Grotesque After the Gramme 4 Bonus Tracks

This was a gift and the person loved it.

The start of The Fall's incredible unique 80's run. The added singles only improve. Not necessarily an easy album, but no Fall album is, and I'm sure was quite hard to process at the time. This is when Mark E. Smith fully realized what he wanted to attempt to achieve with The Fall. From 1980's Grotesque to 1985's This Nation's Savings Grace, there is an overflowing of ideas when you add the singles and EPs, Smith was obsessed with rushing creation without restraint. In hindsight, you can see how this fits in the "indie" rock timeline, and is shockingly good essential British post punk listening. Should inspire and has inspired young non mainstream rock bands for years and into the future, even if indirectly.

Opinions on Fall records are pretty worthless and can vary wildly among knowledgeable listeners...I've yet to hear a Fall record that wasn't interesting on some level and the criteria for judging MES & Co. are difficult to quantify so you really have to listen to any particular record and see how it strikes you. That said, this strikes me as a pretty great record that rewards multiple listens...The CD version with bonus tracks is even better.

First off, the sound quality on the 2004 reissue is first quality and crystal clear. If you love The Fall, and great Mark E. Smith vocals buy this reissue. The CD starts off with a charging rocker 'Pay Your Rates' that hits several speed shifts, and a great opener, followed by 'English Scheme', a synth-keyboard driven rock beat and M.E.S. sounding like he's having a good time rapping along. Funny, toe-tapping and great vocals. The drumming is top notch. Next comes the classic 'New Face in Hell'. What a terrific song. It's hard to keep up with all that's going on behind M.E.S. This song cooks. The kazoo (!?) bridges the melody as it rolls and rises, cresting as always through the great M.E.S. vocals. Great guitar and drums. Trance beat follows with ''C'n'C-S Withering'. Whatever this song is about, it is hypnotic. Great stuff. 'The Container Drivers' is another Fall classic. I love this song on the highway as the truckers fly by. Cowpoke beat, a funny song and a real pressure cooker. 'Impression of J Temperance' has sinister feel to it. Still, no idea what M.E.S is rapping about. Hypnotic and a sort of menacing beat. 'In the Park' hops along, bobbing and weaving around the drums. A funky little tune. Does anyone other than M.E.S. know what some of these songs are about? 'WMC-Blob 59' starts off with the garbled static-coughed, distorted vocals and noise M.E.S. always seems to treat us to on his CD's. Mildly interesting, I guess. Blessedly short, once you know the CD, you will hit FF on this one. 'Gramme Friday' is a medium speed riff and drum driven song with some funny passages. 'The NWRA' closes the CD with a finger-snapping beat that M.E.S. raps over as the bass works it's way into the geometry happening behind him. As it pick up speed, it swings. No one plays it like the Fall. There are 5 bonus track on the reissue. All great songs and makes it even more worth your hard earned cash. 'How I Wrote Elastic Man' is very funny and a song that will stick in your head. The interview with M.E.S. at the end is interesting and entertaining. A generous CD if you are a Fall lover. Enjoy.

If you were alienated by the bleakness of "Dragnet," then "Grotesque" may be what you're looking for. Not to say that I don't like "Dragnet," but it's a work that is tremendously un-fun, a spite-filled, icy collection of songs that require a similar mood prior to listening. "Grotesque", however, is noticeably upbeat and fun. Of course, we're talking about Mark E. Smith here, so I'm not suggesting that this is a pop record--far from it. "Grotesque" captures one of my favorite attributes of this very great band--their manic energy. "Pay Your Rates" and the single "Totally Wired" are good examples. MES screams like he's being choked on "New Face in Hell"; and it sounds great, and I swear there's a kazoo somewhere amidst the landscape of backing instruments. "Gramme Friday" reminds me of The Cure's early recording, "Grinding Halt"; it's bouncy and I dare you to refrain from dancing.

Grotesque represents the mighty Fall at their most grotesquely brilliant. Considering this band's immense and immensely impressive catalogue, it is hard to single out any particular disc, but under duress one would have to admit that this one is up there. A new face in hell, one of the Fall's best ever tunes, resides on this cd, as do a plethora of other classics: pay your rates, english scheme, container drivers ... actually, they are all great. Listen to this record, and to every other recording by this, my favourite band of all time. You will either love them or hate them, but if you love them, it will be deep and forever

I've been following The Fall since Dragnet, and for me this album, plus the near perfect Hex Induction Hour is the band's greatest achievement. 'New Face In Hell' and 'Impression of J Temperance' are Fall classics. Check out this album if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.

the early and many classic tunes ...I recommend it

Filling in the gaps. Wonderful early Fall LP - nothing to be afraid of for regular fans. Love it.

Negli ultimi tempi in Inghilterra c'è un gran fiorire di giovani formazioni post punk.. le conosciamo tutti, inutile fare l'elenco, basta guardare qualunque rivista o sito rock di questi giorni e quei baldi ragazzoni sono sempre presenti... e tra i nomi che vengono quasi sempre tirati in ballo come influenza primaria di queste band c'è sempre (o quasi) quello dei Fall. E allora io mi riascolto i Fall e mi riascolto uno dei loro album più belli e rappresentativi, ossia questo "Grotesque" edito dalla gloriosa Rough Trade nel 1980. Anno incredibile quello per la band di Mark E Smith perchè oltre a questo lavoro diedero alle stampe "Dragnet" da molti considerato il capolavoro assoluto della band. Ma "Grotesque" gli tiene testa, eccome se gli tiene testa. Aveva una visione tutta sua del punk Mark Smith, che fedelmente punk lo era nell'animo e negli ideali, decisamente meno nella proposta musicale. Che strizzava l'occhio al garage rock, alle sperimentazioni dei Can, al pub rock (i Fall sono stati davvero la band del proletariato inglese) alla nascente scena industrial e gettava uno sguardo interessato alla scena no wave newyorkese. C'è questo e altro in "Grotesque" come in tutti gli album di spessore dei Fall. Mai uguali a se stessi, mai fedeli a un'unica espressione. Quando la cosa funzionava a meraviglia come in questo "Grotesque" erano vere faville. Ascoltare oggi un album come questo significa ascoltare tante cose insieme che hanno in comune il fatto di esser espresse con tensione dirompente. E significa anche cogliere che in effetti, molti dei baldi ragazzi agitati che popolano la nuova scena inglese, hanno ascoltato i Fall. Come dargli torto...

まだ音がヘロヘロしてて、 その上でマークEスミスが、がなりたてる、 最高の録音です。 これ以降、音がだんだん整理されてきて、 マークの独裁体制が始まる前の素晴らしい アルバムです。 初めて聴く方には、これか「ドラグネット」を 薦めます。 ベガーズバンケット時代も悪くはないけど、 やっぱりさびしい。 イギリスで一番へたくそなキーボーディスト と呼ばれた、ウナ・ベインズがやめてから、 フォールは体制が変わります。 独特の、喋るような、アジテーションのような マークのボーカル。 もたもたついて行くバンド、これこそフォールですよ！！ 最後にマークのインタビューも入ってます。 聴いてくださ〜い！！

Che dire, i Fall sono uno dei miei gruppi preferiti, e , nel panorama musicale la loro assenza si fa' sentire.

The expanded version doesn't disappoint. The Rough Trade singles included as part of the expanded CD are neat additions, but if you like the Fall, chances are you've got these anyway/somewhere, but if you haven't and particularly if 'Grotesque - After the Gramme' is your first album by the Fall 'group', then lucky you...