oh yoko

[bedbug]

Came home yesterday and had a brand new Beulah CD waiting for me in the mail! Also got the bonus CD of demo tracks from Insound (thanks to whoever posted the tip), mine is number 35 out of 200.

It's definitely heavier than their other stuff, but it's still a 5 star album. Can't wait to see 'em with Vanderslice!

[Freakboy]

whos vanderslice?
isnt that the guy that worked with the mountaingoats?
i heard he's a genius

[bedbug]

Yeah, High Water Marks are opening in Cincinnati as well. Looking forward to it.

Don't believe the "mixed" reviews about Yoko. It's a lot different, but it's still Beulah. I think it's awesome. A great record.

I think Vanderslice produced a Mountain Goats record or something. He was in a band called MK Ultra and has three excellent solo albums out.

[Edited on 9-14-2003 by bedbug]

[jared]

what is the bonus cd from insound? I preordered the cd from them -but it was sent to my home address not my college one. do i get a free bonus demo disc for ordering it from insound?
I would be extra excited if this was true.

[pepe]

John Vanderslice is a brilliant songwriter who most recently created an album called "The Life and Death of an American Four Tracker." Amazing album. He owns a studio called Tiny Telephone in San Fransisco (boy I just lapsed on how to spell that).
My brother bought 'Yoko' and it is quite good when you understand the situation that he wsa in while writing the songs, with his whole girlfriend break up going on. I mean it would be a nice album anyways.

[channelfan]

just got it today and listened to it a few times through. it's good but i really miss the horns, being that they were something that isolated their own sound.

[bedbug]

I miss the horns too, but in a way, it's better that they didn't let it become a cliche or something. I think between Miles's singing, the songwriting, the lyrics and everything, I think there's plently that isolates them as their own band.

Just imagine being a Neil Young fan when the Trans album came out. Not that shit would've been crazy!

[oblio]

i find all their recordings after heartstrings to be very generic pop rock. yoko is a boring album with nothing standout about it. very dissapointing.

[opopopo]

what!? oh gosh, i dont agree one bit oblio. well, maybe a bit, maybe it is a tad generic or whatever you want to call it, but that doesnt take away from the fact that it is absolutly beautiful, amazing, inspiring, and just all around pleasant music.

[dreamsofuseing]

yoko is a great album i cant wait to the them play all these new songs live
i know i will be just as blown away as last time....

[jared]

yoko music=good
yoko lyrics= hmmm.. not so good

I know it's just pop music but some of the lyrics kinda seem cliche.

I do enjoy the album though and love the title of song titled - Me and Jesus Don't Talk anymore

[The Fierce Pancake]

Beulah were selling the autographed demo CD for $10 at the concert in Austin last night. It contains ten acoustic demo tracks of the songs on Yoko. Very interesting and the sound quality's much better than I expected. These aren't lo-fi tossed off scratchpad demos, it's a great CD.

[ladylamentingonalawnchair]

I agree with oblio and Jared. Unfortunately. I was quite disappointed with The Coast... after all my pining and Yoko is less of a disappointment at least (maybe my standards are already lowered?). But I've not listened to anything but the new Decemberists and the Young Marble Giants for weeks, so maybe I haven't given Yoko a proper chance.

[meghan]

I didn't like Yoko at first but one day it all clicked now it's all I listen to. I think it's a beautiful album, and just very... complete.

Stuff like Heartstrings and Coast are good and fun and great to pop in but I feel like Yoko is more artful and takes longer to appreciate.

I mean, hello, has anyone ever listened to Hovering on repeat for an hour and a half? It's almost a religious experience.

[prehistoric]

I love "Yoko"- sounds to me like a glorious mixture of early Shins and latter day Wilco.......fantastic.

"Me & Jesus Don't Talk Anymore" and "Hovering" are gems of the highest order.

[Cactuar]

I agree with oblio, everything after heartstrings is boring.

[gohlkus]

Glad to hear people like to offer generic negative feedback. Most people probably really like to read it.

As for me -- I fucking love Yoko. Love it! Heartstrings is great -- a masterpiece -- but Yoko is mature. Yoko is art of the highest order.

[mflat5]

... has shades of brilliance aka Hovering, Landslide Baby and You're Only King Once. The rest of the tracks are just ehhh, and I find My Side of the City and Wipe Those Prints.. to be irritating and cliche.

Seems to be true ache, longing, regret and anger in the delivery and lyrics. I'm truly enjoying the fact that Beulah is trying to expand itself beyond the horn / multi-instrumental pop giddyness of the past (although i do miss it).

Many critics have unfairly and undeservedly were neutral to this record given the breakup press that Beulah has received, the Elephant 6 association 'curse' and the comparisons to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

If you isolate yourself and listen to this album as its own entity, it's a great record with some missteps. I cannot deny the fact that it's extremely focused as a whole and "powerful" in its moments. Miles and Co. have created an album that they wanted to make.

I hope this is a sign of things to come.

[mflat5]

sorry for bad grammar in last post.. I meant to say that "Many critics have unfairly reviewed and undeservedly felt neutral toward this record given the breakup press that Beulah has received..."

[dunnock]

yoko is good but it's definately my least favorite beulah album

[DrinkTeaEatBooks]

yeah, same. I think there are some really quite beautiful moments on it - particularly Landslide Baby, You're Only King Once and Hovering, but to be honest I was a bit disappointed overall. But then, they can't stay the same forever. This was definitely more of a winter-y album.