My experience is The Fall is a grower. My initial reaction was similar to yours, but I've changed my mind. Thanks for hitting up this song. Someone below mentioned Cruiser's Creek and that's a good choice.
Love The Fall!! Mark E Smith is both a genius and hilarious. The songs are simple but so catchy. The Brix Smith era is great. Also love how Mark enunciates the end of the last word in a lot of the lyrics.
You need to hit ‘This Nations Saving Grace’ and the track Crusiers Creak. The Fall are a great underrated post punk band, but they experimented with sounds and interested themes in their music.
Thanks for checking it out. For me this has a Cramps/Krautrock feel. The Fall is all over the map, so I am not sure there's any one song that would be "indicative" of their sound. At least I know I don't have to be weird to be weird, or wired for that matter.
I love them. I was only use to what was being played on the radio back then. When I got into skateboarding back in the 80’s I started discovering other music outside of radio and MTV. I love a lot of that music as well but bands like The Fall was another kind of music that I didn’t realize I needed in my life. Hearing it again now just puts a smile on my face. How can you not dig his vocals and the little extra things he does with words. And the music just feels real and not over produced. These were jams to skate to for sure.
Mark E. Smith and the Fall are for most people an acquired taste. It didn’t take me long. Looking at their first LP in a record store……Live at the Witch Trials (somewhere around 1978) I was like WTF is this? Back then that meant I had to buy it. FWIW if you go through their catalog there is no band that are like them. They are unique. Smith is unique-ranting and muttering, doing voices…..always something acerbic whether off the wall or topical.
Same here, I was 16, lived three miles down the road from the band Kersal Flats, Salford. They were literally the sound of public housing. I got a copy of witch trials from a store in Manchester. Nothing like it.
That's what I call telepathy. I was thinking today that it would be great you react to The Fall (I'm myself a Fall-addict, or Fall-o-phile as we say) and tonight it happens. Too bad it's with this track, not a good one to enter in the Fall world (but is there any song that could have such a role, I don't know). Their masterpiece is "This Nation's Saving Grace" (1985), full of great tracks. You really should try.
There is even an ode to Damo Suzuki on that one... I felt like understanding that MES was a CAN fan is a key insight. I don't know if I would recommend the Fall to JP though as the key to the band is Repetition-Repetition-Repetition which was an early block for him with Talking Heads. That being said, it is a spectacularly weird and wonderful world. And the interplay between the bass, MES hilarious ranting about obscure art and UK politics and angular guitar and drums along with a drive for experimentation is really rewarding and fun.
Oooo, if you like drums and bass you should probably listen to Adam and the Ants "Kings of the Wild Frontier" album. Two drum kits with a tribal beat. Excellent! I suggest listening to the title track "Kings of the Wild Frontier"
It took me a while to get into the Fall. I do not know how it works given that Mark E Smith can't sing, but I find myself addicted these days. Hip Priest has amazing drumming, a really creepy song (and I like creepy). Industrial Estate, Mess of My, Lie Dream of a Casino Soul Scene are all great songs. Sometime you can find different versions of the same song, and some are much better than others. The late DJ John Peel loved the Fall, they were his favourite band. Whatever John Peel likes is worth checking out.
Check out numbers from “The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall”, especially “Lay of the Land”, “Elves”, “Copped It”*, and “C.R.E.E.P”. Analyzing Smith’s lyrics is quite a few people’s hobby. He’s a mad poet. (* featuring Gavin Friday of Virgin Prunes, an interesting postpunk act we should talk about)
Good shout, I'd usually say start with the album TWAFWOTF then move forward from there, I personally love their later stuff but I know I'm in the minority
Danny Baker is and was a famous contrarina, but I bet he loves the song now. So many great songs to choose from in the Fall catalogue. Try "Cruiser's Creek".
I'd add The Fall to the list that includes Cardiacs, Van der Graaf Generator, Magma and Robert Wyatt - not for everyone (not for many) but when you get it, you totally get it.
The period when The Fall were at their best was when Smith's ex-wife Brix was in the band, and this track was before that. But thanks for taking on this unique artist, and as others have said, give Cruiser's Creek a spin.
I quite enjoyed that (but I get the feeling it's one not to listen to too often, otherwise it might wear out). For no reason I can think of, it made me think of *Half Man Half Biscuit* . Maybe it's the rapping? For example *National Shite Day* , with its dry, wry, fly poetry. ruclips.net/video/1FR842KUaOw/видео.html (To rhyme, that's all. Replace it with a more apt word if you like.)
I like this song a lot. I knew (and liked) some of their singles, since the 80s. But I only listened to their whole discography in the download era. Finally I could apreciate the genius of Mark Smith. I can assure you that this band is worth trying a little more. They have great songs, and even if you don't love everything they do, there's a lot to listen to in their huge catalogue. The "Brix era" (1983-1988-9) is their most enjoyable and accessible period (and even commercial, at times). The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall (1984)(despite the title😁) and This Nation's Saving Grace (1985) are fantastic albums. Their remastered versions include plenty of great non-album singles which just enhances the listening experience. Although I think the most consistent album by them is Hex Enduction Hour (1982), with the superb The Classical as the first (and best) track. For a next reaction I'd recommend the singles Hey Luciani, C.R.E.E.P., Oh Brother or Victoria (The Kinks cover). This last one would provide a great comparison between the two versions - and in addition, it would serve as an incentive to listen to the album Arthur (by the Kinks, in which the original song is included), a rock masterpiece from the 1960s.
The Fall is an interesting band. I don’t go too far beyond the Nation’s Saving Grace album from ‘85, but the Grotesque album and Hex Enduction Hour are my favorites and what I like from them, I REALLY like
It’s their take on the post-punk style. Everyone in the late 70s and 80s did it differently. They are respectable in my book, but fall short of captivating my interest compared to Joy Division, The Chameleons, Killing Joke, The Sound, The Cure, Echo, etc…
If you like this… there’s a lot more where it came from. A lot!! EDIT: Now that I’ve heard your reaction. I get it…Mark’s voice can take some adjusting to….maybe try “Victoria” for a more melody driven song.
@@Drummingvulture It's missing the point to look for melody-driven songs in the Fall catalogue, but...ok, if that's what he want he can always go straight to Edinburgh Man. But I digress. We need more Fall reactions on RUclips. Repeat - we NEED more Fall reactions on RUclips. Even if they're not...Put Away, Your Heart Out, Elastic Man, Fiery Jack, NWRA, Jawbone & The Air Rifle, Just Step Sideways, Leave The Capitol, I Feel Voxish, Look Know, 2x4, Slang King, No Bulbs...oh, someone stop me, quick!
I wouldn't say that, all their albums are different, the biggest change is Wonderful and Frightening....not a fan but This Nation's Saving Grace is great. 77 to 83 is my favourite Fall era.
Another essential Manchester band. (along with Buzzcocks, Smiths, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Stone Roses). New Face in Hell from this album may give you a little more.
I love The Fall, but perhaps try, Disney's Dream Debased for a more melodic, but still characteristically strange track with an interesting back story.
I'm a 65 year old American guy. My musical heroes are Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, and Alice Cooper. And, oh yeah, The Fall. Mark E Smith and The Fall are as innovative and riveting as the other four. As an introduction, I suppose, "Totally Wired" will do. But it's not a great song. I hope you dive in deeper. Here are some classic Fall tunes that you might want to check out: "Mountain Energei," "Wings," "No Bulbs,""Kurious Oranj," "Frenz," "Lady Bird (Green Grass)," "Glam-Racket," "New Big Prinz," "Creep," and "Telephone Thing." That's ten. For an added bonus I recommend the enigmatic "Bonkers in Phoenix." To me, "Bonkers in Phoenix" is genius!
it's been a year. you need to listen to (and review/react to) more of The Fall. mark it on the calendar. once a year (at least!) listen to The Fall. you won't be sorry. :)
YEEESSSS. The fall is a top 10 band for me. Check out these songs too: Paintwork Frightened The classical Rebellious jukebox New Big prinz Garden L.A. Carry Bag Man They have a massive catalog so this is barely scratching the surface Also i would call this "post punk." The fall were one of the defining bands for that sound especially in the uk. And as far as Mark e smiths voice, it takes some getting used to. I didn't always love his delivery but it grew on me. Fits his neurotic lyrics very well.
Justin, I think that you'll prefer the Fall cd I sent you a few years ago (Bend Sinister). There's plenty of great tunes on there (including the Mr Pharmacist cover version), and it's a good entry point for The Fall.
Every Fall album is different to the others. I really like After The Gramme, but it's certainly not for everyone. Some of their albums I don't like at all, others I really love. There is a huge catalogue, and the band was always changing personnel. A muteable musical feast.
Listening to The Fall various times since the 1980's, lot I loved and lot not so much, hit and miss. Totally Wired never really made it for me and not the best entry point imo. Smith will never be known for his singing abilities and his punk spoken word abilities are marginal at best. However, some consider him a musical genius and I agree for most part. He is interesting character as he has used revolving door of musicians as he was a difficult guy to deal with. So result was varying sounds over the years (almost 40 years!) and a huge library that takes a lot of time to sort out. I'm personally drawn more towards his funkier grooves such as Mexico Wax Solvent, Theme from Sparta F.C., Leave the Capitol, Extricate, Free Range, Way Round, New Face in Hell, and others. He also has a great line of more laid back listens such as Bill is Dead, Midnight in Aspen, Gentlemen's Agreement, Coaches and Horses, And Therein, all quality stuff worth checking out.
The Fall are my favorite band but they took a while getting used to, especially Mark E Smiths ranting spoken word lyrics. Personally I think Totally Wired is one of their less interesting songs. Their list of brilliant songs is huge but I would especially recommend these, in no particular order: In These Time No Bulbs I Am Damo Suzuki Paintwork Lie Dream of a Casino Soul Theme From Sparta FC Fiery Jack Lucifer Over Lancashire The Man Whose Head Expanded How I Wrote Elastic Man 2 By 4 Living Too Late Im Into CB Green Eyed Loco Man Edinburgh Man My New House Sleep Debt Snatches Rollin Dany F-oldin Money Ol Gang.
This song is fun enough, but not sure it holds my interest enough for repeat listens. For me, Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall is my go-to Fall album! Awesome stuff. Not sure if I took to it immediately as it has been so long since i first listened to it, but I had already heard so many different kinds of off the beaten path vocals that I was either neutral on it or I enjoyed it. Regardless, I really enjoy that album and Mark's vocals which are more spoken word to me. Hex Enduction Hour is also worth a listen if you enjoy Wonderful and Frightening.
The Fall are totally unique band, Mark E Smith is a terrible singer but also one of my all time favourite vocalists consider myself a big fan but don't even have half their albums so many to drive into still, even an average fall album will have 3 or 4 bangers...do understand it took me about a decade for his stylings to connect with me but when they did they became firm favourites
Cool hearing it didn't grab you... makes me think about why I like it. I suppose maybe it's not so much about music, but an attitude, an expression and a navigation how you rub against society, and spit that back out as sound.
this broadcast served it's purpose then. . . being a man venting against blind conformity. Maybe. For the record, I enjoyed it in a IF Jonathan Richman could get angry kinda manner. Diolch. "The Morning Of Our Lives" by the Modern Lovers live will make you and Nat cry. Maybe.
Many people thought of Mark E Smith as some kind of contrarian genius. Apart from a handful of Fall songs, it was all gibberish to me. Notorious to work with, this was reflected by the number of people that passed through the ranks!
I love the Gang Of Four's "To Hell With Poverty", (especially the live take on The Old Grey Whistle Test). As for the Fall, i'll kindly pass, thankyou!
This is The Fall, and it isn't. It's a one note subject/lyric and the music has just escaped- in a wonderful way, the punk years. This band has gone on to do so much better, more. You need to hear Garden, Disney's Dream Debased. Tempo House. A cover of Sister Sledge's Lost in Music- and yes, they had some "dance" music in the 90s. You have picked the most standard driving post punk songs from this band- much love to it, but it sounds average.. Hip Priest was in Silence of the Lambs. C.r.e.e.p. is a 60s sing a long. Always different, always the same.
The truth is you either get the Fall or not. If you do they can become an obsession, set apart from all else. Per the great John Peel " Always the same, always different". Mark E Smith could not sing in tune but his lyrics were pure and trounced the likes of Dylan into nothingness. My fav quote by him "If it's me and your granny on bongos, it's the Fall". JP you are my favorite reviewer I dare you to play Hex Induction Hour 5 times and not become a fan.
I believe when I recommended this song to you that I suggested listening to the version on 'A Part Of America Therein, 1981' The original studio version is somewhat lazy and droll, but this live version is so upbeat and wild. Mark E's vocals are so much better, too. He adds a lot of sounds and nuances to the vocals that you don't get from the studio version. Still, I do like this version, I just don't love it like I do the excellent live version. This band can be an extremely deep rabbit hole, but once Brix was gone, they kind of went downhill. Mark E. had lost his muse, I think. But most of their stuff up through 1987 or so is pretty damn quality, if not weird. And who doesn't like weird?
Always the same, always different. My favorite band for the ages. Pick up Live At The Witch Trails, This Nations Saving Grace and The Unutterable for a good overview of their output.
Sorry - not really impressed with this track. Perhaps New Wave was just finding its sound, I have never listened to this band, perhaps this was just a bad representation. You are ever the gentleman, and always give the benefit of the doubt. But, as for now, I wish you the very BEST at 30k. Feels like it has been a while. I was here for Pictures at an Exhibition!
For me, this is bottom of the barrel; about as uninteresting as music can be. A little singing and some different chords and riffs could have gone a long way. ⭐️
They have a ridiculously humungous catalogue to explore if they float your boat. Legendary group.
My experience is The Fall is a grower. My initial reaction was similar to yours, but I've changed my mind. Thanks for hitting up this song. Someone below mentioned Cruiser's Creek and that's a good choice.
The Fall don't spoon feed tunes to the masses. Mark E Smith went his own way, probably the best band to ever come out of the UK
Love The Fall!! Mark E Smith is both a genius and hilarious. The songs are simple but so catchy. The Brix Smith era is great. Also love how Mark enunciates the end of the last word in a lot of the lyrics.
Was a genius. Hey passed in 2018
Absolute fave Mark E. Smith line is from Telephone Thing: “How dare you assume I want to parlez-vous with you”. So good.
Suggested Fall tracks: Garden, Backdrop, Wings, The Man Whose Head Expanded, Smile.
It begins. What a treat.
John Peel would have approved.
YES!!! Down the Fall rabbit hole 😀
You need to hit ‘This Nations Saving Grace’ and the track Crusiers Creak. The Fall are a great underrated post punk band, but they experimented with sounds and interested themes in their music.
Thanks for checking it out. For me this has a Cramps/Krautrock feel. The Fall is all over the map, so I am not sure there's any one song that would be "indicative" of their sound. At least I know I don't have to be weird to be weird, or wired for that matter.
I love them. I was only use to what was being played on the radio back then. When I got into skateboarding back in the 80’s I started discovering other music outside of radio and MTV. I love a lot of that music as well but bands like The Fall was another kind of music that I didn’t realize I needed in my life. Hearing it again now just puts a smile on my face. How can you not dig his vocals and the little extra things he does with words. And the music just feels real and not over produced. These were jams to skate to for sure.
Thrilled you're doing the Fall, absolutely love them. My personal favorite song is Kurious Oranj
The Fall cracks me up. I love their music. They are all over the place. Very influential band..
My fave Fall track, although "Bingo Masters Break Out", "Repetition" (covered at one time by Tackhead) and "How I wrote "Elastic Man" come in close.
Mark E. Smith and the Fall are for most people an acquired taste. It didn’t take me long. Looking at their first LP in a record store……Live at the Witch Trials (somewhere around 1978) I was like WTF is this? Back then that meant I had to buy it. FWIW if you go through their catalog there is no band that are like them. They are unique. Smith is unique-ranting and muttering, doing voices…..always something acerbic whether off the wall or topical.
Same here, I was 16, lived three miles down the road from the band Kersal Flats, Salford. They were literally the sound of public housing. I got a copy of witch trials from a store in Manchester. Nothing like it.
The Fall always sounded like Christofer Walken singing to me. But they have a huge following.
That's what I call telepathy. I was thinking today that it would be great you react to The Fall (I'm myself a Fall-addict, or Fall-o-phile as we say) and tonight it happens. Too bad it's with this track, not a good one to enter in the Fall world (but is there any song that could have such a role, I don't know). Their masterpiece is "This Nation's Saving Grace" (1985), full of great tracks. You really should try.
More a case of synchronicity.
There is even an ode to Damo Suzuki on that one... I felt like understanding that MES was a CAN fan is a key insight. I don't know if I would recommend the Fall to JP though as the key to the band is Repetition-Repetition-Repetition which was an early block for him with Talking Heads. That being said, it is a spectacularly weird and wonderful world. And the interplay between the bass, MES hilarious ranting about obscure art and UK politics and angular guitar and drums along with a drive for experimentation is really rewarding and fun.
There's so much brilliant stuff from The Fall. This is not one of their best track tbh. Try Cruiser's Creek, Hit The North, LA, No Bulbs, C.R.E.E.P...
Nice Danny Baker quote - when music writers considered themselves more creative than both the music they reviewed and anyone who read & their words.
Oooo, if you like drums and bass you should probably listen to Adam and the Ants "Kings of the Wild Frontier" album. Two drum kits with a tribal beat. Excellent! I suggest listening to the title track "Kings of the Wild Frontier"
It took me a while to get into the Fall. I do not know how it works given that Mark E Smith can't sing, but I find myself addicted these days. Hip Priest has amazing drumming, a really creepy song (and I like creepy). Industrial Estate, Mess of My, Lie Dream of a Casino Soul Scene are all great songs. Sometime you can find different versions of the same song, and some are much better than others. The late DJ John Peel loved the Fall, they were his favourite band. Whatever John Peel likes is worth checking out.
If you want something in a similar vein try 'National Shite Day' by Half Man Half Biscuit who are from Birkenhead (across the Mersey from Liverpool)
Check out numbers from “The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall”, especially “Lay of the Land”, “Elves”, “Copped It”*, and “C.R.E.E.P”. Analyzing Smith’s lyrics is quite a few people’s hobby. He’s a mad poet. (* featuring Gavin Friday of Virgin Prunes, an interesting postpunk act we should talk about)
Good shout, I'd usually say start with the album TWAFWOTF then move forward from there, I personally love their later stuff but I know I'm in the minority
Danny Baker is and was a famous contrarina, but I bet he loves the song now. So many great songs to choose from in the Fall catalogue. Try "Cruiser's Creek".
I'd add The Fall to the list that includes Cardiacs, Van der Graaf Generator, Magma and Robert Wyatt - not for everyone (not for many) but when you get it, you totally get it.
The period when The Fall were at their best was when Smith's ex-wife Brix was in the band, and this track was before that. But thanks for taking on this unique artist, and as others have said, give Cruiser's Creek a spin.
Touch Sensitive is hoofing around the place music.
Groovy track, drums and bass.
Oh boy, can't wait to see what you make of this :D
I quite enjoyed that (but I get the feeling it's one not to listen to too often, otherwise it might wear out).
For no reason I can think of, it made me think of *Half Man Half Biscuit* . Maybe it's the rapping? For example *National Shite Day* , with its dry, wry, fly poetry. ruclips.net/video/1FR842KUaOw/видео.html
(To rhyme, that's all. Replace it with a more apt word if you like.)
recommendation - The Classical
The Fall the greatest band ever. You won't like it all but there is something for everyone. RIP Mark E Smith the wordsmith.
That Fall are definitely an acquired taste, I cou
I like this song a lot. I knew (and liked) some of their singles, since the 80s. But I only listened to their whole discography in the download era. Finally I could apreciate the genius of Mark Smith. I can assure you that this band is worth trying a little more. They have great songs, and even if you don't love everything they do, there's a lot to listen to in their huge catalogue. The "Brix era" (1983-1988-9) is their most enjoyable and accessible period (and even commercial, at times). The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall (1984)(despite the title😁) and This Nation's Saving Grace (1985) are fantastic albums. Their remastered versions include plenty of great non-album singles which just enhances the listening experience. Although I think the most consistent album by them is Hex Enduction Hour (1982), with the superb The Classical as the first (and best) track. For a next reaction I'd recommend the singles Hey Luciani, C.R.E.E.P., Oh Brother or Victoria (The Kinks cover). This last one would provide a great comparison between the two versions - and in addition, it would serve as an incentive to listen to the album Arthur (by the Kinks, in which the original song is included), a rock masterpiece from the 1960s.
The Fall is an interesting band. I don’t go too far beyond the Nation’s Saving Grace album from ‘85, but the Grotesque album and Hex Enduction Hour are my favorites and what I like from them, I REALLY like
It’s their take on the post-punk style. Everyone in the late 70s and 80s did it differently. They are respectable in my book, but fall short of captivating my interest compared to Joy Division, The Chameleons, Killing Joke, The Sound, The Cure, Echo, etc…
If you like this… there’s a lot more where it came from. A lot!!
EDIT: Now that I’ve heard your reaction. I get it…Mark’s voice can take some adjusting to….maybe try “Victoria” for a more melody driven song.
In that case, might as well just stick with the original Kinks version !
Yeah, maybe. But Mark E's voice is what attracts so many people to the band. And after all, 50,000 Fall fans can't be wrong. LOL! Amirite?
@@a.k.1740: That's kinda what I was thinking.
@@Drummingvulture It's missing the point to look for melody-driven songs in the Fall catalogue, but...ok, if that's what he want he can always go straight to Edinburgh Man.
But I digress. We need more Fall reactions on RUclips. Repeat - we NEED more Fall reactions on RUclips.
Even if they're not...Put Away, Your Heart Out, Elastic Man, Fiery Jack, NWRA, Jawbone & The Air Rifle, Just Step Sideways, Leave The Capitol, I Feel Voxish, Look Know, 2x4, Slang King, No Bulbs...oh, someone stop me, quick!
He says he’s totally wired and I believe him.
The Fall, at last! Jason, what treats you have in store! Don't get used to the sound though - after Grotesque everything changes.
I wouldn't say that, all their albums are different, the biggest change is Wonderful and Frightening....not a fan but This Nation's Saving Grace is great.
77 to 83 is my favourite Fall era.
Another essential Manchester band. (along with Buzzcocks, Smiths, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Stone Roses). New Face in Hell from this album may give you a little more.
I love The Fall, but perhaps try, Disney's Dream Debased for a more melodic, but still characteristically strange track with an interesting back story.
I'm a 65 year old American guy. My musical heroes are Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, and Alice Cooper. And, oh yeah, The Fall. Mark E Smith and The Fall are as innovative and riveting as the other four. As an introduction, I suppose, "Totally Wired" will do. But it's not a great song. I hope you dive in deeper. Here are some classic Fall tunes that you might want to check out: "Mountain Energei," "Wings," "No Bulbs,""Kurious Oranj," "Frenz," "Lady Bird (Green Grass)," "Glam-Racket," "New Big Prinz," "Creep," and "Telephone Thing." That's ten. For an added bonus I recommend the enigmatic "Bonkers in Phoenix." To me, "Bonkers in Phoenix" is genius!
He's not being metaphorical about being "totally wired." LOL. Great band. Nothing else like them. Mark E. Smith was a true original.
it's been a year. you need to listen to (and review/react to) more of The Fall. mark it on the calendar. once a year (at least!) listen to The Fall. you won't be sorry. :)
Love it!
Hot Aftershave Bop, Powder Keg, Cyber Insekt, Reformation, New Facts Emerge, US 80's-90's, Touch Sensitive all worth a go
Listen to Couldn’t Get Ahead. More of a pop sound then keep on listening
YEEESSSS. The fall is a top 10 band for me. Check out these songs too:
Paintwork
Frightened
The classical
Rebellious jukebox
New Big prinz
Garden
L.A.
Carry Bag Man
They have a massive catalog so this is barely scratching the surface
Also i would call this "post punk." The fall were one of the defining bands for that sound especially in the uk. And as far as Mark e smiths voice, it takes some getting used to. I didn't always love his delivery but it grew on me. Fits his neurotic lyrics very well.
Justin, I think that you'll prefer the Fall cd I sent you a few years ago (Bend Sinister). There's plenty of great tunes on there (including the Mr Pharmacist cover version), and it's a good entry point for The Fall.
I like the occasional Fall song. Telephone Thing is a good track.
Please do a review of Enya's song My My Time Flies! An incredible song
Every Fall album is different to the others. I really like After The Gramme, but it's certainly not for everyone. Some of their albums I don't like at all, others I really love. There is a huge catalogue, and the band was always changing personnel. A muteable musical feast.
Listening to The Fall various times since the 1980's, lot I loved and lot not so much, hit and miss. Totally Wired never really made it for me and not the best entry point imo. Smith will never be known for his singing abilities and his punk spoken word abilities are marginal at best. However, some consider him a musical genius and I agree for most part. He is interesting character as he has used revolving door of musicians as he was a difficult guy to deal with. So result was varying sounds over the years (almost 40 years!) and a huge library that takes a lot of time to sort out. I'm personally drawn more towards his funkier grooves such as Mexico Wax Solvent, Theme from Sparta F.C., Leave the Capitol, Extricate, Free Range, Way Round, New Face in Hell, and others. He also has a great line of more laid back listens such as Bill is Dead, Midnight in Aspen, Gentlemen's Agreement, Coaches and Horses, And Therein, all quality stuff worth checking out.
The Fall are my favorite band but they took a while getting used to, especially Mark E Smiths ranting spoken word lyrics. Personally I think Totally Wired is one of their less interesting songs. Their list of brilliant songs is huge but I would especially recommend these, in no particular order:
In These Time
No Bulbs
I Am Damo Suzuki
Paintwork
Lie Dream of a Casino Soul
Theme From Sparta FC
Fiery Jack
Lucifer Over Lancashire
The Man Whose Head Expanded
How I Wrote Elastic Man
2 By 4
Living Too Late
Im Into CB
Green Eyed Loco Man
Edinburgh Man
My New House
Sleep Debt Snatches
Rollin Dany
F-oldin Money
Ol Gang.
I met mark e smith in a pub in prestwich just outside Manchester he is a right character 😊
This song is fun enough, but not sure it holds my interest enough for repeat listens. For me, Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall is my go-to Fall album! Awesome stuff. Not sure if I took to it immediately as it has been so long since i first listened to it, but I had already heard so many different kinds of off the beaten path vocals that I was either neutral on it or I enjoyed it. Regardless, I really enjoy that album and Mark's vocals which are more spoken word to me. Hex Enduction Hour is also worth a listen if you enjoy Wonderful and Frightening.
Not their best song, You should check out more by them they have better songs that you'll find interesting 👍
The Fall are totally unique band, Mark E Smith is a terrible singer but also one of my all time favourite vocalists consider myself a big fan but don't even have half their albums so many to drive into still, even an average fall album will have 3 or 4 bangers...do understand it took me about a decade for his stylings to connect with me but when they did they became firm favourites
Cool hearing it didn't grab you... makes me think about why I like it. I suppose maybe it's not so much about music, but an attitude, an expression and a navigation how you rub against society, and spit that back out as sound.
I hear you on that; thanks Eric :)
This is before they came into their sound imo
this broadcast served it's purpose then. . . being a man venting against blind conformity. Maybe. For the record, I enjoyed it in a IF Jonathan Richman could get angry kinda manner. Diolch. "The Morning Of Our Lives" by the Modern Lovers live will make you
and Nat
cry. Maybe.
I thought of The Fall as like an antidote to music, welcome for a short while, but soon outstay their welcome.
I get what you're saying.
If music is a disease, I'm sorry you feel that way.
Many people thought of Mark E Smith as some kind of contrarian genius. Apart from a handful of Fall songs, it was all gibberish to me. Notorious to work with, this was reflected by the number of people that passed through the ranks!
Yes he was.
@@smcgmail823810,000 fans can't be wrong 😉
The Fall and Gang of Four are two bands from the same period that never had any effect on me.
I love the Gang Of Four's "To Hell With Poverty", (especially the live take on The Old Grey Whistle Test). As for the Fall, i'll kindly pass, thankyou!
@@Owlstretchingtime78 Yes, Gang of Four is still much more bearable to me than The Fall, but I'm not fond of it.
Gang of Four have one album's worth of good songs, The Fall have tons.
@@fuckamericanidiot If you said so.... !🙄
The quirky How I wrote Elastic Man is worth a listen
This is The Fall, and it isn't. It's a one note subject/lyric and the music has just escaped- in a wonderful way, the punk years. This band has gone on to do so much better, more. You need to hear Garden, Disney's Dream Debased. Tempo House. A cover of Sister Sledge's Lost in Music- and yes, they had some "dance" music in the 90s. You have picked the most standard driving post punk songs from this band- much love to it, but it sounds average.. Hip Priest was in Silence of the Lambs. C.r.e.e.p. is a 60s sing a long. Always different, always the same.
The truth is you either get the Fall or not. If you do they can become an obsession, set apart from all else. Per the great John Peel " Always the same, always different". Mark E Smith could not sing in tune but his lyrics were pure and trounced the likes of Dylan into nothingness. My fav quote by him "If it's me and your granny on bongos, it's the Fall". JP you are my favorite reviewer I dare you to play Hex Induction Hour 5 times and not become a fan.
I believe when I recommended this song to you that I suggested listening to the version on 'A Part Of America Therein, 1981' The original studio version is somewhat lazy and droll, but this live version is so upbeat and wild. Mark E's vocals are so much better, too. He adds a lot of sounds and nuances to the vocals that you don't get from the studio version.
Still, I do like this version, I just don't love it like I do the excellent live version.
This band can be an extremely deep rabbit hole, but once Brix was gone, they kind of went downhill. Mark E. had lost his muse, I think. But most of their stuff up through 1987 or so is pretty damn quality, if not weird. And who doesn't like weird?
Always the same, always different. My favorite band for the ages. Pick up Live At The Witch Trails, This Nations Saving Grace and The Unutterable for a good overview of their output.
trouble is they creep into ur subconscious youll be wanting to hear big new prinz all the time i hated them at first
listen to the whole Grotesque album, man. They have much more interesting songs than this one.
The hook, Totally Wired, wasn't compelling. Another ok background sound in a bar.
The greatest group of all time imo and so many better records than this but decent place to start I guess
Eh, okay. Won't need to listen to that again.
Sorry - not really impressed with this track. Perhaps New Wave was just finding its sound, I have never listened to this band, perhaps this was just a bad representation. You are ever the gentleman, and always give the benefit of the doubt.
But, as for now, I wish you the very BEST at 30k. Feels like it has been a while. I was here for Pictures at an Exhibition!
If I was a communist , a rich man would bail me !
100th comment woa! Yes, to this sort of thing! Big New Prinz is a nice one to check out.
For me, this is bottom of the barrel; about as uninteresting as music can be. A little singing and some different chords and riffs could have gone a long way. ⭐️
Yuck
I think he’s totally wired, uhhhh… k.
Meh.
This is their best song, leave em well alone if you don't like this
The refrain is very short and repetitive. I didn't think it was possible, but The Ramones are very sophisticated compared to these guys.
@@bobholtzmann ha, have you listened to any other FALL?
This is far, far FAR from their best song... Good for this period, but nothing compared to the golden years 83-89...
@@zlattesboy Yeah you're probably right, everything from 81 to 89 is pretty amazing tbh
Oh hold on, Grotesque is 1980 isn't! 1980 to 1990 is some of the greatest music ever made imo
The band lineup would change constantly. The only other constant was Mark E Smith, a true British legend.
great band
Talking about wired , try some WIRE , OUTDOOR MINER for starters .