Just watched this on BBC4, Clinical neurologists have been known to describe major head injuries as a massive insult to the brain. As someone who has listened to music in Scotland over the last 30 year years, I'm struggling to come up with a better way of describing this program: Teenage Fanclub invented grunge, Wet Wet Wet were responsible for the Scottish Parliament . .
― Soukesian, Friday, 22 February 2008 23:11 (eighteen years ago)
I hated Alan Horne and all of his works with every atom of my teenage punk anger; even so, blaming him for the slimy emissions of Deacon Blue and the like seems a bit fuckin' harsh.
― Soukesian, Friday, 22 February 2008 23:18 (eighteen years ago)
And no Jesus & Mary Chain!!!
I guess it wasn't really aimed at a Scottish audience and I don't quite think it was saying the Wets brought about devolution, but I know what you mean. It was ok on Postcard - some great footage there - but it was a bit of stretch to say it inspired the likes of Hue & Cry. The political stuff was quite interesting - I don't think you can get round talking about where Scotland is right now without considering the Thatcher era, but the focus on all those awful bands, at the expense of, most glaringly Jesus and Mary Chain, rankled.
It whizzed through the 90s in no time either, so there was no room for Mogwai, Delgados and Chemical Underground, Slam etc etc (although they did have time for Travis, boo!).
Also, what was that bit at the opening about how before Postcard Scottish pop fell into two camps, screaming industrial rockers (what, like Neubauten? Oh, they mean Maggie Bell and Alex Harvey, wtf?) and Tartan casualties (cue footage of that famous Scot Rod Stewart).
They should have done it as at least a two parter - ideally a Pop/Folk/Jazz Britannia style four parter.
I wonder what's happening with this Postcard/Fast Product docu?
http://www.myspace.com/thesoundofyoungscotland
― Stew, Saturday, 23 February 2008 01:30 (eighteen years ago)
Its not a bit of a stretch at all, the late period Horne associated bands, Jazzateers / Bourgie Bourgie aren't that far from Hue and Cry, Del Amitri et al.
― Sandy Blair, Saturday, 23 February 2008 08:15 (eighteen years ago)
I can't believe a programme about Scottish music featured mainly successful bands and didn't give full analysis to every one of my favourite Scot indie bands. Harrumph!
― DavidM, Saturday, 23 February 2008 09:38 (eighteen years ago)
I almost switched this off after the first 30 seconds - it's 2008, is there any reason for a programme made in Scotland about Scotland to spend its opening minute or so going on about how great Scotland is and how important Scotland is and how influential Scotland is, blah blah fucking blah - the old inferiority complex still there in 2008? Getting a fucking grip you cunts! Not enough Postcard, too much Hue+Cry, no JAMC etc
― Tom D., Saturday, 23 February 2008 11:52 (eighteen years ago)
I enjoyed it, it's always nice to see old footage like that. But it'd've been a better programme if it had never mentioned Scotland at all. Just a lot of great and good bands, plus Deacon Blue, who all happened to live near each other. Leave out the miners' strike, Thatcher and devolution - I can't say I see Travis as the pinnacle of all that stuff.
I also enjoyed the programme that was on earlier about the 1974 world cup, despite its higher shortbread quota.
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 23 February 2008 12:12 (eighteen years ago)