Heartland

I know people think I'm crazy for thrashing the first TSOM single, and the Reptile House EP. I just find them musically bad. However I have to say that TSOM made a massive improvement in 1982-83 with some songs that are very good. Body electric, Adrenochrome, Alice and a few more. This good trend continued and resulted in FALAA, which would have been a masterpiece if it was recorded better. Floodland is the peak of TSOM's career, and unfortunately the good trend ends with the Vision Thing album, which is not bad, but not very good either.

...yes

More or less agreed, but the vast improvement happened earlier. 1981, to be precise, with the recording of what is sometimes called the Floorshow E.P. Floorshow, Lights, Teachers / Adrenochrome. Now that's what I call a quantum leap. The question is, admitting the confines of the time, did they ever better that ten minutes of pure, distilled creativity?

I think the so-called "Floorshow EP" perfectly sums up the Sisters at that time, and is perhaps the only studio recording to successfully capture the spirit of their live sound from the relevant period. As Mr Chris very rightly points out, it's a colossal leap forward in style - to think that something like Lights dates back to 1981 is pretty mindblowing as well. The speed of the evolution of the band during 81/82/83 is unmatched, and perhaps helps explain why the 84/85 stuff by comparison sounds somewhat lethargic.

For me, these first few years totally define the Sisters (not that I'm knocking the later stuff though), and the "Floorshow EP" is where it all begins. It shows how quickly they gelled once they got the line-up right.

Black Horizon wrote:Well as far as I'm concerned The Reptile House is one of the best EP's ever made. I fully agree about The Damage Done EP being rubbish, I mean Watch is without doubt the WORST song they've ever made and Home Of The Hitmen was totally pointless. In fact Von drops his drumsticks on the record, that's how bad it is, lol. To tell you the truth, I've never ever heard the Floorshow EP believe it or not.

indeed he did drop his stick! he also kicked the mic stand during the recording of his vocals on body electric (82), and that sound made it to the record...

Quiff Boy wrote:indeed he did drop his stick! he also kicked the mic stand during the recording of his vocals on body electric (82), and that sound made it to the record...

Speaking of Body Electric, does the volume drop in the middle of the 1984 version? I'm pretty sure mine does.

Yes about 2.30mins into it. Although I'm listening to it on MP3 and I can't remember if it's one I made myself from the 12" or from a another source. I seem to remember it from the last time I played the 12" though (about 2 years ago!)

Yup, deffo. Haven't played the 12 in ages, but it was one of the things that always got on my nerves about that version.

MrChris, I agree that the "Floorshow EP" is good. I thought it was a product from 1982, but I'm sure you're right.