I haven't been able to find a thread, and I thought they deserved one.
Johnny Hates Jazz is often used as the core example of what was wrong with the late 80s, but I just listend to the "Turn Back The Clock" album the other day, and I still thought, what's with all the hate? It's a great record, a lot better than a lot of other stuff from the same era.
They had great tunes, way better and more meaningful lyrics than most mainstream pop acts. "I Don't Want To Be a Hero" is a great anti-war. I also have a soft spot for the nostalgic longing-back-to-childhood-approach of the title track, which is nevertheless the best song they ever did.
Plus, on a less important but still interesting note, Mike Nocito provides some of the best bass playing I have ever heard on a pop album besides Mark Kings's work for Level 42.
Among the lesser known tracks, "Don't Say It's Love" and "Don't Let It End This Way" are also really great, even though the latter is admittedly a bit too similar to Sting's "An Englishman In New York".
So, revive now! This band doesn't deserve all the crap they have to deal with because of an image that may have been a bit too clean-cut.
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 09:00 (eighteen years ago)
Excerpt from "I Don't Want To Be a Hero":
Oh send me off to war
In a far away land
I never knew existed
Subject me to the truth
To the horror and pain
Until my mind is twisted
And what if I fail
Will you put me in jail
For a murder I will not commit?
cos you dont understand
Till theres blood on your hands
That its time to forget and forgive
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 09:17 (eighteen years ago)
The 12" mix of "I Don't Want To Be a Hero" will have you shaking your tree, Geir.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 11:04 (eighteen years ago)
I know that 12" mix, but I mostly prefer 80s songs in their original 7 inch or album mixes. Particularly from the late 80s onwards, when producers started changing the background and sound rather than just adding new sequences to the recording (remixes rather than extended versions - I prefer extended versions)
But "I Don't Want a Hero" is a great song nevertheless. In spite of Julian Mendelsohn's very 1988-ish exaggerated use of congas and percussion ;)
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 11:23 (eighteen years ago)
A psychologist writes:
Oh send me off to war
This is surely the metaphorical war of words that Geir wages daily in defense of melodic pop.
In a far away land
I never knew existed
Geir did indeed come late to the ILM 'party'
Subject me to the truth
R&B is quite good actually.
To the horror and pain
and Jellyfish aren't.
Until my mind is twisted
So twisted that I post obsessively on every thread.
And what if I fail
A real possibility.
Will you put me in jail
Ban me
For a murder I will not commit?
Geir is famously reasonable in online debate, not even getting cross when people dismiss his beloved Genesis.
cos you dont understand
Till theres blood on your hands
But can even this gentle giant be pushed too far?
That its time to forget and forgive
Or at the very least get that Badfinger CD off Amazon.― Groke, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 11:32 (eighteen years ago)
one year passes...
I love this song. The production kinda reminds me of Fleetwood Mac's Tango in The Night album. Obvs trying to be the UK Hall and Oates, tho. And Geir is right, the bass on this tune is great!
― Bodrick III, Thursday, 8 May 2008 23:03 (seventeen years ago)
six years pass...
I heard "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" at CVS yesterday!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 February 2015 22:50 (ten years ago)