| Author | Message | ||
     kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 756 Registered: 05-2005 |
Shamelessly ripped off from this months Uncut. Great albums that influenced no one, because they were just impossible to imitate Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, Mary Margaret O'Hara's Miss America and Nico's Marble Index were suggestions put forward. I would nominate Metal Box by PIL Whats yours? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 534 Registered: 04-2005 |
Well, that's a ridiculous claim--at least two of those Uncut mentioned influenced PLENTY of people (esp. Astral Weeks). Being influenced by something is one thing, replicating the sound of something, that's something different. So, that said, these may have influenced tons of people, but I don't think anyone replicated them: Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica Scott Walker - Tilt Lou Reed - Metal Machine Music My Bloody Valentine - Loveless The Shaggs - Philosophy of the World | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 534 Registered: 03-2005 |
LOL. Kurt, your mention of the Shaggs just set me up perfectly for the evening! | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 535 Registered: 04-2005 |
Glad I could be of assistance! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 701 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff would like this one. The man on your street - The Happy Family | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 801 Registered: 05-2005 |
Does anybody else agree with me that TV On The Radio are pretty unique? Nobody else really sounds like them. I thought the first album showed promise, brilliant in patches. The new one is sensational, at this moment in time my album of the year because it ticks all the boxes - original, got attitude, tunes, challenging without being unlistenable. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 588 Registered: 04-2005 |
Kevin, I think you're right. I bought their first album and wasn't quite convinced, but at the same time, I couldn't quite figure them out or pigeonhole them. And that, I think, is the sign of a band putting the pieces together in a different way. I'll have to check out their new one; I haven't heard it yet. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 393 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin, the thing about Metal Box is that, in my humble opinion, the Rapture blatantly ripped off a song or two from said album on their debut. I can't remember the song title, but I could definitely hear that as a strong influence. Spence - I'd agree, The Man on Your Street would be kind of a hard one to imitate. And a fine album to boot. Here's one: The Associates - 4th Drawer Down I know most people probably find Billy MacKenzie's pseudo-operatic warbling insufferable, but I *love* this record (it's a collection of singles, really). It really sounds like nothing else. A stunning and original fusion of soulful (and soul-influenced) pop hooks and total art-damaged weirdness. And a few more: Wire - 154, Chairs Missing - At least no one's really imitated these successfully Durutti Column - 1st three albums - no one plays guitar quite like Vini Reilly Side 2 of David Bowie's Low also comes to mind. I'm sure I'll think of a few more.... | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 198 Registered: 04-2006 |
once in this fabulous forum i wrote, that when i listen to the cookie album of tv on the radio it reminds me totally of a.r. kane. does anyone remembers this great band? and if, have someone the same impression? | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 395 Registered: 08-2004 |
Fourth Drawer Down is unstoppable. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 213 Registered: 04-2006 |
yes, 4th drawer down is great. the complete work of van dyke parks (and not only song cycle) is -i suppose- unique. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 744 Registered: 05-2005 |
I concure all of jeff's too. Add Sulk - Associates. Nothing sounds like Party Fears Two. kev, tv on the radio, great name read alot, need to buy, its worth my while yeah? | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 745 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Go Betweens | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 572 Registered: 05-2005 |
I bought an AR Kane album once and really did not like it at all. Must dig it out if I still have it. I only got it because of their involvement in M/A/R/R/S (they were the A/R part of the equation of course). | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 808 Registered: 05-2005 |
another vote for 4th Drawer Down. I also remember buying all the 12" singles on the Situation 2 label that made up this album, seem to recall they were releasing a single every month back then. Spence, buy TV on the Radio with confidence, if you need more persuading all these guys seem to like it http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/tvontheradio/returntocookiemountain - to get an average score of 87 out of 100 based on 32 reviews is pretty impressive The guy with the dreadlocks from A.R. Kane bought me a beer once before a Butthole Surfers gig, he was friends with Simon from the Cocteau Twins, who was friends with my friend (christ it sounds confusing) - he was a really nice guy, very down to earth. wonder what he's doing now? | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 748 Registered: 05-2005 |
cheers kevinio! yeah ar kane, they seemed to have all the critics on their side, in '87/'88. I remember MARRS song well, it really did seem quite revolutionary at that time in the UK. Having the 4AD imprint really gave it cred with the anti-commercial establashment! | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 749 Registered: 05-2005 |
Tuxedo Moon are pretty unique. Along with Devo and The Residents. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 222 Registered: 04-2006 |
pere ubu and all david thomas solo projects, definitely! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 203 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kate and Anna McGarrigle's eponymus debut from 1975. The Roches tried to copy it, but never came close. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 394 Registered: 10-2004 |
Thought of a few more: Pink Industry - just about anything they did. Very cool, artsy, textural, kind of difficult but generally gorgeous synth-based pop from the early to mid 80s. I can't think of anyone else who sounds like them; entirely their own unique world, inhabited only by them. Japan - Tin Drum. A longtime favorite of mine, again, very artsy, and no one could even touch this one, try as many new romantics did. All Duran Duran could successfully plunder was Japan's hair and fashion sense. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 756 Registered: 05-2005 |
jeff, pink industry nice spot! very true, however surely japan were wearing ferry's trousers?! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 208 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, I just ordered Japan - Tin Drum yesterday. I am looking foreward to getting it. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 396 Registered: 10-2004 |
Indeed, Spence, Japan blatantly stole the New York Dolls' wardrobe in their early days, then copied Bryan Ferry when they got all suave and artsy, although they added a thick layer of make-up and hair-dye. But still, by the time of Gentelmen Take Polaroids and Tin Drum, they didn't sound like anyone else around. I have a little theory that by the time of Roxy Music's good (but slick) "Avalon," Ferry et al. were trying to play catch up with Japan and all the other sensitive new romantics they originally inspired. Michael - I hope you at least find Tin Drum interesting. It's been one of my very favorite albums for years and years. Most people I play it for seem to like it, though I've met a few people who can't stomach Mick Karn's bass playing. It probably sounds strange and dated to most people, but it is pretty darn unique. The only other album that comes to mind that at times might sound vaguely similar is Blue Nile's first album, "Walk Across the Rooftops." I mean, they're definitely different sounding albums (Blue Nile didn't have that strong Asian influence), but there are some similarities if you listen closely. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 46 Registered: 05-2005 |
Japan was the first real concert I saw (in Brussel). It was fantastic ! 'Gentelmen' and 'Tin drum' were also my favourite albums at that time. I've just bought the new dvd. I hope it's fine. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 396 Registered: 08-2004 |
Loved Tin Drum, one of the first albums I owned on cassette. It was so good they had to split up. I love Mick Karn's playing. Talk Talk's early albums have that kind of sound without the Eastern percusion. Has anyone got the reissue with extras? I've never upgraded my copy from that old tape. Are the extras worth having? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 213 Registered: 01-2005 |
I am familiar with Karn's bass playing, as I have The Waking Hour by Dalis Car, the group featuring Peter Murphy and Mick Karn. I love the song Dali's Car, the first cut from The Waking Hour album. I must have heard that cut 15 years ago or more from a radio show that I taped and I still have the tape! I only bought the cd though when it became domestically available a few years ago.It was the same radio program that introduced me to the G-B's in Novemeber of 1988, so needless to say it was a very influential! | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 117 Registered: 04-2005 |
Tim Buckley's 'Starsailor' is most certainly totally unique: still an unsettling experience to listen to and the release that effectively killed his career. And apparently the live performances of this period were even more extreme: pure vocal improvisation. |