Stellastarr* or HFTH?

So, I... don't have any of the band's CD's yet. I remember about three Christmases ago I made a list of CD's I wanted, so that my parents could choose, pick the ones they'd find and kinda make it a surprise as for what CD's I'd eventually get. Stellastarr*'s self-titled debut was in there, but it's not the one I got.

I got Led Zeppelin II (which is absolute <3) and Vue's "Down for whatever". Oh, and it's funny how you sometimes realize about things a lot later... Like, I discovered both Stellastarr* and Vue listening to Bernard Lenoir's radio programme, and I only remember now how he was enthusiastic about that new band from New York, whereas after playing Vue's "She's sweet", he'd said something about them not being so very interesting. Well he was right. Stellastarr* indeed appears to be more exciting than Vue... :o

Back on topic, I think I read on the forum that several people liked Stellastarr*'s first album better than the second? I'm however opening a new thread to have perhaps more (elaborated) opinions.

Should I rather buy Stellastarr* or Harmonies For The Haunted for a start? Without regard to the fact that one of them is their first LP and the other the second... Just which one do you find more interest in?

Cheers for the replies. :)

They're both great, but as much as I like 'Harmonies...', the first album is a masterpiece and I would be very surprised if you found a Stellastarr* fan who preferred the second album.

They're both great, but as much as I like 'Harmonies...', the first album is a masterpiece and I would be very surprised if you found a Stellastarr* fan who preferred the second album.
I prefer the second. :p

The two albums both are the most played out of my entire collection, and while my favourite stellstarr* track is on the self-titled, 'Untitled,' I still prefer the second album overall. And I can't really give you a lengthy, convincing reason why, because my preference of the second album to the first just comes down to subjective opinion. I like the lyrics more. *shrug*

... And come on, people. Stop capitalizing stellastarr*.

Really though, if you're going to start really listening to stellastarr*, I'd just start with the first album, and then go to the second. I think the progression is amazing.

The first album has all my favorite songs (Jenny, In The Walls, My Coco), but the second is good too. I prefer the more upbeat songs, and the s/t album has more of those. I'd say go for the first, becauseits not quite as dark and its more approachable. one you are used to it, you'll appreciate HftH more.

I prefer the first one to the second one, but the second one is super-duper too.

... And come on, people. Stop capitalizing stellastarr*.
Oh, indeed. I only very recently noticed about it, but as I'm a spelling freak, I'm supposed to react to that... :p

stellastarr* definitely.. though different tracks off HFTH keep surprising me with their quality..

oh and funkycfunkydo.. the cleese and dinosaur comics in your signature rock my world

dean II

one you are used to it, you'll appreciate HftH more.
Word.

(what?! posts have to be at least ten characters?)

now see this is complicated. I think if you listen to HTFH first you are missing out, and wont really get into it like you will with listening to the Self-Titled. BUT having listened to the Self-Titled i think you can then "progress" onto HTFH.

In a bit less complicated of an explaination: HFTH has, in my opinion, better songs, but you only appreciate them when you listen to the first album alot.

The first album is the better ALBUM (to answer the question) but generally, the 2nd has a better example of music (Sweet Troubled Soul & The Diver)

I think you should run it like most stellstarr* fans have done (albeit a little shorter scale) and listen to the first one lots and lots until you decide its the best thing ever, and then listen to the 2nd album and realise that it wasnt just a 1-off.





*edit* ok I just re-read all that, and babbling as it is, I think i made my points. Enjoy them BOTH! The question is a silly one, why must one choose? :D

Because... I buy very little CD's, and I know from experience that when I tell myself "I'll start with this one and get all the other ones soon, one by one" I eventually wait years before actually getting the others... So it kind of matters, because the first one I'll get might be the only one I'll have at hand for a while. :rolleyes:

They're both brilliant albums, but the first one is more immediate. HFTH takes some time to get into.

I'm partial to HFTH, but they are both great albums.

I can honestly say they are both completely tied with me. I love stellastarr* because on that nice punkish sound, I can put it on when I'm in almost any mood. I love HFTH because it's a very mature and dark sound, It's actually really nice to paint to as well. Plus On My Own has been my theme song for a while. (A Million Reasons was my theme song when stellastarr* came out) Someone above me said that it takes a while to get into HFTH, but I feel like it would take longer to get into stellastarr*. Mainly because the dramatics of the vocals on that album are much more drastic, it just takes some time to adjust to them.

while my favourite stellstarr* track is on the self-titled, 'Untitled,'

I <3 Untitled! It's just about the only stellastarr* song I haven't seen them play live. I should put in a special request for it for when they're in town in February.

Really though, if you're going to start really listening to stellastarr*, I'd just start with the first album, and then go to the second. I think the progression is amazing.

Agreed.

Plus On My Own has been my theme song for a while.
On My Own is amazing on so many levels. I listened to it twice on the way to school today, but kept rewinding it occasionally, to really listen to the lyrics. Absolutely spine chilling. However...
I <3 Untitled! It's just about the only stellastarr* song I haven't seen them play live. I should put in a special request for it for when they're in town in February.
Untitled is still my favourite stellastarr* song. That song kills me.

"Untitled"? :confused: Their weakest song by a long way, IMHO. Not surprised they don't play it.

"Untitled"? :confused: Their weakest song by a long way, IMHO. Not surprised they don't play it.

Clearly, you have never had the gut-wrenching pain of unrequited or badly ended love.

ooooooh... burrrrrrrn.

Untitled was an early fav of mine but has slowly fallen. I think i'm a bit odd on this board in that i'm not much of a lyrics man.

Clearly, you have never had the gut-wrenching pain of unrequited or badly ended love.


I'm pretty sure 'Untitled' is about being hopeful at the beginning of a relationship (hence the title) as opposed to being disillusioned at the end of a relationship.

I'm pretty sure 'Untitled' is about being hopeful at the beginning of a relationship (hence the title) as opposed to being disillusioned at the end of a relationship.

All I want is another try
All I want is to just feel the same
So what's your name?

He's trying to start from a blank slate. Start over or Start anew? Even if you ignore "the past two years, I've really changed" and "the loneliness of you and I", the cincher for me is

I'll settle for a brief moment in time,
If you'll settle for a quick rewind.
Someday you'll realize
That you needed me once or twice,
When I needed you to stay...

I'll always remember these summer days...

They already had something, so why is he asking for their name unless it's a symbolic rebirth?