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Post by Rolo on Jan 9, 2021 9:21:25 GMT -5
Got any fans here? Been absolutely mad on them the last few weeks. Always loved them but their tune "Way Out" came on shuffle and remembered how much I used to listen to their album a few years a go and have been playing it on repeat ever since.
I'd probably go as far as saying it's one of the best albums ever written, melodies are so so good. Mavers' voice is up there with the best. Shame they didn't do a follow up because of how pissed off they were with the production of the debut. So much potential wasted.
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Post by dampcottage on Jan 9, 2021 9:42:31 GMT -5
Got any fans here? Been absolutely mad on them the last few weeks. Always loved them but their tune "Way Out" came on shuffle and remembered how much I used to listen to their album a few years a go and have been playing it on repeat ever since. I'd probably go as far as saying it's one of the best albums ever written, melodies are so so good. Mavers' voice is up there with the best. Shame they didn't do a follow up because of how pissed off they were with the production of the debut. So much potential wasted. moved into my first flat at 18 and that was the first album I remember buying and playing non stop, I agree with you it's one of the best albums ever written, there's enough melodies in there to make an entire career, a seriously underrated band, shame that Lee mavers just couldn't get his shit together, from what I remember he just said he couldn't write anything when he tried, and John power formed cast after, another underrated band |
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Howdo
Oasis Roadie
Listen kids, i'd rather walk!
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Post by Howdo on Jan 9, 2021 10:44:23 GMT -5
One of my favourite bands just a shame they never followed it up with another album to see how good they could have actually become. Look for a book called Isle of Noises, there is a really good interview with Mavers in that and how he wasn’t happy with the final mix of the album, gives you an idea of why you’ll probably never get another album from him as well.
I think at the time the album was underrated and wasn’t held in high regard by the public and from reviews but you can hear a lot of influences on the Liverpool music scene by them and when you hear interviews with them, most of them mention The La’s. Wouldn’t call the band underrated tho, it’s just hard to say if they were on just one album and some demo’s from a potential second album.
Saw them a couple of times in 2005 when they reformed and certainly wasn’t disappointed.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Jan 9, 2021 12:08:52 GMT -5
I’ve been saying for two decades now, how does Lee Mavers make money and survive? No tours. No other albums. Modest sales and streaming. What is the point of being an artist if you stop creating art?
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Post by durk on Jan 9, 2021 12:29:53 GMT -5
in the eccentric chain... Lee > Ashcroft > Liam...?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2021 13:33:01 GMT -5
I’ve been saying for two decades now, how does Lee Mavers make money and survive? No tours. No other albums. Modest sales and streaming. What is the point of being an artist if you stop creating art? He probably has another job. I don't understand your last question. A lot of artists have short careers, doesn't make them less of an "artist". Better than some that keep going for years and years wen they have got nothing to say anymore, just to cash in. That said, Lee probably still writes, might not just release it. Agree with our dear Rolo though. I would have liked to have had at least a second La's album. The unreleased stuff is pretty good (those melodies...)even though some don't have a clear structure. |
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Post by Jim on Jan 9, 2021 13:50:44 GMT -5
The BBC Sessions album is amazing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2021 13:53:12 GMT -5
The BBC Sessions album is amazing. Feelin' is such a tune. British rock music condensed in less than two minutes. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Jan 9, 2021 14:22:06 GMT -5
I’ve been saying for two decades now, how does Lee Mavers make money and survive? No tours. No other albums. Modest sales and streaming. What is the point of being an artist if you stop creating art? He probably has another job. I don't understand your last question. A lot of artists have short careers, doesn't make them less of an "artist". Better than some that keep going for years and years wen they have got nothing to say anymore, just to cash in. That said, Lee probably still writes, might not just release it. Agree with our dear Rolo though. I would have liked to have had at least a second La's album. The unreleased stuff is pretty good (those melodies...)even though some don't have a clear structure. My point being, despite production issues, that many many bands have with their debuts, Mavers walked away from it all just as his career was about to bloom. Doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m probably just bitter because I had tickets to see The La’s in NYC back in 2011. Mavers scraped the whole tour last second. |
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Deleted
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The La's
Jan 9, 2021 14:43:09 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2021 14:43:09 GMT -5
He probably has another job. I don't understand your last question. A lot of artists have short careers, doesn't make them less of an "artist". Better than some that keep going for years and years wen they have got nothing to say anymore, just to cash in. That said, Lee probably still writes, might not just release it. Agree with our dear Rolo though. I would have liked to have had at least a second La's album. The unreleased stuff is pretty good (those melodies...)even though some don't have a clear structure. My point being, despite production issues, that many many bands have with their debuts, Mavers walked away from it all just as his career was about to bloom. Doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m probably just bitter because I had tickets to see The La’s in NYC back in 2011. Mavers scraped the whole tour last second. Oh yeah I get your point. I think that some people aren't made to be big and famous. Mavers is probably one of them. Can't see him really enjoying any of it. For example, when Elliott Smith got more exposure in the late 90's, it's also the time his depression started to worsen. The La's will stay one of the biggest "what if" in british rock music but their influence on britpop musicians is huge. A bit like the british counterpart of Big Star (even though Big Star had three albums and The La's a biger hit). Very influential bands that could have been way bigger but the ones who know, do know. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Jan 9, 2021 15:06:37 GMT -5
My point being, despite production issues, that many many bands have with their debuts, Mavers walked away from it all just as his career was about to bloom. Doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m probably just bitter because I had tickets to see The La’s in NYC back in 2011. Mavers scraped the whole tour last second. Oh yeah I get your point. I think that some people aren't made to be big and famous. Mavers is probably one of them. Can't see him really enjoying any of it. For example, when Elliott Smith got more exposure in the late 90's, it's also the time his depression started to worsen. The La's will stay one of the biggest "what if" in british rock music but their influence on britpop musicians is huge. A bit like the british counterpart of Big Star (even though Big Star had three albums and The La's a biger hit). Very influential bands that could have been way bigger but the ones who know, do know. The difference is those bands you named kept pumping out music. Mavers isn’t even doing that. Their are like 15 official versions of the la’s debut and a bunch of demo compilations. So he has no problem releasing old music. |
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The La's
Jan 10, 2021 4:00:12 GMT -5
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Post by Rolo on Jan 10, 2021 4:00:12 GMT -5
Been watching interviews from them as well the last few days. Probably didn't help that Mavers was going round saying the album was shite to everyone. I don't think the production is bad at all to be honest, it captures their raw sound very well.
Top 5 tunes from them?
In no order:
Timeless Melody
Way Out
I Can't Sleep
Knock Me Down
Feelin'
That is so hard to do.
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The La's
Jan 10, 2021 4:33:57 GMT -5
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Rolo likes this
Post by defmaybe00 on Jan 10, 2021 4:33:57 GMT -5
Been watching interviews from them as well the last few days. Probably didn't help that Mavers was going round saying the album was shite to everyone. I don't think the production is bad at all to be honest, it captures their raw sound very well. Top 5 tunes from them? In no order: Timeless Melody Way Out I Can't Sleep Knock Me Down Feelin' That is so hard to do. Looking Glass has to be in there imo |
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Post by Rolo on Jan 10, 2021 6:45:03 GMT -5
Been watching interviews from them as well the last few days. Probably didn't help that Mavers was going round saying the album was shite to everyone. I don't think the production is bad at all to be honest, it captures their raw sound very well. Top 5 tunes from them? In no order: Timeless Melody Way Out I Can't Sleep Knock Me Down Feelin' That is so hard to do. Looking Glass has to be in there imo Amazing song, could easily be in there. |
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Post by mimmihopps on Jan 10, 2021 7:22:55 GMT -5
They only released one album, but what an album. It never gets old.
My favourite songs are:
I Can't Sleep
Failure
Feelin'
Looking Glass
and of course There She Goes
I've seen The La's Stripped Back gig - only Marvers, unknown bassisit - in 2011.
Marves played entire The La's album from start to end. He looked and sounded terrible, but it was a very special one off gig.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2021 7:54:28 GMT -5
Easily in my top 5 favourite albums. Sad we didn't get more music.
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Post by Headmaster on Jan 10, 2021 10:16:55 GMT -5
The first Britpop album.
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Post by daviesh on Jan 10, 2021 16:03:32 GMT -5
Love the LAs. Fantastic band.
As Jim says the BBC sessions are very special.
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Post by Rolo on Jan 10, 2021 17:04:04 GMT -5
1:47 of perfection.
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Post by Gas Panic on Jan 13, 2021 8:24:56 GMT -5
I Am The Key was probably the best unreleased song ever until it eventually came out in 2008 on a deluxe version of the album. Lee's voice on that track is magical and it's just a radio session.
It would have been a killer single on a second La's album. Such wasted talent.
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Post by mimmihopps on Jan 13, 2021 10:03:35 GMT -5
I Am The Key was probably the best unreleased song ever until it eventually came out in 2008 on a deluxe version of the album. Lee's voice on that track is magical and it's just a radio session. It would have been a killer single on a second La's album. Such wasted talent. Actually I was listening to this song again and again past days. |
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The La's
Jan 15, 2021 0:03:23 GMT -5
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Post by mkoasis on Jan 15, 2021 0:03:23 GMT -5
One La’s song I really love is “Man I’m Only Human”. It’s an older demo I think but it’s a great little song. Same with “Who Knows?”, a b-side to There She Goes.
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Post by Jim on Jan 16, 2021 11:04:54 GMT -5
Rolo Can’t stop listening to them this week. I’m away digging out the demos and radio sessions now, thanks for bringing them back up!
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Post by matt on Jan 16, 2021 12:17:57 GMT -5
Such a great little indie pop band, really eloquent lyrics with the melodies too. I first got this album over 12 years ago - about the time I joined this forum, and remember Mavers was announced as recording the follow up album (with Pete Doherty of all people for some reason). Realistically, that was probably the last time to get something out - I very much doubt we'll ever hear anything new from him again. We're fine as long as we have that first album. Part of the allure of Mavers is the 'what ifs' and sometimes it's still nice to have that curious feeling to an album and band that's been played to death.
Looking Glass is his ultimate masterpiece though.
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Post by durk on Jan 16, 2021 12:56:58 GMT -5
Open the duh
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5