Customer Reviews

Clock Comes Down the Stairs

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yet another brilliant offering from the criminally ignored Microdisney. The songwriting and production here aren't quite as sharp and consistent as its predecessor "Everybody's Fantastic" (which I highly recommend), but it's still a classic, with arguably better (at least more venomous) lyrics.

The sound is lighter and more studio sterile on "Clock", despite the fact that they used a HUMAN drummer. The arrangements are actually a bit more orchestral in scope when compared with previous efforts. Still, the finely wrought tunes continue the seductive, paradoxical combination of extremes; Sean O'Hagan's beautiful, deft country-picking Jimmy Webb-inspired guitar melodies, and singer Cathal Coughlan's ironic, caustic, acid-tongued vocals/lyrics, joining to form a unique poetic vision. The West Coast Beach Boys influences are more prevalent here, especially with the bouncy beats and rich organ on "Genius", "Horse Overboard", and the haunting ballad "And".

Even thought the production doesn't focus quite as much on Sean's guitar, the songs are still first rate, infectiously catchy, pop masterpieces. Just try getting "Genius" or "Birthday Girl" out of your head after you've heard 'em a few times.

And how you can beat a chorus like "You're a genius, you're a giant, you're a prince, you are the Pope, the things you feel are just a joke, so burn, burn, burn!" (from "Genius"). The lush "Goodbye it's 1987" and the country-ish "A Friend with a Big Mouth" offer similar sentiments, all delivered in Cathal's gut-wrenching, Irish brogue. This music is not for the faint-hearted.

Sophisticated, poetic, heavily ironic, and gorgeously melodic; please stop ignoring this wonderful band. The arduous and time-consuming search you'll have to conduct to find any of their albums will be well worth the effort.

Humor, irony, sarcasm and melody. What more could one ask for? This album will never go away and for that I am very grateful.

Superb songwriting and playing. This is tremendous. It came out in '84 but hasn't dated at all to these ears. They didn't sound as great as this one future outtings. If possible, go for the import with the 5 extra tracks. Listen, love, cherish.

O'Hagan and Coughlan are wonderful here. A warning -- this disc is truly addictive.

This is the best album by MICRODISNEY, far superior to anything they produced later (as FATIMA MANSIONS or HIGH LLAMAS, although both are themselves superior to 95% of average pop-rock. More than 10 years later the album melodies and lyrics regularly surface in the back of your mind. Exceptionnal & Rare !

God this takes me back. Flicking through my records recently, a few stood to attention and screamed out to be played. This was one of them. This record evokes wonderful memories. Yes, we were young, reckless students. Not a care in the world. Listening to this, I am transported right back there. Jangling guitar at its best, Corkonians at their most wicked, and God knows those southerners are not to be trusted.

Dublin vs. Cork, Guiness vs. Murphys. Usually, Dublin comes up trumps. But in this case, we have to hand it to the Cork buoys. Five out of five for class, verve, wit and gumption, Mr Coughlan.

Can you believe that it still sounds this good and 20 years ago it was Goodbye it's 1987 and now it's, hello, 2007? Where does it go?