MP3: Freebass – “Not Too Late” from It’s A Beautiful Life, due December 7 on 24 Hour Service Station.
What happens when three bass players bonded in a mutual love of cocaine get together and form a band? What if the bass players in question are Peter Hook, Mani, and Andy Rourke, the guys responsible for the bottom end on some of the greatest British recordings of the 80s and 90s (Joy Division, New Order, the Smiths, the Stone Roses, Primal Scream)? You might expect it to be badass and maybe even heavy, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, they found a wimpy singer and made wimpy pop tunes. Lame. And then they broke up before their album was released.
At least they were able to get some bitchy tweets in on each other as they went down in flames. After Hooky decided to do a tour of Joy Division covers instead of promoting the Freebass album, Mani blasted him for his “wallet stuffed with Ian Curtis’ blood money” and accused his bandmates of being “talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores.”
Mani’s review of the album is probably all you need to hear: “It’s where it belongs mate… in the fucking bargain bin before it’s even released. You live and learn.” He later apologized. But if you’re still interested, you’ll be pleased to know that the US release collects the band’s three digital EPs on a bonus disc.
Um, I’ve been listening to clips on iTunes and…I dig it. Yes, there’s a touch of nostalgia in the songs but I don’t find it too distracting. And if the kids can ape the past at will and get props for it–what’s up, Interpol?!–why should the guys who came up with it in the first place necessarily reject it?
As for the wimp factor, I dunno…”She Said”, in particular, rocks. And the singer kinda reminds me of Eric Matthews–who I like–and is big ’round the GloNo, if not mistaken. So…
(The dub tune “Stalingrad” does sound forced.)
“wallet stuffed with Ian Curtis’ blood money”
“talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores.”
Jesus, that’s brilliant!! Makes Billy Corgan look like a lightweight. I’ve been so preoccupied with the Pavement vs. Pumpkins thingy that I missed this gem.
I’ve never been in a Twitter War myself, but it appears to be like two people sword fighting with overcooked lasagna noodles.
Mmmmm. Lasagna!