History Music / LaughingStock

''Laughing Stock'', while somewhat criticised as being self-indulgent and pretentious upon release, has since gone on to critical acclaim. It's now recognised as one of the TropeMakers for PostRock, alongside ''Spirit of Eden'' and ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''. While Talk Talk would break up and go their separate ways shortly after its completion, the album still generates praise and respect among critics.

''Laughing Stock'', while somewhat criticised as being self-indulgent and pretentious upon release, has since gone on to critical acclaim. It's now recognised as one of the TropeMakers for PostRock, alongside ''Spirit of Eden'' and ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''. While Talk Talk would break up and go their separate ways shortly after its' completion, the album still generates praise and respect among critics.

* ShoutOut: "Myrrhman"-- and by extension, the album-- opening with an amplifier hiss, nods to the start of [[Music/KingCrimson "21st Century Schizoid Man"]], itself the opening track of ''Music/InTheCourtOfTheCrimsonKing''.

''Laughing Stock'' was supported by three singles: "After the Flood (Outtake)", "New Grass", and "Ascension Day", all of which were released solely as part of an elaborate BoxedSet compiling the three together (a 10" acetate of "After the Flood (Outtake)" and a promo 7" of "Ascension Day" ''were'' put out, but these specific releases weren't made available to the public). These singles and their associated B-sides (most of which are just other tracks from the album) were later collected alongside a solo piano instrumental by Hollis on the scarcely-distributed and now out-of-print ''Missing Pieces'' compilation in 2001, released to commemorate the album's [[MilestoneCelebration tenth anniversary]].

* IAmTheBand: Mark Hollis during this album, despite the presence of long-time drummer Lee Harris.

''Laughing Stock'' was supported by three singles: "After the Flood (Outtake)", "New Grass", and "Ascension Day", all of which were released solely as part of an elaborate BoxedSet compiling the three together (a 10" acetate of "After the Flood (Outtake)" and a promo 7" of "Ascension Day" ''were'' put out, but these specific releases weren't made available to the public). These singles and their associated B-sides (most of which are just other tracks from the album) were later collected alongside a solo piano instrumental by Hollis on the ''Missing Pieces'' compilation in 2001, released to commemorate the album's [[MilestoneCelebration tenth anniversary]].

''Laughing Stock'' was supported by three singles: "After the Flood (Outtake)", "New Grass", and "Ascension Day", all of which were released solely as part of an elaborate BoxedSet compiling the three together (a 10" acetate of "After the Flood (Outtake)" and a promo 7" of "Ascension Day" ''were'' put out, but these specific releases weren't made available to the public).

* RearrangeTheSong: The single release of "After the Flood", titled "After the Flood (Outtake)", is an alternate take of the song that runs for roughly half the length of the version included on the album.

* Mark Hollis – vocal, guitar, piano, organ (also variophon, uncredited)

''Laughing Stock'', released in 1991 is the fifth and final album by British group Music/TalkTalk, embarking on an [[NewSoundAlbum even further departure]] from their SynthPop[=/=]NewWaveMusic beginnings that began with their previous album, ''Spirit of Eden'', and letting their jazz influences and experimental leanings shine through. The album is sometimes referred to as being a [[IAmTheBand Mark Hollis]] improvisation session with a bunch of guest artists: bassist Paul Webb left the band prior to recording, and Hollis hired a large ensemble for recordings (to put it into perspective, the amount of violists featured in this album is ''seven'').

''Laughing Stock'', while somewhat criticised as being self-indulgent and pretentious upon release, has since gone on to critical acclaim. It's now recognised as one of the TropeMakers for PostRock, alongside ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''. While Talk Talk would break up and go their separate ways shortly after its' completion, the album still generates praise and respect amongst critics.

* EpicRocking: Only one song, "Runeii", is under five minutes long (and even that song's merely two seconds shy). "After the Flood" and "New Grass" in particular stand out, both being over 9 and a half minutes.

* PostRock: Generally considered the de-facto TropeMaker, alongside ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''.

''Laughing Stock'' is the fifth and final album by British group Music/TalkTalk, embarking on an [[NewSoundAlbum even further departure]] from their SynthPop[=/=]NewWaveMusic beginnings that began with their previous album, ''Spirit of Eden'', and letting their jazz influences and experimental leanings shine through. Released on September 16, 1991, ''Laughing Stock'' is notable and sometimes referred to as being a [[IAmTheBand Mark Hollis]] improvisation session with a bunch of guest artists; bassist Paul Webb left the band prior to recording, and Hollis hired a large ensemble for recordings (to put it into perspective, the amount of violists featured in this album is ''seven'').

* LighterAndSofter[=/=]DarkerAndEdgier: It's more artsy and bohemian compared to Music/{{Slint}}'s ''Music/{{Spiderland}}'', but heavier in mood and more fractured in comparison to ''Spirit of Eden''.

* PostRock: TropeMaker alongside ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''.

''Laughing Stock'' is the final album by British group Music/TalkTalk, embarking on an [[NewSoundAlbum even further departure]] from their SynthPop[=/=]NewWaveMusic beginnings that began with their previous album, ''Spirit of Eden'', and letting their jazz influences and experimental leanings shine through. Released on September 16, 1991, ''Laughing Stock'' is notable and sometimes referred to as being a [[IAmTheBand Mark Hollis]] improvisation session with a bunch of guest artists; bassist Paul Webb left the band prior to recording, and Hollis hired a large ensemble for recordings (to put it into perspective, the amount of violists featured in this album is ''seven'').

* EpicRocking: Only one song, "Runeii", is under five minutes long (and even that song's merely two seconds shy). "After the Flood" and "New Grass" in particular stand out.

* NewSoundAlbum: Listening to this, it's hard to believe the band was making cheap synthpop almost a decade before.

* IAmTheBand: Mark Hollis during this album.

* NewSoundAlbum: Listening to this, it's hard to believe the band was making cheap synthpop just a few years before.

* ThrowItIn: "Ascension Day" was nearly 12 minutes long, but the recording suddenly stopped at the 6-minute mark. Due to the improvisational nature of the album, the take was kept.
* UncommonTime: "Ascension Day" is in 7/4 and "After the Flood" is at least partially in 10/4.

* UncommonTime: "Ascension Day" is in 7/4 and "After the Flood" is (mostly) in 10/4.

* UncommonTime: "Ascension Day" is in 7/4.

* ThrowItIn: "Ascension Day" was nearly 12 minutes long, but the recording suddenly stopped at the 6-minute mark. Due to the improvisational nature of the album, the take was kept.

* FadingIntoTheNextSong: "After the Flood" into "Taphead".

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laughing_stock.jpg]]

''Laughing Stock'', while somewhat criticised as being self-indulgent and pretentious upon release, has since gone on to critical acclaim. It's now recognised as one of the TropeMakers for PostRock, alongside ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''. While Talk Talk would break up and go their separate ways, the album still generates praise and respect amongst critics.

* LighterAndSofter[=/=]DarkerAndEdgier: It's more artsy and bohemian compared to Music/{{Slint}}'s ''Music/{{Spiderland}}'', but heavier in mood in comparison to ''Spirit of Eden''.

''Laughing Stock'' is the final album by British group Music/TalkTalk, embarking on an [[NewSoundAlbum even further departure]] from their SynthPop[=/=]NewWave beginnings that began with their previous album, ''Spirit of Eden'', and letting their jazz influences and experimental leanings shine through. Released on September 16, 1991, ''Laughing Stock'' is notable and sometimes referred to as being a [[IAmTheBand Mark Hollis]] improvisation session with a bunch of guest artists; bassist Paul Webb left the band prior to recording, and Hollis hired a large ensemble for recordings (to put it into perspective, the amount of violists featured in this album is ''seven'').

'''''Laughing Stock''''' is the final album by British group Music/TalkTalk, embarking on an [[NewSoundAlbum even further departure]] from their SynthPop[=/=]NewWave beginnings that began with their previous album, ''Spirit of Eden'', and letting their jazz influences and experimental leanings shine through. Released on September 16, 1991, ''Laughing Stock'' is notable and sometimes referred to as being a [[IAmTheBand Mark Hollis]] improvisation session with a bunch of guest artists; bassist Paul Webb left the band prior to recording, and Hollis hired a large ensemble for recordings (to put it into perspective, the amount of violists featured in this album is ''seven'').

* StylisticSuck: The guitar at the end of "Ascension Day" is intentionally played off-tempo and adds to the chaos of the song's closing moments.

* PostRock: TropeMaker alongside ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''.

* LighterAndSofter[=/=]DarkerAndEdgier: It's more artsy and bohemian compared to Music/{{Slint}}'s ''Music/{{Spiderland}}'', but decidedly darker when compared to ''Spirit of Eden''.

* LighterAndSofter: It's more artsy and bohemian compared to Music/{{Slint}}'s ''Music/{{Spiderland}}'', but DarkerAndEdgier compared to ''Spirit of Eden''.

'''''Laughing Stock''''' is the final album by British group Music/TalkTalk, embarking on an [[NewSoundAlbum even further departure]] from their SynthPop[=/=]NewWave beginnings that began with their previous album, ''Spirit of Eden'', and letting their jazz influences and experimental leanings shine through. Released on September 16, 1991, ''Laughing Stock'' is notable and sometimes referred to as being a [[IAmTheBand Mark Hollis]] improvisation session with a bunch of guest artists; bassist Paul Webb left the band prior to recording, and Hollis hired a large ensemble for recordings (to put it into perspective, the amount of violinists featured in this album is ''seven'').

* LighterAndSofter: It's more artsy and bohemian compared to Music/{{Slint}}'s ''Music/{{Spiderland}}''.

* NotChristianRock: Religious themes are very prominent on ''Laughing Stock''. However, it's more to serve as a reflection on Hollis himself than anything regarding Christianity.