Erasure's - The Innocents 2009 Tracklisting Announced...

[StevePSB]

Jesus. How many warnings do some people need.

Drico.

More than enough. This user is now banned.


StevePSB

[Flaffer]

I always find it weird how Vince Clarke seemingly lost the ability to make original records overnight. He does seem to have a 'not give a shit/living in the past attitude' which has led to the mediocrity of erasures recent releases.

[Syncratic]

It struck me while watching the documentary and the Live at Royal Albert Hall DVD how there was some tension in their relationship. It was as if there was a take it or leave it approach. They used to really own the live circuit pre-1992 and although many of their tours and shows have had good moments since they tended to be less ambitous go into self-parody. I do like Erasure but I'm not blinkered enough to realise that a poor dead horse is being flogged and that much of their hysterical fan base are self-deluded.

For Vince's part he showed what a stylish and well received project could involve with the recent Yazoo shows.

For me Erasure seemed to lose their power and relevance with poor creative decisions, artwork, design and lazy, sentimental lyrics. There have been some flashes of brilliance in the last 15 years or so but not with enough consistency.
However from 'The Circus-Chorus' they were pretty much flawless.

[Patrick Bateman]

I think Vince should sack Andy and get a new singer like the Sugababes do.

[Radiophonic]

I think Vince should sack Andy and get a new singer like the Sugababes do.

Jimmy Somerville?

[Undertaker]

Boy George 2/1 favourite on Betfair.

[Bruno Republic]

For me Erasure seemed to lose their power and relevance with poor creative decisions, artwork, design and lazy, sentimental lyrics. There have been some flashes of brilliance in the last 15 years or so but not with enough consistency.

Agreed. I thought the first four songs off of Nightbird were brilliant, and I Say I Say I Say has some great moments, but for the most part, I think they both lost the plot sometime around 1991.

Vince was keeping up with the times until Chorus, at which point he decided he wanted to emulate pre-Dare Human League and turned the clock back to 1978. He's pretty much been there ever since. The man has (or had?) a massive collection of synthesizers, yet nearly everything he does sounds tinny and cheesy, like a ringtone on a mobile phone circa 2000.

At about the same time, Andy started recycling the same lyrical ideas to the point that I'm wondering if he's using some sort of online lyric generator, one that throws in phrases like "falling", "our love is real", "in your arms", "I'm a fool", "tears", "angel", and "kitchen window". Hard to believe that once upon a time, he wrote lyrics about actual things and situations, and not vague rambling love essays that are completely lacking in passion.

[Danger]

I think Vince should sack Andy and get a new singer like the Sugababes do.

You really make me laugh You can't compare a commercial phenomenon like Sugababes (that are like a football team, the name remains the people comes and goes) to Erasure it would be like compare Girls Aloud to PSB, Andy and Vince are a historical duo and if one of them will say stop the band will end, like always happened.
Anyway, I'm interested to the new released, they've worked with several interesting remixers like Almighty and Frankmusik.
For who says that they don't release anymore great songs, go to listen Storm In A Teacup, Fly Away and Glass Angel from the last studio album. Even the PSB songwriting is not always on the top, Fundamental had great lyrics while Yes more banal and simple in several songs.
I think that people that hates Erasure but writes in the topics about them is because in the deep of their souls they love them and are very excited for every new release, don't be shy and make your coming out as Erasure fans

[JSDOUVRES]

People's hate for Erasure is just for feel good factor, Makes them feel better about PSB to mock Erasure for some reason!
They still make fantastic records and the thing that get's me is when people say they have not advanced and their music is too 80's or whatever, Well great, that's what they are best at and what people like the most, I just wish PSB would try to sound a bit more 80's too!
I agree with Danger that they have made some great records the last few years but people prefer to look through that and have a go at Andy Bell than appriciate the music, which is just bizarre!

[Danger]

I agree with Danger that they have made some great records the last few years

Even if their shows are always ruled by 80's songs...
I think that PSB should make some more 80's songs too, I'm agree with you.

[Bruno Republic]

People's hate for Erasure is just for feel good factor, Makes them feel better about PSB to mock Erasure for some reason!

I don't hate them -- in fact, I own most of their albums and singles -- but I really cannot escape the feeling that they've been on auto-pilot for ages. Most of what they've done in the past 18 years sounds like outtakes from Chorus.

That they haven't changed their sound at all isn't so much an issue. Well, it is in terms of mainstream success, because people have no reason to buy their newer works if they sound the same as the older ones... but an established fan base would welcome more of the same, if it was at least of consistent quality.

The trouble is, so much of what they've done is well below the baseline they set for themselves back in the 80s. It's hard to define exactly what is so wrong, because one falls on highly subjective terms like "uninspired", "forgettable", "lacking in passion". But really, with a few exceptions, there's just nothing about the material that grabs me... or most other people, apparently. There are moments when everything comes together (like "Breathe"), but they are few and far between. The few times they've gone outside of their standard formulas (Other People's Songs, Union Street) well, things just didn't click.

With PSB, I think their songwriting has been consistently excellent, and often better than what they were doing at the height of their success. I know people who dismissed Yes as "more of the same", and in a sense they're right, but it's at least as good as Actually or Please. When I hear Loveboat or The Light At The End Of The Universe, I can't help but to think how much weaker these albums are compared to The Innocents.

So, I'm really not comparing Erasure to PSB... I'm comparing Erasure to themselves. I just can't think of most of their recent work as great, because they themselves have done better.

[Undertaker]

People's hate for Erasure is just for feel good factor, Makes them feel better about PSB to mock Erasure for some reason!

I don't hate them -- in fact, I own most of their albums and singles -- but I really cannot escape the feeling that they've been on auto-pilot for ages. Most of what they've done in the past 18 years sounds like outtakes from Chorus.

That they haven't changed their sound at all isn't so much an issue. Well, it is in terms of mainstream success, because people have no reason to buy their newer works if they sound the same as the older ones... but an established fan base would welcome more of the same, if it was at least of consistent quality.

The trouble is, so much of what they've done is well below the baseline they set for themselves back in the 80s. It's hard to define exactly what is so wrong, because one falls on highly subjective terms like "uninspired", "forgettable", "lacking in passion". But really, with a few exceptions, there's just nothing about the material that grabs me... or most other people, apparently. There are moments when everything comes together (like "Breathe"), but they are few and far between. The few times they've gone outside of their standard formulas (Other People's Songs, Union Street) well, things just didn't click.

With PSB, I think their songwriting has been consistently excellent, and often better than what they were doing at the height of their success. I know people who dismissed Yes as "more of the same", and in a sense they're right, but it's at least as good as Actually or Please. When I hear Loveboat or The Light At The End Of The Universe, I can't help but to think how much weaker these albums are compared to The Innocents.

So, I'm really not comparing Erasure to PSB... I'm comparing Erasure to themselves. I just can't think of most of their recent work as great, because they themselves have done better.

Cracking post there, Bruno. As well as being too samey for years, i think theit lyrics are pretty poor. Pining for love all the time. Maybe they should ask someone to write a few songs for them, see how they get on with it.

[JSDOUVRES]

The trouble is that as far as I am concerned the PSB have also not been as good since the 80's or early 90's, and if you believe that everything they do now sounds like an out-take from Chorus, then great, what a fantastic album that was, but I just don't see it myself. Have you people actually heard Cowboy or Nightbird?

[Bruno Republic]

Have you people actually heard Cowboy or Nightbird?

I own both. Cowboy has some decent songs, but there's just not enough to make it really shine IMHO. I love the opening track, but the only other one that really stands out is the bonus track cover of "Magic Moments".

The first four songs off Nightbird are excellent; easily the best they'd done in years despite their now-typical aimless lyrics. Unfortunately the rest of the album falls flat.

[JSDOUVRES]

Have you people actually heard Cowboy or Nightbird?

I own both. Cowboy has some decent songs, but there's just not enough to make it really shine IMHO. I love the opening track, but the only other one that really stands out is the bonus track cover of "Magic Moments".

The first four songs off Nightbird are excellent; easily the best they'd done in years despite their now-typical aimless lyrics. Unfortunately the rest of the album falls flat.

Pretty normal kind of response to most albums by most artists I would say, although I don't agree that Nightbird has only 4 good songs on it. Generally there are always 4-5 songs on an album people like the most, reading the reviews of "Yes" it seems many people here feel the same with PSB too!
Normal, no, or Erasure only allowed to be judged on the songs you don't like?