CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | I've never heard of Anathema before. Would you recommend them? What kind of genre are they? I might give them a listen. |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | They've changed style a lot. Starting as doom metal, then quite gothic, then Pink Floyd inspired, then Radiohead influenced, then finally a more positive maximalist almost new age-y style that's pretty unique. At the very least most people into 'guitar bands' will find them intriguing. |
CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | OOH all of their albums are on google music. I'm def gonna check em out. Thanks |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | What a man.
You’re my boy Doof. I really dig Wings of God off of Judgement and Anathema off of whateveritis but yeah 1 is 1 but it took a few listens to get past the initial cheesballness.
Fucking quality band. |
TheSpirit
03.06.19 | I bought Judgement on a whim in 8th grade and to this day it's really only Anathema album I've heavily invested in, but I still love it so much. I've heard other songs from different albums that I've also really liked but have never felt compelled to check out whatever albums they came from.
ANYWAY
nice list |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | Zak - a dangerous band to recommend because first impressions they're solid cheese...but then you realise the emotion translates. One of my favourite bands between '99 and 2012.
Spirit - you should at least try Alternative 4 and maybe A Natural Disaster for starters and see what you make of them? |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | “Another one from the opening Weather Systems salvo, I don't think I've ever encountered another song that translates that 'breath taken away/living in the moment captured somewhere between pure fear and pure excitement' - it taps into something elemental in our nature.”
:D |
CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | Is this a Doofus alt acct or a new guy named Doof? |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | Too poncey Zak? |
Sinternet
03.06.19 | 14 is great |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | Caligs - it is I, the one true doofus |
CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | Oh hey Doofus, missed ya mate! |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | Full on Sowing mate. |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | Trying to describe this band without going the full SowSeas is...maybe impossible? |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | CJ - I did disappear for a few months but I've still been about the rest of the time, my new profile is more low profile though ;) |
CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | Sowing makes good reviews so this is a compliment I'm guessing? :P |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | If it's a compliment it's of the backhanded variety ;D |
CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | Well they're all good write ups *shrugs* |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | lol |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | Sowing is great at being Sowing, got to respect the Sowing, wouldn't have him any other way - but I don't tend to be as 'feel'y' or 'flowery' in my prose as the man is all.
Don't think anyone can compete on that level, Sowing has it, uh, sewn up? |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | Upon the first melodic melifiousness caressing the ear like a summer kiss, Anathema invoke a memory as fragile as dust on a beam of light.
Blissful, captivating, as emotional as a child’s tear shed in plight at having never seen their mother.
|
CaliggyJack
03.06.19 | Yeah people always shit on my reviews because I tend to get poetic and symbolic with my writing. |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | your words moved me zak
Cue..."A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming" |
Lord(e)Po)))ts
03.06.19 | You out here shitting on the entire front page and then you make a "top anathema songs" list lmao band is trash |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | From the age of 12-early30sish this band would have been literal Anathema to my taste and decency but I tell ya there’s something about them that can’t be knocked. I can’t stop listening to them at the min. |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | Pots, ain't I just the ultimate contrarian
I have never had an ounce of cool in my being so I have nothing to lose listening to these adorable 'heavy-on-the-sentimental' scousers |
Lord(e)Po)))ts
03.06.19 | Well gee ya dont have to be such a saddo about it not I feel bad |
DoofDoof
03.06.19 | as guilty pleasures go I'm at peace with this lot, I'll take the damage |
Dylan620
03.06.19 | Thank you for reminding me to revisit Judgement - spun it once a year or two ago and while I enjoyed it, I never went back to it until today.
Thoughts on the title track? Probably my early favorite, there's something immensely satisfying about how it quickly builds up speed midway through and then just rattles along |
zakalwe
03.06.19 | Sort of superficial Euro cheese with loads of soul poured in and crafted by ‘normal’ people with shit haircuts who are undoubtedly talented.
A right old quandary going on, I’m gagging to see them live.
|
teamster
03.06.19 | 7 is 1 and I can name 5 PT songs better than it. |
DoofDoof
03.07.19 | if you list 'em I'll check them teamster - haven't yet bonded with PT |
BigPleb
03.07.19 | I HADDD TOOOO LEEETT YOUUU GOOOOOOOOOO
Yep, 1 is definitely 1. |
Scheumke
03.07.19 | Hell yeah 1 is 1 and 2 is 2. Weather Systems in general is by far my favorite from Anathema. |
BigPleb
03.07.19 | Finally, someone who loves WS as much as myself. |
Rowan5215
03.07.19 | 2000 Metres is an all-time slapper but Are You There is my #1
Danny vox > |
Scheumke
03.07.19 | Right back at ya ;). Saw them about a good year ago with Alcest as opener, absolutely fantastic concert that was. The songs from WS just worked best live as well. |
JohnnyoftheWell
03.07.19 | Disagreed hard with a lot of this (Electricity and Inner Silence...meh) although very much on board with Untouchable, Regret, Simple Mistake, Parisienne Moonlight and a few others. Weird to see nothing from Eternity - that album has at least two top 10 picks - but always good to see a well thought-out Anathema list, excellent band |
DoofDoof
03.07.19 | Eternity I forget about, need to revisit as I never really got into it despite owning a copy for years |
JohnnyoftheWell
03.07.19 | I got into that one ages ago, but remember it being a difficult grower but one of their most rewarding |
zakalwe
03.07.19 | What's peoples thoughts on The Optimist? Haven't really listened to it yet as I'm burying myself in the other stuff. |
Dewinged
03.07.19 | Nice picks Doof, just the other day I was jamming Satellites n Thin Air is just so good. Zaka, I love the Optimist but prepare for a good dose of Lee. |
DoofDoof
03.07.19 | No song from that album made the cut...says it all. Few too many ‘rewrite’ songs. It’s not bad though. |
JohnnyoftheWell
03.07.19 | I see their post-Judgement sound as falling on a spectrum with Natural Disaster at one end and Weather Systems at the other, and way prefer Natural Disaster. Optimist sits closer to that end than other recent albums, so even though it's not their most inspired writing it's a good listen imo |
zakalwe
03.07.19 | Springfield is quality |
teamster
03.07.19 | Trains
Way Out Of Here
Time Flies
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
Anesthetize |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | I know Trains and Anesthetize pretty well and Trains is a decent 4 out of 5 and Anesthetize I would have liked more when I was into Tool-y sort of stuff fifteen years ago but now more a 3.5 tune to my tastes. Neither would compete with anything from this list I don't think.
Will try the other three though, thanks. |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | Also I tried Eternity again and...still not a favourite, a bit transitional and strained. Bit too much bluster. Certainly no song off that album would make this list. |
JohnnyoftheWell
03.08.19 | Tbh this band has always been about bluster so can't agree but fair enough for giving it another try. Radiance and Eternity 3 are probably top 10 for me
Also those are pretty horrible picks for PT, only track that rivals Anathema's best there is Anaesthetize |
zakalwe
03.08.19 | How the hell did anyone know of these pre-internet years? Prog and classic rock mags, MOJO and what have you? I would’ve thought the band would’ve been derided to fuck back in the day but it seems they have a loyal fan base and it’s growing.
I really do dig, I gave the Optimist a proper whirl and it’s lovely. |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | The metal press covered them, so yer Kerrangs and Metal Hammers which I would still have been reading in '99 lol |
zakalwe
03.08.19 | Ah. Fair enough, I read Q up until the mid 2000s but that was it.
Distant Satellites is class. Blimey this band really churns ‘em out.
|
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | Biggest criticism is the last three (you could even say four) albums have been quite similar.
Check 'Hindsight' too, don't skip that, even though it's the band covering their own stuff. It's their most consistent album for me. |
theBoneyKing
03.08.19 | Nice writeups. Never listened to this band but tried a few of these...yeah it definitely seemed like a cheese fest, don’t think I’ll be giving them much attention any time soon but maybe someday. |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | Boney if you were to try any of their albums I’d point you towards ‘Hindsight’ (bear-acoustic) and maybe ‘A Fine Day to Exit’ (Radiohead-y) |
zakalwe
03.08.19 | Bone!
It is initial cheese but it melts and there’s real depth and soul here I’m telling ya. Don’t get me wrong I’d have thought they were the biggest bag of shite ever back in the day but you can’t hold back quality and these lads and lass have it in spades. |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | This band are about on a par with Coldplay in terms of the ol’ cheesometer I’ll admit, but there’s way more craft and likeability to these dudes |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | In terms of cheese Anathema are an initially offputting smelling blue cheese that’s actually delicious and matures like a champ.
Something like Coldplay are like Dairylea soft cheese triangles - mainstream palatable, but once you’ve become a cheese connoisseur never again, they hit the bin 🗑 |
zakalwe
03.08.19 | They appear a more affable and genuine bunch which helps massively. |
DoofDoof
03.08.19 | Things that help:
1. They started as a slightly whiffy metal band
2. They are one of only about three decent scouse bands
3. Half their songs are about the Cavanagh brother’s dead ma
4. They have never really courted the mainstream and are secretly better than Porcy Tree and Paradise Lost
5. Top live band
6. Wear their influences proudly but still sound like themselves
7. Sometimes when they experiment they sound adorably amateur |
zakalwe
04.13.19 | How is ‘Everything’ from WHBWH not on this list? Song is classic. |
DoofDoof
04.13.19 | Too many classics ;D |
JohnnyoftheWell
04.13.19 | This list still makes me 80% happy 20% bemused |