So is this all we've got too look forward to for the moment then, a zillion other new bands that try to sound exactly like Gang of Four?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Just wondering.

― Hydrochloric Shaved Weirds (Bimble...), Saturday, 23 July 2005 04:42 (twenty years ago)

don't buy new records

― The Amazing Jaxon! (jaxon), Saturday, 23 July 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

I hope not. I'm reminded of David Stubbs' complaint about some band sounding like some other band "minus the guitar sound and that certain quality of being any fucking good at all."

Carrie Brownstein remarked in Spin about the current crop of imitators sounding like Gang of 4 "if Gang of Four SUCKED." Much as I revere their early work, I'd never want to replicate them, and yes, that is partly because of all the shit bands who try.

― zero, Saturday, 23 July 2005 04:57 (twenty years ago)

but every band sounds like some other band. always have, always will.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 23 July 2005 05:16 (twenty years ago)

"There are no lessons in the past."
- "History's Bunk"

― Hydrochloric Shaved Weirds (Bimble...), Saturday, 23 July 2005 07:35 (twenty years ago)

i think the gang of four thing is reaching saturation point now. the new crop - the shortwave set, shout out louds, architecture in helsinki - all seem to sound like the flaming lips/mercury rev/the polyphonic spree, which is fun for the time being at least.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Saturday, 23 July 2005 07:41 (twenty years ago)

Can't we just skip forward to when everyone sounds like Silver Jews?

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Saturday, 23 July 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

"- all seem to sound like the flaming lips/mercury rev/the polyphonic spree"

oh god no

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 23 July 2005 13:33 (twenty years ago)

"Can't we just skip forward to when everyone sounds like Silver Jews?"

oh god no

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 23 July 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

I wish more indie bands sounded like solo Belinda Carlisle - a more benign influence.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 23 July 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

Isn't it a bit soon for a Flaming Lips/Mercury Rev revival???

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 23 July 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

People should stop starting indie bands.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 23 July 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

And how did we miss the step where bands try to sound like the Marine Girls? That was what I was waiting for.

― mike a, Saturday, 23 July 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

Or did that already happen in 1997 with the Receptionists?

― mike a, Saturday, 23 July 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

I'm trying to figure out whether it's a better or worse situation than when you had dozens of Nirvana clone bands that in fact sounded nothing at all like Nirvana

― DJ Mencap0))), Saturday, 23 July 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

So is this all we've got too look forward to for the moment then, a zillion other posters starting threads that sound exactly like 100 other threads?

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 23 July 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

So.....have all these bands actually listened to Gang of Four records and attempted to emulate them or is it just that kids these days like dancey beats and funky/scratchy guitars?

― PB, Saturday, 23 July 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

there needs to be more punk-funk bands that are of the prince and rick james style of punk-funk.

― La Monte (La Monte), Saturday, 23 July 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

Architecture in Helsinki are brilliant and do not sound much like Flaming Lips/Mercury Rev/Polyphonic Spree.

Also, this thread is depressing.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 23 July 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

So.....have all these bands actually listened to Gang of Four records and attempted to emulate them or is it just that kids these days like dancey beats and funky/scratchy guitars?

I THink the first wave of bands (LIARS, Rapture, etc.) were fans of GOF, and the bands that appeared in their wake are just ripping off THEM, who are 'ripping off' GOF. UNsurprisingly, LIARS, Rapture, etc. are still the best bands to come out of this whole thing...

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

Who are the shit bands who sound like Gang of Four. I want to see some names so I can feel glad that I've ignored them and listened to good indie bands instead, managing to not become whiny about the state of indie rock in the process.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

I think Bloc Party sounds a bit like 4 A Sides era Scritti Politti. I'm looking foward to their Cupid & Psyche 85.

― oni0n_kid, Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

bloc party are exactly the point where this went to far for me

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

too far, that is

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

I've only heard a few of their songs, but "Banquet" is one of the best things on the radio right now.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

The Mars Volta don't sound anything like Gang of Four. May I suggest checking them out?

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

I've only heard a few of their songs, but "Banquet" is one of the best things on the radio right now.

I agree. Sounds shit live though......the drums and those little shimmer effects make the song.

― PB, Saturday, 23 July 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

I think Bloc Party sounds a bit like 4 A Sides era Scritti Politti. I'm looking foward to their Cupid & Psyche 85.

you must be deaf.

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 23 July 2005 19:23 (twenty years ago)

The Bravery have started the end it all..

..by actually putting out an enjoyable album. Well, enjoyable in the way I like rice pudding... but enjoyable nonetheless. They're not quite a Go4-influenced *boy* band yet, as no one calls each member by their first name.. at least that I know of. But The Bravery are totally setting that up for whoever follows them. Once that happens, the cliff will start receding and topple all at the edge of it.

― donut ferry (donut), Sunday, 24 July 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

(I'm not deaf.)

― oni0n_kid, Sunday, 24 July 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

Why do people think a frigid 4/4 drum beat automatically = GO4? Surely The Killers and The Bravery are more influenced by Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Cure, New Order etc. etc.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 24 July 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't thinking of it at the time, but "GO4 influenced" *has* become a colloquialism of "quality describing rock band with 4/4 drum beat and lots of alternating high hat accents", only because the more dancey attributes of these bands all too often exist alongside the members happily flying the flag in public for their supposed Gang Of Four influences, even if -- much of the time -- they barely sound like them.

I don't think Go4 were/is really a "4/4 kick drum beat with alt. high hats" rock band anyway, aside from "To Hell With Poverty" and maybe a few other songs.

But colloquialisms (d)evolve to defy rigid definitions, so there you go.

― donut ferry (donut), Sunday, 24 July 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

Granted, colloquialisms don't often include an actual band in the phrase. They usually arise from a far more vague one or two syllable genre/term, so this is an odd instance.

― donut ferry (donut), Sunday, 24 July 2005 23:14 (twenty years ago)

I guess it's a trend...the one I heard that was kind of funny was this band from Iowa? or somewhere in the Midwest, called Beep Beep, who did an album called "Business Casual" that sounds just like the GO4 and Beefheart, and it was sort of fun and ridiculous, all about "consumer culture" and the disappearance of nature, and they had cowboys around a water cooler on the CD cover, which the Mekons should've thought of first.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Monday, 25 July 2005 00:17 (twenty years ago)

As long as the Husker Du sound never gets revived, I don't give a flying fuck where music goes. If these indie rock bastards made me stop listening to my favorite band (because they tried to sound like them, but sucked), I'd probably kill myself.

― Christian, Monday, 25 July 2005 00:18 (twenty years ago)

I think Bloc Party sounds a bit like 4 A Sides era Scritti Politti. I'm looking foward to their Cupid & Psyche 85.

Are you fucking kidding? Bloc Party are what happens when you combine Coldplay and Interpol and make them even more fucking boring! Bloc Party can only wish they were as exciting, literate, playful, and loose as early Scritti Politti!

― Kitten, the body needs it, the body cries out for Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Monday, 25 July 2005 00:49 (twenty years ago)

Anyway, what modern band sounds like "He'd Send in the Army" or "Anthrax"? Like "Paralysed" or "Cheeseburger"? If any of the bands that have supposedly ripped off Gang of Four actually did aim to duplicate them, then they've only been listening to "Damaged Goods" and the rhythm section of "To Hell With Poverty" without paying attention to the lyrics or the vocal delivery.

Now, show me a group that sounds as wild and densely crafted as The Pop Group or as loose and hesitant as first-phase Scritti Politti. Bloc Party? What a jest!

― Kitten, the body needs it, the body cries out for Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Monday, 25 July 2005 00:55 (twenty years ago)

DEAR ILM,

YOU DONT LIKE INDIE. GOT IT. CHECK. I'M DROWNING IN THE YOUR WONDERFUL HILARIOUS, INTERESTING AND NOT AT ALL BORING SMARM.

LOVES AND KISSES
CHRIST YOUR SAVIOR

― AHHHHHHH (David Allen), Monday, 25 July 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

Now, show me a group that sounds as wild and densely crafted as The Pop Group or as loose and hesitant as first-phase Scritti Politti.

Go Go Go Airheart are the only band that attempts this halfway successfully, I think. They have a really good drummer.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:24 (twenty years ago)

Good to know -- sounds like something I'd be interested in seeing and hearing.

By the way, regarding that sentence of mine Dan quoted -- I do like Gang of Four (and Solid Gold is one of my favourite albums). As for bands being actively influenced by another artist, one should probably aim at trying to copycat/update something less, erm, straight-forward. Or rather, something with much more reckless abandon present in their music.

― Kitten, the body needs it, the body cries out for Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Monday, 25 July 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

San Diego is a fountain of great drummers.... Moms in San Diego often have to put up with the extra pain of fetuses hitting the amniotic sac with drum sticks.

As for bands being actively influenced by another artist, one should probably aim at trying to copycat/update something less, erm, straight-forward. Or rather, something with much more reckless abandon present in their music.

wha?

― donut ferry (donut), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:34 (twenty years ago)

http://www.loveromp.com/

― Tumililingan (ex machina), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:36 (twenty years ago)

to give my friends The Rapture a tiny bit more cred, there's a point at which appropriation becomes ripping off and a point where ripping off becomes hommage and a point where it's all totally meta. The Rapture just worked from their interests and influences and enjoy pulling snippets from here and there in a manner akin to sampling. One only has to hear Alabama Sunshine when Luke starts screaming "I say captain? I say WOT?" to understand that they were never about hiding their interests and influences. Echoes of Careering?

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

(Amending earlier post way upthread! Just heard a little of last Polyphonic Spree album and yeah, Architecture in Helsinki do sound a little like them, maybe at their best and minus their Flaming Lipsisms, though? AiH are fantastic.)

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 25 July 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

DO YOU GIVE TEH RATPURE FREE PIZZA, DAN?

― Tumililingan (ex machina), Monday, 25 July 2005 06:36 (twenty years ago)

Can't we just skip forward to when everyone sounds like Silver Jews?

Can't we just skip forward to when everyone sounds like the Silver Apples!!!

― nicholas de jong (nicholas de jong), Monday, 25 July 2005 06:56 (twenty years ago)

only one of teh ratpure has come to capones I think, and while he was welcome to the free pizza, I don't know if he took advantage.

Can't we just skip forward to when everyone sounds like the Silver Apples!!!

Like Stereolab's Mellotron?

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

From Amazon.co.uk
Neu! 2 must have Stereolab quietly fuming: the sweet repetition on the 11-minute opening track "Fur Immer" here defines the parameters of the Francopop-loving bachelor-pad band's sound so accurately, it's uncanny. Until this long overdue reissue, however, only a handful of famous musicians--David Bowie, Kraftwerk, The Rapture, Add N To (X), DAF, Blur--have heard this relatively obscure album, first released in 1973. Stereolab aren't the only group this experimental, minimalist, unsettlingly beautiful Germanic duo influenced, though; you can hear traces of Suicide's aggressive disco punk and almost every present-day dance band within Klaus Dinger's almost robotic, forceful drumming on "Spitzenqualitat" and the final "Super". What strikes the listener most about Neu! 2, however, is the sheer enjoyment these aural visionaries were deriving from their conveyor belt grooves: ecstatic yelps of ecstasy sometimes obliterating the percussive din, keyboardist Michael Rother thumping his guitar like he's the first child on a new motorway of sound which, indeed, he was. Tracks are sped up and then slowed down, almost at random. It's indispensable listening. --Everett True

― Tumililingan (ex machina), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

It wasn't at random. They only had enough material for one side of an album so they just mucked about with the speeds, etc., to fill up side two.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:42 (twenty years ago)

Tell Everett True!!!

― Tumililingan (ex machina), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:44 (twenty years ago)

So Everett False?

― latebloomer: You may order a puppet similar to this one (latebloomer), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

please hurt me bad for that one

― latebloomer: You may order a puppet similar to this one (latebloomer), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

That review you quote: the original version (and the version on amazon) doesn't mention The Rapture.

― Jerry (Jerry), Thursday, 4 August 2005 17:43 (twenty years ago)

"They only had enough material for one side of an album so they just mucked about with the speeds, etc., to fill up side two. "

Sounds pretty random to me.

― everything, Thursday, 4 August 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

Isn't it a bit soon for a Flaming Lips/Mercury Rev revival???

Who said anything about a revival? It's a continuation of the theme, pure and simple. And on the subject of the wonderful, wonderful Architecture In Helsinki, they're probably less FLips/MRev and more Arcade Fire/Even As We Speak. Fucking fantastic new album on Moshi Moshi an' all.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 7 August 2005 09:29 (twenty years ago)

Oh wow Charlie, Architecture in Helsinki sound marvellous!

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 7 August 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

There's no question AiH are friendly folks and all, having met them in Glasgow, but their show fell a touch flat.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 August 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

I think they're excellent. Liked the new album quite a bit at first, but the depth of it has somehow sunk in for me more over time. Was very cool to see them do the stuff live.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 7 August 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

More bands should try to sound like 80's AOR such as Genesis and Hall & Oates.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Sunday, 7 August 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

Douglas Wolk from his blog:
http://www.lacunae.com/
"What's weird is that it's always the same movements & styles & specific bands (Gang of 4/Can/Tyrannosaurus Rex [MISTER DEVENDRA BANHART I AM LOOKING AT YOU]/The Beatles/Duran Duran/The Sonics/The Sonics/The Sonics...) that are getting recycled, especially by rock bands--nobody's looking sideways or diagonally. Would it kill someone to steal a little inspiration from Willie Mitchell instead? Ruth Brown? Cerrone, anyone? Slapp Happy?"

― steve-k, Sunday, 7 August 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

rick cerrone?

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 7 August 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

That quote sounds a little complain-y to me. There are lots of nu wave and garage rock and hippie folk bands where the stylistic reference points seem a little obvious. But there are some beacons: Of Montreal's last album is all over the place and hits many nails directly on the head. Architecture in Helsinki's really all over the place, too. And that beautiful Jennifer Gentle album on Sub Pop is a psychedelic record that draws so many diverse strains of "psychedelic music" together with a real joie de vivre spirit.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 7 August 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

And just where I live here in San Diego, there are a couple of bands that have taken me a bit by surprise both by their style and by their excellence. One is a group of SDSU students called the Power-Chords. They do this kind of Buzzcocks power pop, but the songwriting is strangely extraordinary. The other is Silver Sunshine, who do this kind of English 60s freakbeat style music, but with a really heavy sound.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 7 August 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

(In the latter cases, I suppose you could say that it's just psychedelia and art-punk/new wave still, but I'm saying that it's not just hivemind Gang of Four/Duran Duran stuff.)

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 7 August 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

Stealing from Willie Mitchell or Ruth Brown would require gospel and r'n'b skills, unless we're just talking about the Jon Spencer, Black Keys hivemind or the North Mississippi Allstars jamband influenced hive.

― steve-k, Sunday, 7 August 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

aih sound post-punk for about 35 seconds on their second album and for zero seconds on the first one. how did they get dragged into this conversation? gogo airheart were given as an example above but then the few songs i've heard from them sound just like the yummy fur who were obvious about their gang of four worship and they make up most of franz ferdinand now so it's all a circle. bloc party could use some personality, i think the singer thinks if he cusses he's passionate but that's a really sterile record.

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 7 August 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

Actually I think the Bloc Party album's one of the more lively records I've heard in some time. Controlled, yes, and a starting point rather than a sign of perfect genius but I like where they could go yet.

Douglas's point is a good one but on the flipside it is still urging a backward glance if only in a different direction. Which is fine enough, really -- but is it enough?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 August 2005 22:39 (twenty years ago)

The Sonics/The Sonics/The Sonics

hahaha

― haitch (haitch), Sunday, 7 August 2005 23:11 (twenty years ago)

Keith, re AiH: not so post-punk, right, but I think there's a general new wave context to a lot of the new album. They did a great "Love Is the Drug" live.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 7 August 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

Best quasi-Sonics record I heard this week: The new Bloody Hollies album. (Though in general I don't think many of the neo-garage bands sound like the Sonics at all, and in fact I don't even often get the idea that the Sonics are who many of them are *trying* to sound like; in fact, lots of them -- including plenty I have no use whatsoever for -- don't really sound like they're trying to be '60s garage bands at all. Plus, as much as I like and respect and am often in awe of Douglas, I gotta say I've probably heard 100 or more good rock records this year that touch on none of the influences he claims above. He might consider listening to more metal, for one thing. Though there's no reason he should stop there.)

― xhuxk, Sunday, 7 August 2005 23:28 (twenty years ago)

(not to mention to more Nashville country, which has plenty of rock *and* soul running through its veins these days. Possibly even some Willie Mitchell and Ruth Brown, who knows? And definitely no Gang of Four or Can, believe me!)

― xhuxk, Sunday, 7 August 2005 23:34 (twenty years ago)

I'd like to hear some Nashville country with a trace of Gang of 4 or Can, rather than w/ traces of old R. Stones, Skynard, and Mellencamp!

― steve-k, Monday, 8 August 2005 11:53 (twenty years ago)

More singers should ape Christine McVie.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 8 August 2005 12:15 (twenty years ago)

why?

― steve-k, Monday, 8 August 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

I think the original thing Steve-K was quoting was in the context of "talked-about new [alt-rock] bands" whose records I get sent in the mail, i.e. me going through the slush pile on hand, i.e. me being lazy. Not that all current popular music is like this, but that new rock that draws heavily on the past always seems to draw on the same sliver of the past.

(Xhuxk, you don't gotta put any disclaimers on a disagreement with me! I am very thick-skinned about this stuff. Thick-skulled, too.)

Ned's right about the backward glances not being essential--I guess I was just thinking if you're going to tap _some_ kind of history, you might try a vein that hasn't been sucked dry or isn't obviously related to your basic mode--I'm thinking of the Beatles covering Buck Owens and Arthur Alexander, the Clash working with Lee Perry and doing a Vince Taylor song, James Brown experimenting with acid-rock first disastrously (Sho Is Funky Down Here and then awesomely ("Get Up, Get Into it and Get Involved"), Ray Charles' country albums, R. Kelly putting a little dancehall spin on the chorus of "Ignition Remix," Bow Wow Wow totally ripping off Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, etc.

Steve-K: because Christine McVie is AWESOME.

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 8 August 2005 12:29 (twenty years ago)

People should stop starting indie bands.

-- miccio (anthonyisrigh...), July 23rd, 2005.

Or start stopping indie bands.

― Jay Watts III (jaywatts), Monday, 8 August 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.