The Horror The Horror (Tapete Records)Finally, probably for the first time since Felt and Eleventh Dream Day, here's a band where Television is cited as an influence, and I can actually hear it! A young Swedish band enamored with VU, Modern Lovers and CBGBs era NYC, they also have hints of 90s British influences like Swervedriver and The Wedding Present. They have a clean and spare sound that works well becuase their songs are strong enough to not need to hide behind fancy production. Not that this is underproduced. There are some very nice, shimmery, sparkly moments. Hear "Sound of Sirens," for example. Without distortion, the song still packs an emotional whallop, even when I don't pay attention to the lyrics. There will be inevitable squawking about the fact that they replicate nearly the exact riff and rhythm of "Marquee Moon" on "Twice In A Lifetime." But just like reggae artists used to artfully recycle rhythms since the 60s, this is a playfully creative tribute. It does well to avoid trying to mimic the majesty of the original, and instead inserts their own voice. Released on an indie German label, this kind of hard to find. Tower (on Clark in Chicago) currently stocks it in the import section for $21, and Rough Trade's site sells it. The label enthusiastically, and without irony, says, "This is your favourite new band!" In my case, they're right, at least for this month.
YSI link to the two songs good for only 72 hrs now.
― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 00:06 (twenty years ago)
― xcaliber, Wednesday, 26 April 2006 00:39 (twenty years ago)
This is pretty much the boldest Strokes rip I've yet heard. Honestly, as with the Strokes, I really don't hear the similarities to Television; I guess that's just me - whereas both THTH and the Strokes sound blunt and compact, Television seemed much more elastic and expansive.
― M. Biondi (M. Biondi), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 00:57 (twenty years ago)
― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 06:04 (twenty years ago)
― BeeOK (boo radley), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 06:12 (twenty years ago)
If you can't hear Modern Lovers and Television in "Twice In A Lifetime," then I can't help you.
― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 07:11 (twenty years ago)
― Avi (Avi), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 20:26 (twenty years ago)
Replace Swedish with New York, and tell me that's not a pull quote from a review of Is This It.
― M. Biondi (M. Biondi), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 23:45 (twenty years ago)
Very sorry sir, I thought the thread was about The Horror The Horror. Like I said, I think they're nice, but too polished for my taste. The following is just my humble opinion, so please don't be offended:
1. Nobody fucking sounds like the Velvet Underground2. Nobody fucking sounds like the Modern Lovers
― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Thursday, 27 April 2006 00:42 (twenty years ago)
But what's your point? That you don't think VU/ML/TV are influences? Or that it's not cool to be influenced by those bands?
Is there a quota on how many bands that should be influenced by a particular artist? If that's the case I can think of a hundred artists, from Howlin' Wolf to Chuck Berry and Beatles, Black Sabbath, U2, etc. that are far, far more widely referenced.
Presumably just mentioning The Strokes here is the kiss of death. I still like their first album just fine. Sure there's a few moments where you can hear similarities in THTH. But I like the album much more than the last two Strokes.
No offense taken, but no shit. I'm not looking for plagiarists. Bands that are influenced by bands I like, that pay homage rather than copy.
― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Thursday, 27 April 2006 02:35 (twenty years ago)
― erv (Abe Froman), Monday, 22 May 2006 01:41 (twenty years ago)
― erv (Abe Froman), Monday, 22 May 2006 01:42 (twenty years ago)
I still really like this band. Wired Boy Child is a grower. Would be nice if they would release their stuff in the U.S. and do a tour.
― Fastnbulbous, Monday, 21 July 2008 21:56 (seventeen years ago)
Just heard Wilderness which either came out two weeks ago, or next Tuesday. Still liking 'em a bunch. Gotta throw 'em some love, poor bastards. No wonder they never come to the U.S.
Pop Matters review echoes some sentiments early in thread, wishing they were more this, less that. Seems like this kind of polished pop with a simple, dry guitar tone should appeal to fans of Phoenix and such.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQtLCJFL9sI
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 6 May 2011 00:31 (fifteen years ago)