Mike + The Mechanics: "Living Years" - Black Grey Marble Swirl NAD Edition on Vinyl

  • For the National Album Day (UK, 19 October), the MIKE + THE MECHANICS album "Living Years" will be re-issued on vinyl (Black Grey Marble Swirl)

    More info:

    / Mike + The Mechanics: "Living Years" grey vinyl reissue


    cheers

    Christian


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  • cheers

    Christian


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BlueSky

    Deutsch? Check our German Website

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Check out our brand new WhatsApp Channel!

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • I always wonder who would buy all those different color vinyl editions. Is there anyone on this forum, collecting all possible vinyl editions? :/

    Agreed. Even if I bought vinyl (which I don't), I wouldn't bother with any of these. Just seems like a way of separating people from money.

    Ian


    Putting the old-fashioned Staffordshire plate in the dishwasher!

  • I always wonder who would buy all those different color vinyl editions. Is there anyone on this forum, collecting all possible vinyl editions?

    In the 70s when I first saw coloured vinyl it seemed excitingly different. My brother bought a few, but I remember the sound quality being markedly poorer on them. Whether it was coincidence or directly linked, I don't know. I echo the above comment, if I were a vinyl buyer I wouldn't be bothering with the coloured versions regardless of the artist.

    Abandon all reason

  • If I was into vinyl, and if I didn't already own The Living Years on vinyl, and if I wanted to own The Living Years on vinyl, I'd get this because it looks cool. Probably.


    But I don't, I don't, and I don't. I'm sure there are people that try to collect all kinds of variations, and if this is cool to them, that's great!


    All of the various colored vinyls (and not just the Genesis-related ones) strike me as not necessarily something for collectors or completists (though I'm sure there are a few) but people that are building a vinyl collection now, and might prefer something new and unique looking as opposed to hunting down an old copy in questionable condition.

  • In the 70s when I first saw coloured vinyl it seemed excitingly different. My brother bought a few, but I remember the sound quality being markedly poorer on them.

    Yes, I wonder why that is but I noticed the same. Always more of a 'rumble' (if I can call it that) with coloured vinyl. Not more cracks and pops, more rumble/background noise. Very odd.


    Anyway, back on topic, I bought this album on vinyl when it was released and liked it (a bit) for about a fortnight. I haven't enjoyed it since (sorry MR) as fromage-laden AOR with electronic drums, tinky tink riffs and thin production just doesn't set my pulse racing. I hope the collectors enjoy it though.


    "You can kick his ass

    If the kid's got class

    You can't keep that poor boy down"


    Woo yeah, edgy man.

  • I think Nobody’s Perfect was also a really strong single plus I like Mike’s guitar work on Beautiful Day very much indeed - that’s a real highlight. Outside of that I would agree that it’s not a great album often let down by some poor lyrics and perhaps hasn’t dated so well, the albums either side of it are better. However I guess because of the title track it seems to have become their “definitive” record and the one which has been reissued since - several times.

  • I think Nobody’s Perfect was also a really strong single

    It's a frustrating one for me. The opening is really good followed by the slightly tense build-up... to a big arm-swinging chorus that totally punctures it, making it feel like the song has just deflated. It typifies my problem with pretty much all the M&tMs stuff. It either has no effect on me at all, like musical argon, or in this case it comes close to being edgy and interesting then goes all anodyne.

    Abandon all reason

  • It's a frustrating one for me. The opening is really good followed by the slightly tense build-up... to a big arm-swinging chorus that totally punctures it, making it feel like the song has just deflated. It typifies my problem with pretty much all the M&tMs stuff. It either has no effect on me at all, like musical argon, or in this case it comes close to being edgy and interesting then goes all anodyne.

    I don't think that's an unfair judgement - and like a lot of their songs it's let down by Mike's somewhat trite lyrics in the chorus - see also Word Of Mouth, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Way of the World etc etc. Sometimes a song can be strong enough to distract from them but they can also be quite jarring which I think is true here. It does have a great intro and a really good verse which is let down by the chorus. Beautiful Day is similar where I love the intro and the opening riff - but again the chorus feels a little weak but I give it a pass.


    There are some great Mechanics tracks but often they lack the spark that sets them apart.