MikeBass
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- Nov 4, 2003
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- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
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Level 42 are back with a vengeance........
- Thread starter choad42
- Start date
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,140
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
OK, which one of you guys across the pond has it?!?!?
And when are you gonna share "Dive Into The Sun" with us??!?!
E-Mail me a MP3 please!!!
They claim that iTunes is coming soon. We'll see!!
And when are you gonna share "Dive Into The Sun" with us??!?!
E-Mail me a MP3 please!!!
They claim that iTunes is coming soon. We'll see!!
I love Level 42's early stuff, up to about "Standing in the Light". The first MK solo album, "Influences" was also absolutely great. I like the sound of some these new clips, so I'll be getting that album.
Blackbird reckons he can hear some Level 42 influence in a track I posted at the top of this thread. I think he's probably referring to the earlier stuff, please go and have a listen and let me know how it sounds. Go on, Mike, what do you say?
Blackbird reckons he can hear some Level 42 influence in a track I posted at the top of this thread. I think he's probably referring to the earlier stuff, please go and have a listen and let me know how it sounds. Go on, Mike, what do you say?
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,140
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
bassybill said:I love Level 42's early stuff, up to about "Standing in the Light". The first MK solo album, "Influences" was also absolutely great. I like the sound of some these new clips, so I'll be getting that album.
Blackbird reckons he can hear some Level 42 influence in a track I posted at the top of this thread. I think he's probably referring to the earlier stuff, please go and have a listen and let me know how it sounds. Go on, Mike, what do you say?
Dude, sounds cool.
I like your tone on it as well. And yeah I can hear a bit of L42 in there.
I finally picked up Retroglide last week. I'm listening to it right now, perhaps for the third time or so.
Eh.
The writing definitely sounds primarily like Mark King, comparing the melodies and chord changes against previous Level 42 on the one hand and Influences and Trash on the other. There are a couple tunes with the bass pyrotechnics we all expect ("Dive Into the Sun" and "Sleep Talking" primarily). Although Mike Lindup is credited on the notes and his presence has been much discussed here and on the L42 web digest, I can hardly hear him. What I can hear none of at all are the very valuable contributions of Boon Gould to the lyrics and Wally Badarou in all the various ways he contributed back in the day. Even Gary Husband sounds strangely docile.
All in all, I expected more. I was hoping for a renaissance for this band, especially since the recording was so long coming. IMO, Retroglide is a pacifier for the Level 42 die-hards (self definitely included), but will win few new fans for the band.
Eh.
The writing definitely sounds primarily like Mark King, comparing the melodies and chord changes against previous Level 42 on the one hand and Influences and Trash on the other. There are a couple tunes with the bass pyrotechnics we all expect ("Dive Into the Sun" and "Sleep Talking" primarily). Although Mike Lindup is credited on the notes and his presence has been much discussed here and on the L42 web digest, I can hardly hear him. What I can hear none of at all are the very valuable contributions of Boon Gould to the lyrics and Wally Badarou in all the various ways he contributed back in the day. Even Gary Husband sounds strangely docile.
All in all, I expected more. I was hoping for a renaissance for this band, especially since the recording was so long coming. IMO, Retroglide is a pacifier for the Level 42 die-hards (self definitely included), but will win few new fans for the band.
I'm learning the lines for "Dive into the Sun" and trying to get "Sleeptalking" down...
I agree with Will- I'm hearing a LOT of the Mark King Band in the slower tunes. Not so much Mike Lindup- that's a shame, he really has some pipes- but it seems not so much like L42 as another MK solo disc.
Kinda disappointed, some of it seems contrived and cliche, or at least "forced" sounding. Not to say that I don't like it, it's good to hear from the lads again, but give us more tracks like "Dive Into the Sun" and "Sleeptalking" and less filler material! The first one, especially, sounds like vintage Level 42, the 5th one sounds like updated Level 42...
I agree with Will- I'm hearing a LOT of the Mark King Band in the slower tunes. Not so much Mike Lindup- that's a shame, he really has some pipes- but it seems not so much like L42 as another MK solo disc.
Kinda disappointed, some of it seems contrived and cliche, or at least "forced" sounding. Not to say that I don't like it, it's good to hear from the lads again, but give us more tracks like "Dive Into the Sun" and "Sleeptalking" and less filler material! The first one, especially, sounds like vintage Level 42, the 5th one sounds like updated Level 42...
I didn't really dig "Rooted" a lot when I heard it on the disc, but live it was thunderous. I was really blown away by that one!
The best part of the live show, however, was the medly they played: Running In the Family, The Sun Goes Down, Something About you and Lessons in Love played back to back, in full. Hot Water was the second song they played that night, a statement of intent!
And Mike was certainly back in force in the arena, they played Starchild, which was amazing. It was good to hear they still remember their roots!
The best part of the live show, however, was the medly they played: Running In the Family, The Sun Goes Down, Something About you and Lessons in Love played back to back, in full. Hot Water was the second song they played that night, a statement of intent!
And Mike was certainly back in force in the arena, they played Starchild, which was amazing. It was good to hear they still remember their roots!
Just been getting into Retroglide.....
I have to say I quite like it. I've read lots about the production problems of the CD on other forums and people calling it 'unlistenable'. I got my copy in MP3 format, so whether or not something in the encoding process smoothed out some problems I don't know, but it is very listenable to me, though some of the mastering is a bit poor.
I agree with previous comments - there are some great tracks on here, but also some bad fillers. Lyrically, I found the album a bit disappointing also - when they get it right, it's very good. But some tracks are very cliched both musically and lyrically.
But having said that, Dive Into The Sun, Rooted, Sleeptalking, Retroglide, All Around - great tracks! Just lose the duff slower tracks and we're almost there....geddit? 'Almost There'?....oh nevermind......
I have to say I quite like it. I've read lots about the production problems of the CD on other forums and people calling it 'unlistenable'. I got my copy in MP3 format, so whether or not something in the encoding process smoothed out some problems I don't know, but it is very listenable to me, though some of the mastering is a bit poor.
I agree with previous comments - there are some great tracks on here, but also some bad fillers. Lyrically, I found the album a bit disappointing also - when they get it right, it's very good. But some tracks are very cliched both musically and lyrically.
But having said that, Dive Into The Sun, Rooted, Sleeptalking, Retroglide, All Around - great tracks! Just lose the duff slower tracks and we're almost there....geddit? 'Almost There'?....oh nevermind......
I don't know about "unlistenable", but there are some very obvous compression "flat tops". The CD is mastered very loud.
Is Mark still using that metal thingy on his thumb? Not that I've been looking... but I found this http://www.slapring.com/en/productinfo/slapring/index.php
It would be a nice offensive to take to deter my guitarist from pulling out his slide so often and was curious if anyone else had tried something along these lines.
It would be a nice offensive to take to deter my guitarist from pulling out his slide so often and was curious if anyone else had tried something along these lines.
I don't think he ever used a metal thingy on his thumb. Plenty of electical tape though.
My personal take - a metal ring on the thumb would create a very harsh tone, far more "percussiveness" that one needs to achieve a satisfying slap tone.
