TS: Junior Senior Vs. Electric 6

http://dallasobserver.com/issues/2003-05-29/hearthere4.html/1/index.html

I wrote that before I saw JS live, which made me like them way more. But, yeah.

This goes without saying.

As far as AWK goes, there's just a beautiful conceptual purity to his CD that makes it my favorite single artifact of this kind of stuff so far.

Also way cuter.

I'm still stumped (skeptical, even) that anybody can listen to this thing without finding its one-note aura oppressive after a couple songs. It's like the same clunky Twisted Sister track over and over, and the Twisted Sister track isn't even as good as "We're Not Gonna Take It". Is that what Mikael means by "conceptual purity"? If so, why is that GOOD? (Which, who knows, might be what Sterling thinks about Electric 6 in re: Foreigner songs or whatever. Which'd be fair enough. But Foreigner were a MUCH better band than Twisted Sister.)

JS just strike me as lightweight tame funk music, where's the energy, I'd rather dance to gregorian monks.

Chuck: I'm also skeptical that anyone could listen to the AWK album without finding it incredibly oppressive. I mean, all those quarter notes! But that's also why I think it's a better (or at least purer; or at least purer according to my sense of that quality) piece of work — because it stays so unwaveringly true to its vision. Whereas Junior Senior are like real humans: When I asked them yesterday if they had any sad songs, they got excited because the next album will apparently feature some of them.

I'd rather hang out with JS, but I'd rather stare at AWK. I think.

As far as the oppression in AWK's music, it's not his gumption that's repressed, but ours — our (or at least my) complete inability to refuse him what he so deserves.

But-but-but I *hate* having opinions on things like this! I'll make people who disagree with me mad, and what good could that possibly do? They could both wind up with somewhere between 5 and 10 points on my pazz and jop ballot, and they may well get the exact same number. (They were maybe the two best live shows I've seen this year, too.)

Wow, Mykael, your AWK answer confuses me even more. It sounds like you just like the record in theory, not reality. But a good record is one that you actually wanna *play*, right? Who cares about purity??

Btw, Jeanne -- I got your Mensen email, and I'm glad you like them! They're WAY more beautiful than Sahara Hotnights, though, I swear...

I mean, the man just does not hedge his bets, you know? I think Linkin Park are great, but all that shit with the X-Ecutioners and whatnot just seemed like such a deviation from what they really want to do. Obviously, I have no idea what they really want to do, but that's the point — their records sound like that, where AWK's just hews incredibly closely to a single aesthetic idea.

This isn't a quality I look for in all music, and it's probably why I haven't listened to the AWK CD in about a year. But when someone gets it right, it's impressive to me that someone could get something so undiluted down on tape. Or silicon. Or whatever.

I like JS because they are exactly what a stupid undie version of Wham! would sound like if Mr.’s. Ridgely and Michael had access to the same gutter technology these guys are using. It just sounds horrible and cheap and super pop fantastic. I liked Wham! when I was 6 and I am going to like JS now that I am 26. I cannot defend them, I cannot objectively explain why somebody is an asshole for not agreeing with me, but they are just something stupid and fun that I want to play really loudly in my car this summer.

STEP THE FUCK BACK, THE B-52’S GOT MIDI!!!

They are like Arthur Russel for morons.

Therefore the Ramones were the greatest group ever?

Out of curiosity, didn't his record kind of FLOP, really? I mean, how big a hit was it, exactly? It got on MTV, but hardly anybody bought it (even though they priced it really low), right? Or am I wrong?

I doubt Electric 6 or Junior Senior will match its figures, though. (And yeah I know, they were both hits in England. Big friggin' whoop.)

The other thing is that you are in the UK; you actually have had media access to this group. They just landed in my lap from the middle of nowhere this morning. This is exactly what I am looking for, just stupid stupid dance pop about coconuts

Hmm...quick check at the Sludge Scans over at Metal Sludge shows this in terms of sales in December 2002, after nearly a year of hype and all:

Andrew W.K. -- 171,611

That's pretty poor considering. Anything more recent in terms of numbers?

And the Ramones as the "greatest group ever"? Sure, one of 'em. And, for me, because they did what they did so well. I'd like to hear a Ramones record produced by, I don't know, Walter Afanasieff, but it sure wouldn't make me think they were a cooler band.

you are not fooling anyone. :)

And after you do, you can see them at Knitting Factory last night!

Hmmm...I was under the impression that silly stuff ALWAYS became hits in England. Way more than militant techno-purism does, anyway. Maybe I'm wrong about THAT; I don't live there after all. (And obviously, I totally agree that JrSr and E6 are a higher *grade* of silliness.)

Oh yeah, speaking of silly stuff becoming hits in England, Junior Senior also remind me of Chicory Tip. Though maybe they shouldn't.

http://www.shynola.com/j_s/j_s_download.htm

also, love the download page.

I think the album has more depth / longevity than some people are giving it credit for.

sadly i dont like either, i think

Whoa Ned, that is way off. They're really pretty silly, as are Junior Senior.

But this album... oh. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I am not entirely sure if it is possible to walk like a motherfucker, especially not in Croydon, but I'd like to think I achieved it today whilst listening to it. 'Ooh-hoo baby' has never sounded better than it does on Boy Meets Girl. Shake Your Coconuts will go number one. White Trash will set all my indie-liking mates heads spinning. Album of the year thus far. Fantastic in every manner imaginable... s;adhfa.
Maaaaaaaan.

I had never heard a single note of Electric 6 prior to last night and they rocked my fishnets off. He's got a great voice.

I couldn't really compare them to Jr. Sr. -- I only watched the "Move Your Feet" video just now (thanks, Spencer!) and it is cute but I would need to hear more.

"Gay Bar" and "Danger!" videos:

http://www.xl-recordings.com/artists/elect_spawn.htm

Even though I don't consider either of them fully novelty, I prefer J.S.'s super-cute novelty to E6's we're-dumb-let's-dance! schtick.

That, and E6's more AC/DC-esque moments strike a raw nerve with me.

Junior Senior = awesome.

I'm excited, I'm seeing them both on the same bill at Maxwell's in November. It should be a pretty joyous night.