Wow! Im so impressed someone is brave enough to rank the Fall. Im American and a very devoted Fall fan. Your accent reminds me of Mark. What started it for me was the Slates EP. The rest is history. Believe it or not, we had an amazing giant club venue in my town till late 81. On Thurday night dance nights, they would play punk and new wave. We would dance to New face in hell. Man, it was wonderful to hear that on a 2000-watt system with amazing lights and atmosphere.
Live At The Witch Trials is the best Fall album of all times. I don't wanna dance. I wanna go home. R.I.P. M.E.S. My favourite band, thanks for the video.
This should have more views! This is very helpful for such an intimidating back catalogue. It’s also not wanky like a lot of people are when talking about The Fall
This was amazing to see pop up in my page ! I've loved The Fall for well over 40 years now , Seeing them live are some of my best memories ! On night in Philly me and my girlfriend were in line at a show and Mark and Brix walked by and I politely said "Welcome back to Philly" and they stopped for a second and said thanks then Mark asked "Are ya comin in?" and waved us in with the two of them !
I’m a massive Fall fan so I think that’s why this has come in my queue and I’m glad it did as I really, really enjoyed hearing your thoughts (even if I didn’t agree with most of them haha.) Your review of Dragnet really cracked me up though, as I remember having a similar reaction the first time I heard it’s ‘unique’ sound and it took me quite a few re-listens to appreciate its true lo-fi qualities and now it’s probably one of my favourites. I don’t think this would change your opinion but, for context, this was a brand new lineup following Live at the Witch Trials as Karl Burns had been replaced by Mike Leigh (a Rockabilly drummer) and Martin Bramah had been replaced by Craig Scanlon with Steve Hanley taking Marc Riley’s place on bass and Riley, in turn, replacing Yvonne Paulette on keyboards (also becoming the second guitarist.) The production, as you can hear, was done on the cheapest of cheap and, apparently, the guitars were not properly tuned as no one had tuner which is also why no other album sounds like it. That is a turn off for most people but the amateurishness (if that’s a word) of The Fall is also their most endearing quality. That being said, I fully appreciate why someone would not like their sound and that’s why I tend not to play ‘And This Day’ around friends who aren’t acquainted with the best band ever (in my opinion.) By the way, it’s Marc Riley on keyboards for the Grotesque album and Karl Burns rejoined somewhere around the time Slates was being recorded. I’d talk Room to Live (and why it’s actually the worst Fall album) but I’ve rambled enough now. Great review and look forward to the Brix era ones!
Same, I love Dragnet, funnily enough it was Hex that I was put off by at first (maybe due to it being taped from a copy of the Kamera original pressing--it just sounded like one long, uninteresting drone--and I love all The Fall touchstones like Can, Beefheart, The Velvets etc), that recent-ish Cherry Red treble-LP reissue/remaster was a godsend and it sounds excellent over four sides of vinyl.
@@harrypmay I don't hate Room To Live at all. Not their best LP maybe, but no way is it their worst. I just picked up the vinyl reissues (thank fuck they got the rights to AYAMW with the extra LP! Really under rated album imho). And the Britannia Row mixes of Imperial Wax Solvent are superb.
Disagree with you about Dragnet There are teeth grating tracks but they are outweighed by some minimalist magic: Before the Moon fall, Figure walks, Heart out, Psykick Dancehall, Printhead.
Evan, have you checked out the Cherry Red Fall Sound Archive edition of Dragnet? It's been remastered yet retains the lo-fi spirit of the original, it's just a little bit less mulched together....lol your most-hated songs are some of my favourites! (Marc Riley on keyboards on "English Scheme". Apparently he came up with the riff, MES told him he didn't like it, Riley argued the "jolly" keyboard part provided the necessary irony to the track and it stayed as it was.)
Best Fall appreciation video on RUclips. A real bloke, with real opinions. All passionately expressed with down-to-earth eloquence. I don't agree with them all, but heh... If there were more videos like this on RUclips it would be a much more interesting place. Thanks, mate!
Because they were a notoriously abrasive band and MES was a very temperamental man with strong opinions, so I don't see why the fanbase shouldn't be the same. Just because we like the same band doesn't mean we have to like each other. If you want good vibes and camaraderie then go be a fan of The Beach Boys or some other hippie crap.
@@silversnail1413 Hey! I've got the Beach Boys: 'Pet Sounds' but it was given to me in exchange for a debt. I acquired many albums through people owing me money but not wanting to part with any money and then fobbing me off with CDs or records. But never an album by The Fall as I don't know any Fall fans personally. I discovered The Fall on a Mixtape in 1992 and then bought most of my Fall albums on cassette from second-hand record stores around my city. I started with The Frenz Experiment cos Bremen Nacht, Athlete Cured, and Oswald Defence Lawyer were on the aforementioned mixtape of destiny that landed in my lap three decades back. I vaguely knew the student lad that made the mixtape but he made it for a mutual friend of mine and not me. The Smiths/Morrissey were also music I discovered via that Mixtape. It wasn't music I was coming into contact with in my usual circles...fate played a serendipitous hand and delivered a bounty of excellence.
First discovered The Fall on the 'Slates' etc album. 'I'm into CB' was there contribution. Not a massive fan until 'Container Drivers' came out about 1980 I think. Great video.
I don't really think you're getting it. The whole point of the Fall back then was to challenge the listener. Songs like In My Area, Repetition, New Puritan were meant to deter, on some level to be unlistenable. The Fall were setting themselves up as the antidote to New Wave 'Rockism'. A much used term at the time. Marc Riley was sacked because he was becoming too slick for the band. The whole thing was anti verse/chorus, hooklines etc. But the more you listened to those songs the more they revealed themselves, with snippets of deliberately inaudible lyrics and storylines. That's why just going through the songs is entirely the wrong thing to do, it's like skimming through a book, it's a shallow experience. You have to give each song time, repeated listenings, till New Puritan becomes your favourite song. Of course, as the years passed the songs became more accessible, Kicker Conspiracy, for example, but there's still a Fallish depth that you have to reach into, because they're not coming to you.
Haha, only a hardcore Fall fan would claim ‘Kicker Conspiracy’ is accessible 😂 I do agree somewhat with your points but, to be fair to Evan, he’s doing a broad overview for either the layman or fair weather fans rather than anoraks like us. Also, MES claimed that was why Riley got sacked (in his words ‘he wanted to play the hits’) and I think it had more to do with the fallout of ‘Middle Mass’ and, probably even more, to do with Riley smacking him in Australia (something about that place spells the death nell for Fall members.) Of all the Fall members, by that point, I would have said Mike Leigh and Martin Bramah were the actual slickest in terms of having a distinct, recognisable sound. Particularly the latter because there’s a clear change, not just recording quality, between Live at the Witch Trials and Dragnet that never really returns until he did for Extricate. Like, if you were to play someone a Riley era Fall track (post-Witch Trials) and then follow it with Brix era one, I don’t think the layman would immediately spot the difference. Which, again, is part of the Fall’s appeal a la the quote that shall not be mentioned.
Checked out when you said Live At The Witch Trials was the best Fall album. It's okay but not a patch on what came later, basically circus music for speed freaks. And how can you call yourself a Fall fan and not like Repetition?
Brilliant stuff. You are our Jesus. Suffering the sacrifice of listening to every Fall album for our benefit. I subbed cos I love The Fall and your little moustache
I love dragnet even if it sounds like it was recorded in a crypt. It’s a very good winter album. When the moon falls and psykick dancehall are among my favorite fall albums.
Dragnet is for me the best Fall album. There's something magic and telluric there. Anyway, in ALL of the albums there is brilliant songs and ideas. Cheers from a long time fall fan from Spain
Good one, nice effort. But, that a side, ones that loves The Fall probably will fall into repetition of so many great Fall albums, demo's, bootlegs, etc...and enjoyed it every time.
Please note: 21:27 there is no saxophone on Leave The Capitol. That is a clarinet. It is being played by Dave Tucker. While saxophone and clarinet are both reed instruments, they look and sound very different from each other.
funny you critique repetitiveness and weird production decisions ;) all joking aside, I watched all parts and it was a very enjoyable and useful experience... personally I agree with you that Live at the witch trials (and Frightened) are the Fall's absolute best. although on other days This nation's saving grace, the Unutterable, Fall heads roll, Country on the click or even Imperial wax solvent might take that spot. on a more personal note I'd love to advise you to broaden your musical horizons - unless I'm mistaken and you have the most eclectic record collection - further than only Anglo-Saxon pop and rock music. that might throw another light on some of the things you say you hate. well, taste is by definition personal :) thanks for your hard work
I rather think you've missed the point with 'Repetition'. So how does 'and This Day' fit in? ' 'Witch Trials ' is one of their weakest early albums (and I've been listening to them since when this album was first released).
'Dragnet' is twice the album of it's predecessor. Smith's most esoteric album. 'Grotesque' remains by far the best album from this period. Period. Ever though that the 'Dragnet' sound was deliberate? Missing the point of 'Specter' illustrates to me that you don't really get The Fall. Using the word 'boring 'indicates a lack of critical acumen.
It doesn't take a week to listen to everything by The Fall.
It takes a lifetime.
True. And even that ain't long enough
Wow! Im so impressed someone is brave enough to rank the Fall. Im American and a very devoted Fall fan. Your accent reminds me of Mark. What started it for me was the Slates EP. The rest is history. Believe it or not, we had an amazing giant club venue in my town till late 81. On Thurday night dance nights, they would play punk and new wave. We would dance to New face in hell. Man, it was wonderful to hear that on a 2000-watt system with amazing lights and atmosphere.
Live At The Witch Trials is the best Fall album of all times. I don't wanna dance. I wanna go home.
R.I.P. M.E.S. My favourite band, thanks for the video.
Futures and Pasts is brilliant !
It's just a brilliant album !
Fiend with a violin
There aren't enough Fall albums!
Dragnet is BY FAR the most underrated Fall album ever!!
damn straight...haunting masterpiece...'joke's pathetic'
It's under rated???
This should have more views! This is very helpful for such an intimidating back catalogue. It’s also not wanky like a lot of people are when talking about The Fall
100%
This was amazing to see pop up in my page ! I've loved The Fall for well over 40 years now , Seeing them live are some of my best memories ! On night in Philly me and my girlfriend were in line at a show and Mark and Brix walked by and I politely said "Welcome back to Philly" and they stopped for a second and said thanks then Mark asked "Are ya comin in?" and waved us in with the two of them !
Thanks for going into the Fall's discography
I’m a massive Fall fan so I think that’s why this has come in my queue and I’m glad it did as I really, really enjoyed hearing your thoughts (even if I didn’t agree with most of them haha.) Your review of Dragnet really cracked me up though, as I remember having a similar reaction the first time I heard it’s ‘unique’ sound and it took me quite a few re-listens to appreciate its true lo-fi qualities and now it’s probably one of my favourites. I don’t think this would change your opinion but, for context, this was a brand new lineup following Live at the Witch Trials as Karl Burns had been replaced by Mike Leigh (a Rockabilly drummer) and Martin Bramah had been replaced by Craig Scanlon with Steve Hanley taking Marc Riley’s place on bass and Riley, in turn, replacing Yvonne Paulette on keyboards (also becoming the second guitarist.) The production, as you can hear, was done on the cheapest of cheap and, apparently, the guitars were not properly tuned as no one had tuner which is also why no other album sounds like it. That is a turn off for most people but the amateurishness (if that’s a word) of The Fall is also their most endearing quality. That being said, I fully appreciate why someone would not like their sound and that’s why I tend not to play ‘And This Day’ around friends who aren’t acquainted with the best band ever (in my opinion.) By the way, it’s Marc Riley on keyboards for the Grotesque album and Karl Burns rejoined somewhere around the time Slates was being recorded. I’d talk Room to Live (and why it’s actually the worst Fall album) but I’ve rambled enough now. Great review and look forward to the Brix era ones!
Same, I love Dragnet, funnily enough it was Hex that I was put off by at first (maybe due to it being taped from a copy of the Kamera original pressing--it just sounded like one long, uninteresting drone--and I love all The Fall touchstones like Can, Beefheart, The Velvets etc), that recent-ish Cherry Red treble-LP reissue/remaster was a godsend and it sounds excellent over four sides of vinyl.
@@vollsticks all the reissues have been top quality and that 1982 boxset is class (even if they insist on including Room to Live on it.)
@@harrypmay I don't hate Room To Live at all. Not their best LP maybe, but no way is it their worst. I just picked up the vinyl reissues (thank fuck they got the rights to AYAMW with the extra LP! Really under rated album imho). And the Britannia Row mixes of Imperial Wax Solvent are superb.
Disagree with you about Dragnet There are teeth grating tracks but they are outweighed by some minimalist magic: Before the Moon fall, Figure walks, Heart out, Psykick Dancehall, Printhead.
Evan, have you checked out the Cherry Red Fall Sound Archive edition of Dragnet? It's been remastered yet retains the lo-fi spirit of the original, it's just a little bit less mulched together....lol your most-hated songs are some of my favourites!
(Marc Riley on keyboards on "English Scheme". Apparently he came up with the riff, MES told him he didn't like it, Riley argued the "jolly" keyboard part provided the necessary irony to the track and it stayed as it was.)
Best Fall appreciation video on RUclips. A real bloke, with real opinions. All passionately expressed with down-to-earth eloquence. I don't agree with them all, but heh... If there were more videos like this on RUclips it would be a much more interesting place. Thanks, mate!
I like dragnet a lot more than some of the late 80s albums like frenz, kurious, and bend sinister
A great way of learning more about The Fall, great job!
Why are people so critical and rude to other Fall fans? I love the Fall and am pleased that ANYONE adores them like I do.. !
Because they were a notoriously abrasive band and MES was a very temperamental man with strong opinions, so I don't see why the fanbase shouldn't be the same. Just because we like the same band doesn't mean we have to like each other. If you want good vibes and camaraderie then go be a fan of The Beach Boys or some other hippie crap.
@@silversnail1413 Hey! I've got the Beach Boys: 'Pet Sounds' but it was given to me in exchange for a debt. I acquired many albums through people owing me money but not wanting to part with any money and then fobbing me off with CDs or records. But never an album by The Fall as I don't know any Fall fans personally. I discovered The Fall on a Mixtape in 1992 and then bought most of my Fall albums on cassette from second-hand record stores around my city. I started with The Frenz Experiment cos Bremen Nacht, Athlete Cured, and Oswald Defence Lawyer were on the aforementioned mixtape of destiny that landed in my lap three decades back. I vaguely knew the student lad that made the mixtape but he made it for a mutual friend of mine and not me. The Smiths/Morrissey were also music I discovered via that Mixtape. It wasn't music I was coming into contact with in my usual circles...fate played a serendipitous hand and delivered a bounty of excellence.
Fall fans think they know the Fall better than every other Fall fan
First discovered The Fall on the 'Slates' etc album. 'I'm into CB' was there contribution. Not a massive fan until 'Container Drivers' came out about 1980 I think. Great video.
I don't really think you're getting it. The whole point of the Fall back then was to challenge the listener. Songs like In My Area, Repetition, New Puritan were meant to deter, on some level to be unlistenable. The Fall were setting themselves up as the antidote to New Wave 'Rockism'. A much used term at the time. Marc Riley was sacked because he was becoming too slick for the band. The whole thing was anti verse/chorus, hooklines etc. But the more you listened to those songs the more they revealed themselves, with snippets of deliberately inaudible lyrics and storylines. That's why just going through the songs is entirely the wrong thing to do, it's like skimming through a book, it's a shallow experience. You have to give each song time, repeated listenings, till New Puritan becomes your favourite song.
Of course, as the years passed the songs became more accessible, Kicker Conspiracy, for example, but there's still a Fallish depth that you have to reach into, because they're not coming to you.
Haha, only a hardcore Fall fan would claim ‘Kicker Conspiracy’ is accessible 😂 I do agree somewhat with your points but, to be fair to Evan, he’s doing a broad overview for either the layman or fair weather fans rather than anoraks like us. Also, MES claimed that was why Riley got sacked (in his words ‘he wanted to play the hits’) and I think it had more to do with the fallout of ‘Middle Mass’ and, probably even more, to do with Riley smacking him in Australia (something about that place spells the death nell for Fall members.) Of all the Fall members, by that point, I would have said Mike Leigh and Martin Bramah were the actual slickest in terms of having a distinct, recognisable sound. Particularly the latter because there’s a clear change, not just recording quality, between Live at the Witch Trials and Dragnet that never really returns until he did for Extricate. Like, if you were to play someone a Riley era Fall track (post-Witch Trials) and then follow it with Brix era one, I don’t think the layman would immediately spot the difference. Which, again, is part of the Fall’s appeal a la the quote that shall not be mentioned.
Checked out when you said Live At The Witch Trials was the best Fall album. It's okay but not a patch on what came later, basically circus music for speed freaks. And how can you call yourself a Fall fan and not like Repetition?
Brilliant stuff. You are our Jesus. Suffering the sacrifice of listening to every Fall album for our benefit. I subbed cos I love The Fall and your little moustache
I love dragnet even if it sounds like it was recorded in a crypt. It’s a very good winter album. When the moon falls and psykick dancehall are among my favorite fall albums.
Dragnet is for me the best Fall album. There's something magic and telluric there. Anyway, in ALL of the albums there is brilliant songs and ideas. Cheers from a long time fall fan from Spain
Good one, nice effort. But, that a side, ones that loves The Fall probably will fall into repetition of so many great Fall albums, demo's, bootlegs, etc...and enjoyed it every time.
Please note: 21:27 there is no saxophone on Leave The Capitol. That is a clarinet. It is being played by Dave Tucker. While saxophone and clarinet are both reed instruments, they look and sound very different from each other.
El video que buscaba hace años ❤️
Horrific take on Dragnet, here, really just wow.
Much appreciated vid mate! I understand your suffering... no mean feat! Totally describe my dilemma/love relationship with THE MIGHTY FALL!
funny you critique repetitiveness and weird production decisions ;)
all joking aside, I watched all parts and it was a very enjoyable and useful experience...
personally I agree with you that Live at the witch trials (and Frightened) are the Fall's absolute best.
although on other days This nation's saving grace, the Unutterable, Fall heads roll, Country on the click or even Imperial wax solvent might take that spot.
on a more personal note I'd love to advise you to broaden your musical horizons - unless I'm mistaken and you have the most eclectic record collection - further than only Anglo-Saxon pop and rock music.
that might throw another light on some of the things you say you hate.
well, taste is by definition personal :)
thanks for your hard work
Here's that week's listenting in one playlist of 1,540 vids:
ruclips.net/p/PLr9fOmT9gufdkbNGfTbno-uRkYYIh2CJg
Spectre Vs Rector is somehow more than a song, it transcends songness
It was Marc Riley who wrote those great keyboard riffs on Grotesque.
Class. Love the fall, love they're work ethic. We're fucking do it not matter not.
I rather think you've missed the point with 'Repetition'. So how does 'and This Day' fit in? ' 'Witch Trials ' is one of their weakest early albums (and I've been listening to them since when this album was first released).
Oh, and a nice bit of Roni Size
Dragnet was so good I brought 3 copies and everything else the mighty Fall did
What Dragnet is amazing
'Dragnet' is twice the album of it's predecessor. Smith's most esoteric album. 'Grotesque' remains by far the best album from this period. Period. Ever though that the 'Dragnet' sound was deliberate? Missing the point of 'Specter' illustrates to me that you don't really get The Fall. Using the word 'boring 'indicates a lack of critical acumen.
dragnet is one of the best fall albums
Yarbles
Starting your video with a black screen is the perfect way to get everyone to not watch it.
What??
Dragnet filtered, absolute pleb
Live at the witch trials is the best no doubt