Post to Wire

Mojo
"[W]ith tunes aplenty, their art is very much in the right place."

Product Description
"Post To Wire" was acknowledged as the #4 Album Of The Year by UK magazine Uncut, beating out The Libertines, U2, Interpol, and The Streets, and was labeled "a dark, mesmerizing masterpiece". Willy Vlautin's writing has been compared to that of legendary writer Raymond Carver, and The Replacements are one of the band's most important influences. Look for them on tour this spring, kicking off at South By Southwest.

Post to Wire,Richmond Fontaine,Union,Alternative Country-Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,United States of America

Post to Wire

Average customer rating:

Very Good

Post to Wire
Richmond Fontaine
Manufacturer: Union
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Winnemucca
Obliteration by Time
John the Wolfking of L.A.
Easy Tiger
Sky Blue Sky

ASIN: B0007YMVQA
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Longer You Wait, The
Barely Losing
Montgomery Park
(Walter's On The Lam)
Through
(Postcard From California)
Two Broken Hearts
Hallway
(Postcard Written With A Broken Hand)
Post To Wire
Polaroid
Always On The Ride
(Postcard Postmarked Phoenix, AZ)
Allison Johnson
Willamette
Valediction

Album Description

"Post To Wire" was acknowledged as the #4 Album Of The Year by UK magazine Uncut, beating out The Libertines, U2, Interpol, and The Streets, and was labeled "a dark, mesmerizing masterpiece". Willy Vlautin's writing has been compared to that of legendary writer Raymond Carver, and The Replacements are one of the band's most important influences. Look for them on tour this spring, kicking off at South By Southwest.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good.......2007-05-12

Clever and amusing concept having the "Dear Pete" letters peppering this wonderful set of tracks. Post To Wire stands out as the most likable cut, but many others as well. World weary, forlorn, gritty, and occasionally gloomy, but heartfelt songs.

Average customer rating:

Very very good
Right In the Eardrum!
Live Wire (sort of)
Great
Lacking dissonance for want of what??

It's Beginning to and Back Again
Wire
Manufacturer: Mute U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

The Ideal Copy
A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck
Send
The First Letter
The Drill

ASIN: B00004SGTE
Release Date: 2000-04-04

Tracks:

Finest Drops
Eardrum Buzz
German Shepherds
Public Place
It's A Boy
Illuminated
Boiling Boy
Over Theirs
Eardrum Buzz (12in Version)
The Offer
In Vivo

Customer Reviews:

Very very good.......2006-03-11

Illuminated is really great as is Earddrum buzz. Illuminated is electronica like people would make 10 years later. This album made out of re-worked live versions of known Wire songs, is simply spectacular.

Right In the Eardrum!.......2005-05-05

This is my favorite Wire cd for a few, essential reasons. It's Beginning To And Back Again -IBTABA- is filled with mature, ambient, upbeat tunes. It best culminates their second (synth-pop) phase. It has some of their best work in all their near thirty years in music. It never gets tiring to hear and remains fresh to this day and age.

The reworkings of tunes like "Finest Drops" and "Public Place" are better, more mature, ambient in mood and style. This cd includes my favorite version of "Over Theirs", everything about that track is better than in previous incarnations. Here, it's longer, more experimental, and fresher.

My favorite tracks in the cd would have to be the originals. "In Vivo" and "German Shepherds" are right where Wire were heading in their musical direction. Sleeker, nifty,wonderfully-crafted pieces. By this time, they really were a far cry from their early, post-punk daze.

And let's not forget their, arguably, most popular single "Eardrum Buzz". It has a hook and a beat. And everytime after hearing it, the tune plays in my head "over and over,
over and over".

I highly recommend this cd, more particularly to other diehard fans since this happens to be 1 of the most underrated in their catalogue. It takes a while to get into it but the listener won't be sorry afterwards.

Live Wire (sort of).......2004-05-13

IBTABA is a live recording, greatest hits and remix album all rolled into one. They've taken the drum (and other) tracks from live recordings and then added other overdubs in the studio constructing alternate versions of existing songs. Sometimes this works; Public Place wafts out from speakers enticingly, capturing the grey public sector existentialism of the original version but without the elephantine guitar riff. A more polite version perhaps but just as effective. And that's the secret to IBABA, really, the songs here are meant as a compement to, not a replacement of the album version. Sometimes it doesn't work, the rendition of Over Theirs (perhaps the pinnacle of Wire's achievement) lacks the punch and crispness of the original (on the Ideal Copy album) and comes a cross like a sort of dub-ified version with someone at the controls who doesn't really like dub. Or Wire. Finest Drops fares much better, full of live energy and Robert Gotobed showing what a fine drummer he is. Boiling Boy (from the Bell is a Cup...album)is present and correct and without the drums which brings the intriguing, dreamlike lyrics to the front on a wsh of atmospherics. It is towards the end of the album, however, that IBTABA really kicks in and Wire show signs of what they could have achieved if they had veered more towards the mainstream and adopted the pop sensibilities of the Bunnymens, U2s, New Order, etc. In Vivo, Eardrum Buzz (12" version) and The Offer are guitar-driven anthems that are exhilarating to listen to. Illuminated is a cool dancy number ruined by a rather annoying spoken loop repeated ad nauseum.
In brief, IBTABA it is a dubby, textured record that offers previously available Wire highlights in a more ambient version.
What do Wire sound like? To me Wire sound like Joy Division, Walker Brothers and Talking Heads. And they're really very good. Wire are an unashamedly cerebral and arty - definitely not the kind of thing your kid sister would like but will fit snugly into the record collection of any post-punk, new wave, Smiths/Cure/Echo & the Bunnymen fan. Come to think of it I'd choose Wire over Robert Smith's and Ian McCullough's cohorts anyday.
The bottom line? Not the ideal starting point for novices but fans should dive right in.

Great.......2003-07-11

This was an awsome album and a huge commercial success for Wire. The song that really pulled the album was "Eardrum Buzz" This was a penticle moment for electronica and the closest I have seen electronica experimentalist make notch on the charts from the 80's into the 90's. Suited up and ready to go Ibtaba really was and is a ground breaking album that never gets old with time. ...

Lacking dissonance for want of what??.......2001-04-24

A strange concept - to release an album of previously released material that is 'based on' live shows. Although their cloak of mystery and craft seems apparent, the songs suffer from relative mediocrity. Most versions are better in other incarnations, but you can get the single version of "Eardrum Buzz" here, which is mandatory. "In Vivo" should have been a hit single worldwide and "Illuminated" is years ahead of its time. The version of "Over Theirs" is quite inferior to the one on "The Ideal Copy" (in fact, I think I'll have to play that one now) and overall this album is a showcase of their knack for reworking the same song into other realms (which has been done better on ep's and live bonus cuts) but not very convincing. A bland attempt at being palatable for an audience that turned a deaf ear. I'll stick with the ambitious stuff, thank you.

Average customer rating:

Improving vocals
One of the top albums of 2004
Ignore the last two reviews--The Standard are the real deal
Goat Boy
What's all the fuss? Not close to Radiohead, no comparison

Wire Post to Wire
The Standard
Manufacturer: Yep Roc Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Albatross
Not Exotic

ASIN: B0001HOX2S
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Tracks:

Metropolitan
Even Numbers
Ghosts For Hire
Runway Week
Folk Song
Unicorns and Chemicals
Monks In New Jersey
A Black Machine
Jumprope In Hell

Customer Reviews:

Improving vocals.......2004-09-26

August grew on me slowly until I was listening to it nearly every other day and I have a strong suspicion that I'll wear out Wire Post to Wire in a matter of weeks. Where as the vocals were previously restricted to either panicky or exhausted tones, Tim Putnam sings a little more confidently this time around. It is not a groundbreaking effort, but any emotional range is huge for a dude that always sounded defeated or like he was running from something.

Half of the bands out there could take a lesson from The Standard's cohesiveness as a collective. The comparisons to the prog-rock elite here come from their ability to play as a band (yes, with a keyboard included) and demonstrate their talent without separating into some kind of self-gratifying solo.

One of the top albums of 2004.......2004-07-06

One of my favorite albums of last year, Dolorean's - Not Exotic, led me to this recording. I discovered through their website that not only did they love this band, but their keyboard player layed down the piano tracks on their new record. That seemed to be a good enough reason to seek it out at my local independent store. When I went to go buy it they didn't have a copy left, which was also completely shocking. The store owner told me he had played a promo of the new record and sold all 5 copies that he had that same day. Thinking that no one else would have it, I went home and just downloaded it. I was completely blown away from beginning to end. Songs like "Metropolitan," "Unicorns and Chemicals," and "Runway Week" are sure to make many people's mix tapes in the coming months, and the rest of the album is nothing to scoff at. A dark and melancholy masterpiece that is a must buy and one of top albums of the year. (Oh and I did buy this record later on).

Ignore the last two reviews--The Standard are the real deal.......2004-07-04

The Standard are something to behold--dense arrangements and really awe-inspiring musicianship. Wire Post to Wire rewards repeated listens like no album I've heard in ages. They don't have any easy points of reference, "prog" is unfair and Radiohead seems like a meaningless comparison, except to say that both bands understand the power of dynamics have amazingly ambitious visions compared to their peers. But I will say if give the album a few spins you'll "get" what they are doing.

I saw them in Baltimore earlier this year where they played to about 12 people on a brutally cold Monday night. Not remarkable. What was truly remarkable was that when I saw them a week later in DC (where the crowd was much better) I saw about six people who had made the 50 mile drive to see them again just a week later. They are that good live.

So please ignore any ad hominem critiques of the singer (*sigh* I guess that's his cross to bear for having a unique and expressive voice) and obviously casual dissmissals.

Goat Boy.......2004-06-11

I saw this band open for McClusky and Oceansize in Seattle. The singer is annoying (hence the title line). Their instrumental bits are good, yet nothing transcendent. Well below average. Buyer beware of being bored by this band.

What's all the fuss? Not close to Radiohead, no comparison.......2004-06-02

I don't get what everyone is praising.
Sounds like Interpol meets Joy Division...
No emotion... no range.
Interesting, but I would definately point out that this is not forging a new path. Nothing but a step back into the retro days, and there are enough bands who do it a lot better to be happy with.
bottom line- uninspired and rewound... defined, yet interesting, but definately not a must for a good cd collection...

Average customer rating:

Beautiful images & sounds

Whore: Tribute to Wire
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Wmo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Compilations | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003S4A
Release Date: 1999-04-27

Tracks:

40 Versions - Godflesh
Mannequins - Lush
It's A Boy - Resolution
A Serious Of Snakes - Aminiature
A Question Of Degree - Kustomized
Ahead - Band Of Susans
Three Girl Rhumba - Bark Psychosis
On Returning - The Ex-Lion Tamers
12XU - Spasm
Lowdown - Fudge Tunnel
German Shepherds - Laika
A Mutual Friend - Chris Connelly
Eastern Standard - Carl Marks
Our Swimmer - The Petty Tyrants
Eardrum Buzz - Scanner
Being Sucked In (Again) - Polar Bear
Fragile - Lee Ranaldo
Map Ref 41N 93W - My Bloody Valentine
Outdoor Miner - Transformer
Used To - Main
The 15th - Mike Watt

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful images & sounds.......2005-08-09

This is a phenomenal tribute album to the seminal post-punk British band Wire. From the gorgeous images that adorn the album pages (which remind me of some of the work of Vaughan Oliver and V23 for 4AD records) to the very high-caliber music included, tribute albums do not get any better than this. Certainly there are arguably a few tracks that might not be to your liking, but pretty much every band/musician involved seemed highly inspired, and wanted to contribute some quality music.

From the more well known acts (Lush, My Bloody Valentine, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Mike Watt from the Minutemen, and Laika) to the truly obscure (Scanner, The Ex-Lion Tamers, Polar Bear, and Main), this album covers the spectrum of musical styles. Sure, all are generally of a rock/electronica vein-but beyond that, there is a lot of diverse sounds here. And with only a couple of exceptions, most of the songs do stray pretty far from the originals as well.

Chris Connelly turns in an extremely odd, yet fitting, cover of 'A Mutual Friend' that is like some out-of-tune opera aria by an alien transvestite. Very strange-hilarious and disturbing at once. Lush do their glistening pop/rock thing here in their version of 'Mannequin'-I love the 'la-la-la's' they do. '12XU' has never sounded more different than the version Spasm (who??) do here. By no means is this a traditional punk take on the song-very electronic and slow. Laika's cover of 'German Shepherds' is one of the best things they've ever recorded.

And yes-this album is about the only place you'll find an actual song by a reunited My Bloody Valentine. And yes, it is exquisite. Sheer bliss to listen to. It actually makes their disappearance from the music world even harder to bear-it's that good.

If you are a hard-core Wire addict, you should be open minded enough to enjoy the very different versions of their songs included here. If you are unfamiliar with Wire, but were drawn here by a specific band/s, this is, with limited exceptions, well worth your time-and you hopefully will be encouraged to go discover Wire, the band, properly.

Average customer rating:

Best in the West
The real deal...
In The Winner's Circle
Home Run
Possibly Best Americana Album of 04

Post to Wire
Richmond Fontaine
Manufacturer: El Cortez Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0001DCZWW
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Tracks:

The Longer You Wait
Barely Losing
Montgomery Park
Walter's On The Lam
Through
Postcard From California
Two Broken Hearts
Hallway
Postcard Written With A Broken Hand
Post To Wire
Polaroid
Always On The Ride
Postcard Postmarked Phoenix, AZ
Allison Johnson
Willamette
Valediction

Album Description

Working again with engineer Larry Crane at his Jackpot ! Studios (Quasi, Sleater-Kinney, Elliot Smith), Richmond Fontaine teamed p with producer JD Foster (Richard Buckner, Marc Ribot, Damnaitons, Dwight Yoakum) to create the most finely distilled album of their nine-year career. The driving acoustic track "The Longer You Wait" kicks off "Post to Wire," the band's fifth record with a tale of a couple on a late night car ride through the Nevada desert. On the title track of "Post to Wire," Richmond Fontaine pulls off something they have never done before: a duet. Lead vocalist Willy Vlautin exchanges verses with the gutsy voiced Deborah Kelly of The Damnations, on an ultra catchy little number reminiscent of the golden days of Motown. One of the country's best songwritners, Willy finds new ways to shine nuances into every song. His writing gains new confidence with every verse. His vision is put to life by the other members of Richmond Fontaine: Paul Brainard on! pedal steel guitar, Dave Harding on bass and Sean Oldham on drums.

Customer Reviews:

Best in the West.......2004-11-24

After seeing Willie and the gang live several times, this has to be the best album that RF has put out!! Every show is jammed packed and the album features new songs and tales of the adventures that Willie and the gang experience. ALSO CHECK OUT THE ALBUMS BY GRAND CHAMPEEN OUT OF AUSTIN,TEXAS. THEY TOURED W/ RF THIS SUMMER.

The real deal..........2004-09-26

It's not that Richmond Fontaine does anything unique, but that they do it so well. Willy Vlautin's lyrics capture the sadness and beauty in the lives of normal people without sounding trite, while the music accompanies the words with familiar beats and tunes. The band's biggest departure from traditional alt-country is the constant presence of a pedal-steel guitar. This usually works - giving the music the gravity to accompany Vlautin's stories.

Richmond Fontaine is at their best on the album's first two tracks. "The Longer You Wait" paints a remarkably full picture of an estranged couple in only a few lines, while "Barely Losing" accomplishes the same but in showing simple happiness. As for the rest of the album, "Post to Wire" and "Through" would be radio singles in a better world - catchy tunes with accessible and relatively light lyrics. "Polaroid" and "Two Broken Hearts" are sad but strong songs.

Unlike most reviewers here, I don't give 5 stars out very often. "Post to Wire" misses out on a fifth star because of a few missteps where the band strays too far from their strengths by trying to "rock out" or be too moody and mellow. Maybe this works better live (if the band toured more I could tell you), but the album doesn't flow in a way that keeps you from skipping around. Still, two-thirds of the songs here are gems, and it's the best of the many albums I've bought in 2004 so far.

In The Winner's Circle.......2004-08-20

While Alt-Country darlings Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, et al, have long since lost the trail forged by Bands like Green On Red, and posers like Ryan Adams, spend more time preening in front of the mirror than working on their craft, RICHMOND FONTAINE is still running the race...AND winning. POST TO WIRE may be their finest effort yet in a catalogue of exquisite, if rarely heard CDs. Willie Vaultin continues to write the most literate, ocassionally chilling, character driven, four minute vinettes this side of Chuck Prophet (speaking of Green On Red). And the band's brand of Petal Steel laden atmospherics provide the best definition yet for "Alt-Country", whatever THAT'S suppose to mean. Our never ending need to catogorize and pidgeon-hole, springs from our self-serving desire to impress each other with our infinite knowledge, until we genre, sub-genre and sub-sub-genre ourselves into a musical intellectual wasteland. So here's a tout from "Gar's College of Musical Knowledge"; label it anyway you want, RICHMOND FONTAINE'S POST TO WIRE is the real thing. Take it from the horse's mouth.

Home Run.......2004-08-16

Listening to Post to Wire is the audio equivalent of the ultimate fantasy baseball world series...Songwriter Willie Vlautin, in confident Cy Young mode, throwing strangely beautiful curveball songs to his band who, in perfect Babe Ruth response, smirk, point to the stands, and drive each song home with a confident swagger. Both teams-and us fans-are the winners.

Possibly Best Americana Album of 04.......2004-07-20

I know it's early and great things may still be released by many reputable bands, yet this album deserves distinct and strong recognition, as expressed on the title of this review.
Willy Vlautin and the rest of Richmond Fontaine have managed to put together an absolute beauty of a album, gorgeous country ballads and rocking chronicles of forgotten people through the land.
Imagine if Raymond Carver, still young, had decided to form a band and sing about what he was beginning to see, rather than writing exquisite short-stories.
The comparison is particularly poignant in the interludes between songs -referred as "postcards" on tracks 4,6,9&13- but it's not limited to these short tellings. Exquisite examples of Richmond Fontayne's weary wisdon and weathered compassion are "Barely Losing," "Two Broken Hearts," "Hallway," "Polaroid," or "Valediction,"
Vlautin may not be the only person out there who's seen what life can do to some people, people who did not deserve the lack of luck they were dealt, yet Vlautin has the rare gift of crafting words and melodies for what he sees that makes the misery and the loss, sheer poetry.

Average customer rating:

Timeless
Post to Wire is a WINNER!
Lovely, melodic electronia
IT IS A VERY SMALL WORLD!!
IT IS A VERY SMALL WORLD!!

Post to Wire
Heather Duby
Manufacturer: Sub Pop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Heather Duby
Symbient

ASIN: B00001QEFG
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

Judith
Kensington Place
You Loved Me
Falter
For Jeffrey
A Healthy Fear Of Monsters
September
Halo Sky
Soulflower
Amygdala

Amazon.com

Sub Pop Records in Seattle was the originator of grunge rock; in the years since Nirvana's rise, the label has focused on diversifying with topnotch talent in all fields. Producer Steve Fisk has emerged as a secret weapon, collaborating with artists to ensure that their sound is unique yet not overwhelmed by intrusive arrangements. Heather Duby is a Portland native who moved to Seattle to work with acts such as Evil Tambourines and Maktub. Duby established a relationship with Fisk, trading tapes and working out the schematics of what's become this texturally rich, subliminally somber song cycle. British singer Beth Orton has beaten everyone to the punch commercially, lining folk tunes with trip-hop beats, but while Duby works in similar fashion, the outcome is closely hewed to the 4AD label's line of gothic psychedelia. The tunes work together to form a feeling not unlike that of traipsing through an old, drafty Victorian house with the black lights and lava lamps on overdrive. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Timeless.......2003-12-22

Heather Duby's soulful tunes are amazing and wonderful. I have had her CD for a few years and it is a keeper.The music is truely a timeless body of work. Go out and purchase you will not be disappointed!

Post to Wire is a WINNER!.......2003-07-24

One word; one song title: September. This song is so cool it gives me chills just thinking about it. Heather Duby's voice is great and gothic and sexy and wow. This entire disc is really terrific. It's Sarah M. with a drum 'n base/electronicky vibe. It's got tons of texture, dark and brooding-like. It could be background music for a modern day Hounds of Baskerville mystery. Definitely check it out.

Lovely, melodic electronia.......2002-09-17

If you like Dot Allison, Delirium, Lisa Gerrard, or Mandalay, you'll like Heather Duby. Electronica, with an etheral female vocalist, and a subdued beat. Really more chill out music, than club music.

IT IS A VERY SMALL WORLD!!.......2001-07-05

Congrats Heather...this is an old friend that you have not talked to in an extremely long time. Does Ed Davis ring a bell?? Well this is his old friend John. Just want to say great cd and look foreward to your new release. It looks like your beautiful voice has taken you places that people only dream of. Keep the ball rolling and reach for the stars. caio!!

IT IS A VERY SMALL WORLD!!.......2001-07-05

Great cd, congrat's to you Heather...this is an old friend that you have not talked to in an extremely long time. Does Ed Davis ring a bell, well, this is his old buddy John... I was totally surprised to see your success and am impressed to say the least. It looks like your beautiful voice is taking you places that people only dream of. Looking foreward to your new release and possibly look foreward to hearing your voice again. Keep the ball rolling and reach for the sky.......caio!