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any early 80's alt/soft punk fans out there?

great time for music imo. new sounds, edgy but musical and sometime.....downright deep/moving. never got into the really hardcore punk seen. liked the softer side destruction alot better =)

just finished a psychedelic furs binge tonight. had joy division/early new order on all weekend. planning on reminiscing with lou reed/velvet underground and early rem later this week.

haven't really listened to this stuff much in recent memory. not sure why?. i own almost everything these bands ever put out but still rarely give them a turn anymore?.

early furs with all that sax and mr butler's near painful voice =). i'm gonna grab some tickets for their upcoming show at house of blues (chicago). i'm sure it won't be as crazy as the shows back then but the music will still be great. didn't even know they were touring.

really enjoyed joy division and after the death of Ian....early new order stuff. incredible music considering their roots. new order eventually lost their edge but back then....they were it!

any other fans out there?
levy03
martykl
3,578 posts
 
The cowpunk crew can be extended to include all the early Alejandro Escovedo bands (Rank & File, etc) and Chuck Prophet stuff (Green and Red, IIRC). There's also James Mastro's post Bongos group, Health and Happiness Show - although they might be a bit too pop/crafted to qualify as "cow punk". Uncle Tupelo and the "nephew" bands all qualify; Son Volt, Wilco, and Bottle Rockets - although Wilco goes all over the place. Kim Richey qualified briefly when Pete Anderson was her lead guitar. Another band at the margin (due to excessively beautiful vocal harmonies) was The Reivers, IMHO the best songwriters of this lot.

Walter, I'd also agree that the Scorchers were a great live band. I'd add that there's also those Feelies spin-offs Yung Wu and Wake Ooloo, among others.

Marty
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
947 posts
 

Marqueemoon (great moniker, by the way),

Man, that is a fantastic catch on the Go Betweens. One of my very favorite bands from that period. The solo albums of Robert Forster and Grant McLennan (especially the acoustic-driven "Horsebreaker Star") are also excellent.
Like the Soft Boys, too, and Robyn Hitchcock's earlier solo records.

Marty,
I couldn't agree more on Rank and File, and I agree with you on the Bottle Rockets. You want good songwriting, check out "The Brooklyn Side," which "reads" like a book of excellent short stories.

I never could get into the Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt branch of the tree, although Wilco is a notch better. The Jayhawks and Silos are more my speed as far as alt country goes.

Have you heard the Handsome Family out of Chicago?
emiser's avatar
emiser
29 posts
 
Big fan of the early New-wave/post punk recordings that followed up much of the Joy Division era. The Wake, Magazine, Chameleons, Sad Lover's and Giants, The Names, Stockholm Monsters, The Sound. Tons of great music out of England that sadly has been lost over the years. Been some nice sounding re-releases and remastered version in the last few years.
marqueemoon
26 posts
 
Waltersalas - Thanks. I'm surprised the username wasn't taken.

My band had the good fortune of opening for The Handsome Family a few years ago. They are excellent.

I'll throw one other name out there. Anybody remember The Housemartins? The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death is a pretty great album. I specifically remember that this is one of the first digitally recorded albums I heard.

Paul Heaton went on to form The Beautiful South and bassist Norman Cook later reinvented himself as Fatboy Slim.

Also, Cocteau Twins and The Durutti Column and are two more of my favorites from this time period.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Walter,

I like a lot of the Jayhawks' stuff, but I really don't know The Handsome Family (except by name). I'll check it out.

As to Uncle Tupelo and spin offs,

IMHO, UT's "No Depression" was THE seminal "alt. country/cow punk" record (and, since this genre is sometimes called "No Depression", I guess I'm not alone in that judgement). I'd tend to agree that the rest of their catalog is spotty. Son Volt started out great with "Trace" but sank pretty quickly. Wilco is Wilco and Bottle Rockets (specifically on the strength of the eponymous first record and TBS - although all of theirs are very good records)would be my pick of this litter.

Another "Cow Punk" band worth mentioning is 16 Horsepower, but if Uncle Tupelo leaves you cold, this one may not be your cup of tea, either.

Marty
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