Non-Classical Music Listening Thread!

[steve ridgway]

The last classic Joy Division album: New Order's Brotherhood



1979 to 1987, quite a run of perfect albums.

I still like the Joy Division stuff; went to Macclesfield this morning and snapped the Ian Curtis mural.

[hopefullytrusting]

I still like the Joy Division stuff; went to Macclesfield this morning and snapped the Ian Curtis mural.

I like New Order more (as I am fascinated by production), but I love Joy Division as well. In my reading of New Order's history, they said they could never replace Curtis, but I always thought he was the weakest part of the band, but I think they were referring to the power of his personality (his charisma, which does seem palpable).

[AnotherSpin]

I still like the Joy Division stuff; went to Macclesfield this morning and snapped the Ian Curtis mural.

I can't say I ever got particularly deep into British music from that time and style, I mean, after prog collapsed. I probably listened most often to The Clash, The Specials, Madness and of course The Police. Joy Division had quite a special place. I didn't listen to them often but whenever I did, I was properly struck.

[steve ridgway]

Currently listening to The Human League's Dare followed by The Smiths's The Smiths

I liked the first couple of Human League albums before they had pop hits. Wasn't into The Smiths although around 1985 accompanied my landlord to where one of them apparently lived. The house gave me the impression they were still living with their mum and dad; the only clue was that the suburban middle class living room had these framed gold discs hanging on the walls .

[steve ridgway]

I like New Order more (as I am fascinated by production), but I love Joy Division as well. In my reading of New Order's history, they said they could never replace Curtis, but I always thought he was the weakest part of the band, but I think they were referring to the power of his personality (his charisma, which does seem palpable).

At the time I listened to the first Joy Division album whenever I felt miserable. In comparison to that black pit of depression my concerns amounted to nothing, which cheered me up in no time .

[hopefullytrusting]

I liked the first couple of Human League albums before they had pop hits. Wasn't into The Smiths although around 1985 accompanied my landlord to where one of them apparently lived. The house gave me the impression they were still living with their mum and dad; the only clue was that the suburban middle class living room had these framed gold discs hanging on the walls .

I suspect I will be the same with The Human League (just as when New Order became more commercial or Orchestral after Dazzle Ships).

I didn't care for The Smiths, but they were lumped together within a bundle of bands I should check out, so I checked them out (as with the Pet Shop boys, they fell out).

At the time I listened to the first Joy Division album whenever I felt miserable. In comparison to that black pit of depression my concerns amounted to nothing, which cheered me up in no time .

Lol, okay, I can see how the Joy Division won out.

[steve ridgway]

I can't say I ever got particularly deep into British music from that time and style, I mean, after prog collapsed. I probably listened most often to The Clash, The Specials, Madness and of course The Police. Joy Division had quite a special place. I didn't listen to them often but whenever I did, I was properly struck.

I enjoyed punk and new wave but it burnt out after a couple of years and the following styles didn't capture my enthusiasm to the same extent. There was some quirky electronic music for a short time - The Human League, Fad Gadget, Visage, Soft Cell, Gary Numan - but they soon turned pop and then there was Goth, my favourite being The Sisters Of Mercy who'd do ridiculous cover versions live - like Jolene with gloomy singing and a drum machine . After that there was a short lived psychedelic "revival". The Scientists were great but after that I started going backwards and exploring the real psychedelic music like The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Electric Prunes, Iron Butterfly, 13th Floor Elevators etc. The "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" was in general rubbish  .

[steve ridgway]

I suspect I will be the same with The Human League (just as when New Order became more commercial or Orchestral after Dazzle Ships).

I didn't care for The Smiths, but they were lumped together within a bundle of bands I should check out, so I checked them out (as with the Pet Shop boys, they fell out).

Lol, okay, I can see how the Joy Division won out.

I used to hear loads of weird music on The John Peel Show which broadcast on BBC Radio 1, I think from 10 PM to midnight. Little known artists used to send cassettes in and he'd get them in to record sessions in the studio if he thought they were any good.

Some stuff I recall -

[AnotherSpin]

I enjoyed punk and new wave but it burnt out after a couple of years and the following styles didn't capture my enthusiasm to the same extent. There was some quirky electronic music for a short time - The Human League, Fad Gadget, Visage, Soft Cell, Gary Numan - but they soon turned pop and then there was Goth, my favourite being The Sisters Of Mercy who'd do ridiculous cover versions live - like Jolene with gloomy singing and a drum machine . After that there was a short lived psychedelic "revival". The Scientists were great but after that I started going backwards and exploring the real psychedelic music like The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Electric Prunes, Iron Butterfly, 13th Floor Elevators etc. The "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" was in general rubbish  .

By the time punk came around, I was already ready to move in completely different directions, primarily jazz. For me, the undisputed authorities were the musicians recording for ECM Records, especially Keith Jarrett. Plus the avant-garde jazz, like Anthony Braxton, Sam Rivers, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Cecil Taylor... Yes, those were the days.

From new wave, I genuinely liked Gary Numan, though more individual songs than entire albums. Soft Cell, Visage, OMD. Then came U2, Sinéad O'Connor, UB40, Dire Straits. And many others, though never too seriously.

Like you, I explored rock music in reverse, but I think blues-rock attracted me more than psychedelia. Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and the like. I was never into metal.

[AnotherSpin]

I used to hear loads of weird music on The John Peel Show which broadcast on BBC Radio 1, I think from 10 PM to midnight. Little known artists used to send cassettes in and he'd get them in to record sessions in the studio if he thought they were any good.

[..]

Oh, yes! I used to listen to John Peel's shows on my shortwave radio, on the BBC World Service. That was my main source for discovering new pop music. Records reached us with a delay, and not all of them, of course.

[steve ridgway]

I suspect I will be the same with The Human League (just as when New Order became more commercial or Orchestral after Dazzle Ships).

I'm trying to think back to 1980 now - have vague memories of enjoying Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Organisation and  Simple Minds – Real To Real Cacophony but have no recollection of any of the tracks apart from Enola Gay which is currently used in a TV commercial for health insurance .

[AnotherSpin]

I'm trying to think back to 1980 now - have vague memories of enjoying Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Organisation and  Simple Minds – Real To Real Cacophony but have no recollection of any of the tracks apart from Enola Gay which is currently used in a TV commercial for health insurance .

Enola Gay was a massive hit, I could listen to that song several times in a row.

I just remembered some other favorites from that time: Public Image Ltd., Gang of Four. And American bands like Blondie, Television, the early Talking Heads albums, Devo, B-52s.

And there were more serious artists too, like Laurie Anderson. In fact, I was listening again today to her magnificent recent album Songs from the Bardo.

[steve ridgway]

By the time punk came around, I was already ready to move in completely different directions, primarily jazz. For me, the undisputed authorities were the musicians recording for ECM Records, especially Keith Jarrett. Plus the avant-garde jazz, like Anthony Braxton, Sam Rivers, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Cecil Taylor... Yes, those were the days.

From new wave, I genuinely liked Gary Numan, though more individual songs than entire albums. Soft Cell, Visage, OMD. Then came U2, Sinéad O'Connor, UB40, Dire Straits. And many others, though never too seriously.

Like you, I explored rock music in reverse, but I think blues-rock attracted me more than psychedelia. Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and the like. I was never into metal.

I've discovered a little jazz and blues-rock over the years, enjoy The Lounge Lizards, The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra, and a few of the noisier blues numbers that have crept into rock albums.

Metal has really progressed a lot though - this one is really clever with a valuable message about seeing through religious propaganda, the lyrics are all shown in the video .

[hopefullytrusting]

I'm trying to think back to 1980 now - have vague memories of enjoying Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Organisation and  Simple Minds – Real To Real Cacophony but have no recollection of any of the tracks apart from Enola Gay which is currently used in a TV commercial for health insurance .

Love The Sisters of Mercy (found them through the cybergoth subculture - this song: Lucretia My Reflection).

For me, there is just something about this era of musical production that I find appealing to my ears (I think it partially has to do with the early synth works), as I wasn't even born when a lot of this music came out - but 1979-1987 is my range for this kind of music (sweet spot is like 1982-1984).

[steve ridgway]

Enola Gay was a massive hit, I could listen to that song several times in a row.

I just remembered some other favorites from that time: Public Image Ltd., Gang of Four. And American bands like Blondie, Television, the early Talking Heads albums, Devo, B-52s.

And there were more serious artists too, like Laurie Anderson. In fact, I was listening again today to her magnificent recent album Songs from the Bardo.

Oh yes, I recall most of those. Also Siouxsie And The Banshees had some great lyrics (Chinese restaurants, Saudi Arabia's treatment of their princesses, the destruction of Pompeii etc.) and The Cure. I saw both The Cure and Judas Priest in Leicester 1980 and can tell you that The Cure definitely wore the most leather .

Theatre Of Hate were fun - here's one of their tunes for all you guys that were occupied by Russia .

I am the seed planted by the river
I am the straw who broke the camel's back
Eastworld
Eastworld
No world
I am the soldier who cleared the wall
I am the Pole who will sing and be heard
Eastworld
Eastworld
No world
I am the whisper of the wind that will destroy
Eastworld
Who will be rid of troublesome comrades

[steve ridgway]

For me, there is just something about this era of musical production that I find appealing to my ears (I think it partially has to do with the early synth works), as I wasn't even born when a lot of this music came out - but 1979-1987 is my range for this kind of music (sweet spot is like 1982-1984).

I'm trying to think back to the groups I was into then - Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (D.A.F.), Japan (Quiet Life), Throbbing Gristle (Heathen Earth and CD1 are listenable), Cabaret Voltaire, Chrome (1980 - 1982). Tangerine Dream were still going of course but I prefer the 1970s sound. The March Violets were OK if you liked The Sisters Of Mercy.

Ultravox - Systems Of Romance and John Foxx - Metamatic may appeal.

[hopefullytrusting]

I'm trying to think back to the groups I was into then - Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (D.A.F.), Japan (Quiet Life), Throbbing Gristle (Heathen Earth and CD1 are listenable), Cabaret Voltaire, Chrome (1980 - 1982). Tangerine Dream were still going of course but I prefer the 1970s sound. The March Violets were OK if you liked The Sisters Of Mercy.

Ultravox - Systems Of Romance and John Foxx - Metamatic may appeal.

Will definitely check those out (I already like Tangerine Dream).

[steve ridgway]

Will definitely check those out (I already like Tangerine Dream).

John Foxx was the vocalist for the first three Ultravox albums which were more or less art rock, new wave and synth, before Midge Ure (who I saw with Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols in The Rich Kids live at Northampton Cricket Club ) took over. John said at the time he realised he could do everything by himself with synths and drum machines. Apart from becoming rich and famous that is .

[brewski]

'Ramon,' one of my faves from Laurie Anderson's Strange Angels (1989).

[hopefullytrusting]

John Foxx was the vocalist for the first three Ultravox albums which were more or less art rock, new wave and synth, before Midge Ure (who I saw with Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols in The Rich Kids live at Northampton Cricket Club ) took over. John said at the time he realised he could do everything by himself with synths and drum machines. Apart from becoming rich and famous that is .

That does seem to be a common theme among many of the new wave/post-punk bands that I've been reading about - art vs. pop (aka money) - not many, it seems, took the Foxx route. I will also say, man, the ego on some of these people (the New Order spat was my favorite to read because the bassist wanted to add more bass, and the synth wanted to eliminate all of the bass, lol - they needed that bass, in my opinion).