Bell X1 new album "Blue Lights on the Runway"

Corholio

Out on March 3rd in the US, dont think its known what date here its released.

Having been to the acoustic show in Cork and one of the Vicar St gigs and heard different versions of the new tracks, it definitely wet the appetite. But now actually managed to get a hold of the new album (it hasnt strictly leaked yet) and its fantastic.

"Blow Ins" could well be one of the best songs theyve ever recorded. Lyrics are razor sharp on "A Better Band" as well. Anyone familiar with older Bell X1 stuff, well "Rockridge" has now been turned into "Breastfed", only the chorus is completely different. "Light Catches Your Face" has already been played on One Tree Hill way before it actually gets released on the album. Another great ballad from the boys.

Nice visual image on "One Stringed Harp" as well :P, comparing a certain female (and maybe male) habit to playing the instrument.

insinkerator

I am really looking forward to hearing this, have been ever since i saw them live plaing a few tracks off it

JerryHandbag

Corholio wrote: »

Nice visual image on "One Stringed Harp" as well :P, comparing a certain female (and maybe male) habit to playing the instrument.

Yeah I remember them playing this song at their acoustic gig in LIT, gave me a chuckle Cant wait for new album, should be good by sounds of things

wixfjord

Cannot wait for this, one of the most underrated Irish bands of recent times imo.

Limerick Dude

Cant wait for this! Its been a long time coming and hopefully it will be worth the wait!

JustAddWater

Excellent!



Finally some good news

Lamposts

wixfjord wrote: »

Cannot wait for this, one of the most underrated Irish bands of recent times imo.

ditto

seachto7

wasn't gone on Flock at all, but really like music in mouth

Geri Boyle

Music in mouth is definitely their masterpiece! Release date is rumoured to be March 3rd here too. Think they wanted to release it simultaneously everywhere. I really cannot wait for this

Suspicious Dave

Neither Am I remains my favourite album of theirs, so many good songs. Wasn't a fan of Flock so not expecting much but I'll give it a spin nonetheless

Royale with Cheese

Heard the new single on Phantom earlier, awful.

Geri Boyle

Which song are they releasing do you know? They made alot of compromises on Flock allegedly to keep the record company happy. They subsequently sacked their record company so that they could go their own direction. This new album is a little more electronic than previous albums by the sounds of things so its something a bit different. There is a sense of their old style aswel though with Rockridge rehashed.. Their uniquely Irish writing style blows me away every time so I cant wait!

exiot

Its out the 20th of February here apparently, looking forward to it

Sútalún

Listened to it already...through unknown means. Easily the most under-rated irish band of the last decade. When ya look at the amount of mediocre British bands out there..BellX1 should easily be their equal...although they are far superior. New album is exceptional. Takes a few listens but in my opinion their best. Like someone previously said MIM is their masterpiece (although I love Flock too), this though, is in my opinion is their most complete album.

Corholio

Blue Belle wrote: »

Which song are they releasing do you know? They made alot of compromises on Flock allegedly to keep the record company happy. They subsequently sacked their record company so that they could go their own direction. This new album is a little more electronic than previous albums by the sounds of things so its something a bit different. There is a sense of their old style aswel though with Rockridge rehashed.. Their uniquely Irish writing style blows me away every time so I cant wait!

The lead single will the The Great Defector, and not How Your Heart is Wired as was originally thought. Nice uptempo poppy first single, quirky things like the Animal Farm reference is why they're a great band. Lot of their lyrics go over peoples heads thinking their just nonsense. One of my favourite of these is the "comely maidens" De Valera reference on Still Selling Shoes

Sútalún

Corholio wrote: »

Lot of their lyrics go over peoples heads thinking their just nonsense.

Truer word has never been spoken...Noonan is the best Irish song-writer since...

Insect Overlord

Just saw this thread on the home-page stream, can't believe I hadn't heard about the album before now!
I've been looking forward to any bit of news since seeing their acoustic set in LIT before Christmas.
I'll be buying the album on release day if I can. They're probably the only band I listen to worth paying full price for.

Geri Boyle

Thanks for that Corholio. I love The Great Defector as you can prob tell from my sig.. I know what you mean about their Irish references, one of my favourite is the reference to Chris de Burgh on Alphabet Soup.. 'you were paying the ferryman even after Chris said dont' and then of course the not Maude Gonne lyrics...

Burning Eclipse

Sorry for digging up this thread, for anybody wanting to listen to the new single it can be found here

Great song, gotta love the guitar work

Corholio

Blue Belle wrote: »

Thanks for that Corholio. I love The Great Defector as you can prob tell from my sig.. I know what you mean about their Irish references, one of my favourite is the reference to Chris de Burgh on Alphabet Soup.. 'you were paying the ferryman even after Chris said dont' and then of course the not Maude Gonne lyrics...

Your welcome, theyre definitely one of the most underrated bands in this country, and i've never wished as much success on a band as i do with the boys. They've made 4 quality albums with only limited success

It's a fantastic album and have been lucky enough to have been listening to it for the past month or so. It's some of the best stuff they've ever done. Actually one of my favourite songs from their acoustic shows last year isn't even on the album "Is That All There Is?" will apparently be one of 2 bonus tracks on the limited edition version of the album where you also get a t-shirt.

RebelRockChick

Have heard the album and I think it is great, although it took a few listens for some songs to grow on me. Saw them at the acoustic show in Cork back in October and 'Blow Ins' was the stand out song for me, which thankfully is on the album . But The Great Defector is definitely a strong first single from it.

Looking forward to seeing them again in March!

Pacifico

Burning Eclipse wrote: »

Sorry for digging up this thread, for anybody wanting to listen to the new single it can be found here

Great song, gotta love the guitar work

Sounds like a talking heads rip off to me

Not a particularly bad one though!

lordgoat

I actually thought it was the talking heads too for awhile at the start. I loved the new single. I like these guys alot. Keeping going at their own pace and doing their own thing.

Ian C

Nothing wrong with a bit of Talking Heads. Actually, the first time I heard the song I was reminded a little of Flaming Lips towards the beginning (but that was a live version of the song 2fm aired last summer). Looking forward to the album now, Paul Noonan is a sharp lyricist.

Creamy Goodness

wixfjord wrote: »

Cannot wait for this, one of the most underrated Irish bands of recent times imo.

Lamposts wrote: »

ditto

just listened to the new single, and if that is the sound of an under rated band then smack my ass and call me charlie.

it's bland, the chorus is not catchy and flat but after saying that this will sell by the bucket loads :rolleyes:

Corholio

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

just listened to the new single, and if that is the sound of an under rated band then smack my ass and call me charlie.

it's bland, the chorus is not catchy and flat but after saying that this will sell by the bucket loads :rolleyes:

It wont IMO, and thats a shame. It's a good single too but the boys can vary their styles like few other bands IMO. Opinions and all that, but i'd love to see them do commerically well with this album. EXtremely underrated would be a good description of Noonan and the lads.

wixfjord

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

just listened to the new single, and if that is the sound of an under rated band then smack my ass and call me charlie.

it's bland, the chorus is not catchy and flat but after saying that this will sell by the bucket loads :rolleyes:

I was basing my opinion on the first two albums which were very underrated and did not sell by the bucketload. Nothing to do with the new album or this single, which I am very dissapointed in by the way.

daveyjoe

Album will chart at number 1 in Ireland, that's a given but I'm guessing commercial success would mean at least top 10 in the UK and a few other bigger markets.

Lyrically, I love this album. It'll take a few more listens for me to decide if I love everything else about it but I definitely prefer it to Flock.

Also does anybody feel that 'One Stringed Harp' is about the goverment and the economy. I've got the image of Mary Harney picking her knickers from her arse! :-0

Thecageyone

Great band. Very solid. I always thought they had a bit of Talking heads in their sound anyhow, the new track does push it more so. Who cares?

They're very easy on the ear, very melodic and I love the quirky lyrics. If you don't like them , tough. Your loss really. Go back to listening to ****ing Coldplay or some other generic english bland-band.

insinkerator

Any body considering buying either the deluxe packge or the super deluxe. I would be plenty happy with just the poster and t-shirt. but i dont have the 56quid to blow on it:(

Ian C

The deluxe is only 25.

insinkerator

but it doesnt come with the poster and t-shirt

Ian C

It does come with the t-shirt: http://www.bellx1.com/Blue%20lights/packagesdescription.htm

whodoo

they managed to rip off not 1 but 2 talking heads songs and put it together to make a new song. thats talent.

Sútalún

whodoo wrote: »

they managed to rip off not 1 but 2 talking heads songs and put it together to make a new song. thats talent.

It would kinda make sense if you named what song you're talking about and what songs they apparently "ripped off" THs.

smackbunnybaby

Sútalún wrote: »

It would kinda make sense if you named what song you're talking about and what songs they apparently "ripped off" THs.

yeah come on and tell us!!!

whodoo

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

yeah come on and tell us!!!

take a listen to "and she was" and "wild wild life" by talking heads and then listen to "the great defecter" (the one thats on the radio every 4 1/2 minutes). let me know what u think

swoon

....... I am going to be David Byrne.

Does anyone think Paul Noonan is trying very hard to emulate Talking Heads on the new single .... ?

Sútalún

swoon wrote: »

....... I am going to be David Byrne.

Does anyone think Paul Noonan is trying very hard to emulate Talking Heads on the new single .... ?

:rolleyes: You the guy who posted above you's brother???

I don't really think they're similar at all. If anything some of his dancing and movements on stage might mirror Byrne's quircky nature. But that's not really relevant to their music. There's an influence there probably but name a band who wasn't influenced by another. Bell X1 are much much much more original then hundreds and thousands of more popular acts in the Uk and Ireland.

Sútalún

whodoo wrote: »

take a listen to "and she was" and "wild wild life" by talking heads and then listen to "the great defecter" (the one thats on the radio every 4 1/2 minutes). let me know what u think

I've heard all 3 songs before..
Wild Wild Life really bares no resemblence to TGD. And She Was maybe slightly with the drum and bass. But seriously..they hardly ripped the Talking Heads off..as you're implying.

whodoo

Sútalún wrote: »

I've heard all 3 songs before..
..they hardly ripped the Talking Heads off...

of course they haven't.....

Spider_Piglet

Check out this review....

http://www.tribune.ie/arts/music/article/2009/feb/01/cd-of-the-week-bell-x1/

"I know, I know... it's dangerously Talking Heads," writes Paul Noonan in the press release. He's referring to 'The Great Defector', the album's lead single.

red_ice

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Heard the new single on Phantom earlier, awful.

me to, sh1te

Ekels

Haven't listened to Bell X1 in ages and not sure if I like them at all anymore, but I think I'll still pick this up. That review sort of got me interested.

thebigcheese22

Anyone got it so?

It was out today, I like it - its a lot more mellow than Flock, and not as good (what could be?!) but its as good as could be expected with their guitarist leaving and stuff

JerryHandbag

Yeah I really like it....and I usually dont say that after one listen only! I like the way it chills out a bit near the end after gettin a bit loud in the middle...and I was waitin for that lyric "pullin her knickers from her arse like a one stringed harp"

They remind me more of Radiohead at times, rather than Talking Heads. They do have other influences you know, apart from David Byrnes crew :rolleyes:...

eamon234

Oh look they said "arse" in a song. They're mad they are.
Yawn. Still they'll always have a career as a Talking Heads tribute band.;)
I love the way Ian Dempsey goes nuts every time someone makes a negative comment about them. Is he one of their dads or something?
Oh and one more thing he seems to be a bit confused about the difference between a metal detector and an X-Ray machine why would an underwire bra set off an X-Ray machine?

Lainabaina

I'm waiting for my deluxe pack with tshirt to arrive in the post. RIP to road recs, they posted my signed copy of flock to me so it arrived on release day, not the week after, thanks to tower in the UK.

anyway, I've always loved the band but wasn't impressed by the great defector straight away. I've heard a few songs from it now, acoustic versions and radio sessions and all, and it sounds very different. Yeah, Paul Noonan has said it's very Talking Heads (are we gonna have an Oasis/Beatles thing now where that's the only thing that gets commented on?). I'm waiting to hear the whole thing; their strength, for those of us who liked them anyway, was always in the lyrics for me.