The Fall -I don't, and never have, get it.

[MC Bodge]

What do people like about "The Fall"? I have never understood the appeal.

Is it a case of John-Peel-tinted-emperor's-new-clothes-glasses?

I once saw Mark E Smith in Prestwich and, as per his reputation, he looked haggard and a bit worse-for-wear.

Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 25th February 21:04

[MC Bodge]

Not just me then?!

[lockhart flawse]

Ah - The Fall. Not like any other band and you have to approach them differently; they make much more sense when looked at over their whole career. It's MES's life work - it's him plus whoever he has in to play the instruments at the time although the musicians over the last 15 years or so have been much more proficient than in the early years. MES doesn't view proficiency at the guitar or whatever as very important and some people can't accept that.

I am a huge fan and whilst some of it is crap, some of it is stunning although certain albums listened in isolation can be less than inspiring. Best approach is to jump in at the deep end and keep swimming.

Try listening to some of the Peel sessions. Good Fall starter tracks are:

Blindness
Curious Oranj
The Mixer
Theme from Sparta FC (my favourite)
Idiot Joy Showland
Free Range
Squid Lord
What about us
Bulbs
Hit the North
Smile

Easy starter album is Fall Heads Roll.

LF

[anonymous-user]

Loads of people don't get The Fall so it's not just you.


I really like them - but find myself having "binge listens" then nothing for a few months.

"This Nation's Saving Grace" is definitely in my top 10 albums.

[Posk]

Theres not really another band that sound like 'em, that originality makes them special in my eyes. I love some of it, hate most of it. Horses for courses.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

First band I ever saw live. I like them but can understand why others don't, but that is the beauty of choice in music.

[Wizwag]

When I first heard them on Peel I didnt really get them. Then when I finally listened to a whole album I got it. After that nobody else really came close.

They dont conform to traditional rock structures. No guitar solos as such. Not the usual verse, chorus, bridge thing. I love the repetition and the sound. No over production, you can pick out the instruments and they sound as they should.

The playing is usually excellent. Then on top of that youve got Smiths unique drawl which really acts as another instrument. The lyrics can be difficult but usually interesting and clever.

I like Smiths outlook on the world. He's a cynic and hates bullst. He can be very difficult and in his mind is never wrong, but 37 years and however many albums later he's still producing decent stuff, so he must be doing something right.

[eastlmark]

wow, only last week I was thinking of starting a Fall thread but thought I would be abused for doing so. Although I have grown up with them, listening to Peel etc, I too never really got them. However, I just read the Steve Hanley book and it got me listening properly to them and for the past 2 weeks I have listened to nothing else, even bought some downloads as well as digging out the odd vinyl album I have. I still don't get them as such, but something they do is appealing and quite what goes through Mark E's head for lyrics I cannot imagine. A true punk band that have never sold out- even when on a major label.

[MC Bodge]

Thanks for the replies and the reasoning.

I suspect that I probably do not have sufficient appetite to endure the time required to 'acquire the taste' for The Fall, as I've never even come close to liking anything that I've heard from them.

I suppose that I'm not really looking to be "challenged" by music.

[anonymous-user]

MC Bodge said:

Thanks for the replies and the reasoning.

I suspect that I probably do not have sufficient appetite to endure the time required to 'acquire the taste' for The Fall, as I've never even come close to liking anything that I've heard from them.

I suppose that I'm not really looking to be "challenged" by music.

Cruiser's Creek.

That one has got to be worth a try.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 28th February 23:00

[andySC]

Hit and very miss....I do like them but not all of their effort. I love how the rhythm section gels together, it's all very sparse & minimal but it works to my ears. Their more "poppy" tunes work best for me. Mark Smith is a horrible old ratbag though, I've seen the live a few times & he drives me fking nuts, prattling about with amp levels all the time. If I was in the group he'd be wearing my Strat & I'd be signing on before the bruises came out.....

[andySC]

Hit and very miss....I do like them but not all of their effort. I love how the rhythm section gels together, it's all very sparse & minimal but it works to my ears. Their more "poppy" tunes work best for me. Mark Smith is a horrible old ratbag though, I've seen the live a few times & he drives me fking nuts, prattling about with amp levels all the time. If I was in the group he'd be wearing my Strat & I'd be signing on before the bruises came out.....

[andySC]

Hit and very miss....I do like them but not all of their effort. I love how the rhythm section gels together, it's all very sparse & minimal but it works to my ears. Their more "poppy" tunes work best for me. Mark Smith is a horrible old ratbag though, I've seen the live a few times & he drives me fking nuts, prattling about with amp levels all the time. If I was in the group he'd be wearing my Strat & I'd be signing on before the bruises came out.....

[br d]

Been a big fan of The Fall on and off over the centuries, as has been pointed out they can be really hit and miss.
The track that best sums them up for me is this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7mp9elK49I

And this track isn't by MES but is sort of about him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIez7lGxKps

[eastlmark]

A couple of other observations re the Fall. despite for most of their lifetime they had 2 drummers, their drum sound still sounds like a couple of 5 year olds banging on tin cans, also, some of their best songs are made laughable and kind of ruined by their insistence of using Kazoo's.
Has to be said though Take an Older Lover is one of the scariest pieces of music ever recorded.
http://youtu.be/dICsVO23Qp4

[TheExcession]

Tried really hard to get into them but just couldn't click with them.

Maybe a few decades later I should give them another go, a mate of mine was a massive fan, though as Brix Smith was a and we were pre 20s at the time I always questioned his devotion.