What makes a good retro band?

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What seperates the Cramps from the Vines from Fischerspooner from, oh you get it.

― David Allen (David Allen), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Going a long time...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Vines = aping the 90s? It's amazing how quickly things fall into a "retro" category.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Are the Cramps necessarily a "retro" band, though? I mean, yeah....they play "rockabilly," but decidedly with their own take on it, whereas the Vines are just pinching a style wholesale without putting an original stamp on it (to my ears, anyway).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:58 (twenty-one years ago)

That's the point, Alex, putting an original stamp: "retro" as in pinpointing an exact era of music but "good" as in having their own go at it without pillaging other bands.

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Same thing that makes a 'good band' - as in, anything, depends, it changes, blah, blah. All bands are to a certain extent retro but even beyond that its all about audience perception, which is impossible to pin down.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

The Vines aren't retro, Not any more than Creed!

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Good-on-their-own-merits songs and playing, even if imbued with the styles of another era (eg: The Cramps, or Plush or The Bad Livers) as opposed to pure pastiche/cut and paste style assemblage (The Vines, Fischerspooner, The Strokes).

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Fischerspooner aren't really that retro, they just wear their influences on their sleeves. Their song structures are nothing like the bands they're supposed to be aping.

― anode (anode), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

If the Vines were truly retro (on the two singles I've heard and really like) they'd be all whiny like Nirvana was.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:17 (twenty-one years ago)

the bristols have an attractive singer, or had, so they were a good retro band. now she's gone solo, maybe she won't be retro.

― keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:35 (twenty-one years ago)

The main difficulty of being a retro band is justifying why anybody should listen to you when people can listen to bands that did it first/did it better. The retro bands that I do like are the bands that justify it by having such a strong distinctive personality that every creative choice expresses a distinctive world view (eg. The Smiths). Simply put, while the retro band may not be innovative in terms of form, they can be innovative in terms of persona.

Does this make sense, or is this Class A ILM rambling.

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Poofy hair.

― Sasha (sgh), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 04:07 (twenty-one years ago)

they'd be all whiny like Nirvana was.

You don't find the Vines whiney? They're ALL whine. They oughta call themeslves the Wines.

I'll get my coat.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 04:08 (twenty-one years ago)

whines, surely?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, yeah.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 04:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Have you people listened to the Vines? They ripoff Nirvana on some songs, but they also ripoff the Beatles plenty too.

And if there's anything that's retro, it's ripping off the Beatles.

― dieblucasdie (dieblucasdie), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 04:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Nirvana ripped off the Beatles as well. See "About a Girl".

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:46 (twenty-one years ago)

nice melodies and head music.

― geirbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Wot maks a good retro band!?!? Well, er

They make a nice tune!!!!
Everyone says "But we've HEARD IT ALL BEFORE!!!!!"

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

"Self-belief".

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

It's the same skill set as making a mixtape or playing an old record out or putting out a reissue or compilation - knowing exactly what and when to revive in order to tilt the now in the direction you'd like.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

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