Dark Matters Vs Suite XVI

[Jake]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, I don’t even recall if this was done.

With the reissue of Suite XVI, there seems to be a bit of renewed enthusiasm for this album, and it’s the more current product being promoted than Dark Matters.

I’ve essentially rediscovered Suite, after a long pause. I absolutely loved Suite upon release, didn’t feel the same degree of enthusiasm for either Giants or Dark Matters though.

I’ve been playing Suite pretty “relentless” relentlessly since the reissue for the first time in way over a decade. I thought I would see how my view of Dark Matters has altered by way of contrast, so stuck that on for maybe only the second time this year.

I find Suite an almost rock solid album compared with Dark Matters, I find a lot of Dark Matters is filled with cheese, Suite feels like it has more integrity by comparison, odd considering the behind the scenes circumstances of the band. I think a lot of the rhythm section throws me on DM, whereas the rhythm on Suite is sublime in places. The song writing strikes me as stronger, more sincere, and more urgent on Suite, and I would say it’s the album where I like Baz’s vocals the most.

Unfair comparison? Just curious, which do you prefer Suite XVI or Dark Matters?

[parasiteinblack]

Think it's got to be Suite for me.
I know I keep banging on about it but She's Slipping Away is one of the all time greats and nothing on Dark Matters can beat it, as much as I like it.
Norfolk Coast is still the best of the Baz albums though, and Giants is easily the least best.

[Jake]

Think it's got to be Suite for me.
I know I keep banging on about it but She's Slipping Away is one of the all time greats and nothing on Dark Matters can beat it, as much as I like it.
Norfolk Coast is still the best of the Baz albums though, and Giants is easily the least best.

I can’t disagree with any of that, and yes, speaking as someone who at best is a bit of a Baz skeptic, I love Slipping Away, Baz has a good vocal on it, I feel Paul could have delivered an incredible vocal on this, it’s almost like it was written with Paul’s voice in mind. I imagine however that the recordings hidden in a vault with Paul singing might be painful listening, considering the circumstances, it’s very easy to comprehend why his heart and soul wasn’t in it.

[Greatkudu]

I think it's a bit early to compare? Suite XV1 has aged well and stood the test of time,if your talking Rythms of course Suite blows Dark Matters away as it's Jet playing on some and programming his machines on others.Lt Kudu.

[toilerinblack]

Think it's got to be Suite for me.
I know I keep banging on about it but She's Slipping Away is one of the all time greats and nothing on Dark Matters can beat it, as much as I like it.
Norfolk Coast is still the best of the Baz albums though, and Giants is easily the least best.

I can’t disagree with any of that, and yes, speaking as someone who at best is a bit of a Baz skeptic, I love Slipping Away, Baz has a good vocal on it, I feel Paul could have delivered an incredible vocal on this, it’s almost like it was written with Paul’s voice in mind. I imagine however that the recordings hidden in a vault with Paul singing might be painful listening, considering the circumstances, it’s very easy to comprehend why his heart and soul wasn’t in it.

I also can't disagree with alot of what you have said here i too think paul would of done an inceredible studio version on this song as he did with the acoustic live version with John proved that to be the case for me.I think Slipping Away is a great song but for me Suite has many more to it's name that are in front of this track in just my opinion,but never the less a bloody good track for sure.
As for the DM v Suite i also agree with what has already been said with it being far to early to say either way,Suite has stood the test of time for sure as pointed out already and i agree with that,DM has been a brilliant effort from the band including the late Dave too,but if i had to choose it would be Suite but both to their name and credit have their strong leading songs like many have said with Slipping Away and DM has White Stallion so for me its a bit of swings and roundabouts for both albums,but for sure NC is by far the best stranglers album post Hugh that i still enjoy playing more than any other album and it is an incredible piece of work and Paul's best by far ever as a Strangler,shame his best was his last for many.

[Yanders]

I was sure I've heard Paul sing a version of She's slipping away. Acoustically along with SLG. But I can't find it on YouTube so I must make that up.

Pity, because what I imagined was good.

[parasiteinblack]

I was sure I've heard Paul sing a version of She's slipping away. Acoustically along with SLG. But I can't find it on YouTube so I must make that up.

Pity, because what I imagined was good.

It certainly used to be on there. It's on the bonus disc of his recent Memento release with the 100 Club gig.
Certainly does a great job but he's also putting on a strange accent in places. Actually he's doing so in a very similar way to Baz on the acoustic version of Bless You.

[parasiteinblack]

Think it's got to be Suite for me.
I know I keep banging on about it but She's Slipping Away is one of the all time greats and nothing on Dark Matters can beat it, as much as I like it.
Norfolk Coast is still the best of the Baz albums though, and Giants is easily the least best.

I can’t disagree with any of that, and yes, speaking as someone who at best is a bit of a Baz skeptic, I love Slipping Away, Baz has a good vocal on it, I feel Paul could have delivered an incredible vocal on this, it’s almost like it was written with Paul’s voice in mind. I imagine however that the recordings hidden in a vault with Paul singing might be painful listening, considering the circumstances, it’s very easy to comprehend why his heart and soul wasn’t in it.

I think lyrically at least it was mostly Paul's song so I'm really glad they didn't scrap it. I'd love to hear the original Paul vocal mix although I think this is also probably the best vocal Baz has ever done.

[parasiteinblack]

OMG how have I only just thought of this - imagine if Dave had sung See Me Coming instead of JJ, it would have been incredible.

[evonx]

Paul could have delivered an incredible vocal on this, it’s almost like it was written with Paul’s voice in mind

Paul wrote it

I was sure I've heard Paul sing a version of She's slipping away. Acoustically along with SLG. But I can't find it on YouTube so I must make that up.

It was on YT - from one of the acoustic gigs PR did after leaving the stranglers - with Andy Ellis on guitar. It now has disappeared from YT but it was really good yes.

It's on the bonus disc of his recent Memento release with the 100 Club gig.

Oh yes - almost forgot that - will get that out again.

[toilerinblack]

I was sure I've heard Paul sing a version of She's slipping away. Acoustically along with SLG. But I can't find it on YouTube so I must make that up.

Pity, because what I imagined was good.

Yes he did with John on one of those London Black in town duo gigs i can't remember when but iv'e heard it also i was going to go to it but i couldn't make it so it never happened for me but at that gig they sung Slipping Away if i remember right it was a long time ago....lol

[toilerinblack]

Paul could have delivered an incredible vocal on this, it’s almost like it was written with Paul’s voice in mind

Paul wrote it

I was sure I've heard Paul sing a version of She's slipping away. Acoustically along with SLG. But I can't find it on YouTube so I must make that up.

It was on YT - from one of the acoustic gigs PR did after leaving the stranglers - with Andy Ellis on guitar. It now has disappeared from YT but it was really good yes.

It's on the bonus disc of his recent Memento release with the 100 Club gig.

Oh yes - almost forgot that - will get that out again.

I can't find it too now yes your right it's not on YT anymore....but at least someone has said now it's on the bonus disc thanks.