h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So has anyone else got the album?

What does everyone think of it, especially with regards to the hype surrounding it from all facets of the music press?

I quite liked it, it's a lot better than either of Franz Ferdinand's 80's revival offerings,or the Kaiser Chiefs' Blur-esque stylings on Employment (both new bands that I like). It's a bit rock and roll, and a bit unpolished, I like that in an Indie band.

Any thoughts?

no I never heard of them until yesteday

/\ Just a guess: I haven't heard it so can't comment?

I was going to buy it today but completely forgot! Argh! And there's 'nought wrong with Kaiser Chiefs!

Never said there was owt wrong with t'Chiefs even if they do wear their Mockney influences on their sleeves. They're class live, but they just don't have the sort of rock'n'roll sound the Monkeys have, or the bit of attitude either.

I've liked the two songs I've heard so far. Haven't got their album yet though.


They went to the same school as my mate.


I saw a picture of them today where they looked about twelve.
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I think the singer's 19.

...I must look 13 then...

Apparently it's on course to become the fastest selling debut album ever... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4643436.stm

I liked the B-side of the first single ("Bigger Boys And Stolen Sweethearts") better than the A-side. I quite like the new single though, so I might be tempted.

Yeah, like I said the hype's going a bit mad around them and that's going to be really hard for them to live up to, especially when they bring out a second album and the media's moved on to whatever NME decides the 'next big thing' is going to be.

I don't think that the hype is hype really.

They seem to be a genuine bunch of lads who can bang out a good tune and people appreciate them for what they are.

They haven't been pushed into the spotlight by some tv 'talent' programme but have let their music speak for itself. Before they became popular they handed out cd's of their music at gigs so word got around about them that way. They deserve any fame they get.

Lets just hope they don't churn out the same songs for the next 10 years like 'dumb and dumber' oasis.

Kaiser Cheifs are great.

Sorry miz not as grrrreat as the arctic monkey
Dont have the album......yet....

Right, I downloaded the album yesterday. I've listened to it for the first time tonight.

They're great.* Catchy indie pop.

I like some of the songs on it first time round. On the second listen, I liked most of them. Third listen and I've narrowed it down to one that I'm not keen on.

As for the hype, I'd say they're on the same par as Kaiser Chiefs.

* I apologise, I seem to have transformed into Tony the Tiger.

I agree...it's not an either/or situation. I like Kaiser Chiefs as well.

Time will tell, who will survive...it really depends on which band you'd pick to still be going in 10 or 20 years' time...who is the driving creative force: if it's one person, it's likely to end up with him going solo, or is there a creative tension between 2 or more members of the band that will make them continue together?

As examples, I offer: McCartney/Lennon, Richards/Jagger, Moulding/Partridge, Rhodes/Le Bon, May/Mercury...

RF

Fox Mulder and Alan Partridge were in a band?

Was the one song you're not too keen on "Perhaps Vampires is a bit strong"? That's the one song that nobody I've spoken to seems to like.

It is Vampires. I'm not sure whether it's because I've got the live version (I don't usually like live versions when I hear them for the first time on an album) or whether it's because it's rubbish.

i think the NME is very giulty of hyping up bands way to much. good examples are the strokes the Libertines (who were great) then Babayshambels(who are awfull) Kieser Chiefs and not the Arctic Monkeys. theu go on and on about every facet of them for a few months and get board. i would put money on the next one for them to get the treatment will be Carl Barats new band (dirty pretty things?)

I know I am a boring old 'art, but I saw them on TV being praised as the next big thing and thought....well, to be honest, they are just another band, so much of the music of bands recently sounds similar, to me, there just doesn't seem to be a new band where you go WOW!!
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The Magic Numbers are not what you call musically rocking, but they are at least a little differnt, maybe I am just getting old but there doesn't seem to be the excitment musically these days.
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And the massive sales/fastest sales ever record that was mentioned on TV about the CD isn't all it was cracked up to be as Hearsay were the last holders of that record.....

...but the point is that the Arctic Monkeys achieved it without the saturation TV coverage afforded to made-for-TV pop stars like Hear'say (what was the point of the apostrophe in Hear'say anyway? ).

I'm listening to the album for the first time now and I'm very impressed. Beneath the "just another indie rock band" surface there's some very inventive lyricism going on. "One of them's alright, the other one's a scary 'un/His way or no way, totalitarian." Can you imagine Oasis including the word "totalitarian" in a song? Liam probably can't even spell it.

And has anyone else ever had a number one hit with a song about prostitutes?