| Author | Message | ||
     James |
Go Betweens mark II? http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/20/1087669847280.html?oneclick=true | ||
| Mark Ilsley |
I would say "Yes", at an emotional level. | ||
| Cassiel |
I would say yes on an an emotional level too. Then I saw the name Mental as Anything and thought 'Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!' | ||
| michael |
Come on Cassiel - you're forgetting about some of the Mentals finest work, how about the song If You Leave Me Can I Come Too. Wish I'd thought of that line. Try Beserk Warriors (about Abba), Too Many Times, Lets Cook, and I can't remember any more. | ||
| Mark Ilsley |
There is a remarkable parallel in the attitude of the music making in both bands. Wasn't it Greedy Smith who once described The Mentals as (something like) "a group of artists, struggling to become musicians". That serves as not a bad approximation of an approach to music that was common in bands like the GBs at that time, through their common litery interests in this case. (unlike The Mentals, who where primarily into graphic or visual arts). Ideologically, they must have shared much in their initial disposition towards their music making, the emphasis initially being on artistic merit rather than the technical proficiency. | ||
| Cassiel |
Sorry Michael. I have to admit profound ignorance when it comes to 'The Mentals' as the only song of theirs that ever made it in the northern hemispshere was 'Live it up' and it is surely one of the most irritating songs ever. Perhaps it was not representative. Were they as good as Mondo Rock? | ||
| michael |
Cassiel, Mondo Rock were not good, apart from Come said the boy which was only good because I was 17 at the time. Cool World was a good ZMondo ZRock song but not enough to induce an nalbum sale from me. Anyway Live It Up was not representative of the early genius of the Mentals. Trawl back if you have the chance. The lead guitar player went on to be one of AUSTRALIAs great pop artists for Mambo designs. he songs were fun compared to the Go-Bs who were much more serious in the art rock department. And therefore much more sustaining. | ||
| Cassiel |
I was joking about Mondo Rock. Last time I was in Oz I was watching a channel that seemed to be devoted to early 80s Oz rock and they popped up, singing a song about going down in the sand. It was truly terrible, in the so bad it's good category. Has stayed with me ever since. | ||
| michael |
That's it - Come said the boy, Let's go down in the sand. That was never going to endure was it. Re - Mentals, I think Live it Up is a bad introduction, their earlier stuff is more quirky, with some great love songs thrown in. | ||
| Mark Ilsley |
Hey, James & Michael. Check that SMH link again, tomorrow. (Saturday) The Sydney Morning Herald is publishing a 1000 word essay by Linda Morrison on the subject of Women in Rock. She carries a wealth of personal experiance on this subject and is an acknowledged commentator. | ||
| Pete Azzopardi |
Thanks for the tip, Mark. | ||
| Catherine |
Lindy's article is on the website as we speak - time delays and all that. Excellent stuff - but read it for yourselves. Makes me glad I never wanted to be in a band. I'd probably be up on manslaughter charges, if I had to put up with s**t like that, just so I could do my job. | ||
| JonhD |
Can someone add the URL for Lindys article?? | ||
| catherine |
here you go http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/02/1088488146548.html?oneclick=true | ||
| michael |
History lesson. |