Lullabies is prob third for me, it could really use a song or two trimmed and has my least production of them all by a long shot tho. SFTD and S/T also suffer from being overlong and, to me, LC is a really good and well constructed record but by nature of the songwriting approach on it is just not ever gonna be what I’m reaching for first when it comes to this band. imo Villains is good but by far the weakest of the bunch. Era Vulgaris and Rated R, to me, do not have a wasted moment. I love the fucked up mechanical sounding approach on Era, and I love the journey Rated R takes you on (feels like their most dynamic record in some respects).
If I were to do a top five from them it would probably look like: 1) In The Fade 2) I Never Came 3) I Appear Missing
this is not 5! I feel cheated I’m Designer In the Fade Turnin’ On the Screw Millionaire Feel Good Hit of the Summer
prob better for me to break it down like this (in order of their placement in the tracklisting) S/T: Regular John If Only Mexicola Rated R: Feel Good Hit of the Summer Quick and to the Pointless In the Fade SFTD: Millionaire First it Giveth The Sky is Fallin’ Lullabies: Little Sister Someone’s in the Witch Skin on Skin Era Vulgaris: Turnin’ on the Screw I’m Designer Misfit Love Like Clockwork: I Sat By the Ocean Smooth Sailing I Appear Missing Villains: Head Like a Haunted House The Evil Has Landed Villains of Circumstance
I Appear Missing is one of the greatest pieces of music I have ever heard. I lack the vocabulary to explain exactly how I feel about it, but the closest I can get to it is that it has an 'otherworldly' quality to it (especially the last 2mins). It is such a clear No.1 on my list that I can't really decide on songs 2-5 lol
Song for the Dead Mexicola Better Living Through Chemistry Millionaire Keep Your Eyes Peeled In some order
I need to give Villains a second chance. That album never got through to me like the rest of their discography. When I saw them on that tour, those songs just didn't sound that exciting. Still like it, but not like the others.
Gotta agree here; far and away their best work in all regards. If I could come up with a top 5, I Appear Missing is a clear number 1 and also ahead of the remaining 4 by a large margin. The Letterman performance is also great.
S/T: Avon You Would Know Mexicola Rated R: The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret In the Fade Tension Head SFTD: Millionaire The Sky is Falling Song for the Deaf Lullabies: Burn the Witch I Never Came Someone's in the Wolf Era Vulgaris: Turnin’ on the Screw 3s and 7s River In the Road Like Clockwork: Keep You Eyes Peeled I Sat By the Ocean I Appear Missing Villains: Domesticated Animals Un-Reborn Again The Evil Has Landed
New Foo Fighters album got me re-visiting Them Crooked Vultures, which in turn directed down a deep QOTS rabbit hole. Still love this band as much as I did in 2002. I definitely need to take a road trip to Joshua Tree and blast Songs for the Deaf. Hopefully we get something new this year!
i don’t listen to this band much anymore for obvious reasons but Mark Lanegan passed away. Always one of my favorite aspects of the band. sucks.