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First of all, I'd like to say how heart-warming it is that everybody on this forum has gone into high action about the new record and tour in 2020. It's really exciting the buzz among us for the release.
Obviously, I'm delighted to have a brand new album by The Boomtown Rats (something I never thought I'd have). I'd love for the music to have the aggression of the first three records but in particular, I'm hoping for a couple of examples of the long form numbers that to me really marked the Rats out as being something special. Songs like 'Joey', 'Rat Trap', 'When The Night Comes' and 'Someone's Looking At You'. These songs with complicated long structures work really well live and on record because they build excitement. I've never heard another band have numbers this way. People have said Bruce Springsteen but I don't really hear the similarity (as much as I like his music too).
I know we're all glad it's coming but does anybody have any particular wishes for the direction of the music?
SLAY is probably my favourite Rats single and it comes from Surfacing, which very marginally I prefer to Tonic. So anything akin to tracks from those two albums would be brilliant. However, there's so much more to the Rats than the two or three most commercially successful albums.
Probably better to say I'm hoping that we don't get 10 tracks which resemble the Ratlife ep, save for Back to Boomtown, or the self-indulgence of the Little Death, or the weak effort put into Charmed Lives.
I'm also hoping for sharp, witty lyrics (it matters not if Bob's dealing with dark themes like suicide in Island or Diamond Smiles) and an uptempo, melodic feel to things. As we all know, the songs will be about something, reflect his experience of life etc. It is an exciting time for sure.
I know that a lot of you guys like ITLG but I must admit when I heard it I did think that was the death of the Rats, how wrong was I ?. Very clever lyrics in places but just didn't sound like the Rats that I know and love.
Hope the album reflects more of the earlier period although just so pleased we are getting anything at all
Much prefer albums 1-3 . I guess its great that we all have different tastes or the world would be a pretty boring place.
Fingers crossed that we are all happy when we finally get to hear it
I know that a lot of you guys like ITLG but I must admit when I heard it I did think that was the death of the Rats, how wrong was I ?. Very clever lyrics in places but just didn't sound like the Rats that I know and love.
Hope the album reflects more of the earlier period although just so pleased we are getting anything at all
Much prefer albums 1-3 . I guess its great that we all have different tastes or the world would be a pretty boring place.
Fingers crossed that we are all happy when we finally get to hear it
You're right, taste in music is subjective but sales give you a popularity view. On that score, Surfacing is probably the most popular worldwide Rats album but Tonic would take the UK and Eire title?
Over the last 34 years or so, all 6 albums have given me great pleasure but Surfacing slightly more so. ITLG containing as it does Dave and Drag Me Down, is still up there and I love the spirit of this album even if at times they sound more down and out, than in fightback mode. For a superb example of defiance and fightback, Million Years will not let you down. Might sound banal, but if I have setbacks in life or at work, the lyrics of this superb single race to the fore. How inspirational is a song if it can do that after nearly 40 years?
Then there are superb moments on Mondo - Elephants Graveyard and the equally catchy b side Real Different bowl along breathlessly with wit and Banana Republic is a classic. He Watches it all from V Deep is up there with Million Years and House on Fire.
How fortunate we are to be able to delve into such an impressive back catalogue and to look forward to new tunes. Hopefully album 7 is not the end of it. I'm sure when this album was first announced in 2017, there was a suggestion of over two dozen songs having been written, with EPs and all sorts.
Hopefully album 7 is not the end of it. I'm sure when this album was first announced in 2017, there was a suggestion of over two dozen songs having been written, with EPs and all sorts.
I wonder about these extra songs. There were meant to be a load from How to Decompose, and the same again this time, yet the 10th track is the old ropey eponymous song. Arguably it is on the LP because there arent 10 tracks better than that.
It may not be the end, but it will probably be another 9-10 years before the next Geldof/Rats LP is released. Geldof isnt particularly prolific.
It's possible the group and those immediately around them, feel this song is so good, it deserves another outing. The views for it on YouTube considerably outweigh Back to Boomtown, which I consider easily the better song, so we're back to the subjective nature of these things. Now that Pete Bremain will presumably abandon calls for an absurd second EU referendum, he can find the time to update us on the missing 15 or so songs and the EPs or mix them into something palatable for the future.
Let the 20s be the decade of the Rats and not when the Rats finally decayed.
-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 14th of December 2019 02:59:53 PM
I know that a lot of you guys like ITLG but I must admit when I heard it I did think that was the death of the Rats, how wrong was I ?
Not wrong at all, but the writing was on the wall after V Deep. Even though I didnt think Million years was much cop, I still thought it would be top 20 or so, but didnt make that.
Its a shame that many bands of that era tended to throw in the towel when the hits dried up or for err artistic differences. Jam, Clash, Blondie come immediately to mind. The bands that did carry on, like The Damned, Squeeze and The Stranglers made some decent records and built loyal audiences for their gigs. All three sell out decent sized venues on a frequent basis.
I know that a lot of you guys like ITLG but I must admit when I heard it I did think that was the death of the Rats, how wrong was I ?
Not wrong at all, but the writing was on the wall after V Deep. Even though I didnt think Million years was much cop, I still thought it would be top 20 or so, but didnt make that.
Its a shame that many bands of that era tended to throw in the towel when the hits dried up or for err artistic differences. Jam, Clash, Blondie come immediately to mind. The bands that did carry on, like The Damned, Squeeze and The Stranglers made some decent records and built loyal audiences for their gigs. All three sell out decent sized venues on a frequent basis.
I've started listening to Union Jack on DAB and all 6 of those groups have featured and not always with the usual favourites being played. Not heard the Rats yet.
I know that a lot of you guys like ITLG but I must admit when I heard it I did think that was the death of the Rats, how wrong was I ?
Not wrong at all, but the writing was on the wall after V Deep. Even though I didnt think Million years was much cop, I still thought it would be top 20 or so, but didnt make that.
Its a shame that many bands of that era tended to throw in the towel when the hits dried up or for err artistic differences. Jam, Clash, Blondie come immediately to mind. The bands that did carry on, like The Damned, Squeeze and The Stranglers made some decent records and built loyal audiences for their gigs. All three sell out decent sized venues on a frequent basis.
I've started listening to Union Jack on DAB and all 6 of those groups have featured and not always with the usual favourites being played. Not heard the Rats yet.
Maybe because Rats arent British? No Thin Lizzy or U2 either.
It's overwhelmingly Brit pop on Union Jack, so the Rats being Irish is the obvious explanation that springs to mind but I have heard Blondie and Thin Lizzy on there, with Sarah. A wonderful song which has a great poignancy about it.
It's overwhelmingly Brit pop on Union Jack, so the Rats being Irish is the obvious explanation that springs to mind but I have heard Blondie and Thin Lizzy on there, with Sarah. A wonderful song which has a great poignancy about it.
Didnt notice them on the playlist in last 24 hours. I suppose Thin Lizzy and Blondie (after Plastic Letters and prior to No Exit) did have at least one UK born member. But then again half of U2 were born in England with The Edge having Welsh parents.
It's overwhelmingly Brit pop on Union Jack, so the Rats being Irish is the obvious explanation that springs to mind but I have heard Blondie and Thin Lizzy on there, with Sarah. A wonderful song which has a great poignancy about it.
Didnt notice them on the playlist in last 24 hours. I suppose Thin Lizzy and Blondie (after Plastic Letters and prior to No Exit) did have at least one UK born member. But then again half of U2 were born in England with The Edge having Welsh parents.
I heard them in the last decade, rather than the last 24 hours
Currently watching an interesting documentary on Soft Cell. Seems they reformed recently, not for the first time, and packed out the O2 in London. Always baffles me how that can happen and the Rats have to make do with lesser venues. They were no bigger than the Rats back in the day.
Looking forward to this myself Just wished it had been more songs. After all the song The Boomtown Rats as been doing the rounds for some years now pity it's on the album so giving us 9 new songs really.
Currently watching an interesting documentary on Soft Cell. Seems they reformed recently, not for the first time, and packed out the O2 in London. Always baffles me how that can happen and the Rats have to make do with lesser venues. They were no bigger than the Rats back in the day.
I suspect a lot of it is the Geldof effect from the press. He tends to polarise opinions ala Brexit and there is the Band Aid/Live Aid thing along with being one hit wonders. By way of comparison there are some bands who were not that successful back in the day who are able to sell out bigger venues. The DamnEd are arguably a bigger live draw than they ever were. Ditto Wilko Johnson.
Currently watching an interesting documentary on Soft Cell. Seems they reformed recently, not for the first time, and packed out the O2 in London. Always baffles me how that can happen and the Rats have to make do with lesser venues. They were no bigger than the Rats back in the day.
I suspect a lot of it is the Geldof effect from the press. He tends to polarise opinions ala Brexit and there is the Band Aid/Live Aid thing along with being one hit wonders. By way of comparison there are some bands who were not that successful back in the day who are able to sell out bigger venues. The DamnEd are arguably a bigger live draw than they ever were. Ditto Wilko Johnson.
I think you're right but I can't understand why people let his non-music views get in the way of their appreciation of his and the Rats' significant recording achievements, his considerable song writing ability and the dynamic, well above average live performance abilities of the Rats and a top 20 showman of all time. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
When I see Bob and Pete Bremain up there, I don't see two Remoaners. I see real talent, criminally underrated, which has given me decades of pleasure.
have heard a lot of friends moan about bob because of his political views and I ask them to listen to the rats/geldof music I think they would be surprised at what a great band the rats are and geldof a lyricist a couple were surprised by their music so it shows how we judge people I ignore the political aspect it don't bother e the rats are a brilliant band with some great songs
have heard a lot of friends moan about bob because of his political views and I ask them to listen to the rats/geldof music I think they would be surprised at what a great band the rats are and geldof a lyricist a couple were surprised by their music so it shows how we judge people I ignore the political aspect it don't bother e the rats are a brilliant band with some great songs
This is entirely the approach to take Mike. In addition to the polarising aspects mentioned by ArrGee, the Paula press prattle did Geldof no favours.
I have taken relatives along in recent years to gigs and they've been very impressed. Yet, they are not impressed with stunts on the Thames.
Add in the daughters, Hutchence and so on. I cant think of any rock star who has had so much press on so many issues other than his music.
I was listening to a taped Simon Bates interview yesterday with Geldof ahead of the 1986 release of DITHON and they talked about the unforgivable headline, way back in 1982 ish, Abortion of the Year. Didn't say who it was but the author /publication opined that one Geldof bstd was enough. It has a very long history.
The interview mentions the Peterborough pea factory, working on the roads, Daphne, the abbatoir (my phone has suggested Abba tour lol), the job in Spain, the Tufnell Park acid trip and much more I had forgotten. The joy of finding an old C90 tape. And having something to play it on.
I remember in 1983 one of the rags said one geldof bstd was enough when fifi was born. I complained to the paper at time and had a nice reply saying your comments have been noted. The pres were just as bad then as they are now waste of time we all need to ignore media when they attack bob as it is their way of getting cheap publicity I let their music do the talking(on. Aside point people run bob down about forming bandaid and motives etc I daint see any government or clergy etc getting off their a',,see to help the 1984famine) only bob the great man that he is.
I remember in 1983 one of the rags said one geldof bstd was enough when fifi was born. I complained to the paper at time and had a nice reply saying your comments have been noted. The pres were just as bad then as they are now waste of time we all need to ignore media when they attack bob as it is their way of getting cheap publicity I let their music do the talking(on. Aside point people run bob down about forming bandaid and motives etc I daint see any government or clergy etc getting off their a',,see to help the 1984famine) only bob the great man that he is.
