News: Mew Live Album Details
Mew will release a live album on the 7th December recorded from their show at the Hollywood Palladium in September of this year. Featuring songs from their most recent album ‘No More Stories…’ as well as their previous albums ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’, and ‘Frengers’, the track listing is as follows…
Intro
The Circuitry Of The Wolf
Chinaberry Tree
Am I Wry? No
156
Hawaii
Hawaii Dream
Special
The Zookeeper’s Boy
1Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy
Comforting Sounds
Review: Mew – No More Stories…
Before I begin, let me say that I’m one of Mew’s biggest fans. I have friends in Denmark that introduced me and my friends to their music when we visited in 2000. Soon after there second album Half The World Is Watching Me was released. So needless to say I’ve been anticipating every release since the first listen; maybe the newest one more than any other.
But the first listen…well….did nothing. This can be a good sign sometimes as I’ve found a lot of albums that take a lot of listens seem to have more to offer and become some of my favorites. But where others take hundreds, this one took thousands. They were definitely not trying to redo And The Glass Handed Kites. The first sign of that is the new record’s title which are the lyrics to the short but hauntingly sweet “Hawaii Dreams”:
No more stories
Are told today
I’m sorry
They washed away
No more stories
The world is grey
I’m tired
Let’s wash away
But the drumming is also different. More subdued. The lyrics seem more biographical and less abstract. The guitar is more an accompaniment than a driving force. Perhaps it’s in part because this is the first album without the original bassist. But I think it’s mostly a conscious effort.
There are moments of bursting rock like “Introducing Palace Prayers” and “Repeaterbeater”, but overall this album is very understated. There is a lot to explore in this record and it takes time. Where And The Glass Handed Kites runs into you head first, this album slowly walks up behind you and taps you on the shoulder.
Mew Annouce U.S. Headlining Shows and Support Dates with Nine Inch Nails
Mew will be joining NIN for a handful of U.S. dates in addition to the UK dates the band is currently on. Mew will also play select headline dates in Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco in which they will be performing new songs off their highly anticipated upcoming release: No more stories, are told today, I’m sorry, they washed away, No more stories the world is grey, I’m tired, Let’s wash away.
Mew Tour Dates with NIN:
8.22.09 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
8.24.09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburg Music Hall
8.26.09- New York, NY @ Terminal 5 w/Nine Inch Nails
8.28.09 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon w/Nine Inch Nails
8.29.09 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon w/Nine Inch Nails
8.30.09 – Ontario @ Virgin Music Festival
9.01.09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
9.02.09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/Nine Inch Nails
9.03.09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda w/Nine Inch Nails
9.04.09 – San Francisco, CA @ Independent
*Headline Dates are on Sale Today except The Troubadour which is on sale 8.23
Mew – No More Stories EP
If this EP is any indication of Mew’s upcoming full length album then it signals a less grand direction. It still has odd rhythms and high/low octave harmonies which are no surprise. But it seems more simplified than And The Glass Handed Kites. The ambient keyboards are present to offer much the same mood but it’s toned down for a cleaner sound. Overall, it’s not much different than you would expect. But that’s good. Because Mew is good. They are always ambassadors for something out of the ordinary. There are only 5 songs but it’s a nice little stocking stuffer before Santa brings us the real thing. It’s a Mew fan’s Red Rider BB gun. I can’t wait.