Best piece of writing on the Sisters I've ever seen, and I can totally endorse the comments on 'anti-rockism' in the early eighties.
Thanks for posting - a pint of snakebite and black for Mr. M!
― Soukesian, Wednesday, 13 May 2009 19:53 (fifteen years ago) link
it's a great piece but doesn't alice/floorshow actually come after the reptile house ep?
― worm? lol (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 13 May 2009 20:51 (fifteen years ago) link
According to this, no:
3. Alice b/w Floorshowa. 7" Merciful Release MR 015 Nov 1982ROGI:"kenny giles walks on water" "for spiggy-flash that ash"COVER ART SOURCE: Henri Matisse's Nude Blue in gold on black.NOTES: Produced by John Ashton of the Psychedelic Furs. Entered the Independent Chart at #26.PERSONNEL: SIS 14. Anaconda b/w Phantoma. 7" Merciful Release MR 019 Mar 1983ROGI: "nothing" "spiggy rides again"COVER ART SOURCE: Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies in silver on black.NOTES: Produced by Andrew Eldritch. Single of the Week in Sounds.PERSONNEL: SIS 15. Alice/Floorshow b/w Phantom/1969a. 12" Merciful Release MR 021 Mar 1983ROGI: "im westen nichts neues-jesus loves the sisters" "for spiggy(foreign field)" "mein irisch kind. wo weilest du?"COVER ART SOURCE: Same as the 7".NOTES: Alice, Floorshow and 1969 produced by John Ashton. Phantom produced by Andrew Eldritch. 1969 originally by the Stooges. Released in response to import copies of the American 12" showing up in the UK at greatly inflated prices. First part of the ROGI is the German title of Erich Maria Remarque's 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. Fourth part is lines 33-34 of T. S. Eliot's poem, 'the Wasteland'.PERSONNEL: SIS 16. the Reptile House E.P. Kiss the Carpet/Lights/Valentine/Fix/Burna. 12"EP Merciful Release MR 023 May 1983ROGI: "for spiggy-paint it black"COVER ART SOURCE: Taken from a National Geographic magazine.NOTES: Produced by Andrew Eldritch. First 5,000 came with a lyric sheet. Single of the Week in Sounds. Some copies are violet on crimson instead of pink on black. Not listed is Kiss the Carpet (reprise), which is the same as the drum intro to Kiss the Carpet that opens the ep. Original pressings have MR023 on the spine where 'made in england' is on the repressings.PERSONNEL: SIS 1
4. Anaconda b/w Phantoma. 7" Merciful Release MR 019 Mar 1983ROGI: "nothing" "spiggy rides again"COVER ART SOURCE: Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies in silver on black.NOTES: Produced by Andrew Eldritch. Single of the Week in Sounds.PERSONNEL: SIS 1
5. Alice/Floorshow b/w Phantom/1969a. 12" Merciful Release MR 021 Mar 1983ROGI: "im westen nichts neues-jesus loves the sisters" "for spiggy(foreign field)" "mein irisch kind. wo weilest du?"COVER ART SOURCE: Same as the 7".NOTES: Alice, Floorshow and 1969 produced by John Ashton. Phantom produced by Andrew Eldritch. 1969 originally by the Stooges. Released in response to import copies of the American 12" showing up in the UK at greatly inflated prices. First part of the ROGI is the German title of Erich Maria Remarque's 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. Fourth part is lines 33-34 of T. S. Eliot's poem, 'the Wasteland'.PERSONNEL: SIS 1
6. the Reptile House E.P. Kiss the Carpet/Lights/Valentine/Fix/Burna. 12"EP Merciful Release MR 023 May 1983ROGI: "for spiggy-paint it black"COVER ART SOURCE: Taken from a National Geographic magazine.NOTES: Produced by Andrew Eldritch. First 5,000 came with a lyric sheet. Single of the Week in Sounds. Some copies are violet on crimson instead of pink on black. Not listed is Kiss the Carpet (reprise), which is the same as the drum intro to Kiss the Carpet that opens the ep. Original pressings have MR023 on the spine where 'made in england' is on the repressings.PERSONNEL: SIS 1
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 May 2009 20:53 (fifteen years ago) link
man back in the day we always thought - my girlfriend and I, the secret SoM fanclub of Claremont - that Reptile House sounded so much cruder & earlier than the more accomplished-sounding Alice/Floorshow EP. weird.
― worm? lol (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 13 May 2009 23:13 (fifteen years ago) link
Reptile House was one of my first "what the fuck's wrong with my turntable?" records.
― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 13 May 2009 23:40 (fifteen years ago) link
The Michigan militia Hutaree, whose members have been charged for an alleged plot to attack police, burns a U.N. flag in a video posted on the group's YouTube page. The clip dated June 30, 2009, and described as "UN in America," shows flames engulfing a U.N. flag in slow motion, over the sound of "First and Last and Always," by the 80s goth-rock band Sisters of Mercy.Hutaree members wielding assault rifles then hoist the group's own flag, emblazoned with a dagger and two pillars forming an "H," a pair of red spears, and "CCR," the acronym for Colonial Christian Republic.
The clip dated June 30, 2009, and described as "UN in America," shows flames engulfing a U.N. flag in slow motion, over the sound of "First and Last and Always," by the 80s goth-rock band Sisters of Mercy.
Hutaree members wielding assault rifles then hoist the group's own flag, emblazoned with a dagger and two pillars forming an "H," a pair of red spears, and "CCR," the acronym for Colonial Christian Republic.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Monday, 29 March 2010 18:46 (fourteen years ago) link
Like I said on ILE, a following lost and blind indeed.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 March 2010 18:50 (fourteen years ago) link
should have used Vision Thing instead
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Monday, 29 March 2010 19:09 (fourteen years ago) link
Eldritch will be stoked - he used to opine in interviews that Detroit was the best town in America because it most closely resembled Leeds
― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Monday, 29 March 2010 19:13 (fourteen years ago) link
Something like this was linked on Gawker or Wonkette recently. But the song in question was Marianne. I thought it was rather a strange choice.
― everything, Monday, 29 March 2010 19:14 (fourteen years ago) link
Let us attempt an exegesis:
"twenty-five whores in the room next door" = Steele and his creative use of RNC funds
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 March 2010 19:15 (fourteen years ago) link
But the song in question was Marianne. I thought it was rather a strange choice.
"No no, we meant the OTHER version."
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 March 2010 19:17 (fourteen years ago) link
This is the Marianne one. First and Last and Always is on the same channel. And, uh, Poker Face.http://www.youtube.com/user/hutaree#p/u/3/Apmn9xMxiZ4
― everything, Monday, 29 March 2010 19:26 (fourteen years ago) link
are flames eating the UN flag the new crying eagle? can we get a youtube of it set to the benny hill theme?
― akm, Monday, 29 March 2010 19:48 (fourteen years ago) link
Oh dear.
― Alex in NYC, Monday, 29 March 2010 19:53 (fourteen years ago) link
man I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is a band who should have taken the advance for their first album, squirreled it away in offshore banks, fled the pursuing tentacles of their creditors without making FALAA, & gone down in history as a band with a 100% perfect track record
― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Monday, 29 March 2010 20:07 (fourteen years ago) link
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4403460336_894957a38c.jpg
assault rifle just out of frame
― andrew m., Monday, 29 March 2010 20:31 (fourteen years ago) link
I thought it was the Joanna Newsom album that one was supposed to hug.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 March 2010 20:32 (fourteen years ago) link
But then you'd be missing out on some great material. Besides the heroic failures of this band and the various offshoots are part of their greatness. Maybe you needed to experience them doing "He's Got The Whole World in His Hands" with the Patricia Morrison/Tony James line-up to appreciate that fully.
― everything, Monday, 29 March 2010 20:35 (fourteen years ago) link
lol andrew
― all-beef patty hearst (donna rouge), Monday, 29 March 2010 22:56 (fourteen years ago) link
I still think Vision Thing is one of the greatest metal albums of all time.
― glenn mcdonald, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 01:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, "1959" is a real `banger.
― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 13:58 (fourteen years ago) link
the thing that is totally 100% wrong about this stance is that we never would have gotten "This Corrosion"
― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:04 (fourteen years ago) link
...except that's on Floodland.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:06 (fourteen years ago) link
But then you'd be missing out on some great material. Besides the heroic failures of this band and the various offshoots are part of their greatness.
there's good stuff on both FALAA & Vision Thing for sure, but they were ironclad prior to that. Where are the weak tracks prior to that? the EP run is seamless, even the super-primitive "Adrenochrome" is pretty great. the albums bloats & they never tighten their game back up. they are sort of exhibit A if you want to make the case that success is dangerous. for a band who never quite achieves the greatness of their debut but keeps not-quite-living-up in ever more interesting ways, gimme the Gun Club every time.
and yeah I partied hard when "this corrosion" hit no doubt, it's a great jam, but I'd give it up to have a band who was perfect for two years and then stopped
― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:08 (fourteen years ago) link
I wouldn't, because if the band is enjoying themselves and making money, that is more important than preserving my nostalgia
― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:10 (fourteen years ago) link
even the super-primitive "Adrenochrome" is pretty great.
Hah that's probably my favourite early Sisters track! Pretty great, tsk.
― Colonel Poo, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:10 (fourteen years ago) link
like, I wish The Cure had never recorded Wild Mood Swings but I would never, ever say I wish they just stopped recording, period
ditto with Prince and MPLSound/whatever the fuck that other terrible album was called
― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:11 (fourteen years ago) link
naw I wouldn't say that with the Cure at all though! with the SoM it's not nostalgia, it's how it kinda sucked to keep pretending they were still as good as they'd been just a year before - loved having such kickin good songs here & there, hated hearing a band that was filler-free have album filler and then play it live I'm lookin at you "a rock and a hard place"
― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:15 (fourteen years ago) link
actually tho from a more mature standpoint yeah I agree with "you guys are getting paid? go get yours, short man in sunglasses"
― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:17 (fourteen years ago) link
There was really nothing more disheartening than seeing The Cure play in 1997 and dancing half-heartedly to "Club America" and "Strange Attraction" and thinking, "wait, these are wretched, terrible songs and I'm only putting in effort to like them because Robert Smith wrote them".
Although I think that was the tour where they played "Like Cockatoos"? Which was fucking awesome so that made up for subjecting the audience to "Mint Car".
― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:24 (fourteen years ago) link
*MUST* you mention "Mint Car"
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:28 (fourteen years ago) link
^_^
― yes, I must mention "Mint Car" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:35 (fourteen years ago) link
Hahahah
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:39 (fourteen years ago) link
OTM although the 1996 tour was one of their best tours - with some really wtf setlists.
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:04 (fourteen years ago) link
This is true, great set design as well.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:05 (fourteen years ago) link
anyway, I'm really not buying J0hn D's argument - but maybe that's because I came to them later in the game. I guess there's a whoel thread's worth of discussion on this point, but not sure why I'd want a fantastic band stop before they turning just very good (and that's not at all how feel about the Sisters). I guess for my generation a band like Curve would be a pretty good analogy.
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:07 (fourteen years ago) link
in the sense that they could have stopped after a run of flawless EPs, but for what exactly? some abstract track record?
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:08 (fourteen years ago) link
GAH! You're right. I will wear all white today in penance.
― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:14 (fourteen years ago) link
Agreed, it's arguably their finest hour, for my money.
― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:15 (fourteen years ago) link
I will wear all white today in penance.
Tones on Alex.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:18 (fourteen years ago) link
"Adrenochrome" is so not my favorite Sisters song
like, I'd ride for "Doctor Jeep" first
― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:18 (fourteen years ago) link
now, "Kiss the Carpet" OTOH is fucking choice slowburning menace from start to finish
― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:20 (fourteen years ago) link
Although I think that was the tour where they played "Like Cockatoos"?
Saw this played live in 2004 and didn't have to sit/dance through a single Wild Mood Swings track to get there. ;-)
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:20 (fourteen years ago) link
Adrenochrome>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Dr. Jeep
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:21 (fourteen years ago) link
I thought they played "Want" in 2004? (which is okay as it's one of the three/four songs on WMS that don't make me want to stab kittens)
― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:21 (fourteen years ago) link
also guys I'm not trying to say "Doctor Jeep" is an essential part of the Sisters discography for me with that statement
― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:22 (fourteen years ago) link
Miss youHiss youSTABCATS
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Dr. Jeep is probably the only track on Vision Thing I can stand to listen to in the least bit
― harry lame irl (Curt1s Stephens), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:23 (fourteen years ago) link
xp - Swing Tour, I remember a pretty wtf transition from 'Strange Attraction' right into 'Cold' - wild swings indeed
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:24 (fourteen years ago) link