Compare and contrast

suss · In the Long Grass

Compare and contrast

noelindublin · Loudmouth

suss wrote:

For anyone intrigued as to how current Rats play Rat Trap and Mondays you can listen at link for this Saturday's gig http://www.palladiumclub.co.uk/

Personally I love the rework of I Don't Like Mondays, but would be interested to hear views of others.

I've just listened to the latter day versions of both songs. Rat Trap sounds pretty much as it ever did. Pete Barton is a really good singer and has a great rock voice and the playing on that song is excellent.

The obvious difference is Mondays now becomes a guitar driven track rather than piano/ string arrangement job. It sounds more rocky but certainly this is not a bad thing - just different to how we've grown up hearing the song. Again Pete's voice sounds pretty good and the slight taking liberties with the lyrics is endearing!

Bob Geldof is my favourite singer - I just love his voice and Geldofs singing to me is part of the Rats emotional appeal.Also the way Geldof performed on stage totally convincing any doubters as to the greatness of The Boomtown Rats.

The new version of the Rats and their take on the songs lives up to the spirit of the original line up. Love to hear them do Late Last Night or Real Different or So Strange the neglected gems lying on the back of b sides.

Are the people of Bideford being duped by that poster btw!?

do the rat · The Elephant's Graveyard

Personly i prefer the original version of mondays as were used to hearing it played that way for many years(including live gigs) but i have to say i am liking the new version the more i hear it.
It blends in quite well with the current live set because they are mostly rocky songs and pete does sing it well, LONG LIVE THE RATS. smile

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

The original intro with the keyboard is iconic. I wondered what they were going to do with it when I was at the Rats gig. It's good, will never be like the original, but it has it's own place smile

suss · In the Long Grass

I recall someone, and it may even have been Geldof himself, saying in an interview that the mark of a truly great song is that any cover version, including total revamp, doesn't detract from its greatness.

I reckon Mondays would survive any treatment on that basis.

Agree with all the above, especially with Do the Rat summary about it being a grower the more you hear it. Keep humming that guitar bit that's used in intro then comes and goes.

Guess the song 'link' will be gone after tomorrow. Any technical wizards know how to save it or download it?

Finally, Noel, I'll let you know if there's any friction or riot with duped and disgruntled Devonians. Agree it's out of order and can't see the band being too chuffed that's the promotion being used either.

BTR · Tonight

The venue shouldn't have put the songs on their website. They are just demos to give venues an idea of how the band now sounds.

The newer version of Mondays does actually have the piano intro on it.

Anyone going that has not yet bought a ticket should do so in advance because the last I heard was that it had nearly sold-out.

junkyard_smile · The Elephant's Graveyard

noelindublin wrote:

Are the people of Bideford being duped by that poster btw!?

The poster is well out of order - implies briquette, cott and geldof will be up on stage. Don't like the use of the name 'Boomtown rats' on the venue's website either. I've nothing against The Rats but as advertised they are getting unsuspecting people in on false pretenses. The fact that they'll really enjoy themselves once inside doesn't make it right.

Bobi G · Banana Republic

While we iz at it, listen to deze from 1979. Iz they so different?

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCP9VGSS

noelindublin · Loudmouth

suss wrote:

I recall someone, and it may even have been Geldof himself, saying in an interview that the mark of a truly great song is that any cover version, including total revamp, doesn't detract from its greatness.

I reckon Mondays would survive any treatment on that basis.

Agree with all the above, especially with Do the Rat summary about it being a grower the more you hear it. Keep humming that guitar bit that's used in intro then comes and goes.

Guess the song 'link' will be gone after tomorrow. Any technical wizards know how to save it or download it?

Finally, Noel, I'll let you know if there's any friction or riot with duped and disgruntled Devonians. Agree it's out of order and can't see the band being too chuffed that's the promotion being used either.

Maybe they did a Dorian Gray style pack back in 1978.

I was only being tongue in cheek about the poster not being particularly bothered. Are there other instances in rock history of bands using dated posters to sell their gigs I wonder? Knowing rock music like I do I'd imagine yes. Its maybe a bit Spinal Tap.

I've heard Mondays and Rat Trap so many times over the years that it can seem over familiar. Because of that I don't seek out either song. I'm happy enough to hear them on the radio or on a jukebox in the pub.

I wonder is it possible to play a piano arpeggio in the guitar or something that approximates to it?

jamieuka · House on Fire

Bobi G wrote:

While we iz at it, listen to deze from 1979. Iz they so different?

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCP9VGSS

Wow, many thanks for those tracks. I knew of course that Mondays originated as a reggae track but was unaware of a recording in this guise and it's wonderful to be able to finally hear it. Feel free to put up anything else you may have :)

noelindublin · Loudmouth

jamieuka wrote:

Bobi G wrote:

While we iz at it, listen to deze from 1979. Iz they so different?

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCP9VGSS

Wow, many thanks for those tracks. I knew of course that Mondays originated as a reggae track but was unaware of a recording in this guise and it's wonderful to be able to finally hear it. Feel free to put up anything else you may have :)

Wow. I had not heard these tracks either. Theres the "reggae" original version of Mondays and also Late Last Night and Joey.

For me the Mondays version does sound like the version by the Barton era Rats but with a slight reggae flavour which for me doesn't work. Also as its a work in progress the lyrics are quite different and the arrangement is not as tight and structured. Its interesting but the proper version is much better.

The version of Late Last Night sounds brilliant- not too different from the recorded version but with great backing vocals and great energy and enthusiast- this to me is a much better "find" than the version of Mondays. Presumably its a demo rather than a live recording but it certainly shows what a great band the Boomtown Rats were- this to me is their archetypal "sound" Geldof sounding great on vocals and their are some changes to the lyrics.

The third track is Joey- Great vocals, immediacy, compliments the recorded version and some sax towards the end. Fingers piano unfortunately is played over- I love the piano motif at the end of that song.

Boby G Iz you is or iz you aint my baby!?