Third album - your expectations?

[velvetgirl]

So I just read here in the news that they are working on a third album. I think they will release it quite fast, maybe next year if everything runs well. That would be amazing.

However, what are your expectations and your wishes for the new album? Same style as Radio Wars, a further development or even a step back to the debut?

I would like a mix of everything, a further development is important for a growing band but they should stick to their rock elements and to their edgy melodies. There is always a danger of getting to cheesy when a band works with big melodies, but I think they are aware of that and will handle it.

[chrome3d]

Something new and unheard whatever direction that may be. I think they might have that kind of drive in them.

[blade]

"Wanna try and hone into all that energy and create something big and melodic and raw. Slinking away from machines more than ever....it's a complex love affair this band has with technology."

So they say on Myspace. Slinking away from machines? What's that mean? Less electro, fewer effects and moog thingies (don't know the right description!), more 'ordinary' guitars? I think I'd prefer that.

[velvetgirl]

They even have a vision in which direction their next album will go yet - that's a good sign for an early release!!!

Meaningful statement of them - especially the part that they want to create something "melodic and raw" at the same time. That's the kind of music I enjoy the most. I'm also looking forward for the "slinking away from the machines", maybe there are aware that they overdid it a bit on Radio Wars. To me the "slinking away" also sounds like they don't want to get away from the electronic effects completely - we will see...

[blade]

I wouldn’t say this is an ‘expectation’ and I don’t think I would want it to happen, but I wondered if they might consider letting Joel loose on the old microphone. Don’t forget that Joel sang lead vocals on two tracks on the Waikiki album “I’m Already Home” (Lucky and Beautiful Picture) and he also sang on another Waikiki song called On The Road, but only live as it never made it on to record.

And Joel once said (still in the days of Waikiki), “I’ve just started to actually love singing, I used to be terrified. Juanita would have to force me on stage at gunpoint and I had to do it, even though I knew (my singing) wasn’t going to be good.” Juanita responded by joking she would threaten not to play if Joel wouldn’t sing.

I don’t know if Howling Bells have ever considered writing any songs specifically for Joel to sing. It would certainly be a different direction but I hope it won’t happen because Juanita’s voice is one of the things that makes Howling Bells unique. With Joel on vocals they’d become similar to many other bands that have indistinguishable male lead singers.

[saturnine]

I like the idea of "melodic and raw". Those are a few words I would choose to describe their first album. Of course, any new direction the band takes would be welcomed by me. It's healthy for the longevity of the band to incorporate new musical styles into their own original sound. Bands get boring when it's the same old formula.

I hope Joel doesn't sing on any of the Howling Bells' albums. His voice does not seem to fit the style.


Off topic: Does anyone know who sang the duet with Juanita on In the Woods?

[blade]

It was Joel. He's the only one of the others credited with vocals on the album sleeve.

[saturnine]

Really? That's surprising. I didn't really like his singing in the Waikiki music videos. Whatever he did differently worked great on that song.

[velvetgirl]

If Joel sang one or two songs on the next record I would not have anything against it. Still Joel is a fabulous guitar player and Juanita one of the best singers in the scene, so cobbler, stick to your trade.

Anyway I always liked Joel's background vocals and his singing on "In the woods"...their two voices go so well together - no surprise eventually they are siblings. They should do more duets like this.

[blade]

Off topic, but talking of Juanita's duets, if anyone hasn't seen this thread:

howlingbells.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=howlingbellsgeneral&action=display&thread=144

take a peek and you will see that she sang on two songs with The Givegoods and one with On Inc. The links are now dead so if anyone hasn't got them and wants to hear them let me know and I'll re-upload them.

There's also the duet she did with brother Ari (called LA to San Fran), the still-alive link for which is here:

www.megaupload.com/?d=RDGSR13I

And then there's the live duet Juanita did with Tom Smith of Editors. I think that's on Youtube.

[cyn]

Oct 31, 2009 23:41:16 GMT blade said:

take a peek and you will see that she sang on two songs with The Givegoods and one with On Inc. The links are now dead so if anyone hasn't got them and wants to hear them let me know and I'll re-upload them.

I'm dying to hear those songs!

thanks once again blade

[houdini]

a freind of mine emailed me that she saw the bells play in melb to a packed house. The amazing thing is they played a few new no's and according to my friend they blew here away - she said the no's (she forgets the titles) were reminiscent of the Doors, old Fleetwood mac and Joel was doing some amazing "hendrix-y" solos. So yes I can't wait and am very excited. It looks like a complete about face from Radio Wars. Im feeling they have got a sharp focus this time...can't wait. Want some good music on the airwaves

[velvetgirl]

Dec 6, 2009 2:04:17 GMT houdini said:

a freind of mine emailed me that she saw the bells play in melb to a packed house. The amazing thing is they played a few new no's and according to my friend they blew here away - she said the no's (she forgets the titles) were reminiscent of the Doors, old Fleetwood mac and Joel was doing some amazing "hendrix-y" solos. So yes I can't wait and am very excited. It looks like a complete about face from Radio Wars. Im feeling they have got a sharp focus this time...can't wait. Want some good music on the airwaves

that sounds great - by hearing this I assume that the new album will be totally different from the first and the second one...

[mattchew]

Alright, sounds good. I hope it's released as early as spring and they tour it in the summer.

I just kinda wish they would be a little more adventurous with their live sets by straying away from what is wrote note for note. They got all these great songs with great hooks and melodies, songs that already when played live can be tweaked around and expanded upon. That's my feeling anyways. I'm really looking forward to the new release though.

[blade]

Here's a new interview with Juanita from Aussie "Rave" magazine in which she talks about the new album:

www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/18345/30/

The most interesting bit: "We are hoping to make something very melodic but very raw this time – and we’re definitely keeping away from using technology! It’s really tricky because you can get a bit carried away with technology but just because it works doesn’t mean you should completely get lost in it! Radio Wars gave us the chance to explore that side of things and it was a very different experience than the first album. This time around we’ve come out wanting to return to a much more organic state.”

She also talks about touring North and South America, the latter being good news for our member Cyn from Argentina!