Reformation Post T.L.C. [Enhanced]

The Fall | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Narnack Records
• ASIN: B000N60GZU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,699 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Over! Over!

2. Reformation [Extended Version]

3. Fall Sound

4. White Line Fever

5. Insult Song [Extended Version]

6. My Door Is Never

7. Coach and Horses

8. The Wright Stuff

9. Scenario

10. Das Boot

11. The Bad Stuff

12. Systematic Abuse

13. Outro

Editorial Reviews

"Despite their having influenced such disparate artists as Pavement, Radiohead, and Clinic, success has been elusive for Mancunians The Fall ... the band unleashes a furious rhythmic juggernaut of churning guitar, bass, and drums while the free association of images really sticks." -- UNDER THE RADAR

"The incessant bass crunch and hovering guitar parts drip with fury ... overall The Fall remain, ever shockingly, in excellent form." -- PITCHFORK

"A brutal, head-banging rock beast." -- BBC

Take a step back to the boiling summer of 2006. The Fall had just successfully completed three out of sixteen US tour dates when suddenly, controversy struck. As Mark E. Smith and keyboardist/wife Eleni Poulou slept soundly in their Phoenix hotel, the band's guitarists and drummer hopped on an international flight back to the UK in an angry huff. It's still uncertain what happened in the desert that May, but whatever it was, it helped take The Fall in a refreshing new direction. Smith and Poulou decided to move on with the tour, a new group of backing musicians were dispatched (a group of Americans?!), and eventually the puzzle pieces fell into place. The tour continued, their scheduled recording session in L.A. was completed, and the end result? The Fall's latest full length, Reformation Post T.L.C.

Featuring twelve brand-new tunes set comfortably in angst-soaked garage rock mortar, Reformation Post T.L.C. stands as proof that it takes a lot more than some screwy controversy to stop the fate of Mark E. Smith. Having already inspired many indie rock bands from the early nineties through today, The Fall returns with a new album and a new lesson in rock `n' roll. Reformation Post T.L.C. is the band's latest studio full-length, and third for Narnack following 2005's critically acclaimed Fall Heads Roll. Emerging from working-class Manchester, The Fall formed in 1976 after vocalist and incomparably acid-tongued lyricist Mark E. Smith decided he wanted a more personal vessel for his words, ideas, and obsessions with literature. The group's first full-length, Live at the Witch Trials, soon followed. Many albums and member changes later, Mark E. Smith has lead The Fall into becoming what many critics consider to be the most prolific band of the British punk movement. With his philosophical wordplay, knowledge of appealing song structure, and bitterly controversial personality, Mark E. Smith has managed to front a band with not only a cult following, but an impressive record of success on both the UK and US charts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The shamed just drained, March 12, 2007

By 

Darren McBain "Flying Ed" (Burnside, South Australia Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reformation Post T.L.C. (Chi) (Audio CD)

Having been a Fall follower since hex enduction hour, i have seen many of the ups and downs of the band played out and on.
In 2007 nothing has changed with that maxim for MES.
Having disposed of the then current lineup of the band mid tour, who were all relatively new members anyway with the exception of guitarist Ben Pritchard who had lasted 6 or so years, he picks up a new band of Los Angelinos and within days and before you know it they are the fall.
They begin recording almost immediatley and this is the fruit of that labour.
Well how does it scrub up?
This is an album for fans only.
If you are interested in finding out about the wonderful and frightening world of MES and the fall don't start here.
For the fans tho, it is amazing that MES has pulled what he has out of it.
I can liken it to going from 'the unutterable' to 'are you are missing winner'.
There are instant fall grooves going on in Fall Sound, Reformation, Systematic Abuse and My door is never although the latter is marred by an uninspired vocal by MES.
White Line Fever features a most melancholy approach to a vocal not seen since Bill is Dead from Extricate, showing a most tender side of MES, obviously the old codger is mellowing [surely not!], pity then that the playing is so sloppy!
Insult Song is very hard going, an uninspired jam along with one of Smith's most embarrasing rants - why even include it?
Das Boot is cut from similar cloth.
Neat moments are found on Coach and Horses and the Usher.
Elena Poulou's vocal on the Wright Stuff is cool and a welcome break from Smith's mostly below par vocals.
Thankfully also her keyboard contibutions maintain a link to the old Fall sound [check out the relentless drive of Fall Sound!!]
If the band sticks around long enough [or they are allowed to!] then the next album will be interesting particularly if Tim Presley [new guitarists] manages to find his feet.
He is credited as co producer with Smith but where are the guitars??
The twin bass line up hopefully will an inspired innovation if it continues to evolve and find it's way also.
All in all it seems a bit rushed and lacking a little in quaulity control.
Production is a little on the low-fi side after the sonic slam of the last 2 studio efforts.
Still there is enough on here to keep me happy til the next one rolls around and enough to make me realise that after 30 years the fall are still right up there.
Bring back Grant Showbiz and get the guitars back in the mix!!
Flying Ed....

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nope!, June 27, 2007

By 

Markster "the high plains drifter" (Laramie, Wyoming) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reformation Post T.L.C. (Audio CD)

As much as I like the Fall, their latest release is quite the disappointment. Filler is the word that comes to mind. After the first four songs (which are quite good, by the way...Reformation TLC being the stand-out), the material takes a deep plunge into mediocrity. Some of the songs are even dreadful (Das Boot, The Wright Stuff and the Insult Song come to mind in this regard). This CD should have been released as an EP. There is some point being made here, but I'm not quite sure what it is, nor do I care. At least you can't accuse MES of not being in character.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sadly, no, May 26, 2007

By 

James Biques "bixx7" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reformation Post T.L.C. (Audio CD)

I am a Fall fan of more than 1/4-century's standing. I've listened to and seen, on disc and in concert, MES' genius at its best, worst and drunken ugliest. This new album is none of the three. While I admire his supernatural ability to regenerate/reform the Fall so rapidly and frequently over the years, this particular Reformation is not something to get excited about. There has always been filler on Fall albums (faller on Fill albums?) but this time around, tracks like Insult Song (you ain't kidding!), The Wright Stuff and Das Boot are actually boring, not places for the listener to pause and catch his breath. In Reformation and Coach and Horses, I hear traces of what this latest Fall incarnation may grow into, as MES really seems to enjoy having a fresh batch of (American!) youngsters to boss around and intimidate. I look forward to the next major recording from these guys (assuming they're still in the band next year, wouldn't be surprised if they've all been sacked or quit as I type), but won't be listening to R-PTLC very often.

Also, what's with the outright appropriation of Beefheart lyrics...in two different songs yet?