ESG - classic or dud?

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did they bestride the worlds of post punk, hip hop and pop like a gawky bronx colossus or simply play ditchwater dull drumbeats / playground chants? Help me, my friends.

― Peter Kemble, Friday, 30 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh classic, I think. I only know the Factory stuff + odd tracks from other releases, but it's all very good. I've been looking for the retrospective "South Bronx Story" set for a while, but haven't seen it available anywhere, either on the web or in shops. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

― Dr. C, Friday, 30 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Classic, although they definitely work best a couple of tracks at a time. The first ep is the ultimate statement of intent (including the perennially brilliant "Moody"), but the debut album is very strong and has nice touches of variety to it. The comeback stuff is also good but slightly less distinct.

― Tim, Friday, 30 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You can get A South Bronx Story direct from http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk or through the always-reliable http://www.forcedexposure.com (if you're in the US). Either way, you're paying approx the same amount. While you're at it -- if you don't have it -- pick up the Studio One Rockers comp from the same label. Both are really great packages.

― Andy, Friday, 30 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Thanks to all who have e-mailed me or posted here with info on how to get South Bronx Story! Looks like it's more readily available than I thought. Cheers!

― Dr. C, Saturday, 31 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mmm, rather good, but I wouldn't say all out classic. Can't escape the feeling they were re-discovered as classic last year with the onslaught of the 80s revival. Good stuff though.

― Omar, Wednesday, 4 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three years pass...

CLASSIC: listening to one or two songs in one sitting
DUD: listening to more than two songs in one sitting

― frankE (frankE), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:33 (twenty years ago)

classic, one of my favourite bands. frankE is crazy!

and they're coming to montreal soon (opening for le tigre of all things)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:38 (twenty years ago)

classic without a doubt i say. deep reggae basslines, although its more in terms of tone than actual notes, punky, spunky, sprightly riffs, and really quite funky, kinda dubby at times and a whole lot of fun. ESG = what punk funk is all about.

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:39 (twenty years ago)

OTM. honestly, i can listen to most any 2 songs by them, and really love them, but then i get tired of it after that. pretty perfect for dj sets or mix tapes in that way, i suppose.

― peter smith (plsmith), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:40 (twenty years ago)

i could listen to the south bronx story on repeat all day!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:43 (twenty years ago)

i could listen to the south bronx story on repeat all day!

As good as the comp is, I find it really trails off towards the end, with the tracks from the early 90s.

― Vic Funk, Friday, 1 October 2004 15:46 (twenty years ago)

"The first ep is the ultimate statement of intent (including the perennially brilliant "Moody"),..."

-from tim upthread

i was reading a interview with them a while back in, i think it was Venus mag, the feminist-oriented music/art thing. anyway, they said that those martin h. produced tracks were their least favorite sound-wise. they were pretty disappointed in them and didn't think they represented what they thought they were going for. i can't quote, of course, cuz it's been awhile. but i thought it was interesting. really, the stuff that wasn't produced by him, which is the bulk, is pretty hit or miss. and much of it sonically uninteresting, imo. but there are plenty of nice grooves in their catalog for sure.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:47 (twenty years ago)

same thing for me. first song or two: "this shit is the shit!!!" after that: "zzzzzzzzz"

― oops (Oops), Friday, 1 October 2004 15:50 (twenty years ago)

and they're coming to montreal soon (opening for le tigre of all things)

Are you sure aboot this? This is what's up at Le Tigre's site:

"Oct.24—MONTREAL, CANADA Metropolis
with support Gravy Train + Cannonball Jane"

― Vic Funk, Friday, 1 October 2004 16:22 (twenty years ago)

holy shit:

Vendredi 22 octobre 2004
Le MEG invite les soirées électro parisiennes PANIK
Vive La Fête ! (Surprise, BEL)
MU (Output, UK)
Maurice Fulton (Output, UK)
Sean Kosa (Turbo, CAN)
KPCK (Panik, FR)
CLUB SODA
Avance : 20$
Porte : 25$
Portes à 20h30

Samedi 23 octobre 2004
Metro Area (Environ, USA)
Luomo (FIN)
Les Clones (Isla Del Sol /Sony, FR)
Matthew Dear (Ghostly, USA)
The Mole (Mutek, CAN)
METROPOLIS
Avance : 20$
Porte : 25$
Portes à 20h30

Dimanche 24 octobre 2004
Le Tigre (Universal, USA)
E.S.G. (Soul Jazz, USA)
Gravy Train!!!! (Kill Rock Stars, USA)
Cannonball Jane (USA)
I.Y.M. - Important Youth Movement (Rec, FR)
METROPOLIS
Avance, 300 premiers billets : 20$
Les autres : 25$
Porte : 30$
Portes à 18h30

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:27 (twenty years ago)

There are two distinct versions of "Moody". Anybody care to break it down for me?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:33 (twenty years ago)

I'll never forget the time I saw them in concert in NYC. Their father flanked the stage like a bodyguard, and they played exactly one and one-half songs. The small audience (numbering in the 10s I would say) stormed the club management, but no refunds were given.

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Friday, 1 October 2004 18:03 (twenty years ago)

ESG is a good rapper.

BUt yeah I like this ESG too.

― djdee2005 (djdee2005), Friday, 1 October 2004 18:09 (twenty years ago)

Classic, if only for the oft-sampled synth intro to "UFO".

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 1 October 2004 19:14 (twenty years ago)

Aw hell... has anybody seen ESG lately? Is it worth my shelling out $25 to go to that show?

― Vic Funk, Friday, 1 October 2004 21:41 (twenty years ago)

I saw them in Detroit last year and it was one of the worst concerts I have ever been to. They were horrible, like high school battle of the bands horrible.

However I saw Liquid Liquid before them and I can tell you that it is a shame that are not putting out new records or rerecording the classics. Their set was so intense and on fire that it makes their records look like a joke.

― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Friday, 1 October 2004 22:44 (twenty years ago)

They are doing both! With the DFA. See other threads.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 1 October 2004 23:00 (twenty years ago)

I will not ever be able to listen to music again because my head just exploded.

― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Saturday, 2 October 2004 01:33 (twenty years ago)

CLASSIC!!!

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 2 October 2004 01:38 (twenty years ago)

why can I not find the liquid liquid comp on slsk? I know this is an ESG thread.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 2 October 2004 01:45 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2387099

― elan, Saturday, 15 September 2007 17:37 (seventeen years ago)

Jesus. Saw them last year, proof positive that they still have it. I hope this is like a Stones retirement.

― I know, right?, Saturday, 15 September 2007 17:47 (seventeen years ago)

Four NYC Transit Workers Accused Of Workers' Comp Fraud

― mookieproof, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:31 (seventeen years ago)

noticed that south bronx story 2 in a store tonight

― s1ocki, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:32 (seventeen years ago)

hasn't south bronx story 2 been out for a while?

looks like this means their last ever uk show was the one i put on. sad we won't be able to have them back as they have been amazing every time.

― stirmonster, Sunday, 16 September 2007 13:40 (seventeen years ago)

kinda sucks their last show isn't in nyc.

― hstencil, Sunday, 16 September 2007 17:59 (seventeen years ago)

hasn't south bronx story 2 been out for a while?

looks like this means their last ever uk show was the one i put on. sad we won't be able to have them back as they have been amazing every time.

-- stirmonster, Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:40 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Link

i guess it has? just never noticed!

― s1ocki, Sunday, 16 September 2007 19:42 (seventeen years ago)

three years pass...

this shit always sounds so good

― ice cr?m, Sunday, 31 October 2010 01:05 (fourteen years ago)

Apparently they're playing Athens, GA in three minutes: http://flagpole.com/Weekly/Features/ESG-27Oct10

― ernestp, Sunday, 31 October 2010 03:27 (fourteen years ago)

just saw em dawg. very mixed feelings about it

― Fellini.Kuti, Sunday, 31 October 2010 06:00 (fourteen years ago)

I have a couple friends who drove over from Atlanta for the show, but I haven't heard back from them about it yet.

― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 31 October 2010 06:57 (fourteen years ago)

me + elmo dug 'em when they played providence a couple months ago iirc

― mr. mandelbrot flythrough vertigo, esq. (Edward III), Sunday, 31 October 2010 07:01 (fourteen years ago)

the woman who sings was wearing an AS220 tshirt.

― Fellini.Kuti, Sunday, 31 October 2010 07:37 (fourteen years ago)

and it all comes full circle

― mr. mandelbrot flythrough vertigo, esq. (Edward III), Sunday, 31 October 2010 07:58 (fourteen years ago)

this fucking band

― dark side of the goon (The Reverend), Friday, 12 November 2010 05:00 (fourteen years ago)

I think I would always get excited to hear ESG in any kind of dance party situation.

― portrait of the artist as a yung joc (Hurting 2), Friday, 12 November 2010 05:01 (fourteen years ago)

otm, especially "dance"

― dark side of the goon (The Reverend), Friday, 12 November 2010 05:10 (fourteen years ago)

word

― portrait of the artist as a yung joc (Hurting 2), Friday, 12 November 2010 05:11 (fourteen years ago)

nine years pass...

I can't believe I never heard of ESG until now, heard "My Love For You" on my discovery weekly playlist. Their music sounds like it could have been released 40 years ago or last week.

― musically, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 02:17 (five years ago)

Exciting to think of hearing ESG for the first time. Enjoy!

A contemporary band getting some comparisons to ESG (comparable to me mainly in being hugely effective minimalists and immensely catchy) is Sault, who will be beloved one day: https://saultglobal.bandcamp.com/

― Soundslike, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 03:04 (five years ago)

ESG Now heard in a commercial. Woolite care for the clothes you love

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/dS89/woolite-care-for-the-clothes-you-love-song-by-esg

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 15:44 (five years ago)

Sault is awesome, A+ recc

― musically, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 16:51 (five years ago)

oooh Sault is good!!!

― sarahell, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 18:33 (five years ago)

ESG still sound ahead of their time to me. Whatta band.

― brimstead, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 18:34 (five years ago)

One of my best post-punk memories: seeing The Bush Tetras in 1981 and going to an afterparty where one of them had brought the then-new debut ESG debut EP. Eye opening, and a great dance party!

― A perfect transcript of a routine post (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 11 March 2020 19:40 (five years ago)

one year passes...

They're playing here December 9th. Very tempted.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 September 2021 17:13 (three years ago)

just saw that myself. I had no idea they were still playing live. That may be my first indoor show in 2 years.

― akm, Friday, 24 September 2021 17:26 (three years ago)

Saw them on Halloween in SF in 2018. Def worth seeing! Three middle aged mamas that can dance, rock and punk with the best of them!

― octobeard, Friday, 24 September 2021 18:08 (three years ago)

Hm, sounds good then!

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 September 2021 19:42 (three years ago)

one year passes...

So listening closely to "UFO," THAT GHOSTLY SIREN does sound generated by the guitar, but I can't seem to find anything that details how Renee Scroggins arrived at that sound… anybody?

― veronica moser, Friday, 6 January 2023 16:32 (two years ago)

iirc it was a piece of obscure roland/boss gear that was kind of like an echo unit with modulation -not a delay- and it was famously nicknamed "the martin hannett time waster" by barney (or hooky - don't remember) because in order to get it to sync properly, you had to sit there and babysit it. basically just ride the knobs the entire time.

but yeah - it's essentially just a guitar making that noise!

― i'd rather do music and chill tf out (Austin), Friday, 6 January 2023 17:36 (two years ago)

here you go:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Time_Modulator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFrgS70ioa0

^ worth watching for the fact that it was used for darth vader's voice!

― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Friday, 6 January 2023 17:40 (two years ago)

i was wrong!

it was the time modulator, manufactured by marshall.

― i'd rather do music and chill tf out (Austin), Friday, 6 January 2023 17:41 (two years ago)

yes nick! thank you!

― i'd rather do music and chill tf out (Austin), Friday, 6 January 2023 17:41 (two years ago)

Yeah yeah yeah‘s song “fleez” samples ESG “moody” and refers to it in the lyrics

It’s not as good as ESG

― curmudgeon, Friday, 6 January 2023 23:32 (two years ago)

It’s not as good as ESG
― curmudgeon, Friday, January 6, 2023 3:32 PM

lol what is???????

― i'd rather do music and chill tf out (Austin), Saturday, 7 January 2023 03:08 (two years ago)

otm

― more crankable (sic), Saturday, 7 January 2023 06:25 (two years ago)

nine months pass...

they announced a couple of shows, one in Brooklyn this winter

― (•̪●) (carne asada), Thursday, 12 October 2023 19:15 (one year ago)

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