Thoughts on Barking (Track by Track)

[Sappys Curry]

I mentioned this in another thread, but I'm sure I'll like Strumpet Groove more than Bird 1. Bird 1 is for the most part good, but I do dislike the "synth plops" that occur during most of the song. An unnecessary addition that I dislike like the "synth stabs" found in Scribble.

[chems1919]

Originally Posted by monochrome

I've decided to wait as much as I can until my 2CD box comes in the mail, but I cheated just a little by giving myself a new "single", Grace.

I'm 100% FLOORED by Grace. This is a 10/10 track for me, everything works so well in my opinion.

It feels like a much more focused "Glam Bucket"--anyone else feeling this?

Agreed. I think Grace is the best song on the album and one of UW's finest tracks to date. The dark mood, the perfect vocals, the synth that pops during the chorus, and of course the guitar. That song is brilliant.

[Sappys Curry]

I'm going to have to give Grace more of a chance. It may grow on me. I used to dislike Glam Bucket initially and recently I come to think of it as not bad (so I no longer dislike it).

[Bargo]

I had a laugh reading this thread after my first listen because I too got the weird Neverending Story vibes from Diamond Jigsaw.

Really enjoying the album. I haven't really been paying attention to the earlier incarnations of these tracks that most of the forum seems to have heard, so it all pretty much sounds fresh to me. "Bird 1" has been in my head all day, I love it. I love soft-and-reflective Underworld, so Louisiana is almost an instant favourite for me. Beautiful track.

The main one that falls flat for me is "Hamburg Hotel" for reasons already mentioned - what we do hear sounds great, it just doesn't really seem to go anywhere so it ultimately feels unsatisfying.

Looking forward to getting the limited edition in the post soon..

[the mongoose]

It's a fucking conspiracy I tell you!

[Flywaver]

Blimey. Wish i hadnt mentioned Never Ending Story now. Ill be off Rick n Karls Christmas Card list. Some of the bass playing on Grace reminds me of New Order more than Diamond Jigsaw. This is a pukka album it has to be said...

[testudo]

Diamond Jigsaw is such a weird track for me. I feel that the audience recorded Torino Fest version is the best. The album/studio version has become some sort of guilty pleasure, its cheesy in so many ways (from 80s dance through dance music now). I feel like in 20 years from now people will be discussing this track and how backwards we are now as we were in the 80s.

Yes, DJ is 80s but oh so much more (cheese). I really hope there is a single.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

I noticed in DJ there is one measure that plays crash on every beat (kind like on ALAF), different than the rest of the track. You can hear it at 3:56. After that one time it doesn't do it anymore. I wonder if it was a mistake??? Just seems to weirdly out of place...

I realize why I don't like it as much as the live versions we've heard...those chord changes during the chorus were a lot more powerful, now they're just glossed over. Still have to say PVD did a good job with it (especially the parts where everything kind of explodes, sounds great) but this is definitely the track I look forward to the most on disc 2.

Also just noticed that the words spoken on Scribble's "breakdown" are the same ones that Karl sings at the tune's "climax"...now I get it

Just listened to this all the way through again...it is still growing on me...I think the overall sound is not as good as previous UW albums, but track for track this is their best in a long time. A MILLION kudos for not turning up all the levels the way albums like this have been doing lately. There is not a whole lot of subtlety here but what's there comes through nicely!!!

Overall i'm thinknig 8.5/10 for this one

[the-star-samurai]

I wrote a longer review after listening to this album more than...five times: at my last.fm~

But I'm definitely warming up to some tracks more. "Hamburg Hotel", "Grace", and "Moon In Water" are ones that have to grow on me more. But for now...in love hopelessly with "Louisiana".

[Sappys Curry]

If you count the bonus track, Louisiana and Simple Peal are my favorite tracks on the album. Next to that is Bird 1 and ALAF, then Moon in Water, Diamong Jigsaw, and Hamburg Hotel. The others may grow on me more.