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Tales of Us: Rank the Songs (Best to Worst)
  • Vote Up1Vote Down JoeyJoey
    Posts: 197
    I know that this is a little early for some of us, but for those of you who have heard the album, how would you rank the songs?
    I had a king in a tenement castle, lately he's taken to painting the pastel walls brown. He's taken the curtains down. He's swept with the broom of contempt, and the rooms have an empty ring. He's cleaned with the tears of an actor who fears for the laughter's sting...
  • 78 Comments sorted by
  • Vote Up0Vote Down LowLow
    Posts: 901
    Oof, couldn't possibly do this until I've heard it in good quality.

  • Vote Up0Vote Down mode_devotionmode_devotion
    Posts: 659

    Low said:

    Oof, couldn't possibly do this until I've heard it in good quality.



    Same here.
    Though we may deserve it, it will be worth it.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down chokkachokka
    Posts: 744
    I need a few months with it first......

    But right now...

    1. Drew.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down Jozzy81Jozzy81
    Posts: 3,214
    ^ as above :)
    Just Keep Things Simple.....
    Love Goldfrapp.....
  • Vote Up0Vote Down MrReasonableMrReasonable
    Posts: 0
    I like so much  of the album but - like others - i want to hear it in good quality.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down SparkySparky
    Posts: 331
    SPOILERS APLENTY! 

    All the tracks are earworms for me now so I'm trying not to over listen. This must be the honeymoon phase and I want it to last.

    1 DREW. Cold bed, glowing memories. Impossible not to get swept away on this one. The verse is so intimate, it's like waking up next to Alison and listening to her dreams. Soaring and cinematic in the chorus. The bittersweet thrill of reading old love letters. Echoes of Nancy Sinatra. A modern classic.

    2 STRANGER. Gave me chills at The Albert Hall (certain members of the audience were welling up) and transports me now. Love the banjo/koto motif. Magical, classical songwriting in the style of Ennio Morricone and Scott Walker. Straight back to the 60s. The song which inspires one-word reviews of the album - 'beautiful'.

    3 CLAY: Have to be careful how often I listen to this one. It's a kind of gently galloping anthem, playful cellos dancing over a real heart-breaker. Just builds with hope in the face of doom. It's the silence which follows the last note which makes me shiver. Gulp. Funny but I always get something in my eye when I hear this. A stately elegy for a lost soldier. Quietly stunning.

    4 ULLA: The theme to White Horses! This is dust in the sunbeams. Like a sequel to Drew. Again, classic sixties-style songwriting. Ponderous, reflective and with an uplifting chorus.

    5 JO: The opening of a child's book of fairytales, spellbinding Satie piano, innocent dread. An unsettling opener. Stunned silence for a few seconds after this one was performed live.

    6 ANNABEL: Lilting lullaby, magnificently crafted song. Goldfrapp have matured in their songwriting and this is effortless sophistication. Strong enough to be a movie theme.

    7 LAUREL: Unusual structure, this one. A verse of chanting incantations, and a prayer-like chorus. The sense of dread deepens. There is a signature vein of regret and sorrow which matures here in this homage to Felt Mountain.

    8 SIMONE: It's turning into a horror movie. This is the prowling shadow of the album, Alison growling like a big cat. 'You're insatiable' is probably her sexiest vocal yet, and the final hiss of 'Simone' is so sinister as to be positively murderous. Songs like this and Clay show a new versatility to a voice we all thought we knew so well.

    9 THEA: Roisin Murphy meets Blondie. On a horse. This is Boudicea galloping into battle. A pounding war cry, impatient for blood. This and Alvar seem to belong to a different album.

    10 ALVAR: The afterburn of Seventh Tree, this seems like a Pagan ritual, wreathes of lyrics and mandolins. 'A song of wolves baying loud.' A sense of foreboding. The horses are restless.

    *These are my impressions after quite a few listens. I may or may not be in possession of the leaked album or I may be clairvoyant. I don't condone piracy and will be buying myself a yummy box set, and the movie when it comes out.
    Post edited by Sparky at 2013-08-06 07:06:10

    image
  • Vote Up0Vote Down VesperVesper
    Posts: 126
    I think I won't be able to rank the songs for this album... It's barely impossible.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down bRuud83bRuud83
    Posts: 6
    I have only heard Drew and that is a lovely song. I saw the album has already leaked, but I'll wait till the official release. Just one month away.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down tvpatroltvpatrol
    Posts: 33
    Loved your review Sparky, brilliantly descriptive, I can't wait to get intimate with Tales of Us...just over a month to go...*sigh* I can't wait to hear it.
  • Vote Up0Vote Down LowLow
    Posts: 901

    4 ULLA: The theme to White Horses! This is dust in the sunbeams. Like a sequel to Drew.


    Good to know I'm not the only one who thought this! The string melody also reminded me of Drew a bit in certain parts. Goldfrapp don't really seem to do songs that are direct continuations of others (unfortunately) but I think this is as close as they'll get.

  • Vote Up0Vote Down JulesJules
    Posts: 32
    Sparky, thanks for that. If anyone should do spoilers you are unsurpassed example;-D
    Your observations really enriched the feeling of album that I already love deeply and faithfully.
    Always good to read such stuff.
    I must finally check that legendary White Horses theme.
    I must say that for me Ulla is very compatible with Alvar so the latter fits very well.
    And with Thea there really is sense of completing Jo in a way,at least for me and that song has a special place in the album;-D
    Post edited by Jules at 2013-08-06 11:02:10
  • Vote Up0Vote Down rewakrewak
    Posts: 830
    Simone
    Annabel
    Thea
    Drew
    Clay
    Stranger
    Jo
    Laurel
    Ulla
    Alvar
  • Vote Up0Vote Down react010react010
    Posts: 114
    1 Jo
    2 Drew
    3     Clay
    4     Annabel
    5 Laurel
    6 Stranger
    7     Ulla
    8 Thea
    9 Simone
    10 Alvar

    Could be totally different @ release as they are all growers.
    Welcome back to great form Goldfrapp !. love ya x.
    (plz consider doing another live date in Rotterdam, Netherlands... you've skipped it twice since 2008 and i know you love this city -reading your twitter in january when you visited here, great pics you made an all-).
    Post edited by react010 at 2013-08-08 00:51:39
    FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/richard.deboer.560
  • Vote Up0Vote Down Jozzy81Jozzy81
    Posts: 3,214
    i'll let you know after a couple of months need time.. :)
    Just Keep Things Simple.....
    Love Goldfrapp.....
  • Vote Up0Vote Down paperosbronzopaperosbronzo
    Posts: 0
    Ulla
    Alvar
    Laurel
    Clay
    Simone
    Annabel
    Stranger
    Drew
    Jo
    Thea
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