doug martsch??

[flo's garage]

How does the doug martsch solo album rate, the last one fom up? Just wondered cos its been on my 'must buy' list for some time, and I was having a listen to the last bts record last night and remembered how dissapointed it left me. To me it seems a bit half-arsed, obviously it has its moments, but as a whole its not up to much.

[the Pawnbroker]

Its been a while since I listened to the Martsch solo album. It has a somewhat different feel than BTS with Martsch's use of an acoustic blues/slide guitar playing style. It is not as catchy or hook-laden as BTS. However, some of the tracks on the second half of the album that mix acoustic and electric guitar are very cool. Of course, his voice is somewhat unmistakable --- whether that's good or bad is a matter of taste/opinion.

I heard somewhere that the new BTS album similarly will use acoustic and electric guitars.

[flo's garage]

I'm looking forward to hearing the new stuff, I really hope its a return to form (in my eyes). I have a really idealistic thing where I expect a certain group of bands, my 'best bands' lets say, to produce great records consistanly, and when they don't its really dissapointing. That's my romantic optimism!!

[Sujan]

is it a new bts or dm album? i was a bit disappointed in the solo release and the bts last full length.

[Paul]

I know there's a new BTS album due this year, but I've no idea if another solo Doug album is coming.

[Sujan]

while he's at it, i wouldn't mind a new halo benders record either!

[the Pawnbroker]

I think Paul's right: it's a BTS album. I haven't heard anything about a solo record.

Were the Halo Benders a side project or pre-BTS?

[Sujan]

It was a side project and they have 3 full lengths: Don't Tell Me Know, God Don't Make No Junk and The Rebels Not In.

Treepeople was the pre-BTS band.

[Paul]

Halo Benders is the only context in which I can tolerate Calvin Johnson's vocals. Without Doug to play off of, he's such a bore.

[otto midnight]

all 3 halo benders albums have very special places in my heart based solely on my activities the day/night of purchase. weird how things work out sometime.





don't touch my bikini
looking is free
but touchin's gonna cost ya...

[tinobeat]

Halo Benders are amazing. I generally really dislike most stuff Calvin is involved in, but he's a perfect foil for Doug.

Halo Benders > BTS, imo...

more heart...

[Salman]

Beat Happening > Halo Benders

in my opinion.

[tinobeat]

Just about any sound in the world > Beat Happening.

just my (pretty harsh) opinion...

[Wallerton]

Originally posted by tinobeat
Just about any sound in the world > Beat Happening.

just my (pretty harsh) opinion...

Aw, c'mon. There are some nice moments in the BH catalogue, though I'll admit Calvin can't carry a tune in a bucket. And when I say "nice moments," I mean that some of the individual songs stand up pretty well. Consider Yo La Tengo's cover of "Cast a Shadow." I think the similarly titled "Cry for a Shadow" is also a brilliant little song.

I think I've listened to Now You Know twice, maybe three times. Didn't leave much of an impression. The last BTS album, for that matter, was just okay. I'm all about Keep It Like a Secret, though Perfect From Now On is a close second.

Favorite Halo Benders track: "Snowfall."

[earl grey]

Originally posted by Wallerton

I'm all about Keep It Like a Secret, though Perfect From Now On is a close second.


those two are definitely essential but 'there's nothing wrong with love' tops them both IMO.

[Wallerton]

Originally posted by earl grey
those two are definitely essential but 'there's nothing wrong with love' tops them both IMO.

Er... TNWWL is good. I listened to "Car" over and over and over and over and over and over again when I first got it. And it's a pretty fine album over all. But I think Scott Plouf's drumming has become an essential element of the band's sound.