Cardiacs - Is This The Life? Reaction 

A beautiful song which you cut before the end, criminal. The come down from this song at the end is amazing.

This is entry level Cardiacs (from the 80s, rather than 90s). The fact that it charted, even back in the 80s, tells how relatively general-listener-friendly it is. I would suggest that if you return to Cardiacs, you try something from their later Sing To God album (this was released in the 90s) - perhaps Manhoo, Bellyeye or my personal favourite, Fiery Gun Hand. I understand your comment regarding Tim's vocals, this was the thing that held me back initially when I was introduced to Cardiacs, but I got used to it and now can't imagine the songs being sung any other way. The keyboard player is William D. Drake and he has released a number of albums in a completely different style - a sort of English traditional / chamber / folk / rock blend. If you're interested in something quirky, but mellow, try his track Me Fish Bring.

After The Clash, the only other band that matters. Dr Smith was, and probably still is a genius.

My musical perception changed since I first heard The Cardiacs. Dr. Smith is truly a creative genius and ahead of his time.

Ok so now you’ve covered Cardiacs again I’ve subbed. And you’ve covered Madness too. Love it. Tim’s vocals can take a bit of getting used to. I’d love to see you react to the songs “Signs”, “Day is gone” and “Baby Heart dirt” (I don’t think you’re ready for “Firey gun hand” yet 😆)

This has been my ringtone for years

It’s shame this was cut off before the end. My favourite part is the break which follows the guitar solo. Maybe try Day is Gone next, another accessible single.

Love this song.

Love this ,absolutely brilliant.

Yay! more cardiacs!

More Cardiacs perhaps? (In no particular order) Visiting Hours, Dog Like Sparky, Fiery Gun Hand, Dirty Boy, Signs. Any and all of the above please. P.S. They're not a 90's band, they formed in the 70's and were recording and touring from then until the 2000's.

Tim Smiths vocals are absolutely essential to the Cardiacs sound. I was a bit dissapointed as I thought you were going to do an analysis of the actual song you know, chord structure. arrangement etc, really can't see the point of just listening, without any insight and saying I liked it, I did'nt like it...Hmm.

BANGER

That keyboardist! the faces! great weird video. Nice choice people.

I get where you're at with the vocal. It took me quite a while to get used to Tim Smith's vocals, and I suppose for some people this might never happen. He might still grow on you, though. (Did for me. It helped that a lot of their music is subtly dense enough to be interesting a second or fiftieth times, so until the familiarity kicks in there are those "other bits" one might go back to hear again in various songs.) Your video is a shortened version of the original music video, which takes at least one different turn before ending. (It almost comes to a halt, and then takes off again.) The keyboardist is *William D. Drake* - a distant cousin of Nick Drake - and he has some of his own music (which Tim Smith, the guitarist, had to push him quite hard before he would release it.) His most "Cardiaccy" song is probably *Distant Buzzing* , which has a fun video to go with it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-COQgOwP7IyQ.html (He's probably not famous enough to make a good reaction video candidate, but I think you'll enjoy both the song and the video if you choose to watch it. He has a baritone voice, and the vocals in his band are shared by Andrea Parker, so there's often harmony - more likely to appeal to you maybe.)

Thanks for the mention! Cardiacs are a band that I somehow missed at the time and only really discovered 3-4 years ago. This version of Is ‘This The Life?’ was apparently a minor UK in 1988, however I believe that the song existed in different versions from the early 80s. There is an extended audio version that you may enjoy more, if only because it contains more guitar work without any more vocals! Cardiacs were an influence on Blur (maybe Damon Albarn borrowed from the vocal style?) and even opened for them in concerts in the early 90s.

It's kinda punk esk singing .