Helen Love: Greatest band in the world, or "Not my cup of tea"

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I adore this band, but only discovered them a year ago and know very little about them and they've barely been mentioned here. So what's everyone think of them, and where do they fit into Rock History?

― Graham, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Helen Love I think are one of the worst bands in the world. Irritating tunes + that abortive style called "indiepop" which manages to sound nothing like any good indie or good pop + doggerel lyrics about other indie bands = full-on musical disgust.

― Tom, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

they're fab! lyrics about other bands are great especially when they are about kula shaker. they really don't have any cool production techniques or chops so they will be relentlessly assailed here but they are loveable and the last album was just reissued with 4 new songs and some remixing done on it. probably one of the last things joey ramone did on record was his guest spot on 'punkboy'. who doesn't love the idea of someone buying a cheap casio and writing songs that turn out to have great appeal to saddo indiepop kids?

― keith, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was almost in a Helen Love video. They were shooting it at Rough Trade. I hid in the corner. Maybe my arm is in the video...I think it's for that song where they mention Chris Evans. I don't really know many of their songs, but probably too indie pop with 'attitude' for my liking.

― james, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Haven't heard 'em since Mark Radcliffe lost his night time show. He used to play Helen Love all the time. Yes, they were irritating. The missing link between Bis and Denim. Overly jaunty, 'ironic' sugar-pop. For students.

― DavidM, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, I usually loathe bog-standard indie toss, but I quite like Helen Love - they make funny, energetic, post-Ramones pop, esp. 'Long Live The UK Music Scene' . I don't think their indie self-referentiality is any more wicked than the KLF's, for example...

― Andrew L, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Andrew's endorsement of them is kind of shocking since I'd firmly put them along with the Moldy Ps, Barcelona etc in the "indie for people who like indie too much" category. Actually, Alex T likes them too. Maybe there's more to them. Mind you, I never liked the Ramones much either.

― Tom, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What Tom said x 100.

― Dr. C, Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ignore the indie-pop bashers, Graham :-)

ATOMIC BEAT BOY! top tune or what (don't answer that Dr C). which reminds me that i haven't seen the cuban boys mentioned on here -- or have I missed all that?"

Look for: "Long Live the UK music scene" all of the Summer Hits stuff, etc etc. They're also great fun live.

So there, ner.

― , Sunday, 14 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You have: I did a Cuban Boys C or D thing ages ago, which got about three answers!

― Bill, Monday, 15 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(What Tom and Dr C said)²

The third part of the unholy anti-trinity of indiepop, the first two being Baxendale and Bis.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Monday, 15 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(What Tom and Dr C said) x -10302

There that's balanced it out a little.

― Alan Trewartha, Tuesday, 16 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

They seem *nice* in a school ma'am having a go at being a punk rocker kind of way, which I suppose is part of their charm/problem. I would have no opinion either way on them if it wasn't for the fact that Chris Evans played one of their songs and then slagged it off for about half an hour. They immediately got my sympathy vote then by being the anti-Ginge.

― Billy Dods, Tuesday, 16 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two years pass...

I love helen love. in fact i can often be seen zipping around glasgow in my fetching red with a big yellow star helen love "Racing Girl" T-Shirt. mega. total fanny magnet, like...

― Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

I'm very much enjoying "Better Pop Your Bubblegum" and "Wig Wam Bam" these days. I'd enjoy it even more if they'd just throw themselves over the top and do a proper, full-on happy hardcore album.

― everything, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 23:38 (nineteen years ago)

Not as good as the Pooh Sticks....

― flowersdie, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 12:04 (nineteen years ago)

I bought their A-side about Cardiff City FC / B-side about Swansea City FC 7" single for £1 a couple of days ago. I kind of surprised myself in doing so

― DJ Mencap, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 13:37 (nineteen years ago)

They are misunderstood, judging by this thread.

― everything, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.poormissfinch.com/images/uploads/fingernails.gif http://stevegarfield.blogs.com/school_of_rock/blackboard.jpg

― zappi, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 19:30 (nineteen years ago)

"happiest time of the year" is absolute genius. a lot of the rest of their stuff leaves me cold. still.

― grimly fiendish, Thursday, 28 June 2007 09:35 (nineteen years ago)

and I bet he's not a real punk boy...

― Mark G, Thursday, 28 June 2007 09:37 (nineteen years ago)

this and 'dont' falter' thread on ILE revived within a day of each other. coincidence? yes, probly coincidence.

― Alan, Thursday, 28 June 2007 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

hai ilm

helen love = enjoyable in summer

i has a tshirt!

until next year,
g-kit

― g-kit, Thursday, 28 June 2007 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

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