Shack -- C/D?

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Too many bad breaks, too many drugs, quite a bit of great music. My favorite is Waterpistol...Classic.

John S., Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I only have HMS Fable - it gets a little wobbly in places, especially when John Head starts singing, but when it's right it's bloody ace. I alos love the way that even when they get lucky, things still don't go their way - witness their dropping from London, and the fact that the man who used to be 'Britain's Greatest Living Songwriter' gets cheerfully dropped by the NME in all their frevent Year Zero-ism regarding the Strokes. Can't help but love 'em, really.

Mr Swygart, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Probably less that he's been 'dropped' by the NME et al than he just isn't up to much at the moment. Last thing I'd heard the band had been dropped by their record label and were currently "reconsidering their future".

I say classic, btw, with the exception of the bits when they suddenly go all John Power.

Matt DC, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I saw them play at Finsbury Park yesterday and they were great - a bit rusty to begin with but powerful nonetheless. I'd recommend the "Magical World of the Strands" album if you can get hold of it. Classic.

Andrew Williams, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Finsbury, eh? How were Oasis?

Ned Raggett, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Shack are great. I haven't heard "Waterpistol" but "HMS Fable" is an excellent album - especially when John Head sings (I adore his voice). The Strands album is also very fine, perhaps their best work.

The earlier, Ian Broudie destro^H^H^H^H^H^Hproduced effort "Zilch" has some excellent songs but was all but ruined by its woefully unsuitable production.

Apparently they signed to Heavenly recently but I know nothing more than that. Heavenly have enough on their plates at the moment with The Vines anyway

electric sound of jim, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

i liked 'i know you too well', but i haven't really liked anything since, it just seems a bit stodgy, the stuff i've heard since...

gareth, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

None of it even comes close to anything by the Pale Fountains.

marianna, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Only have HMS Fable, but it's chock-full of CLASSIC songwriting. Beg to differ about John's singing - I think "Beautiful" is one of the best songs on that album. Shack are a rare species - a good dadrock band.

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

nine months pass...
I dug out HMS Fable this week for some reason (haven't listened to it in over 2 years) and I can't take it out of my CD player. A touch overproduced, but these songs and melodies. Definitely one of, if not _the_ great band that connected britpop with post-britpop (Doves, etc.).

Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:46 (twenty years ago) link

much much better than the likes of the Doves and the Coral. i'm surprised they didn't have more chart success with "HMS Fable". I could picture some of those songs being hits.

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:58 (twenty years ago) link

I particularly love "Cornish Town" from that album.

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:10 (twenty years ago) link

the only song i've heard is 'Natalie's Party' which i really like - joyous, wistful...thats what Travis SHOULD sound like perhaps...

stevem (blueski), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:21 (twenty years ago) link

maybe not Travis but Coldplay should

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:21 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah, I don't mind Doves or even the Coral too much (I know I'm alone on the latter, but they're young... I think they've got good music in them yet), but Shack really outdoes Travisplay. Just a lot smarter, I guess.

Gonna have to slsk Waterpistol and the Pale Fountains this weekend.

Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:27 (twenty years ago) link

and the Strands album too. highly recommended

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:29 (twenty years ago) link

Right on... I'll add that to the list!

Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:30 (twenty years ago) link

Waterpistol and The Strands record both much better than HMS Fable where they seem to be trying a bit too hard. I've also got their first Ian Broudie produced LP but seem to remember it being a bit too 80's in its sound. Might be worth a relisten though.

mms (mms), Friday, 2 May 2003 14:16 (twenty years ago) link

There really isn't enough Pale Fountains worship going on on this thread.

marianna, Friday, 2 May 2003 14:19 (twenty years ago) link

four weeks pass...
I've been listening to Waterpistol pretty much non-stop for the past couple weeks... fantastic. And Pale Fountains and the Strands are also top. Thanks for the recommendations.

Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 30 May 2003 12:43 (twenty years ago) link

Track down the "Oscar" single; it's better than anything on Fable (and I say that as a fan of the record).

TMFTML (TMFTML), Friday, 30 May 2003 13:58 (twenty years ago) link

Check. Thanks!

Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 30 May 2003 14:01 (twenty years ago) link

Is the Strands album really hard to find? I would love to get a copy of it (only have a burned copy) but haven't been able to track it down online.
I have the Oscar single and agree that it's really great, but I don't think it tops Fable. Reminds me too much of a Gordon Lightfoot track, but can't remember which one.

Jonathan, Friday, 30 May 2003 14:34 (twenty years ago) link

a few people have got the strands album up on slsk but if you have trouble i'll put it up later on

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 30 May 2003 22:55 (twenty years ago) link

one month passes...
Woo hoo!

TMFTML (TMFTML), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:41 (twenty years ago) link

yeah - i'm really excited about that too. which label is doing it?

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 22:02 (twenty years ago) link

i'm glad to see shack back too. they've taken quite a while to follow HMS Fable, but i hope it's worth the wait.

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 22:44 (twenty years ago) link

What makes Shack different from the britpop dross and other scabby retro liverpool bands like The Coral,The Bandits etc?

Thomas R, Thursday, 3 July 2003 14:49 (twenty years ago) link

a) they write good songs
b) they don't dick around musically like the fucking Coral. has Ian Broudie learnt nothing?

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 3 July 2003 22:33 (twenty years ago) link

did i mention how much i fucking hate the stupid fricking Coral?

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 3 July 2003 22:33 (twenty years ago) link

jim talks sense here...

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 4 July 2003 00:26 (twenty years ago) link

I can't believe that ica gig is already sold out. Does anyone have any spare ticket for a pale fountains-strands-shack fan?

hebe cat (hebe), Friday, 4 July 2003 22:03 (twenty years ago) link

seven months pass...
The first 10 secs of Walter's Song from Waterpistol sound exactly like Streets of Your Town by Go-Betweens :) or am I hearing things?

svend (svend), Friday, 13 February 2004 06:34 (twenty years ago) link

one year passes...
Quick revive, 'cause Zilch got reissued in Japan last month. As noted above, production is a problem, but it's a very good album at heart. Bonus tracks too (b-sides, etc).

dlp9001, Wednesday, 13 April 2005 17:13 (nineteen years ago) link

For the record, I absolutely love these albums.

Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 17:22 (nineteen years ago) link

the songs (not the production obv) on zilch improve with age

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Thursday, 14 April 2005 00:03 (nineteen years ago) link

has anyone heard the fable sessions?

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Thursday, 14 April 2005 00:04 (nineteen years ago) link

I downloaded it, since I'd already bought all the Fable singles. Didn't hear any compelling reason to buy it *if* you already have the singles. If not, it's essential: a number of seriously fantastic b-sides.

dlp9001, Thursday, 14 April 2005 02:04 (nineteen years ago) link

yeah the hms fable-era b-sides are uniformly strong. whilst i enjoy "here's tom with the weather" it did feel like the magic had faded a little.

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Thursday, 14 April 2005 02:07 (nineteen years ago) link

ten months pass...
new album "The Corner Of Miles And Gil" out in may for those still watching

electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 22:08 (eighteen years ago) link

Ohhh excellent!

Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 22:10 (eighteen years ago) link

Thanks for the info.

I own four singls and HMS Fable and a friend just sent me Waterpistol but have yet to hear it.

BeeOK (boo radley), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 10:15 (eighteen years ago) link


promo gubbins :

"Liverpool legends SHACK return in May 2006 with their fourth studio
album '... The Corner Of Miles And Gil'. The album is preceded by a
limited edition single 'Tie Me Down' and the band will be touring the
UK throughout May.


Since their formation in 1988, Shack (Mick and John Head -singers/song-
writers/guitarists, Iain Templeton - drummer, and Pete Wilkinson -
bassist) have been through countless trials and tribulations but have
emerged triumphant with arguably the finest album of their career.
Recorded in 2005, '... The Corner of Miles and Gil' is a deep guitar-
soul classic - all kaleidoscopic melody and jazzy, dreamscape trumpets.
Named after the Head brothers heroes Miles Davis and Gil Evans (Davis'
arranger), the album features songs of lyrical and musical genius which
Shack's countless fans have come to expect. Single 'Tie Me Down' is
one of the few tracks ever written about restraint techniques in a
sexual relationship, and topics as diverse as Home and Away and acid in
teacups are covered over the 12 tracks!


The single and album are released on Noel Gallagher's label Sour Mash
who stepped in when the band were left without a deal after their last
release 'Here's Tom With The Weather'. This also led to Shack
supporting Oasis in February 2006 at several of their arena shows.


1st May 2006: Limited Edition 7" and download only: Tie Me Down b/w
Uncle Smaegel's Cardigan

15th May 2006: New Album: ...The Corner of Miles and Gil

Tracklisting:
Tie Me Down / Butterfly / Cup of Tea / Shelley Brown / Black & White /
New Day / Miles Away /

Finn, Sophie, Bobby & Lance / Moonshine / Funny Things / Find A Place / Closer

On Tour:

12 May LIVERPOOL, Academy 0870 771 2000 doors 7.00pm
13 May MANCHESTER, Quays Theatre 0870 787 5796 doors 7.30pm
14 May OXFORD, Zodiac 01865 420 042 doors 7.00pm
15 May LONDON, Kings College 0207 403 3331 doors 7.30pm
16 May BRIGHTON, Concorde 01273 673 311 doors 7.30pm
18 May NEWCASTLE, The Cluny 0191 230 4474 doors 8.00pm
19 May GLASGOW, King Tuts 0870 169 0100 doors 8.30pm
21 May BRISTOL, Fleece 0117 929 9008 doors 7.30pm
22 May NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms 0115 958 8484 doors 7.30pm

"

mark e (mark e), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 10:31 (eighteen years ago) link

good ol noel eh

electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 10:55 (eighteen years ago) link

two years pass...

I keep finding out about albums that came out, months after the fact. Anyway, best-of apparently includes two new songs (I'm listening now on the jukebox section of their website). One of them, "Wanda," sounds promising. Has a video too.

Also looks like Zilch and Waterpistol got reissued, though without bonus tracks (not to be confused w/the Japanese reissue of Zilch). I wonder if the newer one is remastered.

dlp9001, Sunday, 13 April 2008 21:12 (sixteen years ago) link

I have an older cd of Waterpistol. Think its on a german label.

Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 13 April 2008 21:13 (sixteen years ago) link

Marina, I believe.

dlp9001, Sunday, 13 April 2008 21:16 (sixteen years ago) link

the JPN zilch reissue is really fantastic

electricsound, Sunday, 13 April 2008 23:05 (sixteen years ago) link

two years pass...

So, um, did anyone here get a golden ticket?

http://www.shacknet.co.uk/?p=3166

dlp9001, Monday, 7 March 2011 02:26 (thirteen years ago) link

two years pass...

sadly not to that, not heard of it before, but will be seeing michael head and the red elastic band at the kazimier this friday

For bodies we are ready to build pyramids (whatever), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 04:28 (ten years ago) link

the new ep is wonderful

For bodies we are ready to build pyramids (whatever), Thursday, 17 October 2013 19:44 (ten years ago) link

one year passes...

All the press about the Strands re-issue has sent me back listening to various Michael Head records. I loved 'HMS Fable' when it came out, but never took to '...Here's Tom With the Weather'. Listening to it tonight for the first time in at least ten years and it turns out I was so, so, wrong.

Keen to hear 'The Olde World'.

michaellambert, Monday, 3 August 2015 19:28 (eight years ago) link

Also, I know album sales are low and it's the midweeks, but 'The Magical World of the Strands' is at 23 in the midweeks. Was surprised how many copies my local HMV had.

michaellambert, Monday, 3 August 2015 19:53 (eight years ago) link

its been reissued?

Cosmic Slop, Monday, 3 August 2015 19:53 (eight years ago) link

Yeah, was out on Friday. The album plus the b-sides from the "Something Like You" single. 'The Olde World', the companion record, is out separately at some point.

michaellambert, Monday, 3 August 2015 19:55 (eight years ago) link

yeah I pre-ordered the old world when kitchen person told me about it but didn't know the actual album was getting a reissue.
Already have the cd but might get it on vinyl if its available on that format

Cosmic Slop, Monday, 3 August 2015 19:58 (eight years ago) link

There is vinyl. I also already have the original CD so passed on the re-issue.

michaellambert, Monday, 3 August 2015 20:00 (eight years ago) link

in all the press re the reissues that i have seen, seems that the the corner of miles and gil has been just about airbrushed out of existence.

has the album been disowned (due to the noel love as mentioned earlier!?) ?

mark e, Monday, 3 August 2015 20:33 (eight years ago) link

I'm to totally digging this reissue on Spotify thanks to this thread tonight - thank you ...

BlackIronPrison, Tuesday, 4 August 2015 00:26 (eight years ago) link

two months pass...

ffs
The Olde World postponed to january 2016 now

Cosmic Slop, Sunday, 4 October 2015 15:23 (eight years ago) link

It's very Shack, isn't it? Get a bit of momentum going then delay the release by months.

michaellambert, Sunday, 4 October 2015 20:34 (eight years ago) link

seven months pass...

I got an email a few months ago from Amazon saying its not even got a release date now

Odysseus, Thursday, 12 May 2016 20:58 (seven years ago) link


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