Olivia Tremor Control (Update July 2012 -- Bill Doss RIP)

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Sunshine Fix sucked bad live. Circulatory System, on the other hand, ruled the show I saw them play. SF was Bill Doss with a backing band of ringers. They were all these older metal dudes, which is fine, but they contrasted quite radically with Doss' sunshiney McGuinn Grannie glasses vibe. I think Sunshine Fix are bland and fabricated, whereas Circulatory System seems like a band of friends. I'm excited about a new album. I like the remix of the Circ System album that Will Hart put out in a spray-painted self released edition on the tour.

Sean Witzman (trip maker), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 14:32 (nineteen years ago) link

ha, weird. i wonder why he used "older metal dudes" for his band. has ruston finally been depopulated? or maybe he was trying to get away from his roots. "you were born an e6-er, you'll die an e6-er!"

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 14:48 (nineteen years ago) link

I am told the Sunshine Fix album is horribly bad; the stacks and stacks of used copies laying around Amoeba seem to bear this out.

kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 17:56 (nineteen years ago) link

i didn't buy the sunshine fix album for $2 yesterday.

Ian c=====8 (orion), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:19 (nineteen years ago) link

but did you like any of OTC's stuff?

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:21 (nineteen years ago) link

yeah, i love black foliage and think dusk @ cubist castle is just fine!

Ian c=====8 (orion), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:39 (nineteen years ago) link

why didn't you buy the sunshine fix album then?

-already heard the album and didn't like it
-was told not to buy album
-didn't have $2
-didn't actually have opportunity to purchase album (was just being cheeky)
-actually bought album for $1, or $3 or whatever
-?

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:44 (nineteen years ago) link

i had heard not very good things about it, and i was already getting a Black Sabbath album and a Meat Puppets album. Theoretically I could go back and get it (i might go pick up the new Sonic Youth anyway.)

Ian c=====8 (orion), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:47 (nineteen years ago) link

curiosity satisfied.

nah, it just sounded to me like you were making a value judgement and saying it wasn't even worth $2, but i would be pretty surprised if someone who liked black foliage wouldn't find age of the sun worth the price of a subway ride. i mean it's kinda short since the last track is a 20 min wank, but still

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:53 (nineteen years ago) link

the music tapes put on a funny show but i couldn't see myself putting $$$ down for their record(s).

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:58 (nineteen years ago) link

(when i saw the music tapes it was like 60-80% OTC).

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:59 (nineteen years ago) link

ian, which meat puppets? do you have the first one? that is awesome and no-wave esque.

I like Olivia Trmoer Control I don't know why there is so much hate for them and so much love for Disco Inferno. Besides them being not as good and being not British and having many 60s melodies and stuff.

artdamages (artdamages), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 18:59 (nineteen years ago) link

20 minutes of wank sounds appealing to me.


x-post to chris: i got Up On The Sun ($3!) and if i go back, i'll probably get In A Car, cuz that one's $2... used CD sales are the best.

Ian c=====8 (orion), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:00 (nineteen years ago) link

godamn, all the used cd stores i go to sell stuff in the 6-8$ range. i need a turntable. meat puppets are groove-y.

artdamages (artdamages), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:03 (nineteen years ago) link

where's this sale? please say it's near the new school so i can stop by on the way home from work

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:06 (nineteen years ago) link

I love the Jerry Garcia guitar-wank on Up on the Sun. 20 mins of Sunshine Fix wank, I'm not so sure...

Sean Witzman (trip maker), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:07 (nineteen years ago) link

nooo.. i'm home for the summer; the sale's in the beautiful/boring suburb of Warwick, RI.

Ian c=====8 (orion), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:14 (nineteen years ago) link

damn.

don't think noodley wank, think massive reverberating, decaying chord wank. like, it's a cool sound, but i rarely need 20 minutes of it.

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:16 (nineteen years ago) link

i like drones!

Ian c=====8 (orion), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:19 (nineteen years ago) link

But are they the ones you're looking for?

Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:20 (nineteen years ago) link

then you'll love this, it's a static wall of vocal harmony (though you can only tell it's vocal because of the first 4 seconds of the track) treated with reverb.

common_person (common_person), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:31 (nineteen years ago) link

Okay the circulatory system album I just listened to (the self titled one) is almost as good as Black Foliage. How did they slip through without more attention? Do people think of this Elephant 6 sound as kind of passe now or something?

kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 19:22 (nineteen years ago) link

two years pass...
Okay, The OTC's second album has this song called 'California Demise' on it which has received glowing reports on most of the album's reviews. Trouble is...

...oh, just have a listen to Dukes Of Stratosphear's 'Shiny Cage' and you'll see.

Shameless or completely accidental?

You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Sunday, 7 January 2007 23:27 (seventeen years ago) link

I've been on an OTC/Circulatory System binge lately.

The only disappointment I've encountered was the Opera House double 7" EP, with 2 different songs (Black Swan Radar and Black Swan Network) designed to be played simultaneously. It was ok for what it was, seemingly random bloops, bleeps, and backwards, sped up and slowed down tapes, but I was hoping for something like Zaireeka but 10000 times better.

Is the early OTC singles collection worth searching for? Presents: Singles and Beyond?

Zachary Scott (Zach S), Monday, 8 January 2007 00:06 (seventeen years ago) link

it has its moments, but the mastering was poorly done and the songs are patchy at best.

after being a massive OTC/E6 fan back in the day, my general perception of the whole thing now is that it was largely pretty lame. bits and pieces of the first OTC album still sound great though.

electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Monday, 8 January 2007 00:30 (seventeen years ago) link

i think 'dusk at cubist castle' will always hold a shiny little place in my heart, but only because i once dropped at 7 in the morning and did a radio show and just played that album the whole way through, and it fucking MADE the experience.

the table is the table (treesessplode), Monday, 8 January 2007 04:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Singles is worth it for "Love Athena," from their debut, with Mangum. One of their best.

Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:08 (seventeen years ago) link

The only one I ever owned was Black Foliage, which is one of those rare albums where I always fast-forward through the "songs" and only listen to the soundscapey stuff.

pj (Henry), Monday, 8 January 2007 13:10 (seventeen years ago) link

one year passes...

dusk at cubist castle is one of those records you put on and just slip into.
'holiday surprise 1,2,3' is just...wow

Charlie Howard, Tuesday, 29 April 2008 11:29 (sixteen years ago) link

<3 that album

sleep, Tuesday, 29 April 2008 14:05 (sixteen years ago) link

I have been floated to this thought this hour on a series of events I cannot explain.

St3ve Go1db3rg, Tuesday, 29 April 2008 15:36 (sixteen years ago) link

two years pass...

"Love Athena" is so hot. I always liked the idea of this band more than I did listening to the albums (they were great live though), but this song realizes the hype. I liked the E6 more as rock bands than anything else (can't stand the "dreamscapes"). Re. the OTC: these guys had weak voices, but the phasing effects on "Love Athena" make them sound almost menacing; the fuzz on all the instruments helps too. And I guess that's the intention: "I would never...fall for someone like you". They repeat the verses! at least the words, but they sing them differently---& it works well here.

Euler, Friday, 17 September 2010 21:48 (thirteen years ago) link

love these dudes, Dusk at Cubist Castle is <3 for all time. need to revisit Black Foliage.

dmr, Friday, 17 September 2010 23:49 (thirteen years ago) link

how much longer can i wait? DA da da du dum

sonderangerbot, Friday, 17 September 2010 23:56 (thirteen years ago) link

^ love that bit

mizzell, Saturday, 18 September 2010 00:15 (thirteen years ago) link

haha yeah me too. the part that comes right after that was the music bed for my lolcollege radio show promo

dmr, Saturday, 18 September 2010 00:27 (thirteen years ago) link

Is there anything good E6-related that is *not* OTC and/or the first Neutral Milk Hotel album?? Everything else blows...

ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Saturday, 18 September 2010 04:20 (thirteen years ago) link

Hissing Fauna

☞ ☹ (markers), Saturday, 18 September 2010 04:23 (thirteen years ago) link

the second Neutral Milk Hotel album

☞ ☹ (markers), Saturday, 18 September 2010 04:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Re. the OTC: these guys had weak voices

i don't know man, Doss' voice is pretty great

Moreno, Saturday, 18 September 2010 04:42 (thirteen years ago) link

check out "Wings Away" from the new Apples In Stereo to here some good Doss vocals. great song.

Moreno, Saturday, 18 September 2010 04:48 (thirteen years ago) link

Is there anything good E6-related that is *not* OTC and/or the first Neutral Milk Hotel album?? Everything else blows...

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Saturday, September 18, 2010 12:20 AM (1 hour ago)

Yeah there are some great Minders albums.

I will always think of you, while (quite) fondly, myself (Evan), Saturday, 18 September 2010 05:21 (thirteen years ago) link

'i hope your heartstrings break' by beulah

kamerad, Saturday, 18 September 2010 06:29 (thirteen years ago) link

Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't

mikethegrouch, Saturday, 18 September 2010 23:26 (thirteen years ago) link

second the love for Doss as a vocalist, and for "Wings Away"!

also, there are several great Apples in Stereo albums. Her Wallpaper Reverie is particularly recommended for the OTC-inclined.

swvl, Tuesday, 21 September 2010 03:44 (thirteen years ago) link

A Hawk and a Handsaw

Telephoneface (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 21 September 2010 09:18 (thirteen years ago) link

rong

bear, bear, bear, Tuesday, 21 September 2010 09:24 (thirteen years ago) link

elioT SmitH

bear, bear, bear, Tuesday, 21 September 2010 09:25 (thirteen years ago) link

http://pitchfork.com/news/40141-listen-olivia-tremor-control-return/

liking this new track, although having not read that 'no pop here' bit before listening I was a wee bit disappointed on that front. But still good to hear something new. And only five and a half years after John Fernandes told me they'd probably be getting back into the studio together.

Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 22:21 (thirteen years ago) link

The first Gerbils album still holds up I think.

, Wednesday, 22 September 2010 23:46 (thirteen years ago) link

Especially Sound Go Round and the California EP

Nhex, Monday, 21 July 2014 02:59 (nine years ago) link

don't sleep on Bressy Dessy either

switching letters guy, Monday, 21 July 2014 03:11 (nine years ago) link

This is my favorite Steppes song, Make Us Bleed. It could be a Moby Grape outtake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf5M_UVr6g4

kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 00:00 (nine years ago) link

Saw/played a show w/ Circulatory System on Friday...they sounded so great, played great...and were great. I think the new album rules...it is up there with the first one. A little less dense, but still full of sneakily-catchy melodies and moments you swear you've heard this song before...

dronestreet, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 14:18 (nine years ago) link

nine months pass...

I am also indebted to this thread for turning me onto the Sunshine Fix LP, holy cow what a good album

grinding like a jolly elf (jamescobo), Thursday, 14 May 2015 23:08 (eight years ago) link

"Age of the Sun" is such a good song.

Hideous Lump, Friday, 15 May 2015 01:58 (eight years ago) link

there's so much great stuff on that album, I like it as much as Black Foliage, the singles comp, the Peel session, and WAY more than the Circulatory System album (which I do like but it's easily my least favorite OTC mainline release that define the band's story

grinding like a jolly elf (jamescobo), Monday, 18 May 2015 03:11 (eight years ago) link

although the LP version spares the 20-minute thing at the end so it may be a mater of being optimal in one format.

grinding like a jolly elf (jamescobo), Monday, 18 May 2015 03:13 (eight years ago) link

I don't know if this was mentioned up thread anywhere, but prior to Bill Doss's death they recorded a brand new LP. Will Cullen Hart is in no hurry to finish it up because of all of the emotions it will stir up, but I'm sure one day in the next few years we'll get to hear it.

DavidLeeRoth, Monday, 18 May 2015 11:29 (eight years ago) link

i think i recall reading somewhere it is near enough done. i guess nmh are still touring and circulatory have been busy playing a few shows. hopefully it will see the light of day sometime very soon. it will be weird hearing posthumous bill. still no news on his death, really. i was with my ex-gf at the time we found out through some pitchfork article, she cried her eyes out - it was really the first time we had lost a musician of our generation we really felt close to. she'd just met him a few months before and we had just bought the peel sessions CD and had it on in the car.

the new album is called 'the same place'.

meaulnes, Monday, 18 May 2015 12:06 (eight years ago) link

I think I met Bill Doss? I went to a Circulatory System show and talked to some guy in the band who was super out of his mind on hash and I think adderall and god knows what else. I know Doss wasn't really a part of Circulatory System but I'm 99% certain the face in my memory matches the face in photos of him so maybe he subbed in that show.

example (crüt), Monday, 18 May 2015 22:38 (eight years ago) link

That was probably Will Cullen Hart. He's always got plenty of energy, to say the least.

Bill was the redhead with long sideburns.

Evan, Monday, 18 May 2015 23:03 (eight years ago) link

six months pass...

https://open.spotify.com/album/5Qf6w24SILSOPz85wzsPpB

Just found this peel session. Probably the best production the band ever had.. They sound tight, too.

calstars, Saturday, 5 December 2015 11:52 (eight years ago) link

six months pass...

My local watering hole played "jumping fences" yesterday and my head exploded

calstars, Saturday, 2 July 2016 01:41 (seven years ago) link

gawd i love that song

classic album

brimstead, Saturday, 2 July 2016 01:51 (seven years ago) link

one year passes...

https://open.spotify.com/track/4ZfeuBsnsdiXAemBFF0AmB

#ModelPortraitheadsofGertrudestein

calstars, Saturday, 8 July 2017 02:49 (six years ago) link

two months pass...

New collaboration between W. Cullen Hart and Apples in Stereo's Rob Schneider - The Patient

https://soundcloud.com/chunklet-world-industries/the-patient-extension-9/s-ME2Zq

"Chunklet’s A&R staff challenged Robert to finish but ONE SONG and 'Extension Nine' is the finished product. Recorded in Athens inside a geodisic dome, 'Extension Nine' is more Talking Heads than Syd Barrett, accidental more than deliberate. Hart is on guitar and sound effects, Robert on vocals, Ben Mize on drums and multi-instrumentalist/luthier/wizard Scott Baxendale on guitar, Mellotron and all sorts of whirring noises."

This is good! Really psychedelic yet somehow more tethered to the earth than OTC/Circulatory System's stuff. I like it.

maura, Friday, 29 September 2017 15:19 (six years ago) link

I heard about this a couple days ago and really wanted to like it but

calstars, Friday, 29 September 2017 16:06 (six years ago) link

three years pass...

Since we don’t have a Circulatory System thread

https://www.stereogum.com/2158387/circulatory-system-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/

Legalize Suburban Benches (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 27 August 2021 17:19 (two years ago) link

bloody hell this revive got me excited for upcoming forever delayed OTC album!!!

will hart is a force of nature <3

maelin, Friday, 27 August 2021 17:23 (two years ago) link

this revive just makes me miss Bill

Heez, Friday, 27 August 2021 17:38 (two years ago) link

Nice piece Ray! I love this album

calstars, Friday, 27 August 2021 18:12 (two years ago) link

Thanks!

Legalize Suburban Benches (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 27 August 2021 18:36 (two years ago) link


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