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IAN ASTBURY Says There Will Be No New THE CULT Album
- July 7, 2009
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Doug Pullen of ElPasoTimes.com recently conducted an interview with THE CULT frontman Ian Astbury. A few excerpts from the chat follow below. On THE CULT's "Love" album: "I think out of all THE CULT albums, it was the one that wasn't made with an agenda in the sense that when the band first formed it was formed out of a love of music. It wasn't sort of a careerist venture. It was never meant to be a job or an occupation. It was just driven by the love of music. As the course of the band progressed and we got to the 'Electric' album, the agenda was to follow up 'Love', and we got in that cycle of touring and making records. "Something that's really interesting, being that young and not having that kind of perspective, we didn't realize we were doing anything to run out of energy or run out of fuel. But when you tour he way we used to tour and record and tour an album, it just didn't stop. We did that for 12 years and the wheels just go off and you're putting the pieces back together." On the current state of rock music: "Rock 'n' roll now is pretty much in the garbage. It's barely alive. Everybody has taken from it. Nobody has given back. There are a very few who have given back. It's a very selfish occupation. A lot of people never really returned. That's why we have a lot of pastiche and we have a lot of artists who are never involved beyond their sophomore albums. It's a travesty." On whether THE CULT has been working on material for a new album: "There will be no new album. I don't think we'll ever see a CULT album. Albums are dead. The format is dead. iTunes destroyed albums. The whole idea of an album. Albums were established in the '70s and '80s and into the '90s, but they've been dead for a long time. Nobody buys albums. It's been proven. It's an arcane format, as much as the 78 rpm or writing sheet music for an orchestra. It's an old form and, for me, it's much more about if we have a great song we really believe in, then we'll record it and release it." "For me, the idea of making albums is dead. The idea of spending a year and a half in the studio arguing over agendas and trying to fit into a format that's settled before we started the creative process (is unappealing)." On "Guitar Hero": "I've been talking to some bands and they'll say, 'Aren't you excited for people to discover your music through 'Guitar Hero'?' No. That's not the way to discover music in a contemporary format that's pop. If you are in the music business, you should consider that as an end result to introduce people to music." On the band's approach to recording and touring: "We choose what we want to do. We have our criteria in terms of we're offered so much work and so many opportunities but those things don't interest me any more. What interests me is going to woodshed, create music that I'm proud of and keep the door open to guerilla gigs. "We don't have a record deal and I'm completely fine with that. We have a body of work ... but THE CULT started as a live band. We still have that and we are engaged in that." Read more from ElPasoTimes.com.
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COMMENT | Well thats too bad
posted by :
7/7/2009 7:17:11 AM
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I'll just go on ignoring all their other albums then.
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COMMENT | Damn..
posted by :
7/7/2009 7:18:02 AM
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Am I the only one left that buys Cds and checks out the booklet and reads the lyrics.
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COMMENT | smart man
posted by :
7/7/2009 7:38:50 AM
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he understands what is going on around him and is adapting, instead of spending millions to make a studio and a producer and an engineer and whoever else a paycheck.
An artist taking control.
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COMMENT |
posted by : jeffgq
7/7/2009 7:40:14 AM
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thought they were opening up for LED ZEPPELIN this year?? Huh Ian?
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COMMENT | Hard rock fans...
posted by : KISSOFF 2004
7/7/2009 7:58:19 AM
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...may prefer the Electric or Sonic Temple albums, but for my money, Love is hands down the best record they ever made. Great stuff...
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COMMENT | No Cult album
posted by :
7/7/2009 7:59:49 AM
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After listening to their last album I think this is good news. What a big disappointment that was!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/7/2009 8:06:48 AM
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I still buy cd's too Atomkey. But I didnt really like the last Cult album anyway, so I'd rather hear one good song by them than 10 or 12 shit ones. and I don't think Dreamtime was made with an "agenda" either. thats a good album but alot of people who think the Cult is all hard rock wouldnt like it. and the "lost" Peace album is pretty fucking cool too if you can find a way to hear it.
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COMMENT | Atomkey
posted by :
7/7/2009 8:15:33 AM
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You're not alone, I only want the real silver pressed cd's in a jewelcase.
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COMMENT |
posted by : mr. moof
7/7/2009 8:17:15 AM
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What a lame cop-out. I buy many full albums on iTunes. If the songs are good, you buy the whole thing.
Don't blame your creative drying-up on the rest of the world, pinhead.
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COMMENT |
posted by : mrsromek
7/7/2009 8:27:52 AM
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Um....who cares?
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COMMENT | For Rockers, Ravers, Lovers & Sinners
posted by : Motley_Croatia
7/7/2009 8:40:22 AM
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The Cult is great rock band, I'm a huge fan, Sweet Soul Sister is one of the best songs I ever heard!
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COMMENT | The Painless
posted by :
7/7/2009 8:47:35 AM
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what a whiner...
god how pathetic ..
no nnew album ................deal with it
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COMMENT | Come on!
posted by : Blackthorned
7/7/2009 8:57:04 AM
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I fail to see how Ian has 'given back' so much - he's been arsing about trying to be Jim Morrison for the last ten years and the last Cult album was an absolute stinker.
Love, Electric… Sonic Temple to some degree, even the 'lost' Peace album are superb – I'll give him that and Billy Duffy has always been a cool guy but Astbury rants like he's got this undisputed legendary legacy that's free of pastiche. Is that really the case?
Some might have the right to talk down to the current generation of rock bands but I don't think Ian Astbury is one of them. You just can't write off every current rock band like that and not look like an ostrich with his head in the sand - not when you're own recent output consists of cod spiritualist drivel.
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COMMENT | Straight to the point
posted by :
7/7/2009 9:02:44 AM
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Very well put. Ian has never been one to pull punches, I agree with him about the record industry. The Cult are a great rock band, actually one of the best ever, and their live show is amazing. Although I wasnt big on the last release, it had its moments. There is still a ton of great songs by this band, and I have no problem seeing them live again without a new album to support.
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COMMENT | totalstranger
posted by :
7/7/2009 9:04:01 AM
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The lost "peace" album is on the -RARE CULT- boxset. That is a cool fuckin' package that is well worth the money. Buy it used on Amazon if you can't find it anywhere new because I doubt there was a mass printing of it.
I too still buy albums. I bought every Cult album although I was far impressed with the last 3. Those records still had some good songs on them, but they just didn't flow like a classic Cult album.
"Dreamtime" is really cool, but "Love" was their best album in my opinion.
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COMMENT | STFU
posted by : Smashed dicks
7/7/2009 9:05:50 AM
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Ian Astbury: crap live performer and a shitty singer live. I'm pissed on me to have read this garbage of news.
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COMMENT | Love
posted by : BSlash24
7/7/2009 9:26:01 AM
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some truths that he speaks about the record industry, but if he had 10+ songs worth releasing, the CD concept is still viable. Its a semi cop out, but if he's now just a legacy act, then fine. I like the Cult, but there's really not much of a demand for any new music by them on the whole, that's the issue. Some hard core fans, otherwise, even if they release a great CD, it would unfortunately go relatively unheard.
Love is a great album. I wore it out in the 80's. But the production is extremely dated in my opinion. Good songs pulled under by over reverbed, alternative style production...though that does work on She sells Sanctuary. ...They seemed like a band always searching for their identity...Alternative, Cure like band, AC/DC style, then Big Rock.
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COMMENT | Stupid
posted by :
7/7/2009 9:26:49 AM
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Bands nowadays release albums in order to tour, Ian. Will you still play greatest hits sets or your old albums in tours for the next 10 years? Then people will laugh at you. Another one of your non-calculated comments.
Born Into This was great, Beyond Good And Evil was even better, and now we have this bullshit comment that destroys everything... as usual. Proof that Ian never understood what they are. Never understood why people love The Cult and why they became fans in the first place. He keeps living in his own shell, hating most of his band's legacy and whenever he wants to come to terms with it, he tries to transform / mutate it into something that'll suit his terms: check out "Ceremony", the album in which he ruined The Cult's career.
If only someone could take the control of the band from Ian and give it to Billy Duffy. Then we'd have a modern Sonic Temple!!
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COMMENT | as usual, BM takes a statement out of context and uses it for the title of the article
posted by : rous
7/7/2009 9:36:01 AM
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the only reason he said "no new album" is because they won't release it in the full 12-song cd format. Just like Billy Pumpkin. He's still writing music, just will release it song by song. Which is exactly, UNFORTUNATELY, the way it is.
And yes, Atomkey, I still buy cd's too. I also love flipping through the booklet and reading the liner notes. I only use iTunes for non-album singles and things like that.
iTunes has only killed albums for people who listen to pop music. And how short sighted, to not want to use his music on Guitar Hero. That's a no-brainer business venture. It's introducing the next generation of music fans to your music. You're cutting your own legacy in half (if not worse) by choosing not to do that. My guess is he hasn't been asked, so he's saving face.
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COMMENT | pastiche? who's he think he's fooling?
posted by : Edmund Fitzgerald
7/7/2009 9:45:52 AM
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Saw the "Electric" tour and have hated this band ever since. Phony Doors and AC/DC. Ian Astbury's nothing if he isn't a pastiche.
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COMMENT | Damn BSlash...
posted by : KISSOFF 2004
7/7/2009 9:50:23 AM
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...I've always been fond of the production on LOVE. That's the sound of The Cult to me. They had their own thing with that (mixing goth, psych and hard rock), before (like you said) they went searching for other variations. I even like the Steve Brown produced tracks from the Dream sessions that Rubin later re-worked for the Electric album.
More love for Brown, seek out his work on the vastly underrated "Live Free or Die" album by Balaam and the Angel. Great, great stuff.
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COMMENT | ...........
posted by :
7/7/2009 10:03:12 AM
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I'm only 27 and I BUY cds all the damn time. I prefer it. I enjoy buying the cd and just having that art in my hands. I have downloaded but ehh it's just not the same .... also the quality is off.
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COMMENT | The Cult
posted by :
7/7/2009 10:06:42 AM
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Had about 5 or 6 songs worth listening to over 4 albums. They were decent live, a good band. But they were never great. I think Ian Astbury has always been bitter about that. Felt that his place in rock history should be higher then it was. But they never quite got it together. They never had their "Black Album", their "British Steel", or even their "Disintigration". The Cult were a Septemember callup that did okay in long relief, but never got a permanaent job in the bullpen, let alone the starting rotation. They will be remembered by genre fans for for a couple of moments, but most of record buying public never knew who they were. Even back then. This is why he's bitter about albums, because he knows that 50k copies is the most they'll move worldwide, and that ain't enough to get out of the clubs.
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COMMENT |
posted by : TheEagle
7/7/2009 10:07:15 AM
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Experience speaks, listen kids!
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COMMENT |
posted by : eatmetalforlife
7/7/2009 10:13:23 AM
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no new cult album ever, that's sad. their last one didn't do anything for me like the self-titled stinker album. everything else, including ceremony i love.
i buy cds and read the booklets as well, then go on line to read more about the band/cd or vice versa. i don't own an ipod and i hate downloading music. if every band starts recording music for downloads and not releasing them as actual albums that will spell the end of audiophiles.
i collect all cds i buy including the ugly ones. i don't get rid of them for a reason: to teach me a lesson for me not to buy another crapy cd like that.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/7/2009 10:27:26 AM
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I still buy vinyl....
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COMMENT | mcman71
posted by :
7/7/2009 10:30:18 AM
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They would have become one of the biggest rock bands after Sonic Temple, if Ian didn't fuck it all up. They were getting bigger and bigger with each album, Love > Electric > Sonic Temple. Sonic Temple was their most successful with 4 singles including their biggest hit Fire Woman. It was produced stellarly by Bob Rock.
But guess what happened? Ian gets a dominant girlfriend, lets her control over his life, gains weight, drinks a lot, loses his voice and along with it, his grasp of reality!
Already spoiled by success, he decides that they became sell-outs with Sonic Temple (like they didn't sell out already with Love and Electric, turning into a goth rock band first and an AC/DC clone next!), and decides to record a more experimental (shitty) album. And gives us Ceremony, the album which Duffy and Astbury recorded seperately, not even talking to each other.
In one hand Astbury is never comfortable with being a big band with huge sales... On the other hand he is never satisfied with being a band with a cult following.
What does he REALLY want??
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COMMENT | disintegrating man
posted by : BSlash24
7/7/2009 10:44:53 AM
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I think the Cult got swept away in the grunge thing as well. While they weren't hair metal, even their style of big rock on Sonic Temple was also on the outs. Bad timing. Not to mention less quality releases.
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COMMENT | BSlash24
posted by :
7/7/2009 10:54:45 AM
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They would have changed their style accordingly to the times though. i.e. closer to grunge. It wasn't anything new for the band since they changed styles with each album. But Astbury didn't want to "follow" with "Ceremony", instead he wanted to "lead", and it didn't work.
They tried to suit the times with the next LP "The Cult", but it was so extreme that it didn't sound like themselves at all. Disillusioned, he disbanded the band altogether.
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COMMENT | True
posted by : BSlash24
7/7/2009 10:59:44 AM
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I agree with that, but they were labeled as "big rock", so even changing their style, it was too late. And by doing so, watered them down further. Pick a direction, stick with it, during changing times, give it time, things come around, but as you said, they didn't....I remember rock radio in Boston going new "alternative" & those bands not getting any radio play. Ceremony had a song that got played like a week, & gone.
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COMMENT | If you want to buy a cd
posted by : SLUTKITCHEN
7/7/2009 11:08:51 AM
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Then go buy Electric or Beyond Good and Evil by the Cult if you don't already have them. They are Great Rock Records! Billy Duffy's guitar live and on record are the driving force behind this band for me. Duffy always brings it!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/7/2009 11:18:58 AM
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The Cult IS a great band, among the other great ones. Ceremony, which I like, didn't follow up the pattern from S. Temple and that was a step down, not to mention the internal demons inside of the band and Ian itself. I saw them live in Barcelona last year, touring the Born Into This album; AWESOME. Great place, not a club (I wouldn't mind), neither an arena (I hate "Festival like" zillion people like sardines in a can when to see the band you have to watch the big screens or that, get crushed by the crowd if you want to see them decently).
I not only still buying cd's, I've never stopped buying vinyl and like other said I don't have an Ipod. All that itunes thing and mp3 formats are convenient, I agree, but it's not a tangible thing and if artists are going to begin making a living dropping one song from time to time well, I guess that REAL artists are not going to take it or will be an especies on their way to extinction.
Finally, I couldn't be in more dissagreement with the guy who says that you can only take 5 or 6 good songs out of 4 Cult's albums. I respect your opinion, but if you really believe that man, you are critical at the most with music, I mean, what do you like? As demanding as you may seem, look real diffiCULT to most bands to fullfill your requirements. I think that the most weak album from The Cult will kick the ass of most of the new releases (and not so new also) from all those bands that are around now, of course, that's just my humble opinion.
The Cult is a great band, much better that some that got more fame and that some that are still around today. Very distictive and appealing voice, and a very good guitar work, great riffs and solos. Most people will kill to have a catalogue like them. Bye.
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COMMENT |
posted by : madeinquebec
7/7/2009 11:21:13 AM
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Went downhill after CEREMONY... Should've kept doing RNR.
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COMMENT | VanBasten
posted by : BSlash24
7/7/2009 11:29:50 AM
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gotta agree with you, Love, Electric, ST, you can drop the needle on those albums & let 'em go. I sort of lost touch after that, but have heard good & evil, a friend swears by it. A band that seemed a bit confused I guess.
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COMMENT | I still buy CDs.......
posted by : Neil Young's Cocaine Booger
7/7/2009 11:49:47 AM
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gotta support the bands I like and respect.
Even though I hardly listen to them, I did buy the last 2 Cult CDs....but I am more likely to listen to Sonic Temple or Electric.
As long as the Cult continue to tour, I am there!!!!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/7/2009 12:21:17 PM
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shit man, Ian had me freaked out there. The way I interpret that is that they are still open to making music, just not in the traditional format of an album cycle. He never said there will never be any new material from The Cult ever again, which had me flipping out until I read the piece all the way through.
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COMMENT | AtomKey
posted by : padlok
7/7/2009 12:25:30 PM
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I'm still an album guy. I still enjoy the whole package of the music, the cover art, and lyrics. It's sad that it's slowly dying. I never got into Pink Floyd until the last year or so when I finally sat down and listened to a few of the albums from beginning to end. It all made sense to me then. Sure Have a Cigar was a cool song but I don't have the urge to just hear that song. I prefer to put on an album that's good and listen from beginning to end. Soon we'll be making playlists of songs released here and there and they will sound like songs just thrown together for a best of CD. Best of's are cool for bands I'm not really that into but they rarely flow from song to song like a single statement.
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COMMENT | vanbasten24
posted by :
7/7/2009 12:30:47 PM
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I guess we have to agree to disagree. For starters, I don't find myself overly critical of bands. I just think the Cult never realized their full potential. They never released that record that defined their time period. They never hit the level of GNR or Metallica. They never put out records as strong as AIC or Soundgarden. To me, Sonic Temple was on a par with Badmotorfinger, but they never were able to pull it together and come up with their Superunknown. As far as new bands that are doing what The Cult couldn't, you need to look no further thaus.n Shinedown. They have consistently improved with each release, and the new one is just phenomenal. It's too bad the recording industry is in the shape it is, because Shinedown deserves mega stat
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COMMENT | Albums
posted by :
7/7/2009 12:31:24 PM
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I'm 29 and I still buy CD's and records. I have over 3000 CD's and over 1000 records. I love having that shit.
Sucks that Ian feels that way...would love for a new Cult album. It would make up for the last one they put out which wasn't all that great.
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COMMENT | mcman71
posted by :
7/7/2009 12:50:23 PM
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Thanks for the tip, heard of them but never listen to (I will). Bye.
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COMMENT | !!!
posted by :
7/7/2009 1:56:11 PM
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great band but he's right, most people dont buy albums anymore just listen to the shitty "hits" and say the band are great, how can a band be great if they just have one fucking song????
and usually the hits are the worst songs on a rock album or at least far from the best ones. think they just need to fint a cheaper format or something then maybe people will start buying again. but its great to have the artwork and check out who produces the album and so on. i found many bands in the 90's just because i saw Terry Date produced them for example.
but i agree the last Cult album was just ok, but still better then most of the crap on the charts.
but also people have so many other things to do then just sit and realy listen to the music, thats a big fault too.
in the 70's friends gathered together and realy listened to the new Sabbath or Zeppelin album and listened to them from start to finish
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COMMENT |
posted by : RiotAct666
7/7/2009 2:58:01 PM
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COMMENT | Damn..
posted by : AtomKey
7/7/2009 7:18:02 AM
Am I the only one left that buys Cds and checks out the booklet and reads the lyrics.
No you are not the only one. I love to have the actual CD and booklet in my hands.
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COMMENT | AtomKey
posted by : Billy Oxygen
7/7/2009 3:10:40 PM
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You're definitely not alone on that one. And give me analog and vinyl. Cult have always been a great band to tip back some cold ones to.
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COMMENT | No letdown
posted by :
7/7/2009 4:57:26 PM
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Last 2 albums sucked.
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COMMENT | LAST CD RECORDING/MY EXPLANATION
posted by :
7/7/2009 10:45:19 PM
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The Cult's last record wasn't a favorite of mine either.
A couple of reasons:
Lack of touring/band chemistry
Lack of direction
The live show is always great though. Hopefully they'll rediscover the heart of their sound by playing "LOVE" every night.
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COMMENT | Ian's Got A Point, but...
posted by :
7/8/2009 2:05:44 AM
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if you put out a good album with more than a couple of good songs on it, people will buy it. Unfortunately, when older bands put out new material, the media outlets ignore it. Even Springsteen and U2 didn't get any substantial airplay through radio on their last two number one albums. The Cult paid for the recording of their last album and got Roadrunner to distribute it. It wasn't a great album and it didn't sell. It probably put them in a hole financially, so you can't blame Ian for having his point of view. But unbeknownst to most of the media outlets, people are still buying music(look at Lil Wayne), they just need an outlet to hear it.
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