Listening Party #12 - The War on Drugs - Live Drugs - start playing at 8pm on 8th June

markv

Devil#20 said:

Now this is very Springsteen and E Street

Yes - for some reason it's the piano that makes me think of the E Street Band

Fuengi

Accidentally Like A Martyr was a Warren Zevon song. 

stickyfiddle

7 - Accidentally Like A Martyr 

Warren Zevon cover and rather lovely

stickyfiddle

8 - Eyes to the Wind

This is probably my favourite track on here, but possibly because it also leads into Under The Pressure

Fuengi

Lots of space on this. Lovely. 

Philly_Q

I can see what you mean with the Springsteen comparisons, but Springsteen always sounds quite strident to me, this is more mellow.  And I don't like saxophones, but the sax on here is really low-key and tasteful.

stickyfiddle

Philly_Q said:

I can see what you mean with the Springsteen comparisons, but Springsteen always sounds quite strident to me, this is more mellow.  And I don't like saxophones, but the sax on here is really low-key and tasteful.

Yup absolutely. Springsteen always wants to drive you to feel something raw, WoDs are happy for you to just chill.

And I always think of the the sax being like if Hans Zimmer did orchestration for a jam band Sam Fender's saxist does a very similar thing and it's great

Fuengi

It's a fine line they tread between blandness and beauty, quite similar to The Blue Nike in that respect, but the music is often on the right side of that line. This is a perfect example. 

They don't take the opportunity others would to really ramp it up, the restraint is admirable. 

Devil#20

Did you see the Kings Household Cavalry with one or two of them playing Sax on horseback during Trooping the Colour. Most odd. Just thought I'd throw that one in there 

stickyfiddle

Here we go... 

9 - Under The Pressure

Devil#20

Reminds me of something off Wish You Were Here.

markv

I don't know how much post-production went on here, but I have to say, if this is at all representative of their actual live sound, it's very impressive

Fuengi

So good. 

I got Lost in The Dream just before going on holiday through France and Spain and this was the perfect motorway driving music. 

Devil#20

This is superb. 

stickyfiddle

This breakdown (middle-184?!) is the most masterful bit of tension building I’ve ever heard in rock. And it’s the biggest reason this just had to be the live album over the Grammy-winning studio record

Fuengi

stickyfiddle said:

This breakdown (middle-184?!) is the most masterful bit of tension building I’ve ever heard in rock. And it’s the biggest reason this just had to be the live album over the Grammy-winning studio record

It's layered spectacularly isn't it? 

I think the studio album is their high water mark. I love that record. 

Devil#20

WOW

Philly_Q

Fuengi said:

They don't take the opportunity others would to really ramp it up, the restraint is admirable. 

I would generally want my bands to ramp things up - a lot - but it would be out of place here.

That said, they are ramping it up on this track, but still in a (nicely) controlled sort of way.

stickyfiddle

10 - In Reverse

Sort of a ballad but another that vies for being my favourite of their songs. I’m absolutely dying to see them live

Fuengi

stickyfiddle said:

10 - In Reverse

Sort of a ballad but another that vies for being my favourite of their songs. I’m absolutely dying to see them live

I think they are touring this year?