The 50 Best Scottish Bands Of All Time (as voted for by the public) are as follows:

who among us does not like the bay city rollers?

I love Travis, but Aztec Camera's fantastic debut album puts them ahead.

Predicting a runaway victory for Dogs Die in Hot Cars here.

SAHB

Fuck it. Aereogramme.

Cocteaus, obv.

Although later shite aside, Simple Minds give 'em a run for their money.

no urusei yatsura no cred

think I'm going w/simple minds here

ugh

Calculated brilliance from Dom, starting a poll Belle & Sebastian are almost guaranteed to win, with 50 candidates making their win all the sweeter.

Dunno which corny indie fuxxor choice out of Mogwai, Beta Band or BoC I'm gonna go for, this will require thought.

teenage fanclub = perfect distance between proclaimers and corny indie fuxxorz

Del Amitri one place ahead of Orange Juice = OH SNAP MONDEO POP TRIUMPHS OVER THE CRITICAL ORTHODOXY YET AGAIN

1. Lulu are a band?

2. J&MC 4 the win...

B&S are probably one of the best 5 bands here, mind. JAMC I am not sure I will ever get, ever. And this is probably heresy coming from a self-avowed Earl Brutus fanatic.

altered images

^^^ this

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2216101584

http://www.wonzdar.com/cms/upload/bilder/Blue-Nile-01.jpg

Vaselines!

Why isn't there a band that sounds like Bay City Rollers meets J&MC?

this ought to be a pretty predictable poll. Orange Juice and J&MC will battle it out for first, and B+S will be a relatively distant third

blue nile

wheres cozen/pinefox/tim f to back me up

blue nile for the balearic vote

No Marmalade*? No BMX Bandits*? No Adventures in Stereo*? No Long Fin Killie? This list is a farce!

*I wouldn't remotely consider voting for these

No Josef K would seem to be a limiting factor. Can I write in Iron Virgin?

Why isn't there a band that sounds like Bay City Rollers meets J&MC?

― Whiney G. Weingarten, Sunday, November 9, 2008 7:54 PM (33 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

http://consequenceofsound.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/ramones.jpg

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Soup Dragons and Fairground Attraction are missing as well.

My vote: The Jesus and Mary Chain. Honourable mention: Cocteau Twins and Teenage Fanclub. There are several good bands on the list, actually.

No Sensational Alex Harvey Band - no AC/DC. I just thought I'd insert that cautionary note.

Sorry, Scottish music really doesn't seem to do it for me. I think my favourite song by anyone on that list is Somewhere in My Heart, haha.

somewhere in my heart seems like a good song to sing with a band before you propose to someone

the Jesus and Mary Chain is the correct answer but they will get enough votes. so this race is for second and with that it goes to the Delgados for their run of The Great Eastern, Hate, and Universal Audio. what a great band!

OTM, but don't forget Peloton (their best IMO). Personally, while their material was consistently excellent, I never thought the Friddman makeover suited their sound.

Alasdair Roberts

Nevermind Scottish, Cocteau Twins are one of my favorite bands period.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the correct answer.

I feel like JAMC could use some love after getting trashed in the last poll.

Nevermind Scottish, Cocteau Twins are one of my favorite bands period.

― LeRooLeRoo, Monday, 10 November 2008 06:32 (41 minutes ago) Permalink

^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the correct answer.

― jonathan - stl, Monday, 10 November 2008 06:59 (14 minutes ago) Permalink

thirded.

The Exploited were robbed.

The Skids, closely followed by the Rezillos, then the JAMC, then SAHB. There is a lot of horrible, horrible stuff on that list, though.

I couldn't decide between JAMC and Orange Juice, so I voted for B&S.

With a sad lack of Urusei Yatsura on the list my personal choice was easy: Mogwai.

Missing: Middle of the Road, The Orchids and Reindeer Section.

I'll go for the ethereal cotton sound though: Cocteau Twins.

i'm surprised i've heard so many bands from such a shithole. j/k!!! i voted orange juice but i should have voted cocteaus.

Associates!!!

Honourable mentions to Orange Juice, TFC, SAHB, Vaselines, Pastels, Bill Wells, Dick Gaughan, JAMC, Cocteaus, Josef K, Fire Engines, Ali Roberts, Richard Youngs etc etc.

Current fave rave Scottish acts... Tattie Toes, Desalvo, Triple School, Kylie Minoise, Gay Against You, Nalle, Plates, Gummy Stumps, Dananananaykroyd...

Were John Martyn there, that would have been my pick. Dunno who wins in his absence. Also, I'm pulling my sad doggy face at the lack of Dog Faced Hermans.

Many xposts: Don't you mean the Exploited wuz robbed?

OJ ftw.

And JAMC: Don't count unless they caused a riot on home turf.

Which displaces Edwyn, also.

aaaah, I didn't see the Cocteaus until I'd already voted for JAMC. Bah.

Orange Juice.
I like Fire Engines plenty but can't understand how they got in and Josef K didn't.

no ganger? augh!

Ganger! God. My mate was actually in Ganger (towards the very end) and still I forget about that band. Wow.

Oh yeah, Ganger were grand. But alas, hardly likely to make this list. Likewise: Life Without Buildings, Telstar Ponies, StretchHeads, Prick Decay...

I really miss ganger. 'hammock style' sounds even better now than it did then.

Telstar Ponies. Brr. I have, er, issues with some of the personalities involved in that band. Still, those first two albums were astonishing.

I saw them live at uni. Along with about five other people.

ya no quickspace no credibility lolz

I saw them live at uni. Along with about five other people

I saw them at the Venue in Edinburgh in about 1996, along with about two other people, at something like 5 in the afternoon. I ended up jumping on stage at the end. Jesus.

I voted Associates but wished Eugenius were on here.

Who voted in this? How on earth did Mull Historical Society finish ahead of Franz Ferdinand and Snow Patrol?

No Slik?

don't let B&S at the top fool you into thinking the poll has closed Matt

Argh, how could I forget Life Without Buildings!

Telstar Ponies' second album has some nice drones courtesy of Richard Youngs, but the songs can be pretty cringeworthy, not least Sail Her On, which has the not exactly immortal opening line, "Well I fucked every woman in this city last night". In places it kinda sounds like they were going for a mix of Bad Seeds and Fushitsusha, which is a great idea, but fails to come off. It just sounds like grim, portentous goth rock.
Farewell Farewell from the Geographic compilation is a really nice song though. Never heard the first album, although I've head good things about it.

A couple of StretchHeads are in De Salvo, whose new album is possibly the best thing Rock Action have ever put out. Ferocious perv-core, like Jesus Lizard molesting Converge. Or something.

Did the decent thing and voted Runrig.

Farewell Farewell from the Geographic compilation is a really nice song though

Aaargh. Even you mentioning that song takes me back to a time when an awful lot of dark things were happening. Bloody hellfire :(

It is a fantastic song, though.

yeah but what was the decent thing? xpost

(And yes, the Desalvo album is thoroughly, meatily mighty.)

xpost

Was disappointed Beltane Fire weren't on the list tbh.

BETA

Haha, Beltane Fire - I listened to their album a few times too many when I was a kid. Now I have 'Excalibur (I Believe)' stuck in my head. Sort of pompous bagpipe prog, a bit like Marillion meets Big Country. Fantastic and bad and awesome stuff. Worrever happened to them?

"Fortune favours the brave" wasn't it?

No Win, no vote.

Fortune Favours The Brave video http://www.clintbradley.co.uk/video.htmhere. Holy God.

!

Whither Royal Scots Dragoon Guards? At least they had a number one.

Yeah, blimey they were cobblers also...

xpost they were guards not cobblers.

The Shop Assistants couldn't make the top 50? That is retarded.

Yeah, as "I don't wanna be frieends with you" did get to number 50!

No Chou Pahrot, No Credibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Lulu and Eddie Reader count as bands, why don't John Martyn or Bert Jansch or Dick Gaughan or Jack Bruce or Frankie Miller or Gerry Rafferty? No Stealers Wheel? Or Gallagher and Lyle?

Why isn't there a band that sounds like Bay City Rollers meets J&MC?

― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 10 November 2008 00:54

The first time I heard/saw Glasvegas, this is EXACTLY what I thought they sounded like.

Or was that your subtle point?

Anyway, I'm torn between JAMC and B&S, but I think the Mary Chain take it for, er, getting there first.

It can only be Dunfermline's greatest export, Nazareth.

Fire Engines!

http://acuterecords.com/releases/acu009_fireengines.html

Mogwai, ISB or BoC but which?

ISB of course. Or SAHB. Or the Associates.

Poll includes Eddi Reader but not Fairground Attraction?

No space for Talking Heads I see.

How come Scotland has such a strong musical reputation? There's nothing even close to the top drawer here

Associates or Alex Harvey, easily.

How come Scotland has such a strong musical reputation? There's nothing even close to the top drawer here

Does it?

I was just thinking there's a lot of good stuff on there!

Josef K didnt make the list, and I always found them pretty good.

For a country with a population of just over five million, there are a lot of internationally recognised bands on that poll.

Dawson!

I agree that there's lots of good stuff, but there isn't even a Sting or a Rod Stewart here, let alone a Smiths or a Beatles. It's good second division stuff, I suppose I mean. There are tons of English artists better or better-known than anyone on this poll (who would that even be? Annie Lennox?)

England does kind of have ten times the population of Scotland though.

I think Rod Stewart IS Scottish...or am I wrong?

Rod Stewart thinks he's Scottish. Plus it's a poll of bands, not solo artists.

Rod Stewart's dad was Scottish, but then so was Richard Thompson's, so can we claim him as well?

Lulu?

... and the Luvvers

I'm aware of the population difference, but you might still expect to find one U2 or Van Morrison or Tom Jones in there. I'm just curious about the lack of big stars really

I mean, you're not going to get Norman Blake guesting on the Simpsons

billy connolly to thread, then.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8109/ukhumblebumsthe1970openupthedoor1rg4.jpg

stretchheads
dawson

What about long lost 70s rockers Beggars Opera or NWOBHM band Holocaust (covered by Metallica)?

My mum used to babysit Euan Lowson, original singer of Scottish neo-prog rockers Pallas. There's a name that most have long forgotten. He is also from Dumbarton, birthplace of David Byrne, and where most of my family still lives today.

BTW, I voted for Aereogramme. So great a band that the label I work at released two albums for them!

Now, THAT was a big album xpost...

David Byrne is the answer to scottish musicians with enough stature to be on the simpsons. (talking heads absent from the poll obv.)

Proclaimers did a guest spot on Family Guy.

Proclaimers could be on The Simpsons!

I thought Snow Patrol were from Belfast.

I agree that there's lots of good stuff, but there isn't even a... Smiths

Belle & Sebastian: The tartan Smiths!

groundskeeperwillie.jpg

PRMLSCRM and Simple Minds both have/had significant international followings, surely?

What about long lost 70s rockers Beggars Opera or NWOBHM band Holocaust (covered by Metallica)?

Holocaust were awesome. Death or glory is a jam.

Less than Big Country (xp)

I'd be surprised if anyone outside the UK had bought anything by Primal Scream

Will never forget Pallas or that song from the first album where they stole the ENTIRE TUNE of "Carpet Crawlers".

Distinct lack of Public Domain as well.

Probably what they get for repeatedly shouting "London" during their biggest hit.

Public Domain fans not big readers, I'm guessing.

Was Lulu a band?

I voted for the woefully underrated (but not by some on here) Beta Band.

Boards of Canada are one of the biggest electronic acts of the last 10 years, if that counts Ismael. They're my choice.

You know, I've never heard them, though I've had them recommended to me. I'll check them out.

They're really good!

boards of what again?

BTW, I voted for Aereogramme

GOOD STUFF. Keep 'em coming.

no king creosote no cred either

I'd be surprised if anyone outside the UK had bought anything by Primal Scream

it's amazing to me that anyone inside the UK has.

associates!!!!!!

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Eurythmics gddmnit. Second place to Fire Engines, who are awesome.

actually kind of stunned that no one has mentioned them until now. Are people not reading down to the end of the list?

Dog Faced Hermans

Voted Del Amitri, just in case Momus ever comes back to ILM.

A better poll would be most amusing use of a Scottish band as a punchline. Texas would fucking run with it.

Would love to say Cocteau Twins but I have way more Eurythmics records.

I'd be surprised if anyone outside the UK had bought anything by Primal Scream

― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Tuesday, 11 November 2008 15:47 (2 days ago)

Quite!

Will never forget Pallas or that song from the first album where they stole the ENTIRE TUNE of "Carpet Crawlers".

― Have Your Sega (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 11 November 2008 16:27 (2 days ago)

I don't remember that one! I probably would have voted for Pallas, I still luv "The Sentinel" and the last couple of albs have been decent. As it is, I voted for the Rezillos - "Mission accomplished but the beat still goes on", well, you can't really fault it, can you?

I was going to vote Franz Ferdinand, because they (along with Eurythmics I suppose) present the best pop package, but have run into the sand to the extent that they seem already more or less forgotten

In the end, though, I went for Wet Wet Wet, just pipping Texas, for star quality. I feel an enormous amount of goodwill towards Marti for some reason

(star quality not including the other members of those bands, obviously)

Marti Pellow? Star quality???!!!

Whenever I see him on BBC Breakfast, he absolutely shines

That'll be the Cuprinol I think.

Giving up the old smack will do that for a person

Like Bobby?

Thread needs one of Marcello's Bobby skits

NO!

Betas fo sho.

I voted for Spare Snare, but only because after moaning to myself that there was a whole load of others that should have been included from The Scars to El Hombre Trajedo, Biggest surprise to be missing in that the had hits and stuff would be Danny Wilson

Ivor Cutler or Momus!

This Idlewild at #3 as originally 'voted for by the public' - need one have heard them?

no king creosote no cred either

― ❤ⓛⓞⓥⓔ❤ (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, November 11, 2008 3:51 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I love King Creosote! Although I'm a little surprised to find ILM love for him. Voted Cocteaus, anyway, as they're one of the bands I've loved longest.

(a post full of love)

Predict Cocteau's landslide because they capture a whole demographic indifferent to pop from planet Scotland.

You hoping all the B&S fans have left for livejournal?

This Idlewild at #3 as originally 'voted for by the public' - need one have heard them?

― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 13 November 2008 21:59 (55 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

They have one great song:

Everything else is 90th rate "New Adventures In Hi-Fi" bullshit.

Although they're actually Big Boi's favourite band, hence the name of the Outkast movie.

As it is, I voted for the Rezillos - "Mission accomplished but the beat still goes on", well, you can't really fault it, can you?

Yeah, it's badly recorded and the singing is godawful at times. You don't mean "Can't Stand The Rezillos" do you?

whole of idlewild's second album (which has that track on) is gold. first one was punkier (tho i've never really heard it), then they went all REM.

that song *is* from their first album, unless you're counting captain as an album (which it isn't)

you are correct. well the whole of their second album sounds like that then, dunno what the rest of the first one sounds like. third album + is rem territory.

i think i always thuoght that "when i argue i see shapes" was just a standalone single.

for some reason

yeah they lost me at the third album. everything up to and including the second lp is really good

xpost

they'd probably be my third choice, after teenage fanclub and boc.

o wait i forgot about mogwai.

proclaimers in at five.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

suck that snow patrol

Joint winners I can live with.

Simple Minds and Deacon Blue with 0 pleases me too.

At Indian Summer, Glasgow's "boutique" festival where the sushi stall was actually a whelk stall, Idlewild appeared as the "mystery guests". It was like getting sports socks for Christmas.
They were a good, fun, noisy punk band circa Captain, but they've gotten so boring since then. Although they're compared to REM a lot, to my mind, they sound more like Runrig if they've heard a Fugazi album. Except not as interesting. Their contribution to that Ballad Of The Books project (which was pretty disappointing overall, far too reverent) was so dreary - an earnest stadium folk rock setting of an Edwin Morgan poem. Our national bard deserves better! A filthy Desalvo version of One Cigarette or Strawberries, bringing out the homoeroticism: now yr talking!
Anyways, no complaints about the ILM poll results, although Associates top the poll for me. They're so gloriously un-Scottish, which isn't to suggest some kind of essentialist notion of Scottishness 'cos obviously all that national identity stuff is a construction and a load of bollocks, but their gorgeous, skewed, sensual art-pop is hardly the first thing you'd associate with Dundee, let alone Scotland as a whole. The bit in Party Fears Two where Billie exclaims "RELEASE MEEEEE!!!!" is one of the most transcendant moments in pop EVER!
Apologies, I'm slightly tipsy. Carry on, nothing to see here...

Did Louis vote Biffy Clyro?

i hope so

actually a little surprised to see no votes at all for bis

only 2 for primal scream, then again it is ILM

wow, there are 50 scottish bands

j/k I love dawson they were awesome

and dog faced hermans, the secret winners of this poll

i don't see Aztec Camera, who were much better than orange juice, to say the least, on this list

No they weren't better at all!

Stealers Wheel and The Humblebums...

Simple Minds and Deacon Blue with 0 pleases me too.

Ridiculous, Simple Minds were great, admittedly then they were shite but...

Well I grew up when they were shite and I hated them.

Good work not letting B&S win this everyone.

SAHB doing "Next" on the Old Grey Whistle Test may be one of my favourite TV performances of a song:

There used to be a better version of this on youtube. It was stunning

HA, FUCK OFF, BELLE AND SEBASTIAN.

I'm pretty happy with this. Aereogramme garnered 100% more votes than I expected, for a start.

You don't mean "Can't Stand The Rezillos" do you?

Yes, I do, goddamn it! Thx for correction to my faulty memory.

Grimly seems happy B&S lost

were aztec camera omitted out of spite? cause that seems like a major oversight

Between The Eurythmics and The Beta Band, dunny.

Pfunkboy you NEED to buy one copy each of "Sons & Fascination" and "New Gold Dream", seriously.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7744539.stm

Scottish indie band Orange Juice have lifted the lifetime achievement honour at the Tartan Clef awards.

The Fratellis were also among the big winners at the ceremony, which was held at the Old Fruit Market in Glasgow's Merchant City.

Sharleen Spiteri won the outstanding contribution award, while The Almighty lifted the Scottish rock award.

The event raises money for the Nordoff-Robbins charity which promotes the use of music therapy.

Orange Juice singer Edwyn Collins was a leading figure on the alternative Scottish scene in the late 1970s and 1980s, forming his first band, Nu-Sonics, aged 17.

I'm working again, writing songs again, slowly
Edwyn Collins

Emotional reunion for Orange Juice
They became Orange Juice, who were independent favourites and briefly broke into the mainstream with Rip It Up in 1983.

He went on to pursue a solo career, making an impact with A Girl Like You, a top 10 hit in seven countries in 1995.

"I'm working again, writing songs again, slowly," said Collins after the event.

"It's thanks to the therapy that I was able to find my voice again and it's getting better all the time."

Mary Brown, executive director of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, said: "Funds raised from the Tartan Clef Music Awards are crucial as they help to secure the continuation of music therapy sessions for the many children and adults accessing the services.

"Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland is looking to expand and develop its work, so it is hoped that the increased profile the Tartan Clef Music Awards brings will enable even more children and adults to receive music therapy."

Emotional reunion for Orange Juice

By Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

It was an emotional day for the original line-up of the Scottish band Orange Juice.

Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Collins was joined by his family at the awards
Not only was it the first time the band have been back together in more than 20 years, but they were presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Tartan Clefs.

The awards - presented at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow - celebrate the Scottish music industry, at the same time raising funds for Nordoff-Robbins music therapy in Scotland. It's a charity close to the heart of singer Edwyn Collins, who's used the therapy himself since suffering a double brain haemorrhage three years ago.

"I'm working again, writing songs again, slowly," said Collins after the event.

"It's thanks to the therapy that I was able to find my voice again and it's getting better all the time."

Postcard Records

Earlier in the day the band returned to the "headquarters" of their old record label Postcard. There are apparently plans to erect a blue plaque outside this ordinary tenement flat which in the early 80s was responsible for producing some of the most innovative music of the day. Current bands like Franz Ferdinand admit the label hugely influenced their own work.

But reuniting the original line-up of Orange Juice - who were last together in 1983 - was easier than it sounded. Although Collins remained in the business, the others have found new pursuits in other parts of the world.

Sharleen Spiteri
Sharleen Spiteri said her award came as a complete surprise
Bassist David McClymont now lives in Australia and writes for the travel series Lonely Planet. Guitarist James Kirk - who also wrote many of the band's early songs - is now a chiropodist based in Glasgow. And drummer Steven Daly is a journalist for the US magazine Vanity Fair.

"We've kept in touch with each other over the years but never actually got together like this," said David.

"It's amazing what Edwyn has achieved since his illness. That's why we all thought it was important to get together again."

Also receiving awards - and performing at Saturday night's ceremony - were Hue and Cry, Eddie Reader, Dougie MacLean, The Almighty, The Fratellis and Sharleen Spiteri.

Sharleen Spiteri's award - presented by her close friend, the comedian Peter Kay - came as a huge surprise to her.

"People kept saying 'you should bring your mum and dad' and I was thinking, but they've seen me sing a hundred times. And then I saw Peter here and I thought, that's a bit weird.

"It's a great honour to receive this award. I was involved in a therapy session recently and I know how important this work is."

Another surprise win was the new award for Best Live Act - voted for by the public. Despite competition from current favourites Glasvegas, it was an unsigned band which won the public vote, although Beecake have the advantage of having Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd as their front man.

The event was expected to raise at least £70,000 for the charity.

Beecake? Sounds like they motivated their fanbase to get online and vote. As many times as possible. Ah well, if Belle & Sebastian can do it...
Really though, Beecake????!!!!

Yeah Kerr srsly you have to hear EARLY Simple Minds: Empires and Dance, Sons & Fascination, New Gold Dream - theyre nothing like the bloated stadium rock that came after.

It's weird to think Edwyn Collins wrote "A Girl Like You" before he got brain damage.