# My Bloody Valentine's Isn't Anything - 1st Listen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052 "2008-02-10T18:15:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/1 "2008-02-10T18:15:18Z")
I got this a while ago - I read the book in the 33 1/3 series on MBV’s _Loveless_, an album I really enjoy but had just plucked out based on a few mentions of it well after its day. In that book, they mention Isn’t Anything and recommended it as a precursor to Loveless. Just a first listen, but wow. The ticks that mastermind Kevin Shields completely saturates Loveless with - e.g., guitars that de-tune like a Polynesian chant, layers of distortion used as a soft foundation for the other instruments, buried vocals - are all used, but more in service to the song - not the other way 'round, IMHO, as on Loveless. Good guitar-oriented indie rock - cool riffs. It rocks - something Loveless doesn’t. You can really tell who Billy Corgan/Smashing Pumpkins is “borrowing from” quite obviously here. I look forward to more listens… ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/2 "2008-02-10T18:35:13Z")
That’s my favorite MBV, and I think it’s miles above _Loveless_. Like you said, all of the aural goofiness is in servitude of the songs, and we’re talking **great** pop songwriting Songwriting is the only thing that matters, even in a band like MBV, so when you hear that hook on _Cupid Come_, which hits like a forgotten 60’s pop gem (albeit one with a layer of cacophony), it’s just perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/3 "2008-02-10T20:00:35Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] I look forward to more listens… [/QUOTE] It’s a great album. You might like to pick up the _You made me realise_ EP if you can find a copy - all the songs on it would have fitted in very well on _Isn’t Anything_. They were totally awesome live when they were playing this stuff. They really, really wigged out on the faster songs. My hearing has never been the same since. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/4 "2008-02-11T16:17:10Z")
_bump_ Started this thread over the weekend; I’m curious if other Dopers know this band, let alone this CD… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/5 "2008-02-11T17:31:51Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] That’s my favorite MBV, and I think it’s miles above _Loveless_. Like you said, all of the aural goofiness is in servitude of the songs, and we’re talking **great** pop songwriting Songwriting is the only thing that matters, even in a band like MBV, so when you hear that hook on _Cupid Come_, which hits like a forgotten 60’s pop gem (albeit one with a layer of cacophony), it’s just perfect. [/QUOTE] I’ve listened to this album several times, but it just doesn’t compare to _Loveless_ for me. I’m not even sure how to describe it, but _Loveless_ is simply transcendent, while _Isn’t Anything_ has good songs, sure, but somehow feels like it’s just on the edge of genius, but not quite there yet. The atmosphere that _Loveless_ creates is like nothing I’ve ever heard before or have ever heard since. The opening snare hits of “Only Shallow” ranks among my greatest album openers. Then again, _Loveless_ is my second favorite album of all time (behind the not-so-original pick “Pet Sounds”), so it would be rather difficult to top. There’s plenty of people who prefer _Isn’t Anything_, but I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/6 "2008-02-11T17:37:47Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] It rocks - something Loveless doesn’t. [/QUOTE] You’ve heard “Only Shallow” and “What You Want,” right? ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/7 "2008-02-11T17:42:45Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] That’s my favorite MBV, and I think it’s miles above _Loveless_. Like you said, all of the aural goofiness is in servitude of the songs, and we’re talking **great** pop songwriting Songwriting is the only thing that matters, even in a band like MBV, so when you hear that hook on _Cupid Come_, which hits like a forgotten 60’s pop gem (albeit one with a layer of cacophony), it’s just perfect. [/QUOTE] I totally disagree. I love Loveless and I can only discern a handful of partial lyrics. In fact, I think the relative clarity of the singing on Isn’t Anything is a mark against it, as it puts Kevin Shields’ voice upfront, which isn’t his strength. Songwriting is definitely one part of the puzzle, but for some acts its a lot more important than others. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/8 "2008-02-11T17:46:19Z")
[QUOTE=Qwertyasdfg] You’ve heard “Only Shallow” and “What You Want,” right? [/QUOTE] Nope - the whole thing. Many, many times. I _love_ this album - but it doesn’t “rock” to me. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/9 "2008-02-11T17:47:34Z")
[QUOTE=Qwertyasdfg] I totally disagree. I love Loveless and I can only discern a handful of partial lyrics. In fact, I think the relative clarity of the singing on Isn’t Anything is a mark against it, as it puts Kevin Shields’ voice upfront, which isn’t his strength. Songwriting is definitely one part of the puzzle, but for some acts its a lot more important than others. [/QUOTE] Well, Kevin Shields isn’t a Professional Male Vocal Performer, he’s a goofy irish guy doing dream pop. His vox on “Isn’t” are miles above most from that Creation era. The hooks and songwriting are simply inarguably stronger on “Isn’t” - they gave up the actual songwriting on “Loveless” in favor of sonics. I do think that songwriting is literally THE thing that matters when you’re dealing with vocal music, unless you’re talking about Meredith Monk or Sachiko M. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/10 "2008-02-11T17:51:03Z")
_Isn’t Anything_ has never really appealed to me as much as _Loveless_. Something about it seemed haphazard and unfinished, like a sloppy practice run for the style that was perfected on _Loveless_. It’s been a few years since I’ve listened to it though-- maybe I’ll dig it out and give it another try. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/11 "2008-02-11T17:52:47Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] The hooks and songwriting are simply inarguably stronger on “Isn’t” - they gave up the actual songwriting on “Loveless” in favor of sonics. [/QUOTE] I agree. And this is why I prefer _Loveless._ I like the sonic space and emotion the pure sound _Loveless_ creates, and _Isn’t Anything_ is just missing that for me. _Isn’t Anything_ just sounds like a very good pop album with some really cool arrangements. _Loveless_ sounds like music from another world. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/12 "2008-02-11T17:57:05Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I agree. And this is why I prefer _Loveless._ I like the sonic space and emotion the pure sound _Loveless_ creates, and _Isn’t Anything_ is just missing that for me. _Isn’t Anything_ just sounds like a very good pop album with some really cool arrangements. _Loveless_ sounds like music from another world. [/QUOTE] I agree with how you differentiate between the two CD’s - I am enjoying exploring Isn’t Anything as a “very good pop album” that includes a lot of the elements of Loveless dialed in much lower - the don’t override the song. I like both so far - but Loveless achieves something pretty rare with it’s transcendent qualities. **puly** , you might enjoy that 33 1/3 book on Loveless. It’s short and does a pretty good job discussing the music and the situation that led to it getting made. Much better than many of the 33 1/3 books… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/13 "2008-02-11T18:03:11Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] **puly** , you might enjoy that 33 1/3 book on Loveless. It’s short and does a pretty good job discussing the music and the situation that led to it getting made. Much better than many of the 33 1/3 books… [/QUOTE] Ya know, I’ve never read anything about the making of _Loveless_, other than it bankrupt the record label and was the most expensive album at the time (or something like that). That would be a fascinating read. I still remember the first time I heard _Loveless_ I actually thought the tape was warped since it sounded like it was constantly speeding up and slowing down. I soon realized that it was only the guitars ebbing and flowing in and out of tune. Took me a couple of listens to acclimate my ears to the new sound, but it was worth it! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/14 "2008-02-11T18:09:35Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Ya know, I’ve never read anything about the making of _Loveless_, other than it bankrupt the record label and was the most expensive album at the time (or something like that). That would be a fascinating read. I still remember the first time I heard _Loveless_ I actually thought the tape was warped since it sounded like it was constantly speeding up and slowing down. I soon realized that it was only the guitars ebbing and flowing in and out of tune. Took me a couple of listens to acclimate my ears to the new sound, but it was worth it! [/QUOTE] Shields is quoted a lot in the book - he absolutely refutes the claim that Loveless bankrupted Creation Records - not that a lot of detail is offered to back his (or Creation’s) claims, but you get another perspective. He also talks a bit about how he uses a Fender Jazzmaster’s whammy bar - and only that specific type, with the bar bent a certain way - to get his de-tuned effects. He discussed some of the recording of the album, but not so much that you could replicate that distortion-so-saturating-it-becomes-a-pillow-for-everything-to-rest-on sound. But you hear about how many tracks were done for the guitars (very few) and the vocals (tons), etc… It’s funny - I remember reading an interview with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins where he mentions how easy it is to get that Loveless distortion sound if you know the recipe. He clearly does know the recipe; just listen to all of Siamese Dream, especially Cherub Rock. I wonder what it is? ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/15 "2008-02-12T00:53:50Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] I do think that songwriting is literally THE thing that matters when you’re dealing with vocal music, unless you’re talking about Meredith Monk or Sachiko M. [/QUOTE] I don’t really see how you can say that. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding you. Are you saying that things like melody and rhythm don’t factor into your appreciation of music which happens to have lyrics, no matter how ancillary they happen to be? I take it you’re not a fan of house music? ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/16 "2008-02-12T15:38:09Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] _bump_ Started this thread over the weekend; I’m curious if other Dopers know this band, let alone this CD… [/QUOTE] I discovered My Bloody Valentine about 10 years ago at age 15 when I started playing guitar, reading guitar mags, and becoming more aware of music in general. My taste favors the _Loveless_ album by a long shot because of the unusual timbre: heavy but also smooth and surreal. I try, but there really aren’t words to describe the sound. I could care less about being able to discern the lyrics. _Loveless_ is easily among my top 10 favorite albums. I feel sorta luke warm about _Isn’t Anything_. This music is more direct with only hints of sounds that word later dominate in _Loveless_. It’s good enough for me to tolerate (which is more than I can say about most music). Does anyone know when My Bloody Valentine’s new album is finally going to be released? I’ve been sitting on the edge of my seat for months now… [From Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_bloody_valentine): > [@](#): > > In an interview in the January/February 2007 issue of Magnet, Shields claimed that My Bloody Valentine will record another album “100% . . . unless we die or something…”.[5] > > In a 30-minute interview as part of the second season of Soft Focus ([www.VBS.tv](http://www.VBS.tv) musician interview series hosted by fellow musical artist Ian Svenonius), Shields spoke briefly about the band’s return to the studio and how a new record is due sometime before the end of 2007. How long into 2008 will this release be post-poned? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/17 "2008-02-12T17:06:41Z")
I like the songwriting on Isn’t Anything better, so that’s my choice. If anyone here hasn’t heard the Tremolo e.p. then you should get to it. It is of the Loveless era, but I think it’s actually better than the album. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/18 "2008-02-12T17:06:51Z")
duplicate ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/19 "2008-02-12T17:22:53Z")
[QUOTE=Ins&Outs&What-have-yous] Does anyone know when My Bloody Valentine’s new album is finally going to be released? I’ve been sitting on the edge of my seat for months now… [From Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_bloody_valentine):How long into 2008 will this release be post-poned? [/QUOTE] WHOOSH ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052/20 "2008-02-12T17:36:52Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] WHOOSH [/QUOTE] Well, without further explanation, it seems like you are trying to say that there is no MBV release scheduled? I know they have re-grouped to play a few dates, but don’t know more beyond that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bloody-valentines-isnt-anything-1st-listen/437052.md?page=2)