New album or RiverRun

[Jan]

Don't ever call Vanilla Monkey "forgettable" again.

For me the RiverRuns were thousand times more exciting than the last album, because I feel that it was exactly what they wanted to put out at that time. I you haven't already, listen to PFE while watching the photos...

I'm sad that there wasn't as much critical response to the EPs as they deserved.
A reason for that might be the general preconception that those EPs consisted of "unfinished" or "unpolished" tunes... and were merely "goodies". It makes me sad every time I read a sentence like that here.

Many people seem to expect a second dubno or STITI or whatever, but what's the point? If I want dubno I listen to dubno. They have to move forward... and the RiverRun project was just that. The album... not so much. Something seemed to hold them back (except for the last third + Loads of Birds, which could easily have been another RiverRun).

In answer to the original question, I think they should release a longer RiverRun in form of an album.

[dubman]

seriously, what
vanilla monkey was the best part of the whole riverruns thus far

[potatobroth]

So we all like different stuff. I personally like OwB more than RRs. Others like the opposite. I just love hearing new stuff.

If Mamgu and Faxed Invitation appeared on a RR, I may be posting a different view here.

[holden]

Originally Posted by Jan

I(f) you haven't already, listen to PFE while watching the photos...

I'm sad that there wasn't as much critical response to the EPs as they deserved.
A reason for that might be the general preconception that those EPs consisted of "unfinished" or "unpolished" tunes... and were merely "goodies". It makes me sad every time I read a sentence like that here.

Many people seem to expect a second dubno or STITI or whatever, but what's the point? If I want dubno I listen to dubno. They have to move forward... and the RiverRun project was just that. The album... not so much. Something seemed to hold them back (except for the last third + Loads of Birds, which could easily have been another RiverRun).

In answer to the original question, I think they should release a longer RiverRun in form of an album.

I haven't ever watched all the slides as the albums played...meant to, but didn't find the time - anyway, i did most of my RR listening on the move, rather than in front of the computer, so the tracks had a different visual aspect for me.

I agree with what you've written above. Despite the general consensus that the RR tracks were snippets or unfinished, we know that tseveral tacks were in the works for some time. Each RR has a very unique "feel" or genre, if you will. Whereas OWB is a bit of everything, i think the RR mixes work better as unified wholes.And i too would like an album-long mix with a consistent feel.

[Buji]

I would personally prefer to hear a new album, but would love a riverun too!

It's the albums that got me into Underworld in the first place and I think the pressure to make an album great brings out the best. Also any tracks that don't make the cut or fit in with the album can still be used on a riverun.

The great thing about this debate is that we are going to get some new Underworld music soon anyway so I am very pleased!




www.myspace.com/easydelicmusic

[Champiness]

Originally Posted by Jan

Don't ever call Vanilla Monkey "forgettable" again.

For me the RiverRuns were thousand times more exciting than the last album, because I feel that it was exactly what they wanted to put out at that time. I you haven't already, listen to PFE while watching the photos...

I'm sad that there wasn't as much critical response to the EPs as they deserved.
A reason for that might be the general preconception that those EPs consisted of "unfinished" or "unpolished" tunes... and were merely "goodies". It makes me sad every time I read a sentence like that here.

Many people seem to expect a second dubno or STITI or whatever, but what's the point? If I want dubno I listen to dubno. They have to move forward... and the RiverRun project was just that. The album... not so much. Something seemed to hold them back (except for the last third + Loads of Birds, which could easily have been another RiverRun).

In answer to the original question, I think they should release a longer RiverRun in form of an album.

Oh, don't get me wrong- the RiverRuns have been the soundtracks to a lot of great moments in my life recently (particularly the time I was taking a drive home one night and listened to all three in a row while the snow-covered scenery around me glistened... lovely), but they just seemed to focus on short, sometimes unfulfilled ponderings to set them off as individual releases. While I find some parts of Vanilla Monkey, most of which come in near the end, interesting, it feels a bit sparse at points with nothing but bongoes and Karl's foreboding vocals about suffocating and getting burned to keep you focused on what you're hearing. It's wonderfully experimental- Vanilla Monkey is certainly indicative of Underworld- but the point is that it just doesn't pass as an intimate moment with the band, like you'd expect a special release like the RiverRun project to be full of. Meanwhile, the chances of creating a special live memory to make you fond of the original, as happened to me with Rowla, are lower, as only the tracks that already stand out seem to represent the RiverRuns in performances. A new album would have more material and really just make a more coherent release from the group.

[ultradave]

Originally Posted by dubman

i remember making it on the second wave but barely. waited 15 minutes for it to show up on a flaky internet connection and 2 minutes after i finally got mine they were all gone

i had to wake up at 3:45am and remain in silence so as not to wake the wife. so with tired crusty eyes i refreshed my eBay link and got mine. No regrets.

[TheBang]

I set up a server script that polled Mal's eBay page every minute and sent an SMS to my cell phone as soon as an Underworld item was listed. It worked beautifully.

[Dunwho]

I personally believe in the RR ethos down to the ground. The idea of a flow and process of thinking is pretty much Underworld in a nutshell...however the way in which the material is released to the public is very important. It is clear that while the RR's were very official and substantial releases a lot of the less involved fans knew absolutely nothing about them until OWB was released and they revisited the new UWlive.com site. To a lot of people the RR's sadly became simply an mp3 extra of "stuff" that a lot of people never truely connected with in the way that they should.

However when you listen to the first two tracks of STITI and listen to the progression through the songs you get IMO the same progression that you find in the RR..

So what i am realy hoping for is an album that features 4 or 5 ..twenty minute tracks which are not named under one name but are along the lines of "Juanita/Kiteless/To Dream of Love"
so that the listener can identify with both the individual tracks and the flow and vibe of a true riverrun experience.... id like it to be released generally too and not just on limited edition vinyl and download...

...let the public hear the truly incredible capacity of underworld and not just a compromise like that of OWB (though i really do think it is one of their most challenging and exciting albums)

phew i hope i didnt bore you with that tome of nonsence

[Sappys Curry]

I really like both the RR releases and OWB. I prefer albums, though, and would like to see a new album over a new RR series. I'd like a new RR release or releases, but I'd prefer a new album coming out instead of RR releases and then an album in like 3 years from now.

The RR releases are really cool, though. The third release "I'm a Big Sister" is my favorite one of the RR releases.