The Firewater appreciation thread

Cafe Society
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I remember during the Great Temp Board Exile of '02, there was an anti-Creed thread that got hijacked by some fellow Firewater lovers. There was talk of starting a thread like this, but it never materialized.
:dramatic pause:

Until now.

I first came across them last summer when I saw Psychopharmacology in a CD store shortly after a friend mentioned them in passing. I bought it and liked it.

Around Easter I picked up Get Off the Cross . . . and The Ponzi Scheme. They were pleasant surprises. Psychopharmacology is more traditional rock, but I was pleasantly surprised by the klezmer feel to Get Off the Cross . . ., and the sleazy spy theme of The Ponzi Scheme. Though I like this description, found in packaged with another one of their albums better: "This record will be stuck inside your CD player like a CIA mole in Yeltzin’s (liquor) cabinet. More bad-ass spy themes, ribald love-gone-wrong songs, and Mexican marching music than you can shake a stick at. "

Plus, I like their packaging–GOTC (I’m tired of writing such long titles!) cracks me up (I just need to remember not to show it to my more uptight relatives), and I’m fairly confident Jesus is drinking High Life. The metal tin for TPS is interesting, as well.

2

Hey, I was going to start a thread like this! (I was planning on calling it, “Firewater: what’s not to like?”)

But then I forgot. And I’ll tell you why I forgot. Yes, sir.

I was so very disappointed with Psychopharmacology. What the hell? Where was the passion? Where was the innovation? Where was the irreverence I so knew and loved? It was actually (dare I say) poppy! Like, you could hear this stuff on the radio and you wouldn’t raise an eyebrow! ecccchhh

GOTC and Ponzi are masterpieces. Seriously, seriously genius material. Musically, lyrically, thematically, conceptually brilliant. The one song I don’t care for is “The Circus,” and that’s just because Jennifer Charles’ voice bugs the hell out of me on it.

“Time carves initials into the prison of your face.” Now, come on. That is such a cool line! And every song is full of 'em.

What is not to like??

Psychopharmacology, that’s what!

Tod. Dude! You flaked on us! We waited, what, 3 years for this? Why did you ruin “I Woke Up Down” like that? The version you played live (for years grrr) was far superior. Where was “Honey Why?”? “Bad, Bad World”??? What was up with that?
easy e, did you know they’re playing in DC (my area) on Friday, and I may not even go because I’m afraid of hearing too much new material? Isn’t that depressing?

I should take the opportunity to plug http://www.fireh2o.com. It’s a site created by two members of the Firewater listserv I’m on, and it’s a great site. Great listserv, too. (Heh, I’ve been a member since its inception in April 1999

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…ooops, got cut off.

I was going to say that I’ve been a member since 1999, and I’ve witnessed many lively (and good-natured) debates among fellow slavering FW fans, though we do tend to get off-topic a lot. I did just learn that the band plans on recording new material in June! (Now there’s some good news – maybe they’ll redeem themselves.)

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I’m not a ravising fan, but I suppose I should weigh in, just because I can. And to be a snooty name-dropper.

I listened to and saw Mr. Tod with Cop Shoot Cop. Generally enjoyed them, but not fanatical. Flash forward a few years. I only own Ponzi Scheme, which I generally enjoy, but was disapointed by the lack of involvement by James Kimball and Duane Denison. I suspect that GOTC is the album I should own, as it sounds like it takes the best parts of Ponzi and mulitplies them by two. Also, I think Kimball and Denison are involved throughout, can anyone attest to that? I have steered clear of their latest, having heard that it is a bit watered down. Lyrically, Tod tends to beat me over the head a bit more than I like; a little too obvious, even though I like the tone he evokes. I think he could convey his themes with a little more removal; it sounds like he’s trying too hard to convince you of his evilness. He just needs to back off a bit and let the evil floooooooooooow.

For me, what they try to convey is done better by Sixteen Horsepower, whose lyrics are superior.

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(My link to the Firewater site has an extra dot at the end – it should be http://www.fireh2o.com )
I drool over 16 Horsepower. Do you know if they are working on any new material?

Tod A. has mellowed somewhat. He’s no longer evil, just confused. Disappointing, really. :wink:

From what I recall of GOTC, Kimball and Denison did not perform on every song and their contributions are subtle. Let me see if I can find out more information.

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I apologize for the following hijack…

16 Horsepower have a new album coming out on June 17, called “Folklore”; so far it is only planned for release in Europe on Glitterhouse, but you can order it from their website very easily (I did this for Secret South, whose European release had a video, and Hoarse).

Mr. Edwards has a solo project called Woven Hand, which released an album on Glitterhouse in March. I have not heard this yet. However, the great news for us midwesterners is that Woven Hand will be making their only US apperance so far at a festival in Bushnell, Illinois on July 6, 2002. Bushnell is about an hour west of Peoria.

Here is a link to a great 16 Horsepower site, where I got all of this info. Links to the festival are also here, with info on directions, tickets, blah blah.

http://www.16horsepower.net/index.shtml

I return you now to your regularly scheduled Firewater appreciation thread

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I asked an associate of mine about Duane Denison and Jim Kimball, and this was his response:

I told him it would boost my street cred (heh) if I could have a firm answer and he should decide for himself whether or not that’s a good reason to disturb Jim. I’ll let you know what he says.

Thanks very much for the 16 HP info! I’ll definitely pre-order the new album…I’ve been longing for new songs.

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Holy inside-connection! Wow, that’s going quite a way for some “street cred”. Let us know what you find out; say hello to Jim and his chin for me.

So, based on what I’m hearing, I should go out and get GOTC…

James Kimball is one of the few drummers where his cymbal stands are actually taller than him. Been watching him since his days in Laughing Hyenas and Mule, and, of course, as the only man who could fill Mac’s shoes.

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My associate responded this morning, and wrote:

D’oh, he’s right! I forgot – in the booklet, each song lists which musicians played on it. I haven’t looked at the booklet in quite a while. [sub]So much for street cred, huh?[/sub] :o