who is like spacemen3?

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I was trying to think of what to listen to that would be similar to spacemen 3 because I was in the mood to hear some of that, but have been listening to them a little too much lately. but I'm drawing a blank.

I don't just mean spacerock, and definitely not shoegazer or any of the britpop bands that followed in mbv's wake. I mean rough fuzzed out edgy single chord hypnotic psychadelia.

for some reason the closest I can think of at the moment is swell maps, and while they are often hypnotic, they aren't really psychadelic; and they don't really have that obvious blues feel like spacemen3 (though that's least important on the list of qualities to match).

were they just so singular a sound?

― Dan Gr (certain), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:29 (nineteen years ago)

There are approximately 134264154154 ripoff bands on Myspace alone!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

I mean, give us a little more focus -- who have you listened to already and not liked, say?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

Loop

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

i can't actually think of any bands... i could name a bunch of spacerock bands new and old, but they don't tend to be as minimal as spacemen3. bands like salome --- they have a great spacey sound, but they are very ornate; not simple and fuzzy.

shoot out some names, then.

― Dan Gr (certain), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:41 (nineteen years ago)

http://labs.google.com/sets?hl=en&q1=spacemen+3&q2=&q3=&q4=&q5=&btn=Large+Set

― Koogy Yonderboy (koogs), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

LOOP for serious - the other side of the hypnofuzzrock coin (the one with drums)

― in praise of wakka-wakka (teenagequiet), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

the allmusic entry on loop makes it sound like just the ticket.

― Dan Gr (certain), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

ever heard of Velvet Underground?

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

13th Floor Elevators
VU
Stooges
MC5

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

Lou Reed: Street Hassle
Kraftwerk: side B of Autobahn

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

Suicide

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

"Transparent Radiation" is a Red Krayola cover

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

there's a loop thread around somewhere containing links to the albums (all oop at the mo, shamefully).

(here: Loop - RFD)

the google sets thing above gets better if you enter the names of all the sp* bands as inputs. but not much.

― Koogy Yonderboy (koogs), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

yeah... I don't know. VU is never psychadelic. stooges could come close, but lack the minimalism. (never been a fan of the mc5.)

street hassle and autobahn just don't make sense as answers.

I meant very particularly like the spacemen 3. fuzzed out, psychadelic, minimalist, but still rockist.

― Dan Gr (certain), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

The Heads. (the Bristol band, not the Talkingheads spinoff.)

They have relentless one-chord psychedelic garage rock down to a T. Or an E, as the case may be.

Also, just get the Rocket Girl Spacemen 3 tribute if you want a bunch of bands sounding just like Spacemen 3. It really is great, everyone from Jessamine to Arab Strap have a go.

― Angel In Love With Her Own Pedals (kate), Thursday, 7 September 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

never been a fan of the mc5

Try and find the song 'Black To Comm'.

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:04 (nineteen years ago)

Pharoah Overlord

― Good Dog (Good Dog), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:05 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, Circle too.

Also, check out some of the stuff that the Scientists did, especially tracks like 'Rev Head'. What Snapper I've heard would be a good call too.

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:06 (nineteen years ago)

bardo pond, maybe...?

― guanoman (mister the guanoman), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

Some Oneida stuff, tracks like "Sheets of Easter" and "Changes in the city." The drums feature a lot more prominently than in any spacemen song.

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:14 (nineteen years ago)

street hassle and autobahn just don't make sense as answers.
check it: Spacemen's "Ode to Street Hassle" is a motherfukin ode to "Street Hassle," mang! Put on side B of Autobahn and tell me it don't have a spaceman vibe.

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:17 (nineteen years ago)

VU is never psychadelic.

!!!!!!!!!!!

SO WRONG

― señor citizen (eman), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:24 (nineteen years ago)

I is like Spacemen 3. Is you like Spiritualized?

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

Where is Spacemen 3 band?

― Ich Ber Ein Binliner (Dada), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

check it: Spacemen's "Ode to Street Hassle" is a motherfukin ode to "Street Hassle," mang! Put on side B of Autobahn and tell me it don't have a spaceman vibe.

I'll concede a similar sound in songs like "kometenmelodie 2" and "Morganspaziergang" ... but it's still quite a stretch to suggest it as a close substitute for listening to s3.

I never noticed that the s3 track was a filtering of the lou read one. I can definitely see it; but again, it's a filtering. and besides, the rest of street hassle is nowhere near as great as the title track and nowhere in the right realm for s3.

― Dan Gr (certain), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

ok. and "real good time." ok yeah, street hassle is actually turning out to be a fair suggestion. sorry.

― Dan Gr (certain), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

You could try some heavy psych like Les Rallizes Desnudes,
Skullflower's Form Destroyer, or Monster Magnet's Forget About Life I'm High On Dope, but they're more similar on the freakout front rather than the songwriting one.

You're not going to find a band that sounds just like Spacemen 3 - even the next closest thing, Loop, never reached the dirty depths or or heavenly highs S3 did.

― Edward III (edward iii), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

Mudhoney did a quite funny version of 'Revolution'.

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:36 (nineteen years ago)

Try 'Bliss' by Sunroof! - parts of it def. remind me of Spaceman 3 circa the last alb (or the first Spectrum rec)

― Ward Fowler (Ward Fowler), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:47 (nineteen years ago)

bands that somehow remind me of Spacemen 3:

Spiritualized
Sonic Boom
Spectrum
The Darkside

also:

The Perfect Disaster
Reverberation
Ecstasy Of Saint Theresa

― hank (hank s), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

Flying Saucer Attack?

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:50 (nineteen years ago)

the new goslings album, 'grandeur of hair', might be right up your street. 'tis very simple and very, very fuzzy.

― guanoman (mister the guanoman), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

Sun Dial is reminiscent of the louder parts of Spacemen 3. Their CDs even have "FOR FANS OF SPACEMEN 3" stickers on the shrinkwrap. I was skeptical at first, but I think it's justified.

― vartman (novaheat), Thursday, 7 September 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

also some longer, more psych style Bevis Frond.. Try Triptych (CD w/bonus tracks recommended) or Sprawl.

― sleeve version 2.0 (sleeve testing), Thursday, 7 September 2006 16:45 (nineteen years ago)

While I heartily recommend Sun Dial and Bevis Frond on general principles, they aren't really in the same ball park that Spacemen 3 are playing in. You might as well recommend every band that's loud and play guitars.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:12 (nineteen years ago)

Hell, the Cramps are closer to Spacemen 3 than Bevis Frond is.

One specific recommendation: The Telescopes - Taste

Anyway, track down a copy of the "Space Lines" compilation that Sonic put together a couple years back.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

Suicide and Les Rallizes Denudes, right now!

Suicide are a clear and inescapable influence and pure genius, Les Rallizes are the band that all those shoegazers dreamed of being to the extent I'm still not sure Julian Cope didn't fake all their recordings up in his garden shed.

― Soukesian (Soukesian), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

it would have been cool to hear a more metal influenced or just heavier MBV

― hector (hector), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:23 (nineteen years ago)

That's what the Red Sparowes are for. Or Jesu. Or...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:25 (nineteen years ago)

(Though how in the hell can you get heavier than the introductory riff to "Feed Me With Your Kiss," though? The Secret Invention of Grunge right there, and louder than most everything labelled with the name.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:26 (nineteen years ago)

Cramps seconded - lot of parallels between their early stuff and S3 early stuff (attested to both by Sonic and Jason).

The only other recording I've ever heard that really replicated the tremolo-guitar sound of Playing With Fire-era S3 is... the first half of Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians"

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 7 September 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

sunray

― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Thursday, 7 September 2006 22:26 (nineteen years ago)

also gospel-period Staple Singers. Basically where they cribbed their softer, non-distorted guitar sound from.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 7 September 2006 22:36 (nineteen years ago)

Free your mind and your ass will follow. (and The heads and those bands Ned suggested)

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Thursday, 7 September 2006 22:40 (nineteen years ago)

Red Sparowes right duly noted. Their bio makes them sound incredible. For your own sake you better not have led me astray ned raggett

― hector (hector), Thursday, 7 September 2006 22:57 (nineteen years ago)

1st Red Sparowes album is a CLASSIC. I didn't lead Ned astray with that one.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Thursday, 7 September 2006 23:19 (nineteen years ago)

No wonder Spiritualized sound a bit like Spacemen 3 considering three ex-members of Spacemen 3 would later form Spiritualized.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 8 September 2006 00:25 (nineteen years ago)

the insight is unbearable

― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Friday, 8 September 2006 00:25 (nineteen years ago)

I was in the same school class as Jason Pierce - his rucksack had "Adam And The Ants" written on it - think on that one.

― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Friday, 8 September 2006 00:28 (nineteen years ago)

I think you should check out New Zealand drone-rockers Dadamah.

― disappointing goth fest line-up (orion), Friday, 8 September 2006 00:56 (nineteen years ago)

Hell, I believe that, Si. I've seen the early photos.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 01:02 (nineteen years ago)

I thought my rucksack was fairly cool at the time - I had a Factory Records "f" on it (though it has to be admitted that was covering a previous Jam logo). Ah, the things we do when we're young eh

― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Friday, 8 September 2006 01:19 (nineteen years ago)

Adam and the Ants!

― hector (hector), Friday, 8 September 2006 04:24 (nineteen years ago)

Secret Invention of Grunge? More like Kevin Shields Bought A Dinosaur Album. I give 'em points for trying, but MBV's attempts to be "heavy" were some of their weakest moments.

― Edward III (edward iii), Friday, 8 September 2006 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

also...mmm...the first "jesus and mary chain" album...

― emekars (emekars), Friday, 8 September 2006 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

Pink Floyd 'Live in London' 1966-67
Interstellar Overdirve [Full Length Version]

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Friday, 8 September 2006 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

More like Kevin Shields Bought A Dinosaur Album.

That early SST-era Dinosaur Jr. stuff is nowhere near as loud as it could/should have been (see also: Husker Du).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:23 (nineteen years ago)

Did someone already suggest the Red Krayola? I skimmed.

― emil.y (emil.y), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:29 (nineteen years ago)

That early SST-era Dinosaur Jr. stuff is nowhere near as loud as it could/should have been

Wait, You're Living All Over Me is too quiet? Hmm.

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

Hey, if the remasters have changed things for the better, I'm all for it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

don't start that whole compression/mastering sst shitstorm, just TURN UP YR STEREO DOG

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

i'm with ned on this, husker du and dinosaur jr sound like vaacum cleaners when they should sound like 747's

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

747s are for businessmen, terrorists and screaming fat children.

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

I'm all three!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

Anyway, I *have* turned up my stereo, and it still sounds like it was recorded on Edison cylinder.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:46 (nineteen years ago)

husker du records are SUPPOSED to sound like their amps are made of cardboard.

― disappointing goth fest line-up (orion), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

what an excellent idea that was

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

Whatever you want
Whatever you need

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

Is that a Status Quo reference?

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

i thought it was a dashboard confessional reference.

― disappointing goth fest line-up (orion), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

You are both hurting me in my heart.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

husker du records are SUPPOSED to sound like their amps are made of cardboard.
http://www.geektimes.com/michael/site/archive/2004/11/images/mission-accomplished.jpg

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 8 September 2006 14:59 (nineteen years ago)

Ugh George. Someone should nail a copy of Land Speed Record to that guy's dick.

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 8 September 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

Hey, if the remasters have changed things for the better, I'm all for it.

they really have - they sound like they did on vinyl now.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Friday, 8 September 2006 15:13 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.geektimes.com/michael/site/archive/2004/11/images/mission-accomplished.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/dantiques/36000/36180.jpg

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Friday, 8 September 2006 15:16 (nineteen years ago)

Nailed.

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 8 September 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

I don't have any nails i'm afraid, just these scissors and this paste

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Friday, 8 September 2006 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

fuck, now i'm all depressed looking at that

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 8 September 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't expect this to become TS: Dinosaur vs. My Bloody Valentine! My point's that MBV was influenced by Dinosaur - just as Seattle-style grunge was. It's funny to hear people debate the "heaviness" of Dinosaur since they were already legendary for their sonically punishing concerts back when the members of My Bloody Valentine were still ironing their black trousers. Grunge was in full swing by the summer of '88 with the deafening buzz surrounding Mudhoney and Soundgarden; crediting a UK band with grunge's "invention" is revisionist history of the first order. It's like crediting the Rolling Stones with inventing the blues, or Al Gore for the Internets. Ned, does your Anglophilia knows no bounds?

I remember asking Tim Cronin in '86 how the Dinosaur concert was - he said "Pretty melodies, a little jangly, then Mascis steps on his distortion pedal and it's the loudest thing you've ever heard." And The Pixies, MBV, Nirvana and a thousand others cribbed from that playbook.

All "Feed Me With Your Kiss" proves is that MBV was front-of-line when it came to UK fascination with the US indie-rock sound, but jumping on a stompbox while bobbing that mop of stringy hair framing yr mopey visage wasn't exactly a groundbreaking move at that point. Some of the early critical takes on Isn't Anything were of the "they're-the-British-Dinosaur" stripe. But that was the least interesting aspect of their sound - the blurrily stoned stuff is what stood out for me.

― Edward III (edward iii), Saturday, 9 September 2006 02:57 (nineteen years ago)

Ned, does your Anglophilia knows no bounds?

See, I like to think of what they did as improving on a template. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 9 September 2006 02:58 (nineteen years ago)

Ned, you have once again defused my mock horror with high-toned sensibility.

Till we meet again!

*swirls cape*

― Edward III (edward iii), Saturday, 9 September 2006 03:09 (nineteen years ago)

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