Cardiacs--where to start?

[NogbadTheBad]

I was of the same opinion through the first four or five listens, today it was certainly connecting.

[MDC]

Okay...I've been silently following this thread for awhile now, and I think (especially considering the Wayside sale) that I ought to make an effort to get into this crazy band. Which one or two albums should I start with, being a newbie and all? I've been thinking "A Little Man" or "On Land and Sea," as those were recommended quite a bit at the start of the thread, but was wondering if the rest of you all have any other input.

[aith01]

Okay...I've been silently following this thread for awhile now, and I think (especially considering the Wayside sale) that I ought to make an effort to get into this crazy band. Which one or two albums should I start with, being a newbie and all? I've been thinking "A Little Man" and "On Land and Sea," as those were recommended quite a bit at the start of the thread, but was wondering if the rest of you all have any other input.

As a recent convert, all it took to get the ball rolling for me was On Land And In The Sea -- I was hooked after that. However, that is just my two cents; your mileage may vary, and I would recommend taking the advice of the experts over my own.

[zombywoof]

Oh boy, here we go again! *cracks knuckles*

A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window. $15.30

http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Pr...D-spc-007.aspx

[Sterbus]

Okay...I've been silently following this thread for awhile now, and I think (especially considering the Wayside sale) that I ought to make an effort to get into this crazy band. Which one or two albums should I start with, being a newbie and all? I've been thinking "A Little Man" or "On Land and Sea," as those were recommended quite a bit at the start of the thread, but was wondering if the rest of you all have any other input.

I will always recommend Sing to God, even if my first exposure was On land and in the sea....

[Mr.Flower]

For a first purchase, i'd always suggest Songs for Ships and Irons as the selection is a little wider in terms of whacky, typical Cardiacs (Tarred and Feathered), anthemic (Big Ship), complex (Loosefish Scapegrace) and poppy. Its got a really cross-section of what Cardiacs MK1 were about at the time. If you can't find anything in this collection that doesn't stir the soul, you haven't got one.

OLaiTS/Sing to God are my favourites, but i still think SfSaI is possibly the best entry point for a newbie.

[thedunno]

Okay...I've been silently following this thread for awhile now, and I think (especially considering the Wayside sale) that I ought to make an effort to get into this crazy band. Which one or two albums should I start with, being a newbie and all? I've been thinking "A Little Man" or "On Land and Sea," as those were recommended quite a bit at the start of the thread, but was wondering if the rest of you all have any other input.

I would start with 'a Little man' and 'Songs for Ships and Irons'.

For me Sing to God is their magnum opus (and incidentally also the best album ever recorded) but I do not think this is the best starting point.

[eadric]

I will always recommend Sing to God, even if my first exposure was On land and in the sea....

Agree with Sterbus. Sing to God was my first, but On Land is also a good choice.

[polmico]

As a recent convert, all it took to get the ball rolling for me was On Land And In The Sea -- I was hooked after that.

That worked for me, too.

[Steve F.]

Songs For Ships And Irons

or

IF you like live albums and want to hear what they can do as a band

All That Glitters Is A Mare's Nest.

[NogbadTheBad]

I'd say Little Man and Land & Sea. Sing To God was actually my first but it's not necessarily right for everyone though it worked for me. You are probably going to get everything suggested here so you may need to treat it as a poll and add up the votes.

[zombywoof]

Yeah, you'll need to get them all eventually. Either you love this band and need them all or you hate them. I've yet to find a casual Cardiacs fan.

[ProgArtist]

prog masterpiece – an “awaken” for the late 1980/early 1990s. i kid you not.

<<raises an ear>>

[chalkpie]

<<raises an ear>>

When the chorus section kicks in with the church organ, there is definitely an Awaken vibe for sure. Both songs are tremendous, and I have no problem placing Everso on that level. Awaken does go way lower in dynamics though.

[chalkpie]

Okay...I've been silently following this thread for awhile now, and I think (especially considering the Wayside sale) that I ought to make an effort to get into this crazy band. Which one or two albums should I start with, being a newbie and all? I've been thinking "A Little Man" or "On Land and Sea," as those were recommended quite a bit at the start of the thread, but was wondering if the rest of you all have any other input.

I might go in a different direction and get Greatest Hits as it gives a super-wide overview. The other advantage is someday when you "learn" about Faster than a Snake, you'll already have it

Or just get 'em all and be done with it.

[Lieto]

I vote A Little man a House and the Whole World Window and Songs for Ships as the entry. But get them all, they are lifelong musical treasures

[MDC]

Okay, so by my count:

A Little Man 5
Songs for Ships 5
Land and Sea 4
Sing to God 1
All that Glitters 1
Greatest Hits 1

So...decisions.

[zombywoof]

Deep Cuts was fraught with tech issues last night, but at one point we needed a test, so we decided we needed a good 2 minute song. We settled on Arnald - which, even in the worst circumstances, still rocks.

[chalkpie]

Okay, so by my count:

A Little Man 5
Songs for Ships 5
Land and Sea 4

I think one copy of each will be just fine

[aith01]

I think one copy of each will be just fine

It's hard to argue with Frank in this one. I agree.

Right now I'm hooked on Cry Wet Smile Dry, and Come Back Clammy Lammy. Holy cow, what crazy great songs those are. Love those synths and the sax on Lammy... How did this band escape my notice for so long?

[Mr.Flower]

"How did this band escape my notice for so long?"

I think this is always the general consensus. I'm not saying the refusal of the british music press in the mid-eighties to even acknowledge them ruined any chance the band had of being commercially successful (lets face it, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for them), but it could have been a totally different story if they'd had a few more reviews/articles etc, for more people to have given them ago at MK1's peak (ALMaHatWWW / OLaitS) period.

Its a major case of "What if?" On the other hand, would Cardiacs have developed they way they did with the attendant commercial/record company pressures that a bit more success would have brought them? Its an interesting thought.

[Kavus Torabi]

^ There is almost no way Tim would have gone for a record deal anyway, even if that had been an option.
Being completely autonomous allowed the band to create that extraordinary body of work completely independently.
I know he was very upset by both the bile and disinterest they/ we received at the hands of the British music press, though.

[Sterbus]

"DaN: You've been D.I.Y. almost since the start with The Alphabet Business Concern. Is it by tradition or by lack of label interrest?

Tim: It's so that we can have control over what we record and release it when we like. We've had offers in the past, but we prefer our freedom really. If an openminded recordcompany approached us with a large wedge of money and said that we could proceed in the way that we do now, I'm sure we wouldn't turn it down. Although we seem to manage quite nicely, we're working on our 12th album now, so..."

This interview is great...
http://www.thecorroseum.org/features/daa/cardiacs.htm

[loosefish]

I know he was very upset by both the bile and disinterest they/ we received at the hands of the British music press, though.

That's a real shame I always had it in my head that he didn't care about the negative press and indeed he always seemed more bemused by the criticism when it was brought up in interviews rather than frustrated/sad. Fuck the press.

Hopefully he now realises that many new listeners are discovering and falling in love with his music all the time, this thread is evidence of that!

----------------------

Currently listening to some scratchy live recordings of Panixsphere (Tim, Jon, Bic and Dave from Levitation). Thrashy and noisy (and drunk) as fuck!

[zombywoof]

I always had it in my head that he didn't care about the negative press and indeed he always seemed more bemused by the criticism when it was brought up in interviews rather than frustrated/sad. Fuck the press.

I respect him even more for not giving in and pressing forward, despite the ire. It's not easy, but he and the band found a way to fight through.