A guide to some lesser known music from a period when alternative was actually good!
My interest in music began, like most people, when I was a kid listening to what was popular at the time. Just about every weekend my friends and I would go to the local mall to buy the latest 45 record that we thought was cool. Most of our exposure to music was AM radio and TV. Obviously, we were only aware of the music that was making the charts or the music that our older siblings were listening to. In the early 70's I became aware of FM radio and suddenly I was exposed to a whole new kind of music. Bands like Yes, Pink Floyd and Emerson Lake and Palmer became my new favorites. I found myself drifting away from mainstream music. I started searching for music that was more experimental in it's sound. As always, most music gets labelled and I realized that the kind of music I liked was being called "progressive". I discovered bands like Genesis, Strawbs and Nektar. In the late 70's I heard about a radio station in Toronto called CFNY. This was the turning point. CFNY played some of my favorite progressive music but they were also playing all kinds of new music that sounded completely different from what I was listening to. And most of it was great! In several years the genre "New Wave" was born and although New Wave music encompassed alot of different styles, I was still trying to discover other kinds of music. In the early 80's I got the chance to do a radio show in Buffalo, New York. The station was WUWU. I did an all-night program on the weekends called "The Black Hole". During this period is when I really started to collect as much music as I could find that was groundbreaking so I could possibly expose other people to new sounds. The radio station gig only lasted a couple years but the music that I discovered during that period and the influence it had on my choices of music today is what I would like to present here.
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On broadway
I'm beginning here with the album that most influenced my taste in alternative music. Most people know of Genesis and any die hard fan of progressive music knows about "The Lamb". The final album that Peter Gabriel made with the band is an epic concept piece that tells the tale of a New York juvenile named Rael that goes through a series of strange and surreal events and meets a host of bizarre characters on a journey that can and has been interpreted in many different ways. Personally, I view it as a modern day Alice in Wonderland story. The album was released in 1974 and by this time Genesis was already one of the premier progressive music bands of the period. The Lamb showcases their talents of musical virtuosity and creative songwriting. The music is bit more hard driving than their previous releases but is still dominated by intricate melodies with Tony Banks on keyboards defining the sound of the band.The album is a bit difficult to grasp at first listen and moves between a variety of styles but in the end produces some wonderful songs like In the Cage, The Carpet Crawlers, Back In NYC,The Lamia, It and of course the title track.
The Annotated Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
- The Annotated Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
- A great site featuring interviews with the band and interpretations of the songs from The Lamb.
Nektar - Recycled
German based band Nektar started off doing obscure psychedelic music. Their 1974 concept album Remember The Future brought them some notoriety. Recycled was released in 1975 as another concept piece. It dealt with man's abuse of the environment and the consequences of his neglect. I think what makes Recyled so extraordinary is the addition of Larry Fast on keyboards. Fast went on to do solo work as Synergy and worked with Peter Gabriel for several years. His contribution to Recycled is a richness of sound that blends extremely well with the guitar and vocals of Roye Albrighton. Albrighton left the band after this album and recently they have reunited. Recycled sounds a bit dated these days but still remains one of my favorite progressive albums.
Crack The Sky
Originating from Pittsburg, Pa., Crack The Sky's debut self titled album was released in 1975. Rolling Stone magazine declared it album of the year. Although somewhat progressive in nature, this album doesn't get caught up in lengthy overbearing songs. There is some use of orchestration but many of the tunes have a more rock character with some genuinely clever writing. The sound is quite unique as is lead singer John Palumbo's vocals. Selections like Robots for Ronnie, Hold on, Surf City and Ice make this album a real gem.
City Boy
The debut album from City Boy is filled with great melodies, interesting lyrics and wonderful harmonies. Not quite progressive and certainly not New Wave, their 1976 self titled album has a touch of 10cc with a bit of a dark side at times. Songs like (Moonlight) Shake My Head And Leave, Sunset Boulevard and 5000 Years/Don't Know Can't Tell are good examples of this band's talent. Their follow up album Dinner At The Ritz was also quite good. They had a minor hit with the song 5705 which most people know them for but their best work was undoubtedly from these earlier releases.
Original Mirrors
Released in 1980, Original Mirrors was formed by Ian Broudie who later went on to The Lightning Seeds. With a distinct New Wave style, the Original Mirrors debut album made almost no impact and the band went on to record only one more album. The music is upbeat and slightly quirky with the unique vocals of Steve Allen. Songs like Feel Like A Train, Panic In The Night and Sharp Words are favorites.
New Musik - From A To B
The band New Musik was formed by Tony Mansfield who later went on to produce Naked Eyes, A Ha and others. From A To B is pure synth-pop with some pretty catchy tunes and just a touch of experimentation. Lyrically, the songs don't attempt to get too serious but Mansfield was more interested in making music that fit the new era rather than trying to relay some deep message.Some modern bands like The Postal Service seem to be taking some influence from New Musik. Songs like Straight Lines, Sanctuary and the wonderful This World Of Water make this a classic recording in the synth-pop genre. New Musik recorded only two more albums, the last of which, Warp, is a bit more experimental and actually my favorite release.
The Hitmen - Torn Together
Released in 1981, this is one of the albums I discovered when I was on the radio. There are some amazing songs on Torn Together. The first track Bates Motel was the cut we played at the radio station. It is a great tune but others like Changing Faces, Shade In Fade Out and especially Picking Up The Pulse, are songs that I can listen to today that seem timeless. The unique vocals are supplied by Ben Watkins who later went on to form Juno Reactor which is a pure Electronica band. I was a bit disappointed to find out he was no longer singing. Next to impossible to find, this album is a treasure.
Magazine - Where The Power Is
In 1977 Howard Devoto left his band The Buzzcocks to form Magazine. His bandmate Pete Shelley took over as lead vocalist for The Buzzcocks who achieved quite a bit of success. Magazine took a different direction with a slightly darker less punk edge to their sound. Although never achieving the success that the Buzzcocks did, many musicians in the following years would be influenced by the music of Magazine. Where The Power Is was released as a compilation and is a good example of their best work. A Song From Under The Floorboards, The Light Pours Out Of Me and This Poison are just some of the great tracks.
Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Japan started off as a somewhat Glam-rock type of band. Their music from the onset, though, was quite unique. They formed in 1978 and by 1980 when Gentlemen Take Polaroids was released, their sound had transformed to a more serious Roxy Music-like style. Lead singer David Sylvian's vocals mellowed to fit the new sound and this album showcases the beautiful sonic atmospheres that Japan was now creating. The title track along with Swing, Methods Of Dance and Nightporter are part of a richly textured album that is among one of my all time favorites.
Cactus World News - Urban Beaches
Formed in Dublin in 1984, Cactus World News received help from Bono of U2 in recording their first EP The Bridge. Urban Beaches has some similarities to the sound of U2 but never achieved any true recognition despite their association with the Irish superstar. With songs that include World's Apart,The Bridge, Years Later & Pilots Of Beka, Cactus World News produced a powerful and memorable recording.
Wire - The A List
The band Wire released their first alum in 1977, Pink Flag had a rough punk edge to it. In the following years Wire experimented with a more atmospheric sound and obscure lyrics which brought them into the category of art-rock. Despite their inability to generate substantial record sales, Wire influenced many bands of that period and beyond. The A List is a compilation of their music during the period between 1985 -1990. Songs like Ahead, Kidney Bingo, Ambitious and In Vivo are just a few of the great cuts on this album.
Killing Joke
Formed in the late 70's, Killing Joke released their self titled album in 1980. The sound was heavy and dark with thick guitars a pounding rhythm and the gutteral vocals of "Jaz" Coleman. Bordering on heavy metal, Killing Joke appealed to some fans of that kind of music as well as the new music followers that enjoyed a bit of the dark side. In the later part of the 80's Killing Joke's music transformed to a more melodic less angry sound only to return in the 90's to the hard edge sound they were known for.
The Trash Can Sinatras - Cake
This band gets my vote for the all-time most underrated band. Their first release, Cake, came out in 1990 and made little impact except with some college radio stations. With the Grunge movement taking the spotlight, The Trash Can Sinatras never gained any widespread recognition despite their wonderfully clever lyrics and catchy melodies. The follow up to Cake, I've Seen Everything, was also a brilliant album as was Happy Pocket released in 1996. Their latest, Weightlifting (2004) displays a more mature band but just as creative and talented as their early work. Among my top 5 artists.
Judybats - Pain Makes You Beautiful
The Judybats formed in 1988 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Their first two albums, Native Son and Down In The Shacks Where The Satellite Dishes Grow got them limited recognition even though the songs on those two albums present a brilliant refreshing style that should have made the band very popular. Such was not the case. In 1993, they released Pain Makes You Beautiful which was more refined but still maintained that quirkiness and sense of humour from their earlier releases. A wonderful alternative to the "grunge" scene of that era.
Your Favorites
Have a favorite obscure band or album or just a comment about the selections here?
Let me know.
Dano wrote
I have the Hitmen album and love it. Another I'd have to add to your list is New Clear Days by the Vapors. Although their cut Turning Japanese got a lot of play, the rest of the album was virtually ignored even though every cut is great. They get my vote for the greatest unrecognized album of the new wave era.
Posted October 21, 2008
ill_rob wrote
I found someone else that appreciates the road less traveled. In college I listened to Nektar's "Remember the Future", "Spartacus" by Triumvirate, "Big Town 2061" by Paris, "City Boy" by City Boy (they actually played "Sunset Blvd." on WXRT) to name a few.
Some of the heavy metal groups I listened to were, Lucifer's Friend, The Scorpions (Lonesome Crow) and Jane on Billingsgate Records.
Thanks for the memories
Posted June 19, 2008
poddys wrote...
Really nice lens. I love Lamb Lies Down - one of the best Genesis albums. Foxtrot would have to be my favourite though.
Do you also like bands like Focus (of Hocus Pocus fame)? or PFM? PFM were signed on the Manticore label and had some ELP influence in the early days.
I hope you have the time to visit my PFM lens http://www.squidoo.com/premiataforneriamarconi - PFM are one of the most influential progressive bands to come out of Italy. Their music is unique, but very adictive. Hope you like it. I have most of their CD's.
Posted January 19, 2008
ralph-v wrote...
Yeah, Sylvian has teamed up with alot of people. Here's another pairing along those lines. Mick Karn from Japan and Peter Murphy getting together in 1984 as Dali's Car. Haven't heard of Missile Crisis but China Crisis is a band that could have been on this list.
Posted January 27, 2007
legolad wrote
I LOVE Japan. Follow this trail via IMDB: Start with David Bowie to "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" to Ryuichi Sakamoto's soundtrack to Japan to David Sylvian to David Bowie to "The Hunger" to Bauhaus and back to David Bowie. Tres cool. Hey, ever heard of a band called "Missile Crisis" (i think ??)
Posted January 25, 2007
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