Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 15:37:07 -0700 From: Michael Scholtz Subject: Lilys, MBV and other stories -Reply Michael Iceblink asked: >I recall someone describing one of the Lilys' LP's as "practically another My Bloody Valentine album", and I was recently feeling frivolous and felt like buying it just to hear what it sounds like. Anyone recall which one it is? the record is called 'in the presence of nothing' and was co-released by slumberland and spinart. it's one of my favorite records, ever. the conventionall wisdom is that it's a superficial cop of mbv's sound. for years i've argued that it has both better songs and more inventive arrangements and production than 'loveless', but no one on the planet seems to agree with me. now that the lilys' songwriting is getting some critical attention, maybe folks will reevaluate this terrific cd. incidentally, the lilys always acknowledged mbv's influence: their first single was even titled 'february 14th'! unfortunately, the a-side was omitted from the album: it is, however, available on a 4-track australian e.p. from the summershine label. (the b-side appears as an unlisted bonus on the cd). more trivia: the album title is a poke at velvet crush, who released their 'in the presence of greatness' album around the same time. Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 04:27:35 -0500 From: Jeremy L Orr Subject: Re: Lilys, MBV and other stories ---from Michael Scholtz: > the record is called 'in the presence of nothing'...the > conventionall wisdom is that it's a superficial cop of mbv's > sound. for years i've argued that it has both better songs and > more inventive arrangements and production than 'loveless', but > no one on the planet seems to agree with me. Put me in the opposing column with everyone else, then. I think _In the Presence of Nothing_ is a good album, and is probably better than 75% of the shoegazer-era stuff. But I really must take issue with the idea that it beats _Loveless_ in the "inventive production" field. To me, it just sounds like so many other US indie bands that tried their hand at recreating the sound of _Isn't Anything_. And in the "most inventive arrangements for an MBV-inspired group or duo" category, Lilys still don't hold a candle to the Swirlies. Meanwhile, *nothing* sounds like _Loveless_...Kevin Shields forged a truly unique production style on that album which still gives me goosebumps to this day. ---from susan aka box-and-whiskers: > also recommended would be their _eccsame the photon band_ album > also on spinart for intriguing melodic weirdness. Of course, _In the Presence of Nothing_ is to MBV as _Eccsame the Photon Band_ is to _Meddle_-era Pink Floyd. It's still a great album, though. My favorite is their most recent, _Better Can't Make Your Life Better_, on which Kurt Whatsisface & friends go back even farther to find styles to imitate (primarily the Beatles, I guess). But hey, it works. He's a hell of a songwriter with a knack for crafty pop song structures (how I envy that)...whatever style of music he chooses to cloak his songs in is just icing on the cake. Question #1: A friend and fellow Lilys fanatic told me several months ago that "Nanny in Manhattan" (absolutely brilliant, from _Better_) had been used in a Levis ad in the UK, and that Kurt was going to remix and resequence the album (and possibly add strings), and then re-release it. Does anyone know if that ever happened? Question #2: Is there a Lilys web site out there anywhere? And if not, then why the hell not? Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 23:39:48 +0600 From: box-and-whiskers Subject: Re: Lilys, MBV and other stories quoth jeremy l orr: >Question #1: A friend and fellow Lilys fanatic told me several months >ago that "Nanny in Manhattan" (absolutely brilliant, from _Better_) had >been used in a Levis ad in the UK,=20 yes, and apparently the song was something of a 'chart success' (top 20 perhaps?) there as well.=20 >and that Kurt was going to remix and >resequence the album (and possibly add strings), and then re-release it. >Does anyone know if that ever happened? yes, _better can't make your life better_ was re-recorded and released by ch=E9 in the u.k. a few months ago. it has different artwork (similar to= the sleeve of the _returns every morning_ 7"), and the tracks 'touch the water' (from the _returns_ 7") and 'more than that is deserved' (from the _nanny_ 7") are added, while 'the sammael sea' is omitted. all that being said though, i haven't heard it myself, so i'm not sure exactly how it varies from the original.