What I find so funny about the "alternative" label in retrospect is that many of the artists who fell under that label had major commercial mainstream success.
So what were they an "alternative" to then?
Hair Metal. Really the were just Rock.
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#4482558 - 07/12/1906:47 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 5,420LB4LB
Still lurking about
Oh man, I haven't listened to Husker Du in ages. That raw "garage band" sound was the best IMHO. I always had a lot of respect for Bob Mould.
There used to be a few stations around here that would play "college radio" on Sunday nights from midnight until 2 a.m.. I would always jam to those. When I went away to MSU, it was easier to find. The "college" sound had an "edgier" sound and feel over the "new wave" stuff that had already crossed over to "mainstream". The thing about 80's music, IMHO, is it was still able to offer many different avenues of artistic creativity before all of the "cookie cutter" genre labeling really took hold in corporate radio.
Last edited by LB4LB; 07/12/1906:48 PM.
#4482559 - 07/12/1906:53 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
We all know the silly "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under", but both Men At Work albums (we won't count the 3rd one that nobody knows about...recorded during their breakup) are so freaking solid, from start to finish.
These others you may also know, but it's ALL good, IMO...
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4482560 - 07/12/1906:55 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,384PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,384
Miami, FL USA
I fully admit that the only songs I know from Men at Work are their two big US hit songs. Then again, the majority of my music collection consists of "Greatest Hits" CD's.
Only a very small number of artists/bands do I like enough to have all of their albums.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 07/12/1906:58 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
I fully admit that the only songs I know from Men at Work are their two big US hit songs. Then again, the majority of my music collection consists of "Greatest Hits" CD's.
Mine too. I started posting a listing of my Hits CDs just for the 80's (or mostly 80's) and it was just too much work. Normally I'll purchase an album or two and then the Greatest Hits to supplement. This works really well with Amazon MP3 sometimes, like adding "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to Gord's Gold
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4482562 - 07/12/1907:18 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4482566 - 07/12/1907:24 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4482568 - 07/12/1907:40 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 5,420LB4LB
Still lurking about
Oh, you must be going to play cricket this year then are you Johnny?
Nuh, nuh, nuh!
But my fave Men at Work song is 'Down by the sea', hand down, and it never gets airplay, ever.
Interestingly enough, you can lay the success of Men at Work squarely at the feet of the Police. People today sometimes say "yeah, the Police, no band says they influenced them today". Maybe they don't, but they damned well should. They literally could not have been bigger than when they called it quits. No more worlds to conquer. Copeland was simply a standard for excellence, Summers was tastefully masterful, and Gordon Sumner was, for all his flaws and disgusting ego, brilliant. Truly so much bigger and better was the sum of their parts.
Synchronicity is not my fave Police album (but they are tied with Zep for my fave band) but Synchronicity I (not II) is my favorite Police song.
Mark, 'Mother' may not be catchy but listen to the music. Who else was putting that on a mainstream album?
What kind of car is that? What does it matter? When I drive it, I'm Steve McQueen
#4482575 - 07/12/1908:29 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
462cid, I get what you're saying about "Mother" and I gotta admit, I like the transition to "Miss Gradenko". But whether it's simply familiar from repetition or I'm just glad the song is over, I don't know. It does have a middle-eastern vibe to me that would have fit better on an earlier album. I would never go so far as to wishing it away.
Neal Peart mentions in an interview that even Rush was influenced by the Police. I consider this to be the worst song on "Moving Pictures", which is to say, what a great freaking album!
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Oh, you must be going to play cricket this year then are you Johnny?
Nuh, nuh, nuh!
But my fave Men at Work song is 'Down by the sea', hand down, and it never gets airplay, ever.
Interestingly enough, you can lay the success of Men at Work squarely at the feet of the Police. People today sometimes say "yeah, the Police, no band says they influenced them today". Maybe they don't, but they damned well should. They literally could not have been bigger than when they called it quits. No more worlds to conquer. Copeland was simply a standard for excellence, Summers was tastefully masterful, and Gordon Sumner was, for all his flaws and disgusting ego, brilliant. Truly so much bigger and better was the sum of their parts.
Synchronicity is not my fave Police album (but they are tied with Zep for my fave band) but Synchronicity I (not II) is my favorite Police song.
Mark, 'Mother' may not be catchy but listen to the music. Who else was putting that on a mainstream album?
IMHO, two VERY under rated songs from Syncronicity:
#4482589 - 07/12/1910:29 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: LB4LB]
IMHO, two VERY under rated songs from Syncronicity:
"Murder By Numbers" is probably my favorite Police tune. Very underrated. Much like "Water of Love" and "Six Blade Knife" from Dire Straits first album. Going to see Mark Knopfler next month, btw.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4482621 - 07/13/1905:01 AMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
Last night I finally got to see a "band" I have been wanting to see for years.
They had their first major hit 25 years ago getting into the top 10 and then reaching and staying at number 1 for a few weeks, they played that tune last night too, the second waltz from Shostakovich, they are one of the top live performances in the world regularly filling stadiums to capacity, I had never heard of them until my mother introduced me to them in the late 90s.
Last night I went to see André Rieu'sJohann Strauss Orchestra in the Vrijthof Maastricht, this was concert number 6 of 12 summer concerts held in the market square in the centre of Maastricht, it was packed out and a great party atmosphere, they played for around 3 hours finishing off with a set backing The Village People. And yes we were dancing in the street They played a selection of classical, waltz, jazz, rock n roll and pop, it was very entertaining and was over and done far too quick, the 3 hours flew past.
From this year's Concert:
Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil Sons of the hound come here and get flesh Clan Cameron
#4482641 - 07/13/1912:13 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
I accidentally played both "Tea in the Sahara" and "Murder by numbers" in the post above, at the same time. Try it. Click "Murder by numbers" and then immediately 'Tea in the Sahara". The intro becomes a Police fever dream.
What kind of car is that? What does it matter? When I drive it, I'm Steve McQueen
#4482657 - 07/13/1902:54 PMRe: Our music was the best...
[Re: Dart]
Woke up to a little wind, just enough for an occasional power/lights flicker, but nothing more. Looks like the storm is moving further west of me.
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Allicatt, always interesting to read different musical experiences from around the globe. I recently read a post by a guy in his 50's who lives around where you're at, and he had never heard of 8-track tape until American movies. He figures it's because he didn't grow up in the American youth car culture (as he calls it) where 8-tracks were the first real portable music collection. Then again, I hardly know of a band called Oasis (don't know a single song).
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Quick story that I feel is relevant to thread...
1984 I was 16, summer break between 11th and 12th grade, occasionally staying overnight at girlfriend's place. Every night around 10 PM my mother-in-law would sit at the kitchen table reading the paper, my cue to grab a pillow and blanket and make myself comfortable on the living room sofa. What was amazing to me was what was sitting in front of that sofa...
20" color TV hooked up to a cable 3-button remote control Betamax player
Lots of new experiences for me and I lost countless hours of sleep watching music videos on MTV. I saw for the first time what some of my favorite bands looked like. Usually I was awed and sometimes I cringed (even then), and I still haven't decided if adding video imagery to my favorite audio is a good thing. With Rush (for example) it probably wasn't as in the 80's they were no longer this weird looking kimono wearing 3-piece band (with Geddy looking like a witch doctor). Sometimes it's better to be a little mysterious, I think.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run