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Post by scoOter on Nov 1, 2006 12:31:17 GMT -5
i know i am not the first person to have this thought, but i think paul's voice is much better (read: more power & mats like) when he is standing in front of a band. or at least recording with other people. this is totally natural, too. i have a 4 track that i record with in the basement, and i am more timid when i am singing to myself than i am with a drummer & a bassist wailing away. there is something about yelling over din that makes for great vocal moments. So when can we expect you to be posting these wailings? Is there video of this you can share? didn't you see those video clips of me doing paul songs? they were posted here awhile ago.
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Post by A Regular on Nov 1, 2006 13:21:49 GMT -5
So when can we expect you to be posting these wailings? Is there video of this you can share? didn't you see those video clips of me doing paul songs? they were posted here awhile ago. you must have mistakenly posted them on the Stinson site, seeing how B&P rules and all...
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Post by scoOter on Nov 1, 2006 14:48:43 GMT -5
didn't you see those video clips of me doing paul songs? they were posted here awhile ago. you must have mistakenly posted them on the Stinson site, seeing how B&P rules and all... next time i see you, i am going to kick you in the ding ding.
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Post by FreeRider on Sept 7, 2010 10:09:15 GMT -5
It's been 2 years since it's release and last month, I popped it in the car stereo to reminisce about the excitement of Paul touring behind its release. I enjoyed the field recordings others have made and shared of the Folker tour---Paul really made some of those songs shine during the tour. But I wanted to give the studio/basement CD another listen and in having done so, I've actually grown fond of some songs I didn't initially like or was a little indifferent to. I was wondering if anyone else has a new found appreciation or found something that they missed the first go around. I've discovered that I really dig the tone of Paul's electric guitar on "Now I Wonder", around the 2 minute mark, this little guitar fill he does sounds great. It's probably a semi-hollow body electric but I love the tone! "23 Years Ago" has taken on a much deeper meaning, I'm really finding the lyrics to be haunting now....his singing and voice isn't great on this song, but I think I finally have moved past that and I finally get the whole sentiment behind the song (okay, I'm slow on the uptake...) now I say it outloud maybe you were the one I should've holded onto..."What About Mine" is still one I can't quite get. I still have problems with his voice on this song. "breathe some new life" is still just kind of like filler to me. This is what I wrote 4 years ago.....and today I popped 'Folker' into the car for the commute into work. And yes, I still associate this CD with September and the fall And I still stand by what I wrote four years ago above. So, with having 6 years perspective since its release (can you believe it's been that long already?), has anyone's opinion of 'Folker' changed? or do we still hold true to our initial reactions to it? Has it grown on anyone? Does anyone still listen to it? My new perspective is how the entire CD is tinged with sadness. '23 Years' is still haunting to me, that carrying of a lifetime regret and coming to terms with the past that can never change. Still can't get into 'What about Mine' and 'Breathe Some New Life'.
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Post by brianlux on Sept 7, 2010 18:12:08 GMT -5
It's been 2 years since it's release and last month, I popped it in the car stereo to reminisce about the excitement of Paul touring behind its release. I enjoyed the field recordings others have made and shared of the Folker tour---Paul really made some of those songs shine during the tour. But I wanted to give the studio/basement CD another listen and in having done so, I've actually grown fond of some songs I didn't initially like or was a little indifferent to. I was wondering if anyone else has a new found appreciation or found something that they missed the first go around. I've discovered that I really dig the tone of Paul's electric guitar on "Now I Wonder", around the 2 minute mark, this little guitar fill he does sounds great. It's probably a semi-hollow body electric but I love the tone! "23 Years Ago" has taken on a much deeper meaning, I'm really finding the lyrics to be haunting now....his singing and voice isn't great on this song, but I think I finally have moved past that and I finally get the whole sentiment behind the song (okay, I'm slow on the uptake...) now I say it outloud maybe you were the one I should've holded onto..."What About Mine" is still one I can't quite get. I still have problems with his voice on this song. "breathe some new life" is still just kind of like filler to me. This is what I wrote 4 years ago.....and today I popped 'Folker' into the car for the commute into work. And yes, I still associate this CD with September and the fall And I still stand by what I wrote four years ago above. So, with having 6 years perspective since its release (can you believe it's been that long already?), has anyone's opinion of 'Folker' changed? or do we still hold true to our initial reactions to it? Has it grown on anyone? Does anyone still listen to it? My new perspective is how the entire CD is tinged with sadness. '23 Years' is still haunting to me, that carrying of a lifetime regret and coming to terms with the past that can never change. Still can't get into 'What about Mine' and 'Breathe Some New Life'. No, I can't believe it's been SIX YEARS! Yes, I still feel the same way about Folker. Other than a few semi-duds, it's still one of my favorites. There really is something sad about this record-- for me even right down to the teeth marks in the CD cover than our yellow lab, Ari, left on it. That sweet dog passed away in the fall of '06 but left us that little reminder of her. I have the same feeling about "23 Years". I remember playing Folker one day while dusting off some books and "23 Years" came on and I just had to sit and hang my head and listen. It's one of those universal songs we can all relate to in our own way. I like that there's enough adrenaline in a few songs like "Gun Shy" and "Folk Star" to keep the record from being overly maudlin and "As Far as I know" is pure classic. Thanks for the reminder, FreeRider. It's going in the car with me in the morning!
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Post by landshark on Sept 7, 2010 19:28:57 GMT -5
Yup, "As Far as I Know," is a keeper and "Gun Shy" and "Folker" are absolutely essential to the PW catalog -- I'll resist saying "ouevre." Still think the sound sux, to the detriment of AFAIK and others. I happen to have a soft spot for "How Can You Like Him," too, but I won't try to convince anyone. Don't know why so many find "My Dad" so cringe-inducing ... I guess it's too sentimental?
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Post by gowhileucan on Sept 7, 2010 19:44:42 GMT -5
I never liked this record, thought it has a couple great moments (AFAIK, Anyways Alright). To me the best solo record is Come Feel Me Tremble because unlike the also terrific Stereo/Mono it doesn't split the reckless Paul from the sensitive Paul.
Folker is the proof that the basement years were at a dead end. When he played those songs live, with a band they sounded so much better.
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Post by wecantgetanybetter on Sept 7, 2010 21:31:25 GMT -5
I remember playing Folker one day while dusting off some books Huh.
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Post by thepogo on Sept 7, 2010 22:19:04 GMT -5
I still dig it. There a few songs I just cant get into, "Now I Wonder", "23 Yrs Ago" Gun Shy was my ringtone for 2 years. My Dad is very cool. $100 Groom is a Westerberg classic. For what its worth my kids 13, 10, & 8 love Jingle. Yeah, I guess I play that cd quite often.
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ih8music
Star Scout
couldn't be happier.
Posts: 943
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Post by ih8music on Sept 7, 2010 22:46:47 GMT -5
When he played those songs live, with a band they sounded so much better. I agree, and that's why I have a hard time with the album. I've given up trying to like it -- instead I'll pull out one of the live recordings from that tour when I'm in the mood for just about any of those songs.
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Post by FreeRider on Sept 8, 2010 9:06:53 GMT -5
True, the songs got a different energy when they were played live.
It's funny; I guess this CD didn't get better with time, most people still hold onto the same initial reactions they had when it came out. The same points expressed here are the same that occured in this thread some years back: the production, needs a band, needs a real drummer, etc...
But what about the songs themselves, the melodies? Forget the production, forget the acousti-centric quality of it; do you think the melodies hold up? I kind of thought it was melodically sub-par at first. Now, I'd say it's average, but not really strong as some of his other work. Yet, after listening to it again after some time and distance, I am also listening now for other things. Things like the sneaky little guitar lines in the background, the tone of the guitar, the heavy use of reverb for the backing vocals.
And I'm also thinking more of what Paul was going thru at the time. The passing of his father. Suddenly, I see the entire project as a more melancholy rumination upon death (When Will We Arrive, My Dad, Looking up in Heaven) and love and its impossibilities ($100 Groom, Anyway's All right), failed expectations (AFAIK, 23 Years, How Can You like Him...).
It didn't help that Paul pumped this up as being 'the bomb' in interviews, though! Perhaps we were expecting something along the lines of Stereo/Mono and he shares with us his feelings about this turning point in his life.
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Post by BronxTeacher on Sept 8, 2010 16:08:30 GMT -5
It's funny; I guess this CD didn't get better with time, most people still hold onto the same initial reactions they had when it came out. The same points expressed here are the same that occured in this thread some years back: the production, needs a band, needs a real drummer, etc... But what about the songs themselves, the melodies? Forget the production, forget the acousti-centric quality of it; do you think the melodies hold up? I kind of thought it was melodically sub-par at first. Now, I'd say it's average... Folker is still not one of my favorites for the reasons you mention. I agree that melodically it's average. Paul's whiney bleating in some songs doesn't help either. But I do like some songs, especially "23 Years Ago," which can really hit home given the mood and the moment. I love "My Dad" too, but it bugs me that the melody is rather blatently lifted from Dylan's "Positively 4th Street." I also find that I like parts of certain songs: --the bridge from "Anyways Alright,"--"I'm the dog that's broken..." Interesting how he took this part of the song and inserted it into "AAA" on the Folker tour. --the refrain from "How Can You Like Him?"--"You ain't gonna see anybody..."
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Post by brianlux on Sept 9, 2010 1:22:23 GMT -5
I remember playing Folker one day while dusting off some books Huh. Huh?
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Post by wecantgetanybetter on Sept 9, 2010 6:08:08 GMT -5
Huh! Just that personal, sorta unlikely detail. They might not say that on Motorhead boards.
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skunky
Second Class Scout
Posts: 35
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Post by skunky on Sept 9, 2010 8:42:36 GMT -5
I like folker a lot. It does take me back to a time when I was getting my heartbroken in a rollercoaster type of way. Trying to figure this relationship with this girl I was crazy about..So yes, sadness, bittersweet..a lot what was on folker paralled my life..How can you like him..23 years ago..anyways' alright..Well I stuck it out with this girl and we actually went to see Paul play in New Orleans..rather poignant to hear all of those songs live w/ that girl next to me ..Paul even changed the lyrics to "born for me"..to " beautiful and brown.. why don't u stick around"..When he did that, my brown eye gal and I just went crazy..very cool. Now she's gone and I'm happily married to someone else..but that album, that night will always be special..
sidenote: didn't Tommy Stinson's album come out the same day or week as Folker
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Post by brianlux on Sept 9, 2010 9:45:19 GMT -5
Huh! Just that personal, sorta unlikely detail. They might not say that on Motorhead boards. ...not to metion Mortarboard Heads.
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