THE place for your Sisters-related comments, questions and snippets of Sisters information. For those who do not know, The Sisters of Mercy are a rock'n'roll band. And a pop band. And an industrial groove machine. Or so they say. They make records. Lots of records, apparently. But not in your galaxy. They play concerts. Lots of concerts, actually. But you still cannot see them. So what's it all about, Alfie? This is one of the few tightly-moderated forums on Heartland, so please keep on-topic. All off-topic posts will either be moved or deleted. Chairman Bux is the editor and the editor's decision is final. Danke.
I've been listening to this a lot lately because I can't seem to get it out of my head. I'm a little surprised at how this very rock'n'roll instrumental gets under your skin. Particularly because it's not quite like anything else in their cannon, simply because of lack of vocals and lyrics and being a real rocker for an instrumental, not really an atmospheric track. Quite catchy though.
So here's my multi-part question... has this song really grabbed you and what do you think of the Sisters doing more instrumentals along this sound?
They've done only a few instrumentals along the way and they are all quite interesting. Even the "Untitled" track from the Floodland demos, which is really good and I'm surprised hasn't been ever properly finished. A bit of a side note... I was fully prepared for that to be a demo of the "Untitled" that was released as a b-side and pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.
Glad to see some other admiration for Top Nite Out. It sounds amazing blasting in my car when driving around town running errands. It will be interesting to hear what this tune will sound like in a studio version, thats if they can ever get their s**t together.
You'd think that they could at least put up downloads of these tracks on the website and use paypal or something to see some money. I can't see there not being any studio versions of the "new" songs in existence. I would think that studio tracks have probably been cut over the years and are sitting in mister E's basement or something. Just waiting for him to figure it out. Other bands have done it. There really is no reason that they can't do it too.
Anyway, I can't wait to hear Top Nite Out in Vegas next week. I'm attending with a friend of mine who has been newly converted to the Sisters and has become quite obsessed with them as much I am. It'll be his first gig, so i hope they don't disappoint. i've already warned him about the sound probs but I think he'll be thrilled no matter what at this point
j3 wrote:Anyway, I can't wait to hear Top Nite Out in Vegas next week. I'm attending with a friend of mine who has been newly converted to the Sisters and has become quite obsessed with them as much I am. It'll be his first gig, so i hope they don't disappoint. i've already warned him about the sound probs but I think he'll be thrilled no matter what at this point
I hope you've also introduced him to this forum, and pointed him at some bootlegs. Realistic expectations, and all that...
I've just had a blinding flash out of left field (duh). The Sisters are the personification of the philosophy by which I tend to live: Expect the worst and you can only be pleasantly surprised.
Did I mention I became a cynic at an very tender age...?
Who can begin conventional amiability the first thing in the morning?
It is the hour of savage instincts and natural tendencies.
--Elizabeth von Arnim
Yeah I've showed this forum to him as well. He usually doesn't post on sites but he will haunt them for tidbits.
As for the "expect the worst philosophy"...I'm right there with you on that. It always seems that the Sisters have some sort of sound probs. I kind of expect it now The last time I saw them was In SF 2006 at the Warfield and every time the show lights went into full flash of light mode the sound would drop out completely for the entire band, not just Von. I've heard that particular venue has been having lots of issues with voltage adequacy. That may be one reason they just changed venues for SF this time around
But for me I'll take the Sisters anyway I can get 'em right now. I'm a sucker
Last edited by j3 on 22 Nov 2008, 04:13, edited 1 time in total.
To me, the part with the synths makes it always very action movie-kind of. James Bond or so... also one of my favorites. A set without TNO is to me a sisters without the dok and fog.
I'm of the firm opinion that live is the only way to experience this song. In recordings it always loses something, though it's hard to say just what. But live it's one of the greatest points of the night.
So, uh...yes, it is awesome, and I totally wouldn't mind more instrumentals (of any sort, really; I'm not picky).
Yeah, the synths are amazing. The contrast they provide to the vivid guitar work is what really makes this track work. The Sisters always manage to find that interesting combination of sounds that you wouldn't expect to work together but yet they do.
It's the same thing I'm noticing with that allegedly "new" track that just surfaced from the cleveland soundcheck. But that one has a more chugging traditional metal vibe to the guitar parts. But still very cool.
Thanks Ozpat. Share your thoughts about Sisters instrumentals. Have you heard the 'Untitled" demo from the Floodland demos? No one has commented on it, so I'm curious to know if these have gotten around. I actually found them somewhere here on Heartland I think.
Isn't there supposed to be some code or something? I seem to remember reading somewhere that there are three or four different names that keep getting changed throughout the tour (as evidenced on setlists apparently) and that there was some logic to it. But that's probably just a rumour put about by the band to amuse them when fans try to work out a code that doesn't really exist.
j3 wrote:Thanks Ozpat. Share your thoughts about Sisters instrumentals. Have you heard the 'Untitled" demo from the Floodland demos? No one has commented on it, so I'm curious to know if these have gotten around. I actually found them somewhere here on Heartland I think.
The Untitled one of the Floodland demo's is widely spread as it can be found in several sections here and on various boots. Love the song!
The Sisters for me are for a big part Eldo's voice and vocals. Cannot imagine I would be the fan I am now without him.
But the instrumentals they did make are from nice to great.
Top Nite Out seems to be the song in which the guitar boys (in this case Ben and Chris) kick the erses together with the dear Doc. It contains a lot of energy and passion when played.
I agree with you Ozpat. It was definitely Von's dark deep vocal presence that sold me on the Sisters. I mean really he IS the Sisters without a doubt. But hearing them do instrumentals along the likes of Top Nite Out and the 2 atmospheric b-side instrumentals from the Floodland era, and hearing that Floodland demo one, really show his ear for the music itself. And has always made me curious to what they could do if they explored that further. In some ways I guess I get overly intrigued by the instrumentals more so with this band because of the distinct vocal sound of Von. His vocal presence is SO strong that when it's not used it forces you to really concentrate just on the arrangement. More than I think it would be with another band. At least for me anyway. I do tend to get obsessed with such things
