DESCRIPTION:
"Thunderbird" was released on Catherine Wheel's 4th studio album, Adam and Eve, in the summer of 1997. This is my 2nd video for a Catherine Wheel song, the first being "Phantom of the American Mother" (also from Adam and Eve). Adam and Eve is one of my top 3 albums of all time....a sonic masterpiece from one of my top 10 bands of all time. The album was produced by one of the greatest producers of them all, Bob Ezrin...to me his 2nd best accomplishment (after Pink Floyd's The Wall).

From Wikipedia:
"The album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and number 178 on the Billboard 200. The album featured more adventurous instrumentation than any prior Catherine Wheel LP, and still somewhat featured the heavy sound of their previous studio album, Happy Days.

Although critical response was positive, notably, Rolling Stone Magazine originally planned to rate the album 4.5 stars out of 5, only to later drop it down to 3. Some of concerts promoting this album featured actual nude models positioned in boxes onstage behind the band members."

As I'd mentioned in the description for the first video I did from the band, Catherine Wheel is the most recent band to enter my Top 10 Bands of All Time! list....the only band from the 1990's forward to make my list. I was really saddened to hear that the band would be "parked" after the disappointing experience they had with their last album (Wishville), and continue to hope that they will eventually pick up where they left off....I don't guess there is any music news that would excite me more to hear that they were working on a new album.

Few bands individual components appeal to me more that those that make up Catherine Wheel....extraordinary vocals from Rob Dickinson, stunningly brilliant lead guitar from Brian Futter, fat bass licks from Dave Hawes, top notch percussion from Neil Sims....plus organ contributions by Tim Friese-Greene and of course bonus points for using Storm Thorgerson's artwork! If you have not listened to his band.....please....DO, even if you don't place them on pedestal as I do, you will surely be amazed at this surging, melodic, often blistering great band. I first came to the band when I purchased their 3rd album after reading several critics mention Pink Floyd influences/similarities....and yeah, they're there, so especially if you like Pink Floyd check the band out!

When I first began experimenting with making music videos, Catherine Wheel was the band I was most excited to try and work up video for, as a result I have more unfinished videos for songs by this band than any other band. After finishing the first vid, I anticipated having another one completed soon, but somehow I've never finished any others. Listening to Adam and Eve recently made me realize I wanted to jump back into the Catherine Wheel vids and push some over the finish line.

This video was cool to play with and yeah, it leans heavily on imagery from the car "thunderbird" which the song is really not about, but you know.....whatever works to bring some cool imagery and effects?! This one really needed one more fine tune for the timings and some further image and mask adjustments in several sequences, but it's close enough that I'm just leaving what was really an upload of what was to be a final preview before final edit and upload of completed vid.

Till my next Catherine Wheel arrives....hope you enjoy this one!

Special thanks to:
The Old Car Manual Project for some great Thunderbird pics!
Check out more at:
http://tocmp.com/

and of course everyone else who's art helped create new art!
THANKS!

[Lyrics]
There's far too many ghosts
It makes us rely on three notes
That could make you weep, sad notes
Blister in your heart
I hope
And don't I know
Don't I realize what's changing in our brains
And how it soothes
Because its better than the truth
The truth is frayed at the edge and bruised
No use anymore

We could be crawling this time
We should be smiling this time
I see no spooks in you

Thunderbird, can you see yourself, big bird
Thunderbird, just speak it more discreetly
You're making it sound absurd

Now our dreams
They flower in our hearts it seems
And don't I know
Don't I realize what's changing in our brains
And how it soothes
Because it's better than the truth
The truth is frayed at the edge and bruised

We could be crawling this time
We should be smiling this time
I see no spooks in you
You, you, you

Thunderbird, can you see yourself, big bird
Thunderbird, just speak it more discreetly
You're making it sound absurd
You're making it sound absurd
You're making it sound absurd