SecondEdition wrote:That's a recommendation...I will have to check these out. Two Siouxsie songs I have heard: "Hong Kong Garden," which I completely hated, and "Tattoo," which was absolutely great. Are the songs you recommended more similar to "Tattoo"?

I'm trying to figure out how you heard Tattoo. It's the flip to the Dear Prudence cover, right? Total B-side. I think I might have heard it years ago. Now my interest is piqued...

No, those songs aren't like Hong Kong Garden. I'm not crazy about that period at all. It is what it is - the rules for punk/post-punk/proto-goth were still being written I guess, but it doesn't hold up well.
The late stuff is almost made for radio. I saw them on a later tour and they were fantastic, but the album they were supporting (Superstition) didn't do it for me.

The McGeoch Albums are really, really great, but still have flaws. The good songs are stellar though.
I like the John Valentine Caruther record, Tindebox, a lot too. It's post-punk in a popish context, and I think it works, even with some of the production issues. Mainly it's just that I think his guitar playing is inventive in a way I had not heard before and haven't heard since. Melody, choppiness and gorgeous snakiness with a buzzsaw guitar sound.

Start with "Spellbound" "Halloween" and "Christine." Spend the three bucks and tell me what you think. Such great playing...shit.
A lot of cool acoustic work too, by the way.
Once again, I can't say enough about the bass playing and drumming either.

-A

alex maiolo wrote:

SecondEdition wrote:That's a recommendation...I will have to check these out. Two Siouxsie songs I have heard: "Hong Kong Garden," which I completely hated, and "Tattoo," which was absolutely great. Are the songs you recommended more similar to "Tattoo"?

I'm trying to figure out how you heard Tattoo. It's the flip to the Dear Prudence cover, right? Total B-side. I think I might have heard it years ago. Now my interest is piqued...

No, those songs aren't like Hong Kong Garden. I'm not crazy about that period at all. It is what it is - the rules for punk/post-punk/proto-goth were still being written I guess, but it doesn't hold up well.
The late stuff is almost made for radio. I saw them on a later tour and they were fantastic, but the album they were supporting (Superstition) didn't do it for me.

The McGeoch Albums are really, really great, but still have flaws. The good songs are stellar though.
I like the John Valentine Caruther record, Tindebox, a lot too. It's post-punk in a popish context, and I think it works, even with some of the production issues. Mainly it's just that I think his guitar playing is inventive in a way I had not heard before and haven't heard since. Melody, choppiness and gorgeous snakiness with a buzzsaw guitar sound.

Start with "Spellbound" "Halloween" and "Christine." Spend the three bucks and tell me what you think. Such great playing...shit.
A lot of cool acoustic work too, by the way.
Once again, I can't say enough about the bass playing and drumming either.

-A

I went out of my way to download "Tattoo" because Tricky covered it - made it the lead track, actually - on his album "Nearly God."

SecondEdition wrote:I went out of my way to download "Tattoo" because Tricky covered it - made it the lead track, actually - on his album "Nearly God."

Is it on iTunes? I can't find it.

-A

alex maiolo wrote:

SecondEdition wrote:I went out of my way to download "Tattoo" because Tricky covered it - made it the lead track, actually - on his album "Nearly God."

Is it on iTunes? I can't find it.

-A

Try soulseek.

SecondEdition wrote:

alex maiolo wrote:

SecondEdition wrote:I went out of my way to download "Tattoo" because Tricky covered it - made it the lead track, actually - on his album "Nearly God."

Is it on iTunes? I can't find it.

-A

Try soulseek.

I'm too old. They don't let me in.
Can I use SecondEditionSeek?
I'll trade ya.
PM me.

-A

alex maiolo wrote: The McGeoch Albums are really, really great, but still have flaws. The good songs are stellar though. I like the John Valentine Caruther record, Tindebox, a lot too. It's post-punk in a popish context, and I think it works, even with some of the production issues.

Smart Alex,

You intrigued me with your praise for Tinderbox so I gave it a try. It is playing right now. Yes, so neat is the Tinderbox album. I like it too.

Production is a bit more on the 80s side than I generally like but then "a Kiss in the Dreamhouse" suffered too. Which also reminds me of Go4 "Songs of the Free". It's literally painful to listen to these records with the earphones on. Some good songs marred by physically irritating recording.

On topic:

I gave my vote to the Fall mainly for consistency

although:

Wire definitely have the best triplet/three in a row

Go4, Joy Division and the Pop Group the best debuts

P.i.L. the best overall product considering package/format/content


I love them all. Love, not like.

Domagoj wrote:

alex maiolo wrote: The McGeoch Albums are really, really great, but still have flaws. The good songs are stellar though. I like the John Valentine Caruther record, Tindebox, a lot too. It's post-punk in a popish context, and I think it works, even with some of the production issues.

Smart Alex,

You intrigued me with your praise for Tinderbox so I gave it a try. It is playing right now. Yes, so neat is the Tinderbox album. I like it too.

Production is a bit more on the 80s side than I generally like but then "a Kiss in the Dreamhouse" suffered too. Which also reminds me of Go4 "Songs of the Free". It's literally painful to listen to these records with the earphones on. Some good songs marred by physically irritating recording.

Man, I'm glad you think Tinderbox is good. I wondered if I was working off of nostalgia.
I listened to it last night, while I was cleaning the kitchen. Even with the JC120 tones (I used one too) and the occasional bass chorus, it's a solid record. The guitar lines are just superb. I think JV Caruthers is seriously underrated.
And, as stated, Budgie...jesus.

I can't listen to Songs of the Free, headphones or not. I really don't like that record. No Dave Allen, no band. It was like the body losing the heart.

On topic:

I gave my vote to the Fall mainly for consistency

Consistency? Hmm, I can see that both ways.
Yes, consistently grumpy in that way we all love so much, but there were some real curve balls.
Compare Middlemass with Susan vs. Youthclub - or something along those lines. Other than the mumbling, grumpy old git, there's not much common ground.

I do love some Fall. I'm reading the MES biography right now.
- very slowly I might add.

although:

Wire definitely have the best triplet/three in a row

I'm assuming you like the first three?
Yes, tough to beat.
I really, really like a lot of stuff off of Ideal Copy too.

Go4, Joy Division and the Pop Group the best debuts

Hard to argue that...

P.i.L. the best overall product considering package/format/content

What do you mean? I'm curious.
Kurious, even.

I love them all. Love, not like.

Same here. I like post-punk more than punk. When I heard these bands, and Burma, my life changed. As much as I loved punk rock, I wanted it to be smarter - I was at that age when my mind just blew up with new found knowledge, and "Reagan Sucks," while I agreed with it, left me a little cold.
"To Hell With Poverty, We'll Get Drunk On Cheap Wine" pretty much fit the bill.

-A

Hexpane wrote:I wouldn't have made it through being 17 years old w/o those 2 awesome Joydivision albums.

Which ones are those?

I would take Still and Substance.

I'm glad I didn't get into Joy Division until after I was 17.

alex maiolo wrote: What do you mean? I'm curious. Kurious, even.

Oh yes, you better be kurious when I type in English.

I wanted to say something nice about P.i.L. so I mentioned Metal Box as a two things at once novelty: great recording and package. Surprisingly I cannot use superlatives beyond Metal Box and First Issue. I have nothing against the Flowers of Romance thou. It is good. Ok. Slightly more interesting than Songs of the Free.

I can't listen to Songs of the Free, headphones or not. I really don't like that record. No Dave Allen, no band. It was like the body losing the heart.

I don't care about Go4 without the stout backbone - Hugo Burnham.

Consistency? Hmm, I can see that both ways.

True, but If we roughly put post punk into 1978 - 1982 time frame the Fall were inspired, productive and consistent. However they peaked later than the rest with Grotesque - Slates - Hex Enduction Hour. The first time the Fall really disappointed was in the late 1980s with couple of mediocre or crappy records like Seminal Live etc.

I really, really like a lot of stuff off of Ideal Copy too.

It took me almost 15 years to skip the gap and move to the next one - Snakedrill. On my way to work this morning I was listening to A Bell is a Cup Until it's Struck.

I am a bit of a buff for Northern White (may I insert Crap here) English bands. Manchester - Sheffield - Leeds scenes, you were so good.

Rimbaud III wrote:Also, can someone actually explain what the hell post-punk is and how you qualify as a 'post-punk' band please? It's always seemed to be a bit of an opaque term...

Pink Flag came out 2 months after Never Mind the Bollocks and sounds as punk as anything. I guess Wire is a punk band that turned into a post-punk band?

In any case I'll go with Wire although I'm quite fond of all the bands listed.