Soft Boys - Can Of Bees

James Guitar · 2nd August 2006, 06:29 PM

I just got turned on to this album. i don't know where i've been for the past 25 years. what a great record. i'm particularly fond of the drum compression and the bass sound (ricky? does anyone know?). of course, the songs themselves are great, as are the arrangements. just thought i'd chime in with a new discovery for me... anyone else dig this record?
-J

centurymantra · 2nd August 2006, 07:44 PM

Yeah...I love the Soft Boys stuff, though I'll have to admit it was the one record of theirs I spent the least time with. I definitely dig the record though...and you've inspired me to make a mental note of pulling my copy out sometime soon for a warm and cozy listening session. It is pretty cool sounding as I recall...a liitle more unusual and idiosyncratic perhaps than their other "proper" album, Underwater Moonlight. If you like that record, you should check that record as well. It's a little less edgy, a little more poppier...perhaps a little more mature and fully realized. I also REALLY like Invisible Hits. I think this came out after they disbanded and is considered an "odds and ends" collection, but personally think it's pretty awesome. It's lacking a little cohesion and, as such, sort of feels like a compilation, but has some great stuff on it. I might even call it my favorite Soft Boys record. That new record they put out a few years back (on Matador) during their reunion period is, to my surprise, really,really good. It simply sounds like a modern updating of a great band with a new perspective on things.

James Guitar · 2nd August 2006, 10:14 PM

thanks for all that info. i will def check those other records out. i like the semi-shambolic nature of the arrangements and am really digging those guitar and drum sounds. it's not like they're the *best* (which is always subjective anyway) but it's that there's a certain energy to them that seems to lift the recording... maybe it's just a bunch of 1176's, who knows. anybody know anything about the recording of the album?
-J

centurymantra · 2nd August 2006, 11:13 PM

There's some pretty good interviews out there with Robyn, who's a pretty interesting fellow.

I ran across one recently from Rolling Stone magazine of all places.

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/...alks_soft_boys

There's certainly more interesting interviews and articles out there, but this one did talk a little about the recording process.

I think they recorded most of their good stuff here...

http://www.spacewardstudios.ukf.net/

There's even a quote from Robyn on their website...

"The conrol room was small and dark, very like a space capsule with beer in it."

James Guitar · 3rd August 2006, 06:40 AM

that's great info, thanks. does he tour north america still?
-j

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2nd August 2006, 06:29 PM	#1
James Guitar Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 537	Soft Boys - Can Of Bees I just got turned on to this album. i don't know where i've been for the past 25 years. what a great record. i'm particularly fond of the drum compression and the bass sound (ricky? does anyone know?). of course, the songs themselves are great, as are the arrangements. just thought i'd chime in with a new discovery for me... anyone else dig this record? -J

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2nd August 2006, 07:44 PM	#2
centurymantra Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 484	Yeah...I love the Soft Boys stuff, though I'll have to admit it was the one record of theirs I spent the least time with. I definitely dig the record though...and you've inspired me to make a mental note of pulling my copy out sometime soon for a warm and cozy listening session. It is pretty cool sounding as I recall...a liitle more unusual and idiosyncratic perhaps than their other "proper" album, Underwater Moonlight. If you like that record, you should check that record as well. It's a little less edgy, a little more poppier...perhaps a little more mature and fully realized. I also REALLY like Invisible Hits. I think this came out after they disbanded and is considered an "odds and ends" collection, but personally think it's pretty awesome. It's lacking a little cohesion and, as such, sort of feels like a compilation, but has some great stuff on it. I might even call it my favorite Soft Boys record. That new record they put out a few years back (on Matador) during their reunion period is, to my surprise, really,really good. It simply sounds like a modern updating of a great band with a new perspective on things.

2nd August 2006, 10:14 PM	#3
James Guitar Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 537	thanks for all that info. i will def check those other records out. i like the semi-shambolic nature of the arrangements and am really digging those guitar and drum sounds. it's not like they're the best (which is always subjective anyway) but it's that there's a certain energy to them that seems to lift the recording... maybe it's just a bunch of 1176's, who knows. anybody know anything about the recording of the album? -J

2nd August 2006, 11:13 PM	#4
centurymantra Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 484	There's some pretty good interviews out there with Robyn, who's a pretty interesting fellow. I ran across one recently from Rolling Stone magazine of all places. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/...alks_soft_boys There's certainly more interesting interviews and articles out there, but this one did talk a little about the recording process. I think they recorded most of their good stuff here... http://www.spacewardstudios.ukf.net/ There's even a quote from Robyn on their website... "The conrol room was small and dark, very like a space capsule with beer in it."

3rd August 2006, 06:40 AM	#5
James Guitar Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 537	that's great info, thanks. does he tour north america still? -j