Grunge Music Sissy Slapfight

[stray]

That happens to me with almost any album. Even the Spice Girls. Not sure if I'm just easily susceptible to brainwashing or that I just have an open mind. I used to think it was because I was a musician, but that probably isn't it. Most musicians I know are heavily biased when it comes to music.

[Signe]

Most of the musicians I've worked with close enough to become friendly and social with seem to have very eclectic tastes in music, regardless of the sort of music they perform themselves.  Even knowing that, their record collections, even conversations about music, always have a surprise or two.  It's interesting where some people get their inspiration and influences from. There were a few exceptions.  Like a pretty well known singer I know who has a very difficult time listening to anything but his own music.  Even out in public, hearing music used to make him twitchy.  Even Christmas music!  That was weird enough to be neurotic, I think. 

[Righ]

That happens to me with almost any album. Even the Spice Girls.

 

Although I can usually tell if I'll like an album or not from first listens, critical listening takes more time. Often something new may seem better (or worse) due to my mood or environment. But listening to the Spice Girls more often will not improve my opinion of their music. It will simply annoy me.

[Sky]

New tool albums always take me a few listens to get into. Mars Volta can be that way, too. But then they really rock once you can piece together what's going on. I've been trying to get more into jazz recently, and I've given up on Bitches Brew. I just don't like it. However, I am loving the Django 5-disc set I got over the weekend. Django, Grappelli, Basie, that's the stuff I like.

[stray]

Have you tried Kind of Blue at least? That's the Jazz I like especially. Bop era. Especially Coltrane.

I like Django, but for the most part, I can't get into Jazz guitar. He's a little different, whatwith the gypsy thing, and I like Wes Montgomery too -- but generally, I prefer horns over guitars. Jazz guitarists are so damn technical and neat and "smooth". Horn players are wild, unorthodox, adventurous... I've mentioned before how much I like Tom Verlaine from Television -- HE is the closest I've seen a guitarist come to Coltrane -- and he was a punk!

[Sky]

It's on the list to check out (Kind of Blue). I was previewing some Montgomery at B&N and maybe it was just the albums I picked out, but it was way too slick and produced. I've heard alot about him in relation to playing stuff in octaves, which I still throw in now and again, but I was underwhelmed.

It's not just about guitars for me, either. Horn lines, pianos, I don't care. I just like good music. But Django...he's from another planet. Nobody should be that good with only two fingers!

[stray]

Heh Montgomery had more fingers, but he's pretty unique in that he only picked with his thumb, and he started playing late.. 19 i think. Both of those factors alone make him a helluva lot less pretentious than the average jazz guitarist. But yet, he's the one most of them are trying to sound like.

Not sure what albums you're talking about, must have been late period if they sounded like that. My favorite was his cover of California Dreaming (and the album by the same name).

[HaemishM]

Most albums take me a few listens through before I really get them, but with Radiohead it was just an aversion right up until the music started to reverb in my head. Then I just had to keep listening. It's a tumor!

[Selby]

There is quite an assortment of music that takes me some getting used to.  Frank Zappa is pretty bad about that.  Some of his stuff is very inaccessible but what is going on once you hear it and understand it is pretty interesting compared to what the average 3 or 4 piece on the radio was doing at the time.

[Margalis]

I dislike AC/DC. Just boring music.

Lot's of albums take multiple listens to get into. Often when I first listen to a new album I do it while I am doing something else, like working, to let it sink in on a subconcious level before I really listen to it.

Don't think that would really work for the Spice Girls though. Works well for new genres, unfamiliar arrangements and such, not standard pop.

[CmdrSlack]

People were trying to tell the Exploited and Social D that they weren't punk in their day either. I mean, for what? Because they were several years too late from the original "scene"?

As a point of order, how is Social D not punk . . . unless you mean "1975-77" as the "original 'scene'"

FFS, Another State of Mind (the film, not the song) lands them smack dab in the middle of the L.A. punk scene.

Yep, in the "old days" (not really that long ago actually), it was left up to the discretion of the DJ, like in college radio. Hell, the DJ was considered a Rock Star is in own right. In the old days. All DJ's these days go by the name of Clear Channel though.

That's why I love WXRT here in Chicago. Their DJs still pick the songs. It's glorious. They also stream their broadcast, so anyone can listen to what is pretty damn good radio 99% of the time.

[stray]

People were trying to tell the Exploited and Social D that they weren't punk in their day either. I mean, for what? Because they were several years too late from the original "scene"?

As a point of order, how is Social D not punk . . . unless you mean "1975-77" as the "original 'scene'"

FFS, Another State of Mind (the film, not the song) lands them smack dab in the middle of the L.A. punk scene.

Yeah, the 77 people. It's stupid, I know. There are a lot of people out there who wouldn't consider anything post 77, post New York to be "punk". That even bands from the NY area, but yet, post 77, weren't punk either (like the Misfits). British bands (even the Pistols), LA bands, whatever, get the shaft..

I'm definitely not saying that though. Social Distortion is one of my favorite bands. A lot of LA bands were (big fan of X too).

[schild]

There are a lot of people out there who wouldn't consider anything post 77, post New York to be "punk".

A lot of people are crazy, stupid, and can't let go.

[stray]

I used to be a little snooty when I was younger (not as snooty as those original ny scenesters), when I didn't give any credit to bands after the 80's that played punk. I couldn't "let go" so to speak. But that was stupid too. Nowadays, I think I like just as many newer punk bands as I do old ones. I draw the line with the sum41/blink182 stuff, but you can't blame me there. And even then, I don't necessarily hate a lot of songs or riffs from those bands. It's just the childish singing I don't like.

[stray]

OK Schild... If you're reading, recommend me some synthpop made in the last 5 years or so. That's your deal, right?

The catchier/poppier, the better. Preferably English lyrics. In the spirit of my avatar, give me a top 5 list.

[edit] Shit, one other thing... If you pay attention to this kind of thing at least, I'd prefer bands with at least a part-time guitarist. Like a lot of earlier bands had.

[WindupAtheist]

I too would look upon such a list with interest.  This is one area where Schild comes off as not-insane to me.

[Endie]

Catchy, pop, synths and samples, part-time-guitarists, amusing lyrics:

PWEI
Carter

OK, so they fall down on the "last five years" bit.  I'm not at home to Mr Picky.

[stray]

Pwei is not really what I'm going for.. That's a little too rock and breakbeaty.

Anyways, there's a good reason why I say past five years -- the sound of older drum beats and synths from back then have really dated. That's why I'm curious really. What's being done with new gear these days. Not to say I don't like older stuff anymore -- as long as the songs were good, that's fine. And in some cases, I wouldn't want some things to change a bit.

One other note about guitars: I don't mean metalish or hard rock riffs. Like a lot of industrial bands try to do. Just the occasional thing like DM did is fine. Or anyone who sounds like Johnny Marr.

[edit] Hmm, Carter just sounds like a pop/rock band with synths.

[schild]

Last 5 years? Ironically, that could be hard. The only release I've bought in the last 5 years was uhmmmm the new VNV Nation and Covenant albums. I picked up a lot of older, rare stuff. Celebrate the Nun, a Silke Bischoff album (not really synthpop, more folk), and uhmmm yea. Most of my favorite synth stuff came between 1998 and 2003.  It was pretty much the high point of modern synthpop. Whatwith Wolfsheim's 'Spectators,' VNV Nation's '(Burning) Empires,' Iris' 'Disconnect,' And One's '9.9.99 Uhr,' and Covenant's 'United States of Mind.'

Iris' Disconnect is probably the most poppy out of those. The latter 2 are more industrial/EBM than anything else. Wolfsheim's album is the most poppy OF their albums.

If you want to drop into the poppiest shit you need to hunt down stuff like Evil's Toy (Later rebranded T.O.Y.), Beborn Beton, S.P.O.C.K. (which, if I remember correctly, stands for Space Pirates on Channel K - anyway, it's Star Trek themed music (and some generic sci-fi stuff, better than the tv shows IMO), De/Vision, Neuropa (though, I like to call this GayPop).

Anyway, what I'm getting at is this - it's definitely evolved from New Wave and didn't exactly pick up where the late 80s/early 90s left off. Guitarists are few and far between. The only band that had a regular guitarist (post 1995) that I can remember playing on my radio show was Bella Morte. Not kidding. And they are _not_synthpop_. But rather, a small, local goth band until they won a ferret award or some shit. They were on the Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines soundtrack I believe. Or at least, their poster was in the first club you went to.

Edit: Also, I've been listening to In Transit (the Covenant album that recently came out) in my car alot. And I only like one track. Synthpop had a resurgence there for a while. But it's pretty much gone to trash again. Hell, even Iris - whose Disconnect is fucking amazing - scored a big fat zero from me on Reconnect. Though they're good live.

[stray]

OK, De/Vision's cool. I've heard them, and kind of what I'm going for.

But you answered my question, I guess... About New Wave and such (which is ultimately what I want more of... Just with newer synths). I'll look into the other stuff though. Thanks.

[schild]

Some bands have a guitar when they play live. But those are few and far between. Problem is, when a guitar riff is needed, it's rare simply because synthesizers have come a long way since Kraftwerk laid down Dentaku.

[schild]

Oh, also, if you somehow have access to them (local music store or something, I don't know), you can really tell how the last 5 years has turned to shit compared to going back 6-10 years ago simply by listening to the compilation CDs that came with Orkus magazine.

Edit: Here's a top ten from some random blog. It's not bad. I'd replace Bodypop with another And One album. I'd probably replace Neuroactive with some Statemachine (but the Neuroactive album is easily their best). Take of Echo Image, throw on Cosmicity (maybe, tough call). I would DEFINITELY replace Endanger with Evil's Toy though. Otherwise, even the descriptions there are good.

Edit 2: Also, here's the 20 most popular reviews from synthpop.net. As you can see, Iris' Disconnect just won't disappear. And that's because it's a fucking masterpiece of an album.

1) Loveless - Hello World   
2) Intervox - The Darkest Hour
3) Leiahdorus - Ashes, Ashes....
4) In-A-Sense - Seclusion
5) I Satellite - Auto:matic
6) The Dignity Of Labour - Demo
7) Hyperbubble - Airbrushed Alibi's
8) Red Flag - Who Are The Skulls?
9) Mesh - Who watches over me (Home Records)
10) Iris - Disconnect
11) Various Artists - Synthphony REMIXed! Vol. 2
12) Various Artists - Popaganda: The Speed Of Sound
13) Blind Faith And Envy - The Charming Factor
14) Various Artists - Rocket: A Tribute To Dead Or Alive
15) The Dignity Of Labour - XRV MCD
16) Depeche Mode - Exciter (Mute/Reprise)
17) Hyperbubble - Airbrushed Alibis In Dub
18) Opaq Face - Close Enough
19) Spray - I Am Gothic Remix Project EP
20) Avenpitch - Butterfly Radio

[Endie]

On a less facetious note, Dave Gahan's solo track "Kingdom" is bloody good, in a kind of Covenant (Call the Ships to Port phase) meets (unsurprisingly (Depeche Mode)) way.

I get crap from my more goth friends for liking them, but I have a soft spot for She Wants Revenge, with stuff like "Tear You Apart" and "Written in Blood" (technically probably not so work-friendly that you could watch it withthe boss looking at the screen).  I can't help it, though: it appeals to the part of me who liked Ultravox before they left their Bat Cave-ish era and had hits.

Shit Schild that is some obscure stuff, I tried the top five there and only got a hit for "Loveless - Hello World" which turned out to be set to some super-dodgy youtube footage of Japanese-style young-topless-boys hentai.

[stray]

Yes. Gahan is the shit. I'm a sucker for any baritone, and he's one of the best. I could just simplify my requests here, and say I want more variations of Depeche Mode, but that might be simplifying it.

Kind of surprised Exciter made that list above though. I thought it kind of sucked. Playing the Angel is the better new-ish DM album.

[schild]

Yea, Exciter was poopy.

But gothies love their DM.

Also, most gothsynthebmtypes are not to be trusted with anything. Especially not your car keys.

[stray]

I don't know what qualifies as goth anymore. Used to hang around some of them, but they were into much older shit, like Christian Death.

[Righ]

Modern synthpop:

http://www.myspace.com/revolutionbynight

http://www.myspace.com/melotronmusic

http://www.myspace.com/weseekcolony5

[Endie]

I don't know what qualifies as goth anymore. Used to hang around some of them, but they were into much older shit, like Christian Death.

Goth went to Electro land.

Christian Death's Church Of No Return, together with Alien Sex fiend's Acid Bath, were what got me into Goth music when I was 13 or 14.  Girls in fishnets and bob cuts were what held my interest pretty soon afterwards.

[stray]

Well... It was only the girls that held my interest from the beginning. ;)

[Endie]

http://www.myspace.com/weseekcolony5

Bloody hell I like that Colony 5 stuff a lot (though I'd appreciate a version of Knives where the lead singer tones down the Protentuous Voice bit a bit). I'll be having that when I get home.

[stray]

Yeah I liked it too... Not what I had in mind, but the sound was good nonetheless.

Meh to some of the lyrics of these bands though...

[Endie]

Oh the lyrics are awful.  I suspect that this has a lot to do with them being German (and that's not necessarily a second language thing: it's an earnestness thing).

I know that there is a no lyrics rule, but I can't stop myself.  From that Colony 5 link:

"I want to be free, as free as I can be
I want to stay young, at least in my mind
I want to feel free to do whatever I want to do
I want to party all night long making love to all the girls"

I am making love to all the girls, yes?

Edit: OK they're Swedish.  Same thing applies.

[Righ]

I'm a few years older and lived in Leeds, so I got into Goth through local bands like Sisters of Mercy, March Violets and Rose of Avalanche. I guess it wasn't a bad time to be in Leeds. I don't think that much of what's popularly termed goth today has much to do with the earlier generation. Mallgoths. ;)

(Colony 5 are Swedish - lyrics guaranteed to be more awful than those of German bands).

[stray]

I am making love to all the girls, yes?

Heh yeah. Not the most poetic way of putting it, but I'm behind the idea, I guess.

[schild]

I never could get into Melotron much. Have a few of their albums and singles, I think I like all of two tracks.