Who is Synth Rock?

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I heard someone refer to The Cars in another thread as synth rock. What are some other bands that you think would fall under this category?

If you made a synth rock compilation, what would be on it?

― James Morris (HorrayJames), Saturday, 31 January 2004 03:26 (twenty-two years ago)

you rang?

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd200/d234/d23420f21r8.jpg

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 31 January 2004 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

These days I'd include the Faint, at least. Duran Duran obv.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 31 January 2004 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

this album:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc800/c838/c83853107o2.jpg

― jody (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 31 January 2004 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.bwood.ru/product/images/bisico_025I.jpg

― may pang (maypang), Saturday, 31 January 2004 03:35 (twenty-two years ago)

this album as well:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf100/f161/f16195ccfkw.jpg

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Saturday, 31 January 2004 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

What is that last one?

Other synth-rock bands:

Magazine
Simple Minds
Polyrock
The Passage
Rentals

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 31 January 2004 05:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Suicide & Alan Vega's solo stuff.

― may pang (maypang), Saturday, 31 January 2004 05:36 (twenty-two years ago)

That's the cover of "No 1 in Heaven" by Sparks. They're overall not a synth rock band, but that album sure as fuck is.

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Saturday, 31 January 2004 05:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, No. 1 in Heaven is less "synth-rock" then the records that followed it, Terminal Jive, Whomp That Sucker and Angst in My Pants. Not all consistently good(few Sparks records are) but all feature much genius!

I vote for Secondhand Daylight era Magazine and the often forgotten Cowboys International as synth-rock bands. Also Spizz Energy, a little known 1 single type band called Europeans, and a fantastic french band called Edith Nylon as my favorite synth-rock bands.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Saturday, 31 January 2004 05:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed with Dan that Sparks rarely put out consistently good LP's (Indiscreet is as good as it gets AFAIC). Disagree that "Heaven" is less synth rock than it's descendents. Terminal's a territory miner of it's predecessor and Whomp is a pretty suck-ass attempt at going "new wave". They got the formula right with Angst, which is for my money the most listenable New Wave record ever. But none combine the stoopid zubba zubba zubba Italo-glory SYNTHS with propulsive rhythm ROCK as well as No 1 in Heaven does. Unless the gauntlet's thrown down and we come to terms with it being just a monumental DISCO record. Agreed with Dan that all Sparks records feature much genius.

Add to the list New Order, and Our Daughter's Wedding.

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Saturday, 31 January 2004 06:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I just always think of No 1 Song in Heaven as a disco record first and foremost, while of think of Angst esp. as a New Wave/Rock album. Of course there would be nothing stupider then two Sparks freaks arguing over whether No 1 is a disco or rock album. Beat The Clock is certainly synth-rock-dance, in a way similar to Yello's Bostich, which should also get recommended here. Mentioning Cowboys International made me look them up and I hadn't noticed their stuff got the CD treatment last year. I really recommend it. It's related to London SS, the Clash, PIL, and The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight, amongst others...

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Saturday, 31 January 2004 07:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I adore No. 1 in Heaven, but can't think of it as anything but a disco album. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 31 January 2004 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, i'm plugging them once again... modern example: the Cripples

http://www.falloutrecords.com/gallery/images/cripples-4.JPG

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 31 January 2004 09:56 (twenty-two years ago)

(older photo, drummer is now a girl)

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 31 January 2004 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

and..

http://www.thestranger.com/2003-07-10/ex2-2.jpg

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 31 January 2004 09:59 (twenty-two years ago)

New band from Sheffield: Pink Grease.

― JoB (JoB), Saturday, 31 January 2004 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

then i would like to take this opportunity to plug the sump pumps
http://www.8bitrecords.com/sumppumps/1024/

word

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Saturday, 31 January 2004 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.thomrevolver.com/Imagenes/cover.jpg

Cool synth/new romantics band from Amsterdam: Thom Revolver

― theo @ Cut.Up.HQ (theo), Saturday, 31 January 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

oeps... ehh sorry.. the image is not where it should be..

― theo @ Cut.Up.HQ (theo), Saturday, 31 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

(older photo, drummer is now a girl)

As in Rhino Bucket/Jethro Tull style or what?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 31 January 2004 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The Silures (Vitalic and Linda Lamb) seem worth a mention.

― Barima (Barima), Saturday, 31 January 2004 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I certainly wouldn't call The Cars synth rock, their most synth oriented moments were more synthpop than synth rock really. With synth rock I would rather think of harsher stuff such as D.A.F, Front 242 or Nitzer Ebb.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 31 January 2004 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

ORCHESTRAL MANOUVRES IN THE DARK

― minolta (minolta), Saturday, 31 January 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

australian example - the reels

― phil turnbull (philT), Saturday, 31 January 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

prince - "u got the look" is an awesome synthrock song

― justin (Justin M), Saturday, 31 January 2004 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Watchoo talking about Geir? I had the impression all of the other examples were mixing synths and guitars which the Cars do well but DAF, Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 don't (on their good albums.)

― sucka (sucka), Saturday, 31 January 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Wouldn't OMD be considered more synth pop than synth rock?

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Sunday, 1 February 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

At this moment I'm listening to The Start. The jewel case sticker says " a stunning blend of anthemic guitar rock and 80's new wave synth pop. There. Check 'em out. I can't decide myself.

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Sunday, 1 February 2004 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Later in their career, sure, but early on OMD were pretty rocking. They even had guitars n stuff.

― minolta (minolta), Sunday, 1 February 2004 03:38 (twenty-two years ago)

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