Idaho music Message boardAnyone else heard the new live CD? It's available only on www.americanmusicclub.com. It's a pretty good example of a typical show from the last US tour. Although, the show I went to was stronger. I guess this one just recorded the best. They should fire the keyboardist for his performance on Blue and Grey Shirt. You'd think he'd never heard the song before. It sure as hell ain't no fired up organ sound song.
There's a great "Mercury"-era short film/documentary at http://www.americanmusicclub.com, under the "downloads" section. Also, you can now buy the ULTRA-rare "Live on WFMU" and "Superhits International" CDs, which often fetch $40 (give or take $10) on eBay, for $10 a piece under the "Mail Order" section.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/presenters/gideon_coe/
Scroll to 'Listen Again' on the righthand side. Two solo songs by Eitzel.
And he can still sing the poison outta you for an hour or two, horny little dwarf that he is.
Man, I likes my dwarves, an I like em with balls of silk and hearts of sweet brine. All the better to wrap me up, sing me a lullaby, and pull me into the ocean.
AMC smell like old mule piss. No, really, they do. You guys get next to them in a bar sometime. Siddown next to Mark or Vudi or Danny. Phew! Fuck me, those folks need a wash like my granny needs a colon.
OW!
Next time they play some town nearby remember to take a hose an some soap. Hose em down while they play.
Nothing better than AMC in wet suits an ties. OW!
The bellies just drip, the cheap cotton shirts stick to the flesh like leeches to an elephant blister.
HOO!
Eitzel rinsed down and sticky with sweat just looks SO mean.
I wouldn't enjoyed 'Another Morning' more if the instruments, mainly Eitzel's guitar, were better in tune.
Thanks JR. It's one of the worst AMC performances I've heard, but it's interesting nonetheless, especially the three new songs.
That new organ sound in "Why Won't You Stay" has GOT to go.
i don't know if you have found this on yet http://www.kexp.org/aspnet_client/KEXPViewMediaGroup.aspx?rID=1997&pID=528&fID=539&artist=AI
This Sunday in London, but also this Friday (21st) in Brighton. London sold out, but Brighton still has tickets available (Concorde 2) It's an early show tho'; over by 10pm.
Of course this will be their FIRST UK show for ten years!!
Oh sweet lord!
jenny gonzalvez (from the song 'jenny' on california LP is the woman on the inside of mercury.
AMC fucking rule. this sunday in London...
i thought so too.
I think it's Kathleen, but I could be wrong.
who's in the picture if you open up the 'mercury' cd box?
Oh my God, they're selling Eitzel's Superhits International on their website! I spent almost $40 bucks on this on ebay!
To compare the 2 versions of 'Ladies and Gentlemen', I think the live version is really crashing down and energetic and the piano part is more fleshed out, and the studio version is more restrained and suspenseful. If they mixed elements from both versions, it could probably be even better. 'Another Morning' is beautiful. Kaphan's pedal steel would sound wonderful in there. Speaking of which, it seems like in his absence, they're trying to compensate with some atmospheric guitar that's new to their sound. I'd still prefer the steel.
I totally agree with you, m2. They've replaced Bruce with Mark's solo touring pianist/trumpeter, Mark Capelle. He isn't Bruce Kaphan, but he is making a nice contribution to the band thus far. The piano on "Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Time" is a good example.
the official website's member roster makes no mention of Bruce Kaphan.
i hate to be a weenie, but American Music Club without Bruce Kaphan is kind of like.. well... not
There's also a new song on www.americanmusicclub.NET, called "Ladies and Gentlemen It's Time." And there's a live video of it performed at the Chicago show I missed (dammit) on www.americanmusicclub.COM. I think the live version is actually much better - the vocals, energy level...
working
i don't know if you already knew but for those of you who didn't there is a downloadable song from the upcoming amc album on americanmusicclub.com. i have not heard it yet because i am on vacation and this K56 modem is killing me. but i am workig on it.
i finally found 'everclear'. on vinyl, great shape.
Yeah, that's truly tragic. Kaphan's sound really glued AMC together.
Mercury is ALL the way out there. and I recommend it highest of any of their albums.
The guitar sound on that album, well, I think it's the Klein guitar/Mesa Boogie amp combination that Vudi usually used, with lots of whammying and reverb.
BTW, I caught their second show back together last month. Pretty great, though I missed Bruce Kaphan (slide player, who they replaced with Marc Capell on keyboards).
I am angry and I do have an asshole. AMC are MOR, though. Apart from Gary's Song which is countrified hicksville USA.
AMC is not middle-of-the-road. But I'm guessing you're just some angry asshole who has no ear for music whatsoever, so you'd never know.
Out there = middle-of-the-road pop-singles, dumbass. Go back to the Michael Bolton message board.
Some songs are "a bit out there"? Fucking hell, where have you been living? AMC are middle of the road. What the fuck else do you listen to?
For fuck's sake, they're good but even when they hurl a little distortion in there it's still only Michael Bolton's auntie taking a shite. I don't know about you, but that's not "out there", it's just like your mom taking a dump: Awkward, but normal. Go listen to some other music you poor, poor boy.
e-mail me when you find it in a store and buy it for me if it's a good price and i'll trade something with you or i'll send you the money for it.
I know what you're saying. It's taken me about a year to fully learn to appreciate AMC/Eitzel. I like all the songs now, even though some are a bit out there. I think I've suggested this before, but if you get ahold of Songs Of Love Live, it'll help you to understand the true essence of the music. Trust me on this.
i have been listening alot to the two amc albums i bought a while back. mercury and san francisco. these are the only two albums i have ever heard with the band. i got interested since there was alot of talk about them here at this board. maybe i do not own the best amc albums. i wouldn't know. i am looking for the others. i'll pick them up when i get the chance. my opinion about these two i own is that ALL songs on both albums doesn't do it for me. (like it does with idaho and rhp on most albums). i do think there are some fantastic pop/rock tunes on both albums. 'i broke my promise' is my favourite song by far. other great ones on san francisco are 'fearless' and 'the revolving door'. on mercury my favs are 'gratitude walks', 'i've been a mess' and 'will you find me?'.
do you guys know what i mean?
sorry alex. can't help you. i would wanna know as well.
Do any of you guitar fanatics out there know how to get the Mercury guitar sound? It's so strange.
"President's Fitness" is one of their weakest songs. It's a B-side; what do you expect? If you think it's corny and adult contemporary, try Everclear or California or Mercury or United Kingdom. San Francisco is really the only AMC album with that sound.
i'm i the only one who thinks it's weird that AMC gets lumped in with RHP and Idaho? i think alot of AMC's songs are a little corny and can never listen to their album's all the way through, granted i haven't heard all their albums. don't get me wrong, I think Eitzel has one of the greatest voices ever and I LOVE 60 Watt and like the mjority of his solo work outside of West a whole lot, but as far as their connection to Idaho - i don't see it. well, atually parts of Invisible Man sound Idaho-ey to me. I put on an AMC record every now and then and wonder if this will be the time i'm blown away. and apart from some nice moments of songs that could be great if they were scaled back some, i'm never that excited about it. like right now i'm listening to that "Presidents Fitness" song and it sounds, i don't know, i want to say adult contemporary. too produced. like something you might hear on VH1. just my two cents.
Alex, you're right. It's Crabwalk, not Royal Cafe.
i really like that song about him & Vudi meeting an american rock star in a shop... it's off the Hello Amsterdam US mini i have.. i know it's a long name, so shoot me for not bothering to remember!!
that's a good 'dumb' AMC song.
how anyone can like Challenger is beyond me!! my mate what loves pretty much all periods of AMC lists that as his least fav too. Ain't taste odd...
Yeah, Crabwalk ruins an otherwise perfect cd for me.
I don't think "Royal Cafe" belongs in that group of songs. I think it's beautiful. "Crabwalk" is the stupid song from Everclear if you ask me. It is weird how there's always a stupid song on each CD. Most recently, "Proclaim Your Joy" from The Invisible Man.
rob, I'm with you on San Francisco. I always liked the dumb AMC songs though. I like Challenger. And Bad Liquor. And Hello Amsterdam. And Royal Cafe. And Gary's Song. And Mr Lucky. I like the stupidity. I like the lack of style.
60 Watt, is by far and away tthe most coherent solo, but there's a whacking load of great, near perfect, stuff on each of his solo albums.
MARCH...COME...TO...BRITAIN
i'm gonna stand up for San Francisco too. Sorry to those who only believe a band's early stuff is best, but it is most definitely one of my favs.
I wouldn't critic the production too much either.. it's chock full of great little moments.
Mercury, despite Challenger doing it's best to spoil the whole thing, is also a fav
as for solo, 60 watt is the strongest IMO...
March... come .... to... Britain....
Thirsty Ear just issue the US edition of The Ugly American. It should be a hell of a lot easier to find in the states now, and at about half of the former price.
You can find it used pretty easily. If anyone's interested, there are a few copies of California on Ebay right. You can use "Buy It Now" and get them for under $10.
c, you're right there. Alex, the Warner reissue thing was how I got hold of Restless Stranger. Shame it stopped before they got to United Kingdom. Can you still get Everclear these days?
Yeah, you've got a point there. Whatever the case, it's definitely time for all of the AMC records to be re-issued.
Oh. I thought you were talking about releasing all of the CDs. :)
c, I didn't mean in terms of sound, although I know what you mean. I really meant that while Nick Drake was alive he went pretty much unnoticed, but about 20 years later some contemporary bands and people start name dropping him and he's suddenly paid a lot more attention. Same thing happened to Big Star. Was hoping Eitzel and AMC might catch some of the same, before they go mad or die, obviously.
Big Bob - I think the Nick Drake comparison has been done with Eitzel already. In fact, any artist who has ever recorded a song with just acoustic guitar and soft voice is compared to Nick Drake. It's ridiculous.
Thanks for the tip, guys. I missed AMC the first time around, and I probably would have missed their Spaceland residency because I've been avoiding that place like the plague. Maybe Idaho will play one of those nights. (That's a hint).
Warner Brothers planned on reissuing all of the early AMC albums, but the plan fell through in the early stages. That's why you can find The Restless Stranger really easily, and Engine in some places also.
That's a pretty good place to work from. They all seem hard to get these days. The AMC stuff especially. I checked out the online stores out of curiosity and their albums are hard to get. Eitzel's stuff seems easier to get even though he's been on a different label for every album. I keep waiting for some contemporary popster to namecheck Eitzel and AMC and do a Nick Drake with them, but....I'm still waiting....
i just ordered mercury and caught in a trap. it's the only albums i can find the swedishway.
No kidding. Sometimes I think he has split personalities.
Eitzel's a contrary bastard.
Actually, he's said it's his favorite a number of times in recent years.
Nevermind. Eitzel's wrong.
I forgot "Heaven of your Hands" on United Kingdom. And "Nevermind". Aw, hell, the album's good, but Eitzel hates it.
Igniting my wrath? Perhaps you should reread my last post. :) Actually, I've been listening to San Francisco for the last three days now. "I Just Took My Two Sleeping Pills And Now I'm Like A Bridegroom Standing At The Altar" is definitely a wonderful song. Good suggestion Big Bob.
"United Kingdom", if you can find it, has a few fantastic songs. "Kathleen", especially. But, yeah, go for "California", "Everclear", "Mercury" and at risk of igniting Alex's wrath, the one you've already got - "San Francisco", which I really like. The "Hello Amsterdam" EP is good if you can get it cheap. Just for the songs "I just took my two sleeping pills.." and "President's test for physical fitness". Don't pay a ridiculous amount for it though.
If you like "The Thorn in My Side is Gone" from San Francisco, you'll probably really like his solo album Caught In A Trap And I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby.
i will look for all his and their albums.
i actually thought about the mixing of his voice. i have not heard any of their other albums so i cannot compare. but i did think his vocals were really high. but i like it. the backing vocals on the choruses are great too.
Good call ck. If you can find it, add California (AMC) as well. Just to clarify, Songs of Love Live is Mark Eitzel, and Engine is American Music Club. Yeah JR, I think "Fearless", "Cape Canaveral", "The Revolving Door", "In the Shadow of a Valley", and "What Holds the World Together" are some of Eitzel's best. I could listen to them all day long. Many people hate the production on that album, but I really love the music's depth and atmosphere, and especially the fullness of Eitzel's voice.
And Songs of Love Live
haha. no wonder they were used then.
i have not had time to listen to 'music for courage...' at all yet so i have no opinion about it. i gave 'west' 2 spinns right through just about half an hour ago and i heard some good songs at least.
but i do think san francisco has wonderful songs. i have listened to it all day.
I would add Engine to the list.
I'm horrified. Sorry, JR, but you've purchased the very worst albums possible. God, what a horrid introduction to such good music, although San Francisco does have some wonderful songs. In my opinion, West is complete crap, as is Music for Courage... with the exception of two songs. Do yourself a favor and track down AMC's Everclear and Mercury, and Eitzel's The Invisible Man and 60 Watt Silver Lining.
all this amc and eitzel talk made me interested. i went out looking for some records. i have been looking before but never found any. i was very lucky this time and i bought amc - 'san francisco', mark eitzel - 'west' and 'music for courage & confidence'. i have been giving amc the most time and i really can see the strength in their music. tracks like 'fearless', 'can you help me?', 'the revolving door' and 'i broke my promise' are brilliant. i will try find all albums by both. (i know this is no new discussion) but what are your favourite albums?
Oh shit! I left out the "in December" part. Every Monday in December.
this thread isnt long enough, amc back together is smashing news, will some of you americans go and see them live and let us know what there like
Ah, it worked. And he just sent an email saying that AMC will be playing for FREE every Monday at Spaceland in Los Angeles. Too bad I'm hundreds of miles away...
Alex,
If you visit markeitzel.com, click on "love," and you can send an email directly to Mark. I'm fairly sure you can just ask him to add you to the list.
CK
ck, how do fans go about getting on this list?
This was included in a message Mr. Eitzel sent to friends/fans on his list serve:
"I don't have any AMC news - except that I'm moving back to SF now to try and finish the record - and that we are trying to book shows (LA in December perhaps.. and other places in March...)"
Oh, this is sweet!! I feel like I'm back in the music loop again!!!
Ahhhhhhhhh........everyone deserves american music club. Life just got sweeter. Thanks for the info alex.
YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pulled directly from the revamped www.americanmusicclub.com news page: "What?! Yes, it's true. American Music Club are back and busy working on a new album at Tim Mooney's Closer Studios in San Francisco. The album is tentatively titled You Better Watch What You Say, and is in its preliminary stages now. Track titles include "Job to Do," "Team USA," "Home," "Brothers in Arms," "You Can Be Anyone," "Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Time," "Crowd" and "Patriot's Heart."
A live album culled from their performance August 21st in San Francisco at the Make Out Room will soon be sold through the band. A streaming Real Audio version of the show will also be available from a website near you."
photo by Lara Porzak, all rights reserved.
webdesign by Roadsign Studio / hosting: Godaddy
messageboard.idahomusic.com - Idaho music 2024, all rights reserved.