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Catherine Wheel — Black Metallic
Album: Ferment
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1221









Released: 1992
Length: 7:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I've never seen you when you're smiling
It really gets under my skin
You say it's easy when it's faster
I still can't guess what you're after

It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic

I think of you when you're sleeping
Of all the secrets that you're keeping
You can't stay all day under the covers
'Cause under there you'll discover

It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
You're turning black metallic...

It's the colour of your skin
It's the colour of your skin...

Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
You're turning black metallic

It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Comments (180)add comment
The only other place I can hear this tune these days is on my iPod
Thanks Bill!!!
 Lazarus wrote:


You must have a big head!  This song is marvelous...




Maybe his real name is Todd? Hangs around with monsters? 
Who else loves upgrading ratings? Moving this from 8 to 9. 
Oh that calm bridge before the final storm wall. 
This was such a fantastic discovery on late night obscure radio, and I still love it today.
I saw them in concert in SF in 93.  When they played this song, I became an instant fan. More shoegaze, please!
I first heard this live at a small club in upstate NY back in '94. Fell in love with Catherine Wheel after banging my head to the this tune. One of my favorites of the 1990's.  
 the_jake wrote:

What is the hidden meaning of "black metallic" skin?   Must be important to this song because it comprises more than half of the lyrics.
 
It's a reference to a car. Lead singer studied automobile design. May even has his degree in it (industrial design)
I remember buying the 12" single when this came out. I still have it. Top tune. Flows superbly, like an avalanche.
Towards the end, as it goes all tender is when the St Bernard shows-up with some brandy for you, to prepare you for the last verse.
Love this one... our daughter used it as background for a video she did as a project with art from the Diamond Club Tattoo Studio in SF. If you're ever in SF look them up on Van Ness. Bill passed in January, but I think Junii is still there. A home for some world class artists whenever they are in town. I love those people and this song always brings me home.  As a side note, I  must have heard this 60 times while she was editing and still never got tired of it!
 handyrae wrote:
This goes on entirely too long for my taste. But that's what the mute button is for I suppose.
 
What is the hidden meaning of "black metallic" skin?   Must be important to this song because it comprises more than half of the lyrics.
 melzabutch wrote:

Bill I need a follow up by Neds Atomic Dust Bin, Green Cell Grey and my head might explode.

 
That's an arguably louder (and great) song
 melzabutch wrote:
Bill need more of this.  I wish my speakers would go to 11, and my rating for this song.

 
Bill I need a follow up by Neds Atomic Dust Bin, Green Cell Grey and my head might explode.
cacophony..
Bill need more of this.  I wish my speakers would go to 11, and my rating for this song.
GRUNCHY OUT OF TIME
Not so much a wall, more of a crock.
 merkin_muffley wrote:
Said it before, about a year ago but

a superb wall of sound. 
 
yeah, wall of sound is right. I'd imagine that live they must have been incredibly loud. Fine band that should've been bigger in the U.S.
When you get to 10 where can you go from there? Where? 11 !

Limpopoking wrote:
Bill, we need an 11 that we can pull out in cases of unbridled rapture... like now!

Think about it and get back to me {#Biggrin} 

 


Absolutely AWESOME
A Perfect Description of this fabulous song....from a fantastic album!!! {#Cheers}




merkin_muffley wrote:
Said it before, about a year ago but

a superb wall of sound. 
 


Said it before, about a year ago but

a superb wall of sound. 
Bill, we need an 11 that we can pull out in cases of unbridled rapture... like now!

Think about it and get back to me {#Biggrin} 
...good with this... 8+
SUPERB.
 Limpopoking wrote:
EVERYBODY IN MY HEAD LOVES THIS SONG {#Lol}
 

You must have a big head!  This song is marvelous...


Love love love it!!!

Everybody in my church loves this song...

Sold! To the smiling man way in the back.
This is an excellent tune. Solid 7.
 mostling wrote:
Catherinewheel and the Pixies really helped with the transition from the 80's into the 90's
 



Soft, loud, soft?
One wall of sound...
Can't make anything of this...
PSD for me...
That is one cool cover. 
Epic. Like it!
Catherinewheel and the Pixies really helped with the transition from the 80's into the 90's
This goes on entirely too long for my taste. But that's what the mute button is for I suppose.
Wow! Fantastic!!
An now things just got much better for me hearing this song. 
Can head into CrossFit with much better frame of mind.  
a 10 is not enough for this amazing piece of music.
A great British band who really did not get the recognition they deserved.
EVERYBODY IN MY HEAD LOVES THIS SONG {#Lol}
I would rate this a 12 if I could.
Still a 10, after all these years
This is one that needs to be boosted up a few notches.
 leap wrote:
This song is very cool, ist's like to be into a big orange pool swiming with pink dolphins {#Whistle}
 

Done that in the Apure River Venezuela, but the big orange pool never did occur to me - damn.
 Poacher wrote:

It that why you have tissues sticking out of your ears?
 
There once was a young man from Brighton,
Who remarked to his woman, 'My, you're a tight one.'
She said, 'Upon my soul,
You're in the wrong hole,
There's plenty of room in the right one
me likey.................
 Alafia wrote:
3 chords and two lines of lyric, repeated over and over and over and over and over........

  would be uber-boring if it wasn't so annoying.

 
totally agree....the term caterwauling comes to mind.


 kaviksdad wrote:
I just had an eargasm...
 
It that why you have tissues sticking out of your ears?
 Alafia wrote:
3 chords and two lines of lyric, repeated over and over and over and over and over........

  would be uber-boring if it wasn't so annoying.

 
Really sorry that is all you can hear....there is so much more there!

3 chords and two lines of lyric, repeated over and over and over and over and over........

  would be uber-boring if it wasn't so annoying.

Loving the way this song kicks in near the end!
Was loving these guys when everyone else was fawning over Oasis and Blur.  Much better than either of the latter bands IMHO.
 MrSpaz wrote:
Anyone else hear Cranberries in there? I think the Cranberries lifted from this song, but I can't remember the title of the song I'm thinking of.

Edit: Looks like its "The Rebels" from "To The Faithful Departed." The beginning part of this song and that entire track seem to share a similar riff.
 
Definitely.


Very nice song!

8 {#Arrow} 9

Ahhhhhh.....love Catherine Wheel!  I still have this CD — whole thing is great.  Wonder why no one has uploaded "I Want To Touch You"? 
I just had an eargasm...
 htowncoog wrote:
I was lucky enough to see these guys with about 40 folks in the audience. I remember when they played this song, I was looking around the room, realizing this was a very cool, almost private concert. 9.
 
remember seeing these guys in a tiny club in Temple Bar almost 20 years ago; this was the only song I knew from them at the time, and i'm damned if i can remember any others now.  was this their only hit?


thank you, thank you, thank you
This song is very cool, ist's like to be into a big orange pool swiming with pink dolphins {#Whistle}
First time I hear this and it sound good!!
Is this Porcupine Tree again
Kinda like Porcupine Tree but lacking the production values.

 

Would guess that Catherine Wheel members were either influenced by Talk Talk or both bands drank from the same well.

 



 


I was lucky enough to see these guys with about 40 folks in the audience. I remember when they played this song, I was looking around the room, realizing this was a very cool, almost private concert. 9.
The only 10 I think I'll ever give a song. The best.
 redstorm wrote:
Has a bit of Porcupine Tree feel. Which is  good thing, IMHO
 
Well,I think this song owes a whole lot to Talk Talk, especially the voice and instrumentation during the more quiet parts.

But sure, whatever floats your boat and all that.
Agree to both! :-) nice. 8. :-)

Nice.
 redstorm wrote:
Has a bit of Porcupine Tree feel. Which is  good thing, IMHO
 
Well,I think this song owes a whole lot to Talk Talk, especially the voice and instrumentation during the more quiet parts.

But sure, whatever floats your boat and all that.

Genie-us


 redstorm wrote:
Has a bit of Porcupine Tree feel. Which is  good thing, IMHO
 
Catherine Wheel came first.. so it's gotta be the other way around. Either way, a good thing.

real good guitarsound, here from underground best sound
Has a bit of Porcupine Tree feel. Which is  good thing, IMHO
You just can't beat a bit of early nineties shoegazing

Anyone remember Chapterhouse?
Best song ever. Seriously. Thanks so much for playing CW!
 1wolfy wrote:
GOOOOD   Song  {#Bounce}  colooooooor

 
No doubt!!
 I had to keep checking to see if it was still the same song! Awesome cut.

Some spine-tingling hooks in this one.
GOOOOD   Song  {#Bounce}  colooooooor

 phlattop wrote:

He's singing about a car. The singer, Rob Dickinson, was/is a car designer.

 
Hello, Overly Literal. Damn kids don't understand simile and metaphor these days.

Oh yeah, and get off my lawn!!

If it is possible to wear out a CD, I did so with this one back in the day.  Love the wall of sound.
"It really gets under my skin......"

And I sing it all day.  Fripp is pretty darn good to listen to also....from the Chrome Album if I recall.

This station keeps getting better.  Now I can plug my BB phone into my car and vroom!!  No ads!  Kewl!  Thanks Mr. Bill  !!

CW was one of the better things about the early '90s from what I recall...musically speaking. {#Yes}
Good stuff, love these guys!
I was just listening to this song on my drive into work. Love it.
 azdcryan wrote:
bare feet
gallon water jugs
friends & lovers
psilocybin
thousands moving as one
super kind
copious sunshine
HFStival
many many moons ago
 

The original HFStivals were incredible..
 stevetipp wrote:
let me get this straight. the color of your skin, it's black metallic? you might want to come in and let's have a look a that.
 
He's singing about a car. The singer, Rob Dickinson, was/is a car designer.

this_sucks
 In 2007 RadioDoc wrote:
Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic
Breeders - Drivin' On 9
My Morning Jacket - Golden
Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
 
I'll pay $100 to get Joe Henry back in that slot instead of the insipid Overkill River track that replaced it. Luckily the rest of the set redeems even that piece of trash.


bare feet
gallon water jugs
friends & lovers
psilocybin
thousands moving as one
super kind
copious sunshine
HFStival
many many moons ago
{#Frustrated}{#Rolleyes} I DON'T GET IT
{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Guitarist}{#Drummer}{#Bananasplit}{#Dancingbanana}{#Whistle}
Unfortunately, I'm at work listening to this. Otherwise I boost up the volume. Great song!
 Ntropy wrote:

One of the most underrated bands EVER! I miss them..whatever happened to them (goes to wiki){#Bananajam}


 

Yeah, I've always loved their stuff, as well. I absolutely love the "Happy Days" CD.

As far as what happened to them...according to wikipedia, they went on hiatus around nine years ago. Brian Futter (lead guitarist) and Neil Sims (drummer) have an ongoing project called 50 ft Monster. After working with/ playing live with Tracy Bonham for several years, Rob Dickinson (lead singer/guitarist) released a solo album in 2005 called Fresh Wine for the Horses. Rob continues to perform live and has recently signed a recording contract with Universal Music Canada.
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
well... it finally made it! i uploaded this a few months back. it got 11/1 vote with a sorry. i guess it got uploaded again and got accepted.
 
coding_to_music wrote: Nah, sometimes B&R change their mind. Happened to me the other day with another song!


I hate when this happens.
It really wrecks havoc with my accepted / rejected record. {#Mrgreen}

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

Robot love.

YEAH BABY!! 

{#Whipit}

 stevetipp wrote:
let me get this straight. the color of your skin, it's black metallic? you might want to come in and let's have a look a that.
 
Robot love.

Man I do love that song
 kazuma wrote:

Well put.

Question to CW fans: If I'm going to buy one CD from this group, which one should it be?
 

You can't just get one. It's like potato chips... one leads to the next, and the next and the next
 Ntropy wrote:

One of the most underrated bands EVER! I miss them..whatever happened to them (goes to wiki){#Bananajam}


 

I agree.
What a great Friday tune!!  {#Bananajam}
LOVE IT!!!

One of the most underrated bands EVER! I miss them..whatever happened to them (goes to wiki){#Bananajam}


YES!!!!
corioj wrote:
Same set today...funny. good stuff.
A word to the wise: It's not a coincidence when the same set comes up several times over the course of a few months. Instead of randomizing the playlist, BillG puts together sets of music while he is at the desk, and when he creates a good set, he preserves it so that the set will be played again later, even if he's asleep or gone for groceries or whatever. I find that when I just get used to hearing a set of songs being played together, and start to anticipate the next song, he changes the set. This is, to my taste, perfect.
sdn wrote:
Okay, so I'm a sucker for hard guitars and heavy reverb. So sue me!
I won't sue you, but it sure ain't my cuppa tea!
sdn wrote:
Okay, so I'm a sucker for hard guitars and heavy reverb. So sue me!
wont be any lawsuit here
Okay, so I'm a sucker for hard guitars and heavy reverb. So sue me!
tenacious_v wrote:
and again!!! Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
Today Joe Henry is replaced by Fleet Foxes - Mykonos. Personally, I think it is a better fit.
This song brings on a mild melancholy. I haven't heard this song in years, haven't thought about it in as long, and now I'm suddenly younger. I don't know if I can handle nostalgia this afternoon.
kazuma wrote:
Well put. Question to CW fans: If I'm going to buy one CD from this group, which one should it be?
I'd go for "Happy Days". It was their most solid effort, I think.
tenacious_v wrote:
and again!!! Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
and again
let me get this straight. the color of your skin, it's black metallic? you might want to come in and let's have a look a that.
Same set today...funny. good stuff. RadioDoc wrote:
Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
RadioDoc wrote:
Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
and again!!! Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
RadioDoc wrote:
So sayeth the guy who gave William Shatner an 8.
heheheheeee so we ALL have bad taste in music, then?
coccyx wrote:
those are hives
So sayeth the guy who gave William Shatner an 8.
queenjill on Jul 04, 2006 wrote:
Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Coldplay - Sparks Great set, Bill!
Everything that's old is new again: Now Playing: Catherine Wheel - Black Metallic Breeders - Drivin' On 9 My Morning Jacket - Golden Joe Henry - Time Is A Lion
fairchance wrote:
Gives me goosebumps!!!!!!!
those are hives
bokey wrote:
Crap.I walked into the room as this was winding down.it sounded good.Play it again.
Exactly!! whoops, I just read past the first word of your post. Never mind.
Wow. Bill just made my day.
Wow, this one of my all time favs. Sounds just as good as I remember.