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kerraig UK

By kerraig UK
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Lovelyman

Lovelyman

Posted
Posted

Yeah I mean if you want some great examples of  relatively recent 'pop' music that is actually really great music:

 

Art Angels - Grimes

Any album - Janelle Monae (can't decide between Archandroid and Electric Lady for her best, but they are all amazing)

Singles - Future Islands

Churches - The Bones of What you believe

FKA Twigs - LP1

Hamilton - Soundtrack

Kero Kero Bonito - Bonito Generation

Carly Rae Jepsen - E MO TION (bit cheesy but great)

 

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englishbob

englishbob

Posted
Posted

Fill in my blanks here. 

 

In the pantheon of the musical giants, the big guns, the UK had all the bands (apart from The Beach Boys), whereas the USA didn't - but, David Bowie and Kate Bush aside, they covered the individual angle more. Its probably still a bit like that today, although bands are an unpopular construct in the last few decades.

 

The Beatles

The Rolling Stones

Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd

The Who

Queen

etc

 

versus

 

Elvis

Bob Dylan

Prince

Michael Jackson

Madonna

etc

 

 

 

 

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Stanley

Stanley

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, englishbob said:

Fill in my blanks here. 

 

In the pantheon of the musical giants, the big guns, the UK had all the bands (apart from The Beach Boys), whereas the USA didn't - but, David Bowie and Kate Bush aside, they covered the individual angle more. Its probably still a bit like that today, although bands are an unpopular construct in the last few decades.

 

The Beatles

The Rolling Stones

Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd

The Who

Queen

etc

 

versus

 

Elvis

Bob Dylan

Prince

Michael Jackson

Madonna

etc

 

 

 

 

America had no good bands, seriously? 

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Stanley

Stanley

Posted
Posted

Anyway here you go, the big ones off the top of my head from the same era as those you listed (still think I’m being trapped)

 

Doors

Stooges

MC5

The Grateful Dead 

Big Star

Sly & The Family Stone

The Temptations

Suicide

The Velvet Underground

Parliment/Funkadelic

The Meters

Love 

The Sonics

Shangri Las

13th Floor Elevators

Television

Byrds

CSNY

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

Simon & Garfunkel

 

I mean I could go on and on, what’s the catch? 

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Stanley

Stanley

Posted
Posted

Well I’m not sure how you’re choosing to gauge it, The Velvet Underground alone are known for being one of the most influential bands of all time. 
 

I mean, The Beatles were the greatest musical innovators of the 20th Century, so yeah they’re a tough act to follow, but The Stooges are the greatest rock n roll band ever, you know, it’s not even up for debate. 
 

I didn’t even mention Ramones.

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Festoon

Festoon

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, englishbob said:

Fill in my blanks here. 

 

In the pantheon of the musical giants, the big guns, the UK had all the bands (apart from The Beach Boys), whereas the USA didn't - but, David Bowie and Kate Bush aside, they covered the individual angle more. Its probably still a bit like that today, although bands are an unpopular construct in the last few decades.

 

The Beatles

The Rolling Stones

Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd

The Who

Queen

etc

 

versus

 

Elvis

Bob Dylan

Prince

Michael Jackson

Madonna

etc

 

 

 

 

 

Prince alone is better than any of the UK bands. I don't make the rules.

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Loik V credern

Loik V credern

Posted
Posted

I know this is a few pages ago, but those who think Joy Division are monotonous and overated, is that as well as being moved by the emotional potency of stuff like Atmosphere, Decades, New Dawn Fades, The Eternal, Day Of The Lords? Or is there just nothing there?

Knowing Ian Curtis’ emotional state and suicide isn’t needed for those tracks to be elevated to the status they hold, or to be as powerful as they are.

In another thread like this, ages ago, i read someone say; 'Love Will Tear Us Apart is the only good Joy Division track', and he was a big Lemonheads and Manic Street Preachers fan. I think most bands are trapped in a going-through-the-motions mediocrity and it's so difficult for them to punch through that. So all their tracks sound the same and a few have good hooks, and become hits, but that doesn't apply to Joy Division, who were always so inventive and mature, their or Martin Hannett's use of space, and time, stripping all the elements down and maximising their effectiveness, coupled with Ian's  lyrics and voice.

I think Radiohead are the greatest band ever, easily, but even they can't reach the raw emotional potency of Ian's lyrics, voice and the space it's given.

And I've never cared for voices or lyrics in music but I've always found Curtis' voice so interesting. It's such a weird contradiction, it's so authoritative and austere, but coming from this fragile skinny guy dressed in school pants and a tucked in shirt. It never came across like it was contrived, like he's an office worker trapped in some kaftaesque dystopia. The iconography of their live tv performances are something else. He was never shy about expressing himself so personally in a time all we're told is men were Men who never expressed their feelings.

'Mother I tried please believe me
I'm doing the best that I can
I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through
I'm ashamed of the person I am'

Jesus. He's my favourite singer and lyricist by far, no one is as interesting to me, no able to conjure such strong imagery. Joy Division have been slow to grow on me, they absolutely fill a void that had they not then people would be yearning for it, if never able to experience what perfection of a sound sounds like. I react most to aggression and propulsion so would just listen to She's Lost Control to get me immediate kicks then leave. Then Day Of The Lords came on shuffle when i was on a train and it's the first time i heard it, 'when will it end? When will it end?' Did he always sing it like that? Wow.

When i read the lyrics i can hear the track, and i realise how strong and memorable they are. If anything, i think Joy Division are underated. They were able to create anthems whilst coming from this deeply introspective place, their use of synths bright and euphoric and timeless without being cheesy as every other band who uses them is.

Disorder is extraordinary. 'I've got the spirit, lose the feeling', what kind of lyric is that? A singer singing 'I've got the spirit!' over and over again, it's so far beyond just a run of the mill attempt at musical expression, Ian Curtis didn't just mean what he sang but desperately needed to express it. There are so many lyrics i love from just 2 albums + singles worth of music.

'I've been waiting for a guide
To come and take me by the hand
Could these sensations make me feel
The pleasures of a normal man?'

Are those the greatest opening lyrics to a debut album ever? The whole sound of Joy Division, their whole intent distilled into the perfect encapsulation. Combined with the synth it's so evocative. I think the difference between good musicians and great ones is most try, they attempt, and some truly do, because they really mean it, in that moment it means everything to them. No one means it more than Ian Curtis.

The whole of New Dawn Fades is goosebumps.

'A loaded gun won't set you free
So you say
We'll share a drink and step outside
An angry voice and one who cried
We'll give you everything and more
The strain's too much, can't take much more
Oh, I've walked on water, run through fire
Can't seem to feel it anymore'

Far from their tracks being 'underdeveloped', they get better over time for me, the genuinely brilliant songwriting just endures. There's an emotional peak to so many of their tracks.

Where on Earth are Candidate and Heart And Soul coming from? How do four early 20 year old lads from Manchester and an eccentric 30 year old producer create such transformative, deep music?

'People like you find it easy
Naked to see, walking on air
Hunting by the rivers, through the streets, every corner'

Every line hits.

'This is the room, the start of it all
No portrait so fine, only sheets on the wall
I've seen the nights, filled with bloodsport and pain
And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained'

God.

'An abyss that laughs at creation
A circus complete with all fools
Foundations that lasted the ages
Then ripped apart at their roots
Beyond all this good is the terror
The grip of a mercenary hand
When savagery turns all good reason
There's no turning back, no last stand

Existence, well, what does it matter?
I exist on the best terms I can
The past is now part of my future
The present is well out of hand
The present is well out of hand'

'Asylums with doors open wide
Where people had paid to see inside
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, "I still exist"

This is the way, step inside'

ok I'll stop just posting lyrics now. Potent, that's what Joy Division are to me. I don't think New Order are anywhere near as good. 

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ZOK

ZOK

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, SaintAnselm said:

Parliament and Funkadelic are as good as any British band.


More to the point, has there ever been any British band as good as Parliament / Funkadelic?

 

The answer is no.

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