The genius of…Bricks Are Heavy (L7)

imalrightjack

I saw this today, so thought I’d give it a spin for tje first time in a while. Absolutely brilliant album that still sounds fresh. I love the wild, unrefined punk vibe that combines great melodies with powerful riffs. Gutted that twice their London shows were cancelled due to COVID and still not rescheduled. 

https://guitar.com/review/album/the-genius-of-bricks-are-heavy-by-l7/

Listen here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fWvV3ycGdtQ&feature=youtu.be

Highlights for me: Everglade and Shitlist. I thinl the production is absolutely perfect (Butch Vig).

And, yes, one of them did pull down her pants live on The Word and pulled out a tampon and threw it in the crowd at Reading 1992. Most iconic moment for me is Shitlist playing during Natural Born Killers.

Edit: I didn’t expect many responses because they’re women who don’t show off their tits. So, let’s  hear it for tedious chats about YouTube guitar girl boobs or Nina Strauss. Yawn. 

MagicPigDetective

Missed this thread..... completely agree! I bought this on tape when it came out when I was 15, at the massive HMV on Oxford Street, I've loved it ever since. Tons of attitude, hooks, riffs and Butch Vig's production is magnificent, that buzzing guitar sound is so good. And solos that are perfect examples of where a couple of notes work far better than a million per second (eg Mr. Integrity). Some surfy elements and solos too (Slide). A classic album that gets overlooked for other more well-known albums of the time. Never did see them live. 

MrTee

Agree. 'Shitlist' on NBK is so well placed 

Philly_Q

imalrightjack said:

And, yes, one of them did pull down her pants live on The Word and pulled out a tampon and threw it in the crowd at Reading 1992. 

Well done pre-empting those comments, anyway.

I don't think I've ever listened to any of their albums.  For some reason whenever they're mentioned I think of Faith No More, were they also on Slash/London Records?

yorkio

Philly_Q said:
I don't think I've ever listened to any of their albums.  For some reason whenever they're mentioned I think of Faith No More, were they also on Slash/London Records?

They were on Slash/London, yes. I remember seeing them as support for Faith No More on the Angel Dust tour.

Moe_Zambeek

I missed L7 totally, in the sense of giving them any ear time, even though I saw the word and all that - we were amazed by it all watching after a night at the pub - but had a listen on Youtube just now and the riffing and drumming on the first track is awesome. Not too keen on the vox though, and the rest of the tracks seems a bit different to the opener.

I’m sure, being charitable, there’s not been many responses more because they weren’t particularly massive 30 years ago and probably even less so now. 

CHRISB50

One of the albums of my youth. 

Pretend We’re Dead was my favourite tune I think. I can still remember how to play the riff. I think it was one of the first things I learned to play. 

Reverend

FIrst ep was much better.  Shove is an all time classic

strumjoughlamps

Reverend said:

FIrst ep was much better.  Shove is an all time classic

Yeah Smell the Magic was a great EP, it was the first thing I heard from L7 as I used to buy everything Sub Pop whether I had heard of them or not.. I then got their debut self titled album which was awesome.

I like Bricks are Heavy, it's good start to finish, but the earlier stuff is better.

tone1

Does anyone know what guitar gear was used on the album? Pedals etc? 

Philly_Q

strumjoughlamps said:

Reverend said:

FIrst ep was much better.  Shove is an all time classic

Yeah Smell the Magic was a great EP, it was the first thing I heard from L7 as I used to buy everything Sub Pop whether I had heard of them or not.. I then got their debut self titled album which was awesome.

Big Chief?  I loved that band, but they seem to be almost forgotten.

strumjoughlamps

Philly_Q said:

strumjoughlamps said:

Reverend said:

FIrst ep was much better.  Shove is an all time classic

Yeah Smell the Magic was a great EP, it was the first thing I heard from L7 as I used to buy everything Sub Pop whether I had heard of them or not.. I then got their debut self titled album which was awesome.

Big Chief?  I loved that band, but they seem to be almost forgotten.

Yep, Face and Mack Avenue are great albums, very different sound to what was coming out at the time..

Rockaboom in Leicester was my go to shop, they used to get Sub Pop stuff imported for me, cost me a fortune but so many great albums acquired.

Shows my love for the record label.