They are (WERE) an excellent little-known Manchester band
They then moved to London, started dressing up like burlesque pirates and rewriting their songs to fit that image.
Applebite loves the Moulettes (the 3 original members + various oddities) whereas Skinny Indie Girl and I love the original band, keytars and bleeps and all.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikdPbUotIKo vs. www.myspace.com/modernairetheband
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:30, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

Having listened to both versions of Bloodshed
I think I prefer the Moulettes. The pirate image is a bit pretentious/silly, but I think I prefer their sound, though that may just be because it tallies better with all the Tom Waits and Emily Loizeau I've been listening to of late. Think I could get into this Modernaire lot, mind.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:41, Reply)

Maybe it's because the Modernaire one was the first one I heard, and loved while young
I don't know, I think it's an excellent piece of pop, it can stand alone without hurdygurdies etc.

I've never really listened to Tom Waits, though as an even younger child we had an alternative interpretation Disney CD. His version of the Dwarves' Marching Song is terrifying yet amazing. And of course Muse sampled him. And his part in Rumblefish. But I'm afraid I don't knwo that much about him.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:46, Reply)

He did a version of the Dwarves' Marching Song?
TO THE INTERNET!
*dramatic pointing and swirly music followed by trawl of youtube*
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:47, Reply)

If you want I'll send it to you
I have it on mp3
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:49, Reply)

^ see below, Youtube has come up trumps
Thank you all the same

Edit: Of course, if you wanted an introduction to Mr Waits, I do have three or four of his best albums on my work computer if you'd like a copy of them.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:49, Reply)

Oh, that is awesome.
In many ways, it's a shame he didn't get to record 'Pink Elephants on Parade'...
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:49, Reply)

Sun Ra and his Arkestra did instead.

( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:51, Reply)

I fucking love Tom Waits
only fairly recently got into it

the first 6 or 7 tracks on Rain Dogs are nothing short of fantastic
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:50, Reply)

I was introduced to Tom Waits when I was 18
A friend in my hall lent me Rain Dogs - his words were along the lines of "I thought this might be the kind of thing you'd like. It's a bit dark for me."

Of course, I was sceptical, because he thought The Doors were "a bit too dark", but I was hooked from the first play.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:53, Reply)

me too
weird as shit, but it's great stuff.

Not a fan of the Doors?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:54, Reply)

He wasn't convinced. I lent him a Best Of, but I don't think he really took to it.
I, on the other hand, fucking love The Doors.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:57, Reply)

glad to hear it
because I fucking love The Doors too

heard a great interview with Ray and (guy whose name escapes me) about an earlyish gig in Amsterdam where Jim ate a big block of hash and got taken to hospital and they did the gig without him.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:58, Reply)

Ha! I had heard about them having to play without Jim
I'm sure I've seen footage of them with Ray on lead vocals and thought he actually had a pretty good voice.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 15:59, Reply)

Jim Morrison was a fucking twat.
Whether you enjoy their records or not (some I think are excellent, others, like 'Light My Fart' were dismal), this is an inescapable fact.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 16:48, Reply)

Light my Fire is among my least favourite of their songs
he was a twat, but then a lot of twats have made great music. Doesn't bother me.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 16:50, Reply)

He was a great frontman
The rest of the band had the talent but lacked the charisma. One of those 'greater than the sum of their parts' bands.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 16:53, Reply)

definitely
one of the things I like about them is that they have a timeless quality. Their sound and their songs have aged very well indeed.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 15 Sep 2010, 17:01, Reply)