Metamatic

The thread about the Nation 12 track "Hear The Drummer Get Wicked" made me think, and rather than hi-jack that thread, I thought I'd start another one.

Are there any other tracks in John's catalogue that people dislike?

Go on, be honest.
We'll never agree on his best - let's see if we can define the worst track he's ever recorded.

Not meaning to upset anyone of course, but hey - It's unrealistic to suggest its ALL brilliant
…Isn't it? :p

In every artists' back catalogue, there lurks an album that flopped or was pretty poor, and songs that some people don't like, and some do.

Agreed, it's a tricky subject. And this time I'll be careful with my grammar!

I'm not keen on the first two Ultravox! albums, so as I haven't heard them in their entirety, I can't really comment on them.

John's back catalogue is so vast and varied, there's bound to be conflicting tastes, but we cshould be careful not to be over-critical.

There are quite a few tracks on various albums that just aren't my cup of tea, and tend to skip, in preference of getting to one I prefer - but if I do end up listening to them, I don't mind them. For example, "Tidal Wave", "Swimmer 2" and "Smoke".

Then there are tracks that make me squirm, which I nearly always end up skipping, such as "Listen to the Drummer", "A Kind of Wave", "Once In A While", "Forgotten Years".

Aside from a couple of bonus tracks, In Mysterious Ways does absolutely nothing for me, and I don't hink I've ever played it all the way through. It's just not like listening to John. Having said that, I don't think there is a single track I "hate" and would never listen to.

As for the worst thing he's recorded – I'm sure our opinions will vary. I'd probably choose something from the first two 'vox albums.

Happy New Year all!

Don't know if you'll all remember me - I just started to post on the Ultravox forum just before it closed! So - Hello again.

Got to say I love 'Tidal Wave' - it's so minimal and the imagery is surreal - 'Tidal wave; goes by my window'

But back to the topic at hand - The only tracks I take umbrage at are most of 'Mysterious Ways' - but I take umbrage at the music and production not the songs themselves.

Other tracks that bug me - 'Invisible Women' and 'Nightlife'; I can't put my finger on it but 'John Foxx lite' would sum it up. Having said that, the new version of 'Nightlife' on 'Live From A Room...' is really, really good, and I can't find fault with a single track he released last year - I'd go so far as to say that 'From Trash' is his best album since he re-started back in '96 and may even take over 'Metamatic' as my favourite...maybe!

Hello!

I've seen "Nightlife" get some stick in the past, but it's always been a track I enjoyed. I suppose, because Modern Art was the first Foxx album I got, to introduce me to his work, as I didn't know any of it. At the time, "Nightlife" stood out as modern and vibrant.

Now, in retrospect and having heard almost everything he's done, I can say it's by no means one of his greatest musical acievements, but I am still rather fond of it.

The funny thing is, that I wasn't so keen on the new version – until it changed half way through and the new verses kicked in. That second half is really great.

Hi Alex,

While we're talking about new versions - what do you make of the new version of 'Touch and Go'?

I thought it was jaw-dropping - really loved the extended bit (coda?) where the line 'I'm waking up in the moving windows' is harmonised and looped between John and Louis

I absolutely agree - I love the new version, particularly for that new ending.

I played "Live From A Room" a lot when I got it, and I recently played the original version of "Touch & Go" again, and I really missed the extra lyrics.

Normally new versions of songs rarely compete with the originals, but I certainly think that the new versions of "Touch & Go" and "Metal Beat" come close to being better – in my opinion, of course!

Invisible Women is a good choice.

Doesn't move me at all...

I think this thread may belong in the Green Room. Sorry I stuck it in here!

I always liked "Invisible Women", despite it's bizarre lyrics and recycling of the "Underpass" riff.

I think it has a terriffic end section.

...but again, personal taste!

Mind you, having said that, it is a perceptive lyric.
We all lahve them, these invisible women, drifting around the periphery of our lives...

I find it hard to pick out tracks form John that are bad, just some are not as good as others. I tend to skip Concrete, Bulletproof Invisable, Smoke and Listen to the Drummer. If I had to choose the weakest album and the one I tend to play least is IMW.

I love the extended version of Nightlife, and both versions of Touch & Go.

For me it's just a matter of personnel taste.
peter

reflecting on this thread,I remember buying "Pleasures" at the gig in London,a full 6 months before it's actual release(I think),I remember there was a dely in the copies getting to the gig as they came direct from the pressing plant to the gig!!
Myself and my friend them.after the gig,went to Slimelight,then she drove home!!
Both shattered we put on the cd when we got home and "Camera" was just outstanding!!
in a half dazed state of no sleep it was just superb!!
Still love it to this day!

Most of 'The Golden Section' and pretty much all of 'In Mysterious Ways' would fall foul for me here. The attraction of 'Your Dress' has always evaded me. The lyric, taken on its own, isn't at all bad, but all that frantic vocalising towards the end of the song... I just can't get that excited about a couple of yards of organza...

I have to admit, most of Electrofear does little for me, but I do have a Commodore Amiga-induced affection for "Into The Wonderful", and when I first heard it while playing "Gods", I knew there was something awfully familiar about it...

I also like playing "Leaving" at an inhumanly loud volume in the car, due to the obvious "Through My Sleeping" connection, and the amazingly spleen-mashing bass.

BTW, does anyone else get an inexplicable urge to, while singing along, replace "through my sleeping" with "through mice leaping"? :p

Tis strange, but I love IMW, and all the extra B-sides that were around the Golden Section/IMW period. Must say, a bit hypocritically, that I didn't mind 'Listen To the Drummer' until I found John wasn't really involved and now tend to skip it. I don't like much about 'automobile' and 'she robot', and think POE is the weakest Foxx/Gordon album, that said, it does contain some of the best Foxx songs - A Funny Thing has, IMHO, the best lyric he's ever written.
So, I don't think 'Listen To The drummer' can be classed as Foxx, but would vote for 'Automobile' as the worst (still better than most people's best, tho')
Cheers

I never "Listen to the Drummer".

it's somehow funny , but no matter how much or less john was actually involved in this song , i still have a soft spot for it & can listen to it from time to time & if i'm in the right mood for it ! ;-)

i personally dislike & therefore NEVER like to listen to his - imho - way too "beatles-like" songs again , such as "annexe" & the likes from that era ! :-/

as i never really liked the beatles , i also don't like john's attempts to sound like them - in which way soever , sorry ! :-o

"Your Kisses Burn V2" is a particular low point for me.

To be honest and I know I will got shot down in flames but I much prefer the Nation 12 version of Your Kisses Burn.

me too , so u are not the only ones then , peter & hh ! ;-)

Well, I'm with you on the Beatle-esque stuff. Don't care much for that! Although 'Leaving' isn't too bad. I do love 'Your Kisses Burn', but I do favour the 'From Trash' version.

Sarah B