Director - We Thrive in Big Cities

Rollo Tamasi

Anybody have this album? I picked it up last week and so far so good. The lyrics are excellent but his voice isn't the best. It's a bit monotone for a lot of the tracks. The guitars, bass and drumming is all decent enough too.

It's very similar to Revellino's Broadcaster album, but not as good or original.

John

I saw them doing an in store the other day and I liked it but I don't know if I could listen to an album of theirs. At least live there's a bit of oomph but I'd have to listen to the album first. Were these guys called Business at one stage? They seemed familiar.

Mr Rivers

John wrote:

Were these guys called Business at one stage?

Yeah they were, changed cos the name was already taken I think

I liked them when I saw them but after a while I cant stand his voice or how he over-pronounces every word, it's near robotic!

Rollo Tamasi

his voice isn't the best alright

Font22

i think the album is brilliant! i agree about his voice tho. i went to school with three of them and saw the lead singer play at various school events with songs he cud really show his voice off with. he has a really good voice but i dont think any of the songs show it off. <snip>

nah_biy!

They're getting bloody tonnes of advertising space on Today FM!

<snip>

But they remind me a little of Editors, kind of brooding voices at times?

John

Please no mention of MCD shows on boards. Any more and I'll have to lock this thread.

Timans

I saw them on the Late Late and they were awful.

Jonny Arson

Sadly I'm a bit disappointed with the album

sprinkles

Going to see them live, saw them before (not mentioning where ) and I thought they were very good. I can see how the voice might annoy if you're listening to the album for a while but they have a good command of the stage and are something a little bit different

shock media

Think they're very good, i guess the whole big record company PR
thing behind them sometimes puts people off?

BleakestH

Timans wrote:

I saw them on the Late Late and they were awful.

Here here, i saw them on the LL too and they were beyond crap. i can't understand what anyone could get from such monotony.

John

Five posts just deleted as people can't help but discuss MCD related events. Also, Black NG-60-90 banned for a month for both discussing MCD and being a horrid little troll. Thread locked.

jtsuited

was drumming in a band that supported them the other night and they were damn good. First time I've been impressed by a band in a while.

John

I thought I locked this? Evidently not, well I'll leave it open so.

Time Magazine

Big fan of the band and the album.

And the modding.

Sajan

I view Director in the same light as I view other Irish Bands such as the Frames and Bell X1. They are liked for one fundamental reason. They are Irish and promoted on Irish Radio.

Just look at the Director situation. Interpol are an American band that are a lot better musically and lyrically but don't have the same support over here due to the lack of airplay.

It's time that we stop praising and supporting bands just cause they are Irish and we know a few people who went to school with them etc. There is a reason that so few bands from Ireland make it internationally when they are so big over here.. THe reason is that there are better bands to listen to.

DerekD Goldfish

There is a reason that so few bands from Ireland make it internationally when they are so big over here.. THe reason is that there are better bands to listen to.
Today 01:23

Partaly true but Ireland has in my opionion produced 3 of the top 20 bands of all time (Fatima Mansions,Whipping Boy,My bloody valintine) and some other damn good ones which isnt bad for a ralativly small country

Sajan

3 of the top 20 bands of all time is a massive call and one that is totally unfounded in my opinion. Surely if they are to be considered in that light they would be better known.

DerekD Goldfish

Sajan wrote:

3 of the top 20 bands of all time is a massive call and one that is totally unfounded in my opinion. Surely if they are to be considered in that light they would be better known.

In theory yes but that would assume that the geraral populas have taste in music which is not usualy the case. MBV were pretty big back in the day and could have got bigger if they ever got around to a follow up to loveless, FM and WB were both unfortunate to emerge at times when the musical tastes of the public/media lay in different styles

Sajan

My opinion would be that if the music is good enough that it would transcend the general beliefs of the general population. I think that there is enough people around that will genuinely seek out quality music regardless of the popularity amongst others.

You say that they are three of the best twenty bands of all time. There are thousands/millions of people around the world at the moment who genuinely think that about their favourite bands.

DerekD Goldfish

I think that there is enough people around that will genuinely seek out quality music regardless of the popularity amongst others.

You have far to much faith in humanity

There are thousands/millions of people around the world at the moment who genuinely think that about their favourite bands.

And they are all right it their own way perhaps I should have prefixed my statement with IMO.

Orion

I really like the album. The arrangements are excellent imo. And, for the record, I liked it even before I found out they were Irish

FionnMatthew

Sajan said....

3 of the top 20 bands of all time is a massive call and one that is totally unfounded in my opinion. Surely if they are to be considered in that light they would be better known.

...and...

My opinion would be that if the music is good enough that it would transcend the general beliefs of the general population. I think that there is enough people around that will genuinely seek out quality music regardless of the popularity amongst others.

So if a band is good, it will be well known! But apparently that logic doesn't work for Interpol.

Interpol are an American band that are a lot better musically and lyrically but don't have the same support over here due to the lack of airplay.

On which rests the whole argument against Director deserving their praise. You must really know what you're on about!

(Interpol played four sold-out gigs here last year, in national venues. Director don't have that kind of support. Interpol are, as it stands, far more popular than Director, if you want to go down that route.)

(Director are rather popular in key cities around the UK too, having supported Hard-Fi and the Goo Goo Dolls. They are not a strictly Irish phenomenon.)

(Perhaps you should have more confidence in taste of the listenership that sent Big Cities to No.2 last week. Personally, I don't buy records out of national pride. Anything but! Just a thought.)

I think Big Cities is something really special - we finally have a classic pop act to talk about, a band that doesn't rest on credibility or "intensity" to sell records. They have the goods.

Reni

Saw them live there week before last-don't have the album but on the basis of the live show they don't seem to be up to much

brianon

Sajan wrote:

I view Director in the same light as I view other Irish Bands such as the Frames and Bell X1. They are liked for one fundamental reason. They are Irish and promoted on Irish Radio.

Just look at the Director situation. Interpol are an American band that are a lot better musically and lyrically but don't have the same support over here due to the lack of airplay.

It's time that we stop praising and supporting bands just cause they are Irish and we know a few people who went to school with them etc. There is a reason that so few bands from Ireland make it internationally when they are so big over here.. THe reason is that there are better bands to listen to.

I barely listen to the radio. Saw a review and decided to buy it. I really like the album, great stuff in fact. And I didn't even know they were irish !

/Andy\

I too have seen them live, and to be honest I don't rate them at all. The singer is a poor vocalist, their music is contrived, and they basically just churn out the exact same kind of tunes that dozens of other bands have been doing over the last few years, most doing this rock-by-numbers better than Director. As for them being Irish, I wouldn't throw them 5 cent on the street if they were busking because they carry themselves with the same affected mid-atlanticism as those cretins The Thrills, effectively turning their backs on any Irishness they contain in order to appear "cooler", ha!

mada999

I still wouldnt like Interpol if they were plastered all over the place....i hate em

muppetkiller

Picked it up based on the single and have to say it's utter rubbish imho.
The single Disconnect is pretty catchy but the rest of the album is so Boring and repetitive. I tried to like it but just can't get into it.
It'll be in the adverts.ie section if anyone wants it

mada999

i just listened to some of the tracks on the web site... 1st one seems ok..yer man's voice is a bit weird tho...not the worst song in the world not the best...

Sinfonia

/Andy\ wrote:

they carry themselves with the same affected mid-atlanticism as those cretins The Thrills, effectively turning their backs on any Irishness they contain in order to appear "cooler", ha!

so if somebody Irish enjoys, and wants to perform american music or dress in and american style, or african music or style, or asian music or style, or any kind of music or style that isn't indigenous to Ireland, they should be ashamed, that's what you're saying


for the record, thumbs down to director, regardless of how they carry themselves

magpie

Reconnect is a good song, but is it just me, or is the production a bit weedy?

Not sure if I'd take the plunge and get the album based on the reports here.

Speaking of hyped-up Irish bands - Humanzi, what gives? On the cover of every mag, supporting the MC5, Strokes etc and still only selling 300 copies of their album.

sprinkles

I've heard them live twice now and the drums are a lot more promenant which really adds to the songs. Pity they chose to push them to the back on the album

jdivision

They played the Phantom FM launch party last night, couple of good songs, wasn't bothered with most of them. Another Joy Division influenced band, not a bad thing but I'm puzzled why they're all emerging now - Interpol, Editors etc

phasers

I was meant to see them live on saturday but they didn't come,I was really disappointed!
I like the album though,but as everyone has said,the auld voice could do with some work.

FionnMatthew

/Andy\ wrote:

The singer is a poor vocalist,

I couldn't disagree with you more here. I think he's an exceptional singer - he's just not typical of this vein of music. He accesses Nick Cave and Nina Simone - that's the way to understand his voice's strengths.

How you could say he was a poor singer, I fail to understand. Poor? You may not like his voice or his accent, but there is no mistaking his ability.

/Andy\ wrote:

As for them being Irish, I wouldn't throw them 5 cent on the street if they were busking because they carry themselves with the same affected mid-atlanticism as those cretins The Thrills, effectively turning their backs on any Irishness they contain in order to appear "cooler", ha!

You would, then, throw those 5 cents to a band that asserts its "Irishness" in some way, that wears its "Irish" credentials as a badge of honour? "Irishness" in an Irish band presumably matters to you? I'd say Director are better off without the 5 cents of someone whose taste takes a back seat to his cultural loyalties.

Turning their backs on Irishness? Boo "Irishness", and boo anyone who lets his attitude muddy his aesthetic sense. Take note:

SumGuy wrote:

for the record, thumbs down to director, regardless of how they carry themselves

A far more honourable, if negative, judgement!


And I wouldn't have said Director come across as "cool" at all. Not in the same way as the Thrills. If anything, they're genuine and endearingly awkward.

/Andy\

SumGuy wrote:

so if somebody Irish enjoys, and wants to perform american music or dress in and american style, or african music or style, or asian music or style, or any kind of music or style that isn't indigenous to Ireland, they should be ashamed, that's what you're saying


for the record, thumbs down to director, regardless of how they carry themselves

Not at all mate, sorry if I gave the impression that was what I was saying. What I mean is (and I'll give an example here), I saw them supporting a well known American group- and from the singers accent (which I now know to be horribly affected) I would have thought he was American. What I hate is when Irish singers fake an American or mid-Atlantic accent in their speech and singing. The guy's from Malahide and he's pretending to be something he's not, which I find pretty sad to be honest.

To FionnMatthew, my taste does not take a back seat to my cultural loyalties, when I said Irishness (again I must apologise for my lack of clarity) I simply meant using your god-given accent while speaking or singing, as opposed to what Director's lead singer does. I by no means meant that the guy should embody some kind of "Irishness" in his music, dress or anything else like that. We live in a world in which all cultures are blending into one another, which is something I think is great- and it gets us far away from the narrow minded nationalistic ideals which I think you have mistaken me for having. Anyway, as to the merits of the guys singing, it's all down to individual taste I guess and I'm not a fan- although I would never belittle you thinking otherwise.

Peace

FionnMatthew

Fair enough. Good post. But...

/Andy\ wrote:

I saw them supporting a well known American group- and from the singers accent (which I now know to be horribly affected) I would have thought he was American.

How do you know it's horribly affected? Have you heard him talk?

/Andy\ wrote:

What I hate is when Irish singers fake an American or mid-Atlantic accent in their speech and singing. The guy's from Malahide and he's pretending to be something he's not, which I find pretty sad to be honest.

/Andy\ wrote:

when I said Irishness (again I must apologise for my lack of clarity) I simply meant using your god-given accent while speaking or singing, as opposed to what Director's lead singer does.

He does use his own accent though. Back when I was 12, I went to a basketball camp in Malahide Community School, and himself and the guitarist were at it. And he spoke with that kind of accent as far back as then. That's his accent, for whatever reason. If it's an artifice, it's a long established one.

/Andy\

FionnMatthew wrote:

Fair enough. Good post. But..



He does use his own accent though. Back when I was 12, I went to a basketball camp in Malahide Community School, and himself and the guitarist were at it. And he spoke with that kind of accent as far back as then. That's his accent, for whatever reason. If it's an artifice, it's a long established one.

I would also have to say fair enough if this is the case. Point taken- It's irrational really, nothing personal against the guy (I was actually quite impressed with his crowd interaction, he seemed a regular bloke)- it's a long-time pet peeve of mine, the whole "dort" and "rindabite" accent thing

0ubliette

sprinkles wrote:

I've heard them live twice now and the drums are a lot more promenant which really adds to the songs. Pity they chose to push them to the back on the album

The drummer is a friend of mine. I heard that the singer is a bit of a nazi and basically wont let the band do anything without his say so (musically that is). and when the drummer really started belting the kit out of it on a few tracks, singer got miffed that the drums were taking the spotlight so ordered them to be re-recorded with less enthusiasm so they didnt take focus off the guitar/vocals :rolleyes:

magpie

singer got miffed that the drums were taking the spotlight so ordered them to be re-recorded with less enthusiasm so they didnt take focus off the guitar/vocals

Ouch. Even Billy Corgan knows you've got to have a good rhythm track.

JustCoz

I really like the album but a couple of their songs from their website aren't on it which is a bit sh*t. i think the lead singer has a great voice but it's better live

Fitzo

Must say, was very pleased with this album...thought it was excellent from first to last, and the stand out tracks are:

Come With a Friend
Reconnect
Easy To Me.

FionnMatthew

Fitzo wrote:

Must say, was very pleased with this album...thought it was excellent from first to last, and the stand out tracks are:

Come With a Friend
Reconnect
Easy To Me.

Leave It To Me is the obvious single to me.

My favourite is Can You Take It? But also Big Cities.

Time Magazine

Leave It To Me is the next single, but imo Easy To Me is the best single-option, catchiest on the album. Love that solo at the end.

sprinkles

0ubliette wrote:

The drummer is a friend of mine. I heard that the singer is a bit of a nazi and basically wont let the band do anything without his say so (musically that is). and when the drummer really started belting the kit out of it on a few tracks, singer got miffed that the drums were taking the spotlight so ordered them to be re-recorded with less enthusiasm so they didnt take focus off the guitar/vocals :rolleyes:

Poor decision by the singer then imo

Out Of Order

I've seen em live a couple of weeks ago and thought they were terrible.
Really boring, no crowd interaction, just got the impression that none of them wanted to be there. I agree that the singer has a weak voice.

My mate was at the gig with me and agreed, but he also had the album and said that it was much better. I dont intend to investigate.

Font22

/Andy\ wrote:

I would also have to say fair enough if this is the case. Point taken- It's irrational really, nothing personal against the guy (I was actually quite impressed with his crowd interaction, he seemed a regular bloke)- it's a long-time pet peeve of mine, the whole "dort" and "rindabite" accent thing

haha, i've heard him speak and play live before he was in director in some school stuff (i went to malahide community school|). granted he does have an unusual accent but he isnt a southsider (i've opened a can of worms havent i!!). i do think he could use his voice a whole lot more though.....

ellenmelon

when i took my sister to see keane a couple of years ago, director was support and they made a hilarious first impression by doing "flight of the bumblebee"..and they were actually half decent too.

when they "debuted" (sp) with this new album i was totally unimpressed. my boyfriend loves them however. his voice is so dull and exactly the same in every song..it borders on tunelessness in some.

i remember saying when i first saw them "i bet that some record company will pick them up to be the next franz ferdinand" which i think is what happened..but about two years too late. if they were going to fully cash in on the vague similarity to franz (music wise and geeky look wise) they needed to get an album out a couple of years ago i reckon.

magpie

At least they're not Cap Pas Cap - what the fu ck is going on there? I can only assume there's some kind of collective auditory hallucination that prevents otherwise sane people from realising what a dreadful, cack-handed amateur noise they produce. I'd like to be the first to point out that the Emperor is, in fact, butt naked.

Blush_01

Sajan wrote:

I view Director in the same light as I view other Irish Bands such as the Frames and Bell X1. They are liked for one fundamental reason. They are Irish and promoted on Irish Radio.

Just look at the Director situation. Interpol are an American band that are a lot better musically and lyrically but don't have the same support over here due to the lack of airplay.

It's time that we stop praising and supporting bands just cause they are Irish and we know a few people who went to school with them etc. There is a reason that so few bands from Ireland make it internationally when they are so big over here.. THe reason is that there are better bands to listen to.

I don't listen to the radio, unless I'm at work, and in that case it's usually rubbish chart pop. I first heard Director at a gig a friend wanted to go to, liked them and wanted to hear more. Bought the album, enjoy it, and I actually love the monotone as a feature of the overall product. I couldn't give a fiddler's where they're from or if they ever went to school, I just like the music - I won't apologise for it, nor do I expect I'm alone. If you have a personal gripe with people liking their friends' bands, or with people preferring irish music to non-irish alternatives, that's fine - but it's your problem, not anyone elses. Sorry for ranting, but I'm sick of being told WHY I like certain music. Balls to that.