Antony And The Johnsons
Posted by: graham55 on 04 March 2005
The new issue of Mojo contains a rave review of "I Am A Bird Now" and a feature which describes Antony as the best singer to emerge since the late Jeff Buckley.
I may just have to take a punt on this and buy the CD unheard. Has anyone here heard him sing?
G
I may just have to take a punt on this and buy the CD unheard. Has anyone here heard him sing?
G
Posted on: 04 March 2005 by graham55
Sorry, chaps (and any chapesses), couldn't wait for any reply. So my indebtedness to Amazon has just increased by that little bit more!
G
G
Posted on: 04 March 2005 by Mike Hughes
I bought this on Saturday and raved about it briefly on the Josh Rouse thread. Imagine the angelic side of Jeff Buckley backed by a gentle Bad Seeds and you're part way there.
For me it's one of those great "What the **** is that?" moments that come along once every ever so rarely. Something that stops you in your tracks the moment you hit play.
Yes, it certainly has a possibility of being hyped but it's hard to see why not given the quality. It's an extraordinary record in every sense (although that 9th track is a little, ahem, incongruous).
Graham, I look forward to your feedback.
Mike
For me it's one of those great "What the **** is that?" moments that come along once every ever so rarely. Something that stops you in your tracks the moment you hit play.
Yes, it certainly has a possibility of being hyped but it's hard to see why not given the quality. It's an extraordinary record in every sense (although that 9th track is a little, ahem, incongruous).
Graham, I look forward to your feedback.
Mike
Posted on: 04 March 2005 by woodface
I am really scratching my head on this one; I simply cannot work out whether this is fantastic life affirming music or over the top cod cabaret! The music is lush and pull all the right strings but the voice and lyrics are a bit distracting? A wierd one, I think I may have to buy it though.
Posted on: 04 March 2005 by graham55
Anyone else?
G
G
Posted on: 12 March 2005 by Mike Hughes
So Graham,
Have you purchased and what do you think?
Mike
Have you purchased and what do you think?
Mike
Posted on: 12 March 2005 by graham55
Mike
I believe so, but (following the old mantra) I decided to order a US-made CD pressing from Amazon USA, and I'm still waiting for it to arrive. A bit bloody frustrating, actually!
Graham
I believe so, but (following the old mantra) I decided to order a US-made CD pressing from Amazon USA, and I'm still waiting for it to arrive. A bit bloody frustrating, actually!
Graham
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by woodface
Anyway, as mentioned in my earlier post I did buy it and first impressions are very good. I am in the middle of some room renovation at the moment so currently the system is down. This album is actually quite disturbing and perhaps a little doom laden. They do have an excellent web site which has free samples of recent releases. The wierd thing is I really expected my wife to like this album but she was not too impressed.
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by Reto D
Hi,
Bought it blind (my fault), and regret it!.
His voice is particulary annoying, don't like it at all!
Of course a matter of taste but I cannot recommend it at all...
Reto
Bought it blind (my fault), and regret it!.
His voice is particulary annoying, don't like it at all!
Of course a matter of taste but I cannot recommend it at all...
Reto
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by graham55
Reto
I'm committed now, as Amazon USA shipped my order yesterday.
I've read comparisons of the voice to Jeff Buckley. Did you like JB's voice?
G
I'm committed now, as Amazon USA shipped my order yesterday.
I've read comparisons of the voice to Jeff Buckley. Did you like JB's voice?
G
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Reto D
G,
I'm not familiar with the music of Jeff Buckley, so I can't comment. I have only listened once to Antony's new cd so maybe my impressions change later on.
Reto
I'm not familiar with the music of Jeff Buckley, so I can't comment. I have only listened once to Antony's new cd so maybe my impressions change later on.
Reto
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by graham55
Reto
I'd urge you to drop whatever you're doing and run out and buy a copy of Jeff Buckley's "Grace" NOW.
Try to get the Sony Legacy 3 disc set (around £16 here in the UK), which has the original (remastered) album on CD1, outtakes on CD2, and a DVD with all the videos associated with the album.
Graham
I'd urge you to drop whatever you're doing and run out and buy a copy of Jeff Buckley's "Grace" NOW.
Try to get the Sony Legacy 3 disc set (around £16 here in the UK), which has the original (remastered) album on CD1, outtakes on CD2, and a DVD with all the videos associated with the album.
Graham
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by matthewr
I think it's brilliant although if you are expecting Jeff Buckley you might be dissapointed. He's got an astonishing voice but it's more like a mutant combination of Boy Geroge, Andy Worhol, Baz Lehamnn and Liza Minelli.
Woodface's top cod cabaret is not so ver far off. Pitchfork raved about it and this can be read here.
Matthew
Woodface's top cod cabaret is not so ver far off. Pitchfork raved about it and this can be read here.
Matthew
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Mike Hughes
May I add to Matthews' measured comments by observing that whilst the Buckley comparisons are off the mark there is some validity to the comparison in as much as the voice is quite stunning and, for once, it has something to say too.
I can quite understand why it might not be the cup of tea of many here but I think it would be reasonable to say, for example, that when one strips away all the Buckley mythology then, ultimately, this is a better album.
I think it's also true to say that this is the sort of album that helps us see who likes true originals with some character and individuality and who gets a bit uncomfortable with anything a little outside of the norm.
Mike
I can quite understand why it might not be the cup of tea of many here but I think it would be reasonable to say, for example, that when one strips away all the Buckley mythology then, ultimately, this is a better album.
I think it's also true to say that this is the sort of album that helps us see who likes true originals with some character and individuality and who gets a bit uncomfortable with anything a little outside of the norm.
Mike
Posted on: 19 March 2005 by graham55
Rather to my surprise (as I don't think that it's sufficiently mainstream), the album got a four-star review in The Times today. The reviewer commented that the disc was almost thrown out on first hearing, but that the sound of the voice won over.
And I still haven't got my copy yet!
G
And I still haven't got my copy yet!
G
Posted on: 21 March 2005 by Ian P
quote:Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
May I add to Matthews' measured comments by observing that whilst the Buckley comparisons are off the mark there is some validity to the comparison in as much as the voice is quite stunning and, for once, it has something to say too.
I can quite understand why it might not be the cup of tea of many here but I think it would be reasonable to say, for example, that when one strips away all the Buckley mythology then, ultimately, this is a better album.
I think it's also true to say that this is the sort of album that helps us see who likes true originals with some character and individuality and who gets a bit uncomfortable with anything a little outside of the norm.
Mike
On the strength of the opinions here, and being in a buying frame of mind, I ordered both "Grace", and "I am a bird now", having heard nothing of either artist before. I've spent the weekend listening to both. To my mind "Grace" is a treasure I'm amazed has never crossed my path before. "I am a bird now" is one of those initially beautiful sounds which quickly falls appart. I couldn't easily distinguish one track from another, for the most part, unless focusing on the slighlty disturbing lyrics. But hey, worth the money to have brought "Grace" to my attention.
Posted on: 21 March 2005 by graham55
Ian
Always delighted to convert anyone to the late great Jeff Buckley.
Still can't speak to Antony's disc, however.
G
Always delighted to convert anyone to the late great Jeff Buckley.
Still can't speak to Antony's disc, however.
G
Posted on: 22 March 2005 by Ian P
quote:Originally posted by graham55:
Ian
Always delighted to convert anyone to the late great Jeff Buckley.
Still can't speak to Antony's disc, however.
G
Many thanks !
I'll be interested to hear your views when you get "I am a bird now".
Posted on: 22 March 2005 by Neill S
Weird voice but it grows on you... I think he sounds more like a wobbly Youssou N'Dour. Good album and some nice vocals from Rufus Wainwright too
Posted on: 28 March 2005 by FamousBlueRaincoat
I saw Antony support Lou Reed a few years ago and was pretty taken aback by his voice because it was so powerful and different. Then i read that article in MOJO and thought that i really ought to check him out, so i bought 'I am a bird now' on the basis of that article. When i first heard it, i wasn't too struck (but that was my reaction when i first heard buckley). 3rd time i heard it i realised i loved it and now i can't stop playing it. Its just amazing..i think its a bit of a grower, and kind of like marmite. You'll either love him or hate him!
i downloaded his version of "Candy says" by VU and its brilliant.
i downloaded his version of "Candy says" by VU and its brilliant.
Posted on: 28 March 2005 by graham55
FBR
Welcome to the madhouse!
I'm STILL waiting for my copy of the CD to turn up.
G
Welcome to the madhouse!
I'm STILL waiting for my copy of the CD to turn up.
G
Posted on: 28 March 2005 by Reto D
G
Do you want mine?
Reto
Do you want mine?
Reto
Posted on: 29 March 2005 by Mike Hanson
quote:Originally posted by matthewr:
He's got an astonishing voice but it's more like a mutant combination of Boy Geroge, Andy Worhol, Baz Lehamnn and Liza Minelli.
I've heard only his duet "Old Whore's Diet", with Rufus Wainwright, on Waintwright's "Want Two". I would have to add that there's a whole lotta Elvis thrown into the mix.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 12 May 2005 by graham55
Our wonderful postal service managed to lose my copy of I Am A Bird Now, so I had to reorder it all the way from the US. This has all taken time and the replacement copy arrived on Monday.
I played it through a couple of times on Monday. I had no problem with the sound of the voice (which others here appear to detest), but the music itself was very unusual. So I put the disc away for a couple of days.
I'm playing it again now and have to say that it's magnificent. It will be much played over the coming weeks and months.
I think that it needs good equipment to give of its best. I hate to think how it would sound coming out of your average midi system.
Graham
I played it through a couple of times on Monday. I had no problem with the sound of the voice (which others here appear to detest), but the music itself was very unusual. So I put the disc away for a couple of days.
I'm playing it again now and have to say that it's magnificent. It will be much played over the coming weeks and months.
I think that it needs good equipment to give of its best. I hate to think how it would sound coming out of your average midi system.
Graham
Posted on: 12 May 2005 by Lapdog
Still waiting for my LP 
Posted on: 13 May 2005 by CPeter
Lapdog,
So am I, ordered it from Sister Ray end of March. I went to SR last week and they (re)assured me that it is coming....
rgds,
Peter
So am I, ordered it from Sister Ray end of March. I went to SR last week and they (re)assured me that it is coming....
rgds,
Peter