Customer Reviews

Take Fountain

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

 

 

This of course is a 5 star record, best David has done in ages.
I respect Cinerama a lot and think the idea of coming back to the orignal WP group name is pointless when both bands sound so similar towards Saturnilia to current Cinerama. Maybe it is for the financial attention that he totally deserves, selling his own shirts after every show. I once saw them perform. David saw this one kid sing every word to every tune from the stage. The kid asked for two shirts and David said 'it was on him, cheers'. I'll never forget how in touch he was to his following. In any case, if you like later WP, this is such an easy one to throw on. Very Recommended! I also recommend British Sea Power's Open Season. They have a lot of WP's energy on the slow ones, as well as Julian Cope and early Echo. Cheers.

I was a little anxious to find out how this album would turn out and have been anticipated it's release for some time now. I have not been disapointed in fact very impressed with Take Fountain.

This albbum is better that anything Cinerama released (although I though Torino was a great record) and some of the last releases that TWP where a little dissapointing for me. This record makes up for this and is well worth to buy.

The album is a strong set of songs and a solid releases from start to finish. InterState 5 is a powerful pounding song (a great driving song)that shows TWP at their best. The extended mix breaks into a south western/blueman group type instrmental that is brilliant. There is likely a short movie to made just for this song alone. It really gets your imagination pumping.

Further north than you is a great pop song well wriiten and catchy all the way through. Mars Sparkes down is a downbeat song remins me a bit of the seamonsters record. Don't touch that dial is also a great downbeat song with strong emotional drives.

Track 7 It's for you sounds like it came straight off the Bizarro record and is a lively bit of fun.

Even if you have been dissapointed with TWP or Cinerama in the past this is the time to make ammends. TWP have delivered a solid album that will be memorable. I recomend to buy this record.

Also the good news is the US tour and they have been plying alot of oldies including My Favorite Dress, Once More, Kennedy, Brassnect on the European circuit so I expect that we will receive the same here. The US tour dates are.

Apr 14 2005 8:00P
Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
Apr 15 2005 8:00P
Slim's San Fransisco, CA
Apr 17 2005 8:00P
Neumo's Seattle, WA
Apr 18 2005 8:00P
The Red Room Vancouver,
Apr 21 2005 8:00P
400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
Apr 22 2005 8:00P
Luther's Madison, WI
Apr 23 2005 9:00P
Double Door Chicago, IL
Apr 24 2005 9:00P
Double Door Chicago, IL
Apr 25 2005 9:00P
Kraftbrau Kalamazoo, MI
Apr 26 2005 9:00P
Lee's Palace Toronto, ON,
Apr 27 2005 8:00P
Cabaret Music Hall Montreal, QC,
Apr 28 2005 8:00P
Middle East Underground Cambridge, MA
Apr 29 2005 8:00P
Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
Apr 30 2005 9:00P
Maxwell's Hoboken, NJ
May 1 2005 8:00P
Black Cat Washington, DC
May 2 2005 7:00P
Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburgh, PA
May 3 2005 9:00P
Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH
May 4 2005 8:00P
Little Brothers Columbus, OH
May 5 2005 8:00P
Southgate House Newport, KY
May 6 2005 9:00P
The Patio Indianapolis, IN
May 8 2005 8:00P
Bottleneck Lawrence, KS
May 10 2005 8:00P
Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
May 12 2005 9:00P
Plush Tucson, AZ
May 13 2005 9:00P
Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach (San Diego), CA
May 14 2005 8:00P
The Roxy West Hollywood, CA

I started listening to the Wedding Present with Seamonsters and followed them through the wonderful Hit Parade CDs but then sort of lost touch with them. About a month ago I found WP on a friend's Top 8 List on Myspace.com and thought I should get out the old CDs and see how they had aged. After listening to them all multiple times I figured I needed to see what Gedge was up to now and ran out to buy Take Fountain.

As Interstate 5 kicked in my first thought was that they still manage to get some of the greatest drum sounds ever recorded. As a musician/producer I live for killer recordings, especially drums, and WP have never dissapointed. The second surprise was Gedge's voice. If I didn't know it was WP that I was listening to I may not have recognized him right away. He seems to have shed a bit of his accent and now, where his voice used to be somewhat buried on previous albums, his vocals are pushed forward in the mix. He's voice has matured wonderfully and the listener can now hang on every one of his excellent lyrics. And speaking of lyrics, I noticed that a previous reviewer here at Amazon was struck by the same line as I - "how can I just shake his hand when it's been all over your skin". When I heard that for the first time it was like a knife in the chest. Even now after the 10th listen it still causes brings an ache.

I could sit here all night and write praise for Take Fountain. The production is amazing, the songs are fantastic, the musicianship is beautiful. It's a glorious album and I'm sure I will be obsessed with it for quite some time. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy. You won't regret it.

Most of the time I dismiss lyrics and focus my opinions simply on the music and/or vocals. Yeah, that's just the way I am, so deal with it. That said, the lyrics on this album are impossible to ignore. "How can I just shake his hand when it's been all over your skin?" Simply amazing. Every song seems to have some line in it that blows me away and when this is all combined with outstanding musical arrangements (I'd say soft and airy) it makes for my favorite album of the year so far.

Hell ya! One of the most overlooked bands of the 80's and 90's is back with their first album in 7 years. The Weddoes have returned with a good one as well. Older fans take note. There isn't much new sound here, but it does sound like a Wedding Present album. Hell, this band influenced Nirvana. If you are a newer fan, go buy Watusi and Seamonters as well.

Wedding Present back on form. I have had 'Interstate 5' on repeat for the past week - for anybody that has ever been used 'and is it sexist to say, that I thought just boys were meant to behave in this way'. Lightning. And, as for 'I'm from further north than you', the man is a genius. Buy and enjoy.

I give it one star for the actual album and one because it's The Wedding Present.

Buy every other album they made before this one.

mon, de first track a mindblower! i love-loved dees guys longtime, mon. i sat and auditioned dis disc at de record store...now i must go-buy (but me cash poor millionaire, mon--some my friends, you buy dis for me? pretty-plea?
i need dis; you need dis. what you also need: NEW ORDER new record waitin' for de siren call; THE BLACK WATCH, very mary beth; PAJAMA HARVEY, uh huh her; SPOON, gimme dat fiction

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Gedge Siempre Tiene Razón:
Take Fountain, Primera Escucha
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The Wedding Present
Take Fountain
2005
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01. On Ramp 2:03

Extraño comienzo casi ambient, introducción que enlaza directamente con el segundo tema y parece pensada para darte tiempo a que te sientes y aguzar el oído, dejandote expectante.

02. Interstate 5 (Extended Version) 8:06

Primer single, ya conocida, aquí en versión extendida. Vuelta a las raices, con ese comienzo casi a lo New Order. El batería es lo menos weddingpresent de momento. A los dos minutos alcanzamos velocidad de crucero, primer aviso de que la cosa va muy en serio: típicos subidones weddoeros, echaba de menos esas guitarras. Entre 4:30 y 6:00 la cosa se pone MUY INTERESANTE, pero los dos últimos minutos son un coñazo copiando lo que las bandas sonoras de Tarantino copian de Morricone. Trompetas y violines que no vienen al caso, por no hablar de ese puto mellotron del final. Sip, al final van y casi -casi he dicho- la cagan...

03. Always the Quiet One 3:20

Primer clásico del nuevo disco, engancha desde el primer segundo de la primera escucha. Balanceos, raka-raka y melancolía; más simple que el mecanismo de un chupete y tan resultones como siempre. Amo a esta banda.

04. I'm from Further North Than You 3:29

Segundo single, segunda obra maestra. Un medio tiempo con TODO lo que echabamos de menos... El único mínimo pero es otra vez para el puto batería, poneos la canción en 1:00 y tratar de imaginar lo que haría Simon Smith con esa canción. El minuto final en directo puede ser la hostia en verso: quiero una extended version

05. Mars Sparkles Down on Me 4:14

Baladita, al final acabará entrando pero no sé... nunca será un "Spangle", eso está claro. Primer instante a olvidar del nuevo disco, el típico tema que te saltabas ya en el "Bizarro".

06. Ringway to Seatac 2:41

La misma que tocaron en la Peel Session, la verdad es que mola. Se van acelerando y parece que se lo pasan en grande, espléndida rítmica y buen juego de guitarras, lástima que el disparo final que estás esperando desde el segundo 30 no estalle en la cara como uno desea...

07. Don't Touch That Dial (Pacific Northwest Version) 6:18

"Octopussy" mark two; crece, crece y crece... Lo que en otros grupos me parecería un repetición innecesaria, una muestra de falta de ideas, un claro símbolo de agotamiento, con los Wedding Present se convierte en fascinanción inexplicable. Nadie, NADIE, es capaz de sonar así. Los echaba de menos, mucho más de lo que yo creía... ¿como he podido sobrevivir siete años sin mi dosis?

08. It's for You 3:16

Destartalados y rabiosos, otra canción marca de la casa, subiendo desde el primer segundo hasta un último minuto épico. Grandes.

09. Larry's 3:39

Tal vez lo más lento que hayan grabado nunca, y pese a utilizar los mismos viejos trucos de siempre, esta vez no resulta. Me recuerda a algún tema de los Pixies (esos coros!) que no acabo de ubicar. No pasa el corte en todo caso.

10. Queen Anne 4:04

Otra de la Peel Session y por todos conocida. Un clásico desde el primer día que la oí, con ese latigazo guitarrero y los miniparones marca de la casa tras llevar la canción a lo más alto justo antes de dejarla volar libre. La clase de temas que construyen la leyenda que nos ocupa (aunque la coda final vuelva a empastrar un poco el resultado).

11. Perfect Blue 5:31

Otro medio tiempo, tal vez lo más Cinerama del disco hasta que aparecen esas guitarras del final y dejan claro como van a ser las cosas a partir de ahora. Serena y soberbia, un ciclo se cierra.


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Otro gran disco de la última gran banda pop del siglo pasado. Como siempre, ahora los listos de turno vendrán con que el "Saturnalia" era mejor (entonces dijeron que el "Watusi" era mejor, siempre van un disco atrasados), y la verdad es que ni yo me lo esperaba tan bueno. Mientras las últimas entregas de Cinerama se estaban convirtiendo en aniversarios de un matrimonio que ya duraba demasiados años, este regreso de los Weddoes es ya
uno de los mejores discos del 2005. Como siempre, otra vez evolucionando sin perder personalidad, otro paso adelante para
seguir construyendo una de las carreras más coherentes y fascinantes de la historia del rock. No es otro "Seamonsters" pero si el segundo mejor disco de los Wedding Present. Ni más, ni menos.
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Saludos,
brassneck