible song, but I feel like... it'd almost be better if all of the sounds that are in the foreground were switched with the background stuff (and vice-versa)

Now... "If Rah" ... To me, it sounds like someone doing a parody / soundalike to Underworld... like the lyrics remind me of when I'd play UW in my car, and my older sister would improvise her own lyrics to songs about what she'd see out the window (think: "Red hydrant Red hydrant, there's a car, and a dog" etc). It's also about 2 minutes too long, and is a bit monotonous. It's absolutely on my 'least favorite list'

[holden]

Yeah, "Air Towel" and "Faxed Invitation" are two of my favorites from their respective albums. They're both sort of restrained, but I enjoy their groove.

Regarding "if rah", I'll admit and somewhat agree that the first few listens, I was concerned that this was UW by the numbers, and the "yeah, yeah, origin of numbers is a questionable hypothesis" and "Luna Luna Luna, in love with" bits at first blush are kind of cringey. But I take the album as an attempt to make interesting music unencombered by what Underworld had done previously, so I cut them some slack. Still, most of the song's lyrics are as obscure/evocative as any, and I think the track has an excellent build.

Re:Rowla... I'm not as excited by the LP version, though the live track rocks! Cherry Pie on STITI would have been bliss.

Can I throw this unpopular opinion out there? I'm not really a fan of Pearls Girl anymore! I think I've heard it too many times. Yes, a classic and a banger, but the past few years, I'm just less interested. Tin There mix has stood the test of time better. Further, at least NUXX live gets plenty of tweaks, whether in the intro or outtro jam. PG live versions mostly sound the same to me.

[dubman]

"yeah, yeah, origin of numbers is a questionable hypothesis"


oof, yeah. if you can get past this, then you're alright for the rest, which he does pretty well for. i also think the music is a very fine mix of elements that normally wouldn't work on me. it's classy and dramatic and just cheesy enough to be fun but not stupid



Can I throw this unpopular opinion out there? I'm not really a fan of Pearls Girl anymore! I think I've heard it too many times. Yes, a classic and a banger, but the past few years, I'm just less interested. Tin There mix has stood the test of time better. Further, at least NUXX live gets plenty of tweaks, whether in the intro or outtro jam. PG live versions mostly sound the same to me.


PG beat still does big work for me, but i see what you mean! It's a bit "shut up and play the hits" when live and the track has been ubiquitous enough elsewhere that it's not just itself anymore. Tin There i used to obsess over, but i still don't understand why it spends the back half coasting [on what, exactly?] after cresting like that. boring! my pick for standing the test of time is the 14996 version. it feels fast, vivid, which has more to do with its dynamism than literal speed. all the classic imagery immediately pops up too


That's funny, because I find 'Rowla' really derails the album for me. It brings me out of the ambience of the rest of it.


it's a dimension, not a derail!

[dubman]

I'll add to the stats/discussion:

Stagger: 9/10
Dinosaur Adventure 3D: 9/10,



found these kind of interesting. stagger is a beautiful track absolutely smeared by some poor lyrical choices, but that's just imo. i don't think we've talked much about it here


but Dino 3D. what a weird moment that was. the first sign that something was coming off the rails for me. the vocal treatment, the serviceable.. everything. the lyrics. such a dud track for me that i couldn't even hate it, it was just this lump in the middle of an album. didn't understand why it came all the way to us. seeing someone rate it highly makes me wonder if there's a different angle to it than the one i always assumed.

[dubman]

let's check in on my most hated track of theirs:


Boy Boy Boy: 7/10
BBB: 7/10
Boy Boy Boy - 5
Boy Boy Boy: 7/10
Boy Boy Boy: 5/10


mmm. too high. far too high.

[mark3]

It's funny to see such different opinions. Here's mine (using joethelion's template :D )

Dark & Long - 9
Mmm Skyscraper - 8
Surfboy - 9
Spoonman - 10
Tongue - 9
Dirty Epic - 9
Cowgirl - 8
River of Bass - 9
M.E. - 7


Juanita / Kiteless / To Dream of Love - 10
Banstyle / Sappys Curry - 10
Confusion the Waitress - 8
Rowla - 9
Pearls Girl - 8
Air Towel - 10
Blueski - 10
Stagger - 9


Cups - 10
Push Upstairs - 7
Jumbo - 8
King of Snake - 6
Winjer - 9
Skym - 9
Bruce Lee - 6
Kittens - 7
Push Downstairs - 5
Something Like a Mama - 10
Moaner - 9


Momove - 9
Two Months Off - 5
Twist - 7
Sola Sistim - 6
Little Speaker - 8
Trim - 5
Ess Gee - 1
Dinosaur Adventure 3D - 5
Ballet Lane - 5
Luetin - 10


Crocodile - 5
Beautiful Burnout - 5
Holding the Moth - 7
To Heal - 8
Ring Road - 6
Glam Bucket - 3
Boy Boy Boy - 5
Cuddle Bunny - 7
Faxed Invitation - 10
Good Morning Cockerel - 9
Best Mamgu Ever - 9
Loads of Birds - 9


Bird 1 - 5
ALAF - 3
Scribble - 2
Hamburg Hotel - 8
Grace - 7
Between Stars - 6
Diamond Jigsaw - 5
Moon in Water - 3
Louisiana - 2


I Exhale - 8
If Rah - 8
Low Burn - 10
Santiago Cuatro - 3
Motorhome - 2
Ova Nova - 8
Nylon Strung - 8
Twenty Three Blue - 10



STITI: 93 %
Dubno: 87 %
BF: 78%
Barbara: 71 %
OWB: 69%
AHDO: 61 %
Barking: 46 %

Pretty much the order I had expected.

Seems I'm the only one who thinks Ess Gee is downright awful. :rolleyes: :D

[Billy Goat]

Seriously, what am I missing with Blueski? Everyone seems to score it highly but I honestly don't get it at all! When I get round to doing my scores it will get 0 as it is a waste of 3 minutes in my opinion! They could have put the full version of Rowla on STITI and squeezed in Oich Oich or Cherry Pie. I just don't get what everyone see's/hears in it? ����

[holden]

found these kind of interesting. stagger is a beautiful track absolutely smeared by some poor lyrical choices, but that's just imo. i don't think we've talked much about it here


but Dino 3D. what a weird moment that was. the first sign that something was coming off the rails for me. the vocal treatment, the serviceable.. everything. the lyrics. such a dud track for me that i couldn't even hate it, it was just this lump in the middle of an album. didn't understand why it came all the way to us. seeing someone rate it highly makes me wonder if there's a different angle to it than the one i always assumed.
Funny, I didn't use to like Stagger much, thought it was a bummer way to end the album. But at some point, something about it clicked. It feels clautrophob and a bit dreaded, andi somehow relate. Tastes change with age.

Now, DA3D...I love this because it's a banger on a sometimes subdued record. Yeah, it's kind of a KOS retread, but I love that track and am fine with a relentless techno beast from time to time. Plus, when AHDO came out, I was doing a lot of 6-hour drives, and this record and Beaucoup Fish kept me alert and awake. Driving fast at night with Dino playing just seemed perfect.

Really, Underworld has scored so much of my adult life, I can't help but associate tracks with specific, personal memories.

Regarding Ess Gee and Blueski, and Santiago for that matter, I'm fine with Karl getting a little guitar noodling on record. He has such a textural sound and all of these tracks explore interesting takes on simple loops. I dunno, sometimes a breather in the middle is as good as a banger

[dubman]

like getting a slice of life bit after a bunch of set pieces. gives it space, something more everyday, and fits well into that world. they're not essential, but they're worth appreciating, and a good argument to feature, if an album is a statement.

[purlieu]

Blueski - 10

Ess Gee - 1


I'd love to understand this.

I'll never get the hate Ess Gee sometimes gets. It's such a pretty little piece, and it's only a couple of minutes long.

[Billy Goat]

like getting a slice of life bit after a bunch of set pieces. gives it space, something more everyday, and fits well into that world. they're not essential, but they're worth appreciating, and a good argument to feature, if an album is a statement.

I forgot about Santiago Quatro that's a 0 for me too! They disrupt the feel of the albums for me and don't fit in with the rest of the album.
The cynic in me says they are fillers and just add an extra track number so a non-die hard fan may be tempted by a longer album!

[dubman]

The cynic in me says they are fillers and just add an extra track number so a non-die hard fan may be tempted by a longer album!


that's kind of stupid, dude!

[Billy Goat]

that's kind of stupid, dude!

Maybe, but if you think back to 1995 when cd albums were pretty much the only way music was released. Most albums were at least 10 tracks long (4/5 tracks = an ep, 7 was too few for a standard album) and the way record companies controlled how music was sold and packaged meant that to try and make a 7 track album (STITI - Blueski) look a little bit more like a 'normal' album they might stick a short filler track on.
It's just a thought I've had in the past and it's how it feels to me in the flow of the album.

I wonder if it's a little trick like when the last track on album has a 'secret track' after the end of the last track but it's after a few minutes of silence so it makes the album seem a bit longer- eg Massive Attack 100th Window at the end of Antistar there's 10 mins of noise so when you put the cd in it looks 10mins longer than it actually is!
I know I've got other albums from back then (that I can't remember right now) with similar things like that.

Maybe (as it seems) my cynicism is totally off the mark but there always used to be/still are 'filler tracks' on albums and I just feel that Blueski is one and SQ on BBWFASF is another and I am really surprised at how much love it seems to be getting!

[taotsu]

So, here is mine, following dubman’s template.

I actually listened to everything listed here while scoring, but I was not able to fully listen to Barking, I cannot help myself, I just don’t like it.

Since I was at it, I also added my most listend to EP’s plus Teatime Dub Encounters (which I have not heard a whole lot, but do like) and Drift, because I listen to it the most right now.

short version:

Albums:

Second Toughest In the Infants: 100% (Europe LE 2 disk: 96%)
A Hundred Days Off: 90%
Beaucoup Fish: 87.2%
Oblivion With Bells: 83%
Barbara Barbara: 82.5%
Dubnobasswithmyheadman: 71%
Everything, Everything: 69%
Barking: 42% (2 disk version: 50%)


My Fav EPs:


DRIFT Episode 2 “ATOM”: 94%
Dark & Long (6 tack ep): 90%
Riverrun (incl. the mix): 89.5%
Pearls Girl (the US Version): 87%
DRIFT Episode 1 “DUST”: 86%
Dark & Long (4 track ep): 86%
Teatime Dub Encounters: 71%


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dubnobasswithmyheadman
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dark & Long: 8/10, MmmSkyscraper: 8/10, Surfboy: 7/10, Spoonman: 5/10, Tongue: 10/10, Dirty Epic: 6/10, Cowgirl: 7/10, River of Bass: 8/10, M.E.: 5/10

Total: 64 / 9 = 7.1111 = 71%

Dark & Long (4 track ep)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hall's mix: 8/10, Dark Train: 10/10, Most 'Ospitable: 7/10, 215 Miles: 9.5/10

Total: 34.5 / 4 = 8.625 = 86%

Dark & Long (6 tack ep)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dark & Long 7”: 8/10, Thing in a Book: 10/10, Spoon Deep: 8/10, Dark Hard: 9/10, Dark Train: 10/10, Burts: 9/10

Total: 54 / 6 = 9 = 90%



Second Toughest In the Infants (Europe LE (https://www.discogs.com/Underworld-Second-Toughest-In-The-Infants/release/12154), 2 disks)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Juanita: 10/10, Banstyle: 10/10, Confusion: 10/10, Rowla: 10/10, Pearl's Girl: 10/10, Air Towel: 10/10, Blueski: 10/10, Stagger: 10/10
(Born Slippy (NUXX): 8/10, Rex 8/10)

Total: 100%

(With disc 2: Total: 96 / 10 = 9,6 = 96%)

Pearls Girl (the US Version (https://www.discogs.com/Underworld-Pearls-Girl/release/10634))
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pearl's Girl (Tin There): 10/10, Pearl's Girl (14996 version): 9/10, Puppies: 6/10, Oich Oich: 8/10, Cherry Pie: 10/10, Pearl's Girl (edit): 6/10, Pearl's Girl (album version): 10/10, Mosiac: 9.5/10, Deep Arch: 9.5/10

Total: 78 / 9 = 8.6667 = 87%

Beaucoup Fish
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cups: 10/10, Push Upstairs: 10/10, Jumbo: 9/10, Shudder / King of Snake 8/10, Winjer: 6/10, Skym: 8/10, Bruce Lee: 7/10, Kittens: 10/10, Push Downstairs: 10/10, Something Like a Mama: 10/10, Moaner: 8/10 (I like the single “album version” better)

Total 96 / 11 = 8.72 = 87.2%

Everything, Everything
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Juanita / Kiteless: 6/10, Cups: 6/10, Push Upstairs: 8/10, Pearls Girl: 10/10, Jumbo: 5/10, Shudder / King of Snake: 7/10, Born Slippy (NUXX): 7/10, Rez / Cowgirl: 6/10

Total: 55/8 = 6.875 = 69% (no surprise I hardly listen to it, I also like the DVD playlist better, but especially it feels too constructed and most of the trex are too close to the actual studio versions…)

A Hundred Days Off
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mo Move: 8/10, Two Months Off: 10/10, Twist: 9.5/10, Sola Sistim: 8.5/10, Little Speaker: 10/10, Trim: 8/10, Ess Gee: 7/10, Dinosaur Adventure 3D: 10/10, Ballet Lane: 9/10, Luetin: 10/10
Total: 90 / 10 = 9 = 90%


Riverrun
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Lovely Broken Thing
JAL to Tokyo: 10/10, Billy Goat: 8/10, Peggy Sussed: 6.5/10, Dub Shepard: 9/10, Lenny Penne: 10/10, Monkey Witness: 6/10, Witness: 8/10
Total: 59.5 / 7 = 8.5 = 85%

Pizza For Eggs
Food A Ready: 10/10, Back in the Fears: 10/10, Vanilla Monkey: 9/10, Flatz: 9/10, Ancient Phat Farm Coat: 9.5/10, Play Pig: 10/10
Total: 57.5 / 6 = 9.583333 = 96%

I'm a Big Sister And I'm A Girl, And I'm A Princess And This Is My Horse
Peach Tree: 10/10, Mowed Path: 9/10, Showlder: 6.5/10, Wedge: 8/10, 11 Hundred Hz: 10/10
Total: 43.5 / 5 = 8.7 = 87%

The Misterons Mix
Peach Tree: 9/10, Vanilla Monkey: 8/10, Lenny Penne: 8/10, Billy Goat: 9/10, Back In The Fears: 9/10, Play Pig (Pig & Dan mix 1): 10/10, Food A Ready: 10/10

Total: 63 / 7 = 9 = 90%

Total: 35.783 / 4 = 8.94583 = 89.5%


Oblivion With Bells
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crocodile: 7/10, Beautiful Burnout: 9/10, Holding the Moth: 10/10, To Heal: 3/10, Ring Road: 9.5/10, Glam Bucket: 8.5/10, Boy Boy Boy: 9/10, Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages: 10/10, Faxed Invitation: 8/10, Good Morning Cockerel: 6.5/10, Best Mamgu Ever: 9/10, Loads of Birds: 10/10

Total: 99.5 / 12 =8.29 = 83%

Barking (both disks, because I like many trax on disk 2 much better)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bird 1: 3/10, Always Loved a Film: 2/10, Scribble: 5/10, Hamburg Hotel: 7/10, Grace: 7/10, Between Stars: 4/10, Diamond Jigsaw: 0/10, Moon in Water: 5/10, Louisiana: 0/10, Simple Peal: 9/10

(Disc 2: Strumpet Groove: 6/10, Always Loved a Film (Lemonworld mix): 8/10, You Do Scribble: 7/10, Hamburg Hotel Essex: 9/10, Grace (Telematic Peal mix): 8/10, Between Stars (Lemonworld mix): 6/10, Diamond Jigsaw (demo mix): 0/10, Moon in Water (Lemonworld mix): 7/10, Louisiana (Jumping the Cran): 2/10)

Total: 42 / 10 = 4.2 = 42%
(Disc 2: Total: 53 / 9 = 5.8888889 = 59%
Total: 95 / 19 = 5 = 50%)


Barbara Barbara
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I Exhale: 8/10, If Rah: 8/10, Low Burn: 10/10, Santiago Cuatro: 9/10, Motorhome: 8/10, Ova Nova: 6/10, Nylon Strung: 7/10, Twenty Three Blue: 10/10

Total: 66 / 8 = 8.25 = 82.5%

Teatime Dub Encounters
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bells & Circles: 8/10, Trapped: 7/10, I’ll See Big: 6.5/10, Get Your Shirt: 7/10

Total: 28.5 / 4 = 7.125 = 71%

DRIFT Episode 1 “DUST”
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Intro (BYTWB): 6/10, Universe Of Can When Back: 9/10, Dexters Chalk: 10/10, Another Silent Way: 9/10, Low Between Zebras: 7.5/10, A Very Silent Way: 10/10

Total: 51.5/6 = 8.583333 = 86%

DRIFT Episode 2 “ATOM”
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Appleshine - Film Edit: 9/10, Molehill: 10/10, Threat Of Rain: 10/10, Brussels: 9/10, Soniamode: 10/10, Appleshine Continuum: 8.5/10

Total: 56.5/ 6 = 9.4166667 = 94%

-----------------------------------------------------------------

While I could not listen to barking, I at least can now put my dislike into words: This sounds like Rick and Vince Clark tried to have a love child, but the outcome is a latter day Depeche Mode album (I love everything DM made till Ultra, there it just starts to hurt my ears) and I do still like Erasure a good bit, but not enough. Oh, my.

[Edit:] I also own underneath the radar, and while I think it would easily get a 60 to 70% from me, I do not like to mix MK1 and 2. Its just to different and I do not have a digital copy at hand so I could not even listen. Ha. The 2nd one I have not heard, so, no opinions.

[taotsu]

.........huh.

is hating on Nuxx really a thing?[/QUOTE]

Well, it is for me in a way. I got interested in Underworld because of it, but I never really liked it after listening to 2nd toughest.
I would actually argue I like the Darren Price Mixes from the Double Single (https://www.discogs.com/Underworld-Born-Slippy/release/78034) way better. And if original mix, then I would prefer the 2003 12'' edit. I would not give it a zero, but a solid 4. I listen to it in concerts, but sometimes I skip.

[mark3]

Blueski - 10
Ess Gee - 1

I'd love to understand this.

I'll never get the hate Ess Gee sometimes gets. It's such a pretty little piece, and it's only a couple of minutes long.

Well, I'd like to understand this comparison. Is it because they are approximately the same length, or is it because of the guitar?

As holden wrote, it's about 'associating tracks with specific, personal memories'. STITI was my first UW album and still is my favourite - and Blueski is one of the reasons. It has an edge and a warm sound - even more so with my headphones on because of the 'effects'. It's just a track that I'll never get tired of.

Ess Gee is pretty - too pretty - but sooo boring and I skip it immediately every time.

Each to their own ;)

[holden]

Well, hey, I wish I'd rated the EPs and bonus tracks, too. But I think the outcome would be similar... I like all UW to a great degree, 70-90%, with a few tracks being "meh" and a few being "Yeah!".

I've been listening to their back catalog today, including OWB, all RiverRuns and the inter-Drift releases. Man, are we fortunate to hear all of this at a very high level of quality!

[taotsu]

Exactly. We could have subpar output as is so common by people / bands that long in the business. On the other hand, Rick and Karl have reinvented themselves several times and I strongly believe herein lies the magic

[purlieu]

Well, I'd like to understand this comparison. Is it because they are approximately the same length, or is it because of the guitar?

As holden wrote, it's about 'associating tracks with specific, personal memories'. STITI was my first UW album and still is my favourite - and Blueski is one of the reasons. It has an edge and a warm sound - even more so with my headphones on because of the 'effects'. It's just a track that I'll never get tired of.

Ess Gee is pretty - too pretty - but sooo boring and I skip it immediately every time.

Each to their own ;)

The comparison was them being two short guitar interludes. One very repetitive one being given the highest score, and one more varied, melodic one being given the lowest. Just seemed like a bizarre contrast to me. Is it possible to get that bored in two minutes?! Haha.

[holden]

You know what's fun? Trying to recall your initial impressions of each record. Did they remain, or have you changed your views?

I started with Everything, Everything in 2002. Great intro to the hits, and I knew NUXX and PG from comp CDs. Mostly, this album helped salve a disastrous audition. So it'll always be a favorite. I still find it comforting.

Beacoup Fish was next, mostly because a college friend said it was best and played it to me pre-parties on a Friday night. I have strong memories attached to this, and it remains my favorite lp. I played this one so many times, reminded of a review (pitchfork? Rolling Stone?) Saying the 5th listen is as good as the 50th. It is, imho.

I think Dubno was next. Recall listening to it the first weekend of daylight savings time, still light out. I also took it with me my first trip abroad, to Argentina. A familiar remnant.it sounds dated to me now, but at the time seemed complex and fully realized.

STITI came next. I was frustrated by the low volume of my CD and accordingly found the record a but murky at first listen. I'd heard enough live recordings to expect better. Now, I love STITI, but at first blush, I wasn't sure.

AHDO was the first new release I anticipated as a fan. I was probably overexpectant and really played the record a lot. I remember the thrill of hearing Mo Move's stoptime and Leutin's cold menace. I played this album a lot on long drives and was enthralled. It still holds my interest.

OWB is a tough one. We'd experienced RiverRun and some great underworldlive releases. And I saw the hand in Central Park, NY before the official release. Sings like beautiful burnout and holding the moth and to heal had appeared on radio shows, but somehow the album versions felt kind of blah. I just wasn't excited by this release. I remember hearing the leak and being underwhelmed.

Barking is an enigma. I remember the single release of Scribble being very exciting. My wife moved to Canada for work that year, and I heard the album in full when it came out during a trip to visit her. So, I have strong memories of the record, even though I don't think it's very strong in retrospect. But it was a joyful experience to listen to along some wooded Ontario trails.

Barbara came out and I was sort of reserved because we got previews and they were challenging. But I walked around with this record on release day and made my peace. Again, pleasant surroundings yield positive response.

There are a lot more specific memories that come from these albums, but you'd be bored/confused. Suffice it to say that each record, whether purchased after the fact or anticipated has been a special, memorable event for me. Thanks UW!

[mark3]

One very repetitive one being given the highest score, and one more varied, melodic one being given the lowest.
And?
I happen to like repetitive music. Luckily, electronic music offers a lot of repetitive music ;)
Your opinion isn't necessarily the same as mine ...


Just seemed like a bizarre contrast to me. Fair enough, I thought the comparison was bizarre to begin with :rolleyes:
Is it possible to get that bored in two minutes?! Haha.
As hilarious as you may find it; yes.

[purlieu]

Hey look, I didn't mean to come across like a dick, I'm just genuinely interested in an opinion that surprised me so much. A lot of the hate Ess Gee gets is because it's a short guitar interlude (I remember when AHDO came out and it was loathed by loads of people for that reason alone), so I suppose seeing Blueski rated so highly made me wonder what it was that gave you such polar opposite views on two tracks that play similar roles on their respective albums.

[potatobroth]

Ess Gee is piercing to me. I don't care for the sounds, arrangement, pace, etc. Blueski I love. Its very pleasing to me.

[khouri]

"Blueski" and "Ess Gee" are night and day to me, honestly.

[potatobroth]

"Blueski" and "Ess Gee" are night and day to me, honestly.

yuuup

[dubman]

I think it's true that we wouldnt be talking about them as the same thing if they weren't "the guitar interlude in an electronic album", but i dunno about "night and day," or that it's piercing (??). there's still similarities out of it being Karl, and it is a bit confusing to _loathe_ one and love the other.



I find Ess Gee uncynical and very pretty but a bit saccharine too. it's mood isn't exactly ambiguous and I wonder if it's here largely because the tone is impeccable. blueski is just more mysterious and evocative, like knowing a photo you found was meaningful to whoever took it but not knowing why.

[mark3]

Hey look, I didn't mean to come across like a dick,
I don't think you did, purlieu, and I apologise if my reply was too harsh.
I still don't buy the premise that Ess Gee and Blueski should be comparable or that they 'serve the same role' on the respective albums. But if you think so, cool
Imo, you might as well compare Ballet Lane and Blueski. At least Ballet Lane is more sophisitcated, as in 'complex', it's short and the penultimate track as well. Yes, there are some drums / beats, but the guitar is there, too. :D
Oh, well ... :p

[potatobroth]

there's still similarities out of it being Karl, and it is a bit confusing to _loathe_ one and love the other.

Well yeah of course there are similarities. Both have a composed-with-care style about them. But the notes/chords of Ess Gee pierce me and I personally feel its a downer of a track. It does work better before Mo Move on the demo album, but I still skip it every single time it comes on. If I wasn't such a purist, I'd just remove it from the album and save myself the time; its in my bottom 3 UW tracks for sure. (Boy, Boy, Boy is in there as well as Shudder.)

Blueski however, has a gentle rolling feel to it. It has an interesting using of guitar and repetition. And tonally, its pleasing. I feel this way about Santiago Cuatro as well if we're comparing like tracks.

[richardacre]

dubno - 8/9 = 89% (M.E. - Lyrics feel far too 90s)
stiti - 7/8 = 88% (Can't stand Rowla, I'd swap it for Cherry Pie)
bfish - 9/11 = 82% (I'm being harsh to Winjer and Bruce Lee, kinda sorta like em)
100do - 8/10 = 80% (Ess Gee is meh, Dinosaur is just farting about with a vocoder, and we already have Moaner)
obwib - 7/11 = 64% (ring road, to heal, glam bucket, cuddle bunny)
brkng - 8/9 = 89% (Scribble)
barbr - 6/7 = 86% (Motorhome)

Apparently I like Barking best. But if you'd have asked me to pick one without science I'd have picked 100 Days Off (I'm listening to the Ansum edit right now). I think as an album it has the best flow from track to track, beginning, middle and end, making it feel more like a complete work. Oblivion is a good example of the opposite of that, feels like a bunch of random stuff thrown together and I'd probably like some of the individual tracks better if they didn't contrast so much with the ones around them.

edit: I redid my maths and had a rounding error, dubno and Barking are tied. I feel better about that

[potatobroth]

glam bucket

:eek:

[deepfriedbeans]

M.E. - Lyrics feel far too 90s

I actually love this about M.E., haha.