Bands That Turned Crap

[linkster]

He may as well be singing "You don't understand me, mother! Nobody understands me! I am painting my walls black and I will glower at my A-Level teachers as they are tools of The Man! Incidentally, don't you think these Grolsch bottle tops make my shoes look individual? I hate you!"

←

lyrics don't matter to me that much, I really like the melody on that song.

"Yorke at absolutely his most childish, in a train wreck of a song."

Hey, anyone remember Pretentious Music Journalist on Steve Wright in the Afternoon?

[Suizid]

Hey, anyone remember Pretentious Music Journalist on Steve Wright in the Afternoon? 

←

Hah! You've got me

I much preferred Linda Lust's Lustylines. Three... upright... spatulas... from Newcastle-upon-tyne.

Edit: back to Vegetable, what the feck is going on with that guitar line in the quiet bits? Greenwood sounds like he's trying to fit an extra three notes into what would really benefit from being a bit simpler. Either that or he's thinking "jesus, I really wish I hadn't ripped the frets out of this thing..."

[elmo]

has someone said Oasis...

[jonny_rat]

You, I Can't, Lurgee, and Thinking About You are all brilliant tracks. I'll always have a soft spot for Pablo Honey thanks to these four.

[linkster]

You, I Can't, Lurgee, and Thinking About You are all brilliant tracks.  I'll always have a soft spot for Pablo Honey thanks to these four.

←

I Can't is probably my favourite of theirs from any album, brilliant track.

[linkster]

Hah! You've got me

I much preferred Linda Lust's Lustylines. Three... upright... spatulas... from Newcastle-upon-tyne.

Edit: back to Vegetable, what the feck is going on with that guitar line in the quiet bits? Greenwood sounds like he's trying to fit an extra three notes into what would really benefit from being a bit simpler. Either that or he's thinking "jesus, I really wish I hadn't ripped the frets out of this thing..."

←

When I first got on the net in 94 I started learning guitar via tab and remember reading an article with Jonny greenwood saying he wanted fans to send him chords as he knew them all.

TWWAAAAAAAAT

Gotta love his playing though.

[jonny_rat]

I Can't is probably my favourite of theirs from any album, brilliant track.

←

Bloody hell! No-one's ever agreed with me on the brilliance of that one. High five central.

They've spoken about it in interviews a couple of times; said they recorded it over and over but could never get it quite right, and that they can't listen to it anymore. Something to do with the pacing or tempo. I just think it's the band at their least pretentious, and magically coming out with a little gem of a tune.

[Suizid]

Ooh, yes - what an arrogant fucker! I'm glad he's aged well.

I think he was secretly pleased that his fretless tele got nicked, so he didn't have to play it again (he never made another). He could have played the Pretentious Muso foil for Steve Wright's Journalist.

Edit: I do like I Can't - it's effortless to sing for Yorke, and incredibly understated. Given all his vocal shennanigans and meanderings over the years, just hearing him sing something simply is lovely.

[Transient Curse]

.

[linkster]

Bloody hell!  No-one's ever agreed with me on the brilliance of that one.  High five central.

They've spoken about it in interviews a couple of times; said they recorded it over and over but could never get it quite right, and that they can't listen to it anymore.  Something to do with the pacing or tempo.  I just think it's the band at their least pretentious, and magically coming out with a little gem of a tune.

←

That sums up the whole album to me. There isn't an album I don't like, but this is the one I can put on regardless of what mood I'm in. I love bands when they're just starting out and haven't quite found their feet.

The chorus of I Can't just sends shivers. The way the rythym section, chiming guitar and melody come together is beautiful. not to mention the rag out at the end.

[The Ass Festival]

Bloody hell!  No-one's ever agreed with me on the brilliance of that one.  High five central.

They've spoken about it in interviews a couple of times; said they recorded it over and over but could never get it quite right, and that they can't listen to it anymore.  Something to do with the pacing or tempo.  I just think it's the band at their least pretentious, and magically coming out with a little gem of a tune.

←

The song passed me by until I heard the Radio 1 session version, which I think is miles more effective than the album version.

[Lemm]

While on a similar vibe, Suede's legacy is a tragic one. Not only did Suede turn seriously crap, but Brett and Bernard got back together as The Tears and conspired to write an album worse than the last Suede one. And now it seems highly unlikely that the songs from the eponymous debut and Dog Man Star will ever be played live again. I can't see how you can have a Suede reunion now, unless it's of the Richard Oakes model, and what's the point of that? Such a pity.

At least there's still a modicum of hope for next year's third effort from McAlmont and Butler.

←

Suede didn't go that bad. Both Coming Up and Head Music are good albums.

The Tears are great, though not as dark sounding as Anderson/Butler era Suede.

[linkster]

The song passed me by until I heard the Radio 1 session version, which I think is miles more effective than the album version.

←

Don't suppose you have an MP3?

[Timmo]

Edit: back to Vegetable, what the feck is going on with that guitar line in the quiet bits? Greenwood sounds like he's trying to fit an extra three notes into what would really benefit from being a bit simpler. Either that or he's thinking "jesus, I really wish I hadn't ripped the frets out of this thing..."

Vegetable is excellent. Who cares what it's about, it's got a great structure. And I have no idea what you are talking about with the extra notes, it sounds great to me as I don't masturbate with a guitar in bed at night. Yes, that's an accusation, sir!

[Suizid]

You're an idiot. Accusing right back atcha!

[bingowings]

Blondie

[The Ass Festival]

Don't suppose you have an MP3?

←

I haven't got an MP3 on my PC. I've got it on CD-R somewhere, but I haven't got a clue where at the moment, sorry.

[Timmo]

You're an idiot. Accusing right back atcha!

←

OH NO I GOT INSULTED ON A FORUM

[Suizid]

Ok, this is what my last post should have been I suppose. Sorry.

Well, I disagree with your post... i'd have to ask what the point of singing any form of words at all is if you don't care what they're about. You may as well listen to Enya. Or the Scatman. Be-bo-da-bop.

Then you admit you don't know what i'm on about, but go on to have a dig at me anyway. Ta.

So, Vegetable; the rest of the song does have a good structure, but the verses sound over contrived because JG is trying too hard. I have live versions where he can hardly play that intro bit too, so god knows what he was thinking. It's almost country in places, which is scary.

I have a live version somewhere in which yorke sings, "I ran around in domestic bliss" then says "more screaming" into the mic. I could have punched him for that if i'd been at that gig.

Edit: I see you like Mogwai - they're one of my favourite bands, but I listen to them for a different reason - that melodic thing that you're probably appreciating in Vegetable. If I hear lyrics, I can't help but listen to them (surely that's what they're there for!) and Vegetable is the lyrical equivalent of Kevin The Teenager.

[Timmo]

Wow, you've done your research! I can't even remember saying anything about Mogwai. Oh wait, I remember now, it was probably saying how much I love Kids Will Be Skeletons - I never shut up about that song!

Ok, my last post was childish, ignore it.

I've always cared far more about song structures than lyrics. One thing I've realised recently is that I love repetition in songs. Used well, the repeating of a line over and over I find excellent. Note I said "used well" there. Whilst I found Cold Roses by Ryan Adams quite poor, I loved the song that kept saying "I could never get close to you" at the end. I find Dylan's songs have a bit too much going on lyrically for example. Alright, this is a bit of a tangent.

Only when lyrics are hideously bad do I struggle to listen, finding out the first track on Old Ramon by The Red House Painters was about his cat and not a woman made it a bit laughable and unlistenable for me. Maybe that's because I hate cats.

Where the hell am I going with this?

In conclusion, I can barely hear what Yorke is singing most of the time, so I don't let bad lyrics on his first album bother me. Surely Creep has lyrics just as bad, if not worse?

[Suizid]

You're right, of course. Most of the album is a bit stop-my-doc-martens-in-angst.

I think that as I get older and more cynical, looking back at their first stuff and comparing it to the more recent output (and other artists' output) is getting easier (and this is both unfair and pointless). There are plenty of songs I appreciate for the melody alone - taking one recent extreme, god knows what KT Tunstall is singing about apart from suddenly seeing something, but I tap my foot along all the same - but I always end up over-analysing things i'm overly familiar with. Bah.

[Timmo]

Hurrah! Our wedding will go ahead, and we will be happy!

I've gone out of my way to avoid seeing the lyrics in the first album, and try to appreciate it for the songs. It's just as valid a part of Radiohead's career as any other, and I enjoy most of it more than tonnes of other albums I own. But then I'm just a big Radiohead fanboy.

[Festoon]

Radiohead could have brought out another The Bends. Of course they could have.

←

I don't believe this for one second.

If they could have, they would have.

[Timmo]

I don't believe this for one second.

If they could have, they would have.

←

What?! Why? And become another Oasis pumping out identical album after identical album? Why would anyone want that?

Get hold of The Bends B sides. There's the Bends 2 for you. Thom could have belted out album after album of it if he wanted. OK Computer was different, and exciting, and Kid A the same.

[sweetdaddyg]

Pearl Jam

Aerosmith

PJ Harvey

that is all

[Uncle Mike]

Well, I disagree with your post... i'd have to ask what the point of singing any form of words at all is if you don't care what they're about. You may as well listen to Enya. Or the Scatman. Be-bo-da-bop.

←

I'd ask that too, but from completely the other viewpoint. I couldn't care less what the lyrics are (or what they're supposed to mean) in probably 90% of songs-with-lyrics. To take an easy example, who cares what the lyrics to "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" or "Hit Me Baby One More Time" are? OK, that's a frivolous example, but I also couldn't care less what most more serious bands are singing about, either.

In my humble opinion, there's very few people capable of writing lyrics that deserve attention. And I'm not about to draw up a list here.

[superpretend]

What?! Why? And become another Oasis pumping out identical album after identical album? Why would anyone want that?

Get hold of The Bends B sides. There's the Bends 2 for you. Thom could have belted out album after album of it if he wanted. OK Computer was different, and exciting, and Kid A the same.

←

I think the point he was trying to make is, is that Radiohead were incapable of writing a Bends part 2 that would've been as good as the first one The Bends. Hence they didn't bother (and thus made all the right moves). So, really, the same point you were making.

Your Bends b-sides comments back this up; a couple of songs aside, (Talk Show Host... and er... probably something else), none of the b-sides really stands up to the best songs on The Bends.

Which is why they're b-sides. Only stupid or extremely prolific and talented bands release b-sides that are better than their album tracks.

[jonny_rat]

I think the point he was trying to make is, is that Radiohead were incapable of writing a Bends part 2 that would've been as good as the first one The Bends.    Hence they didn't bother (and thus made all the right moves).  So, really, the same point you were making.

Your Bends b-sides comments back this up; a couple of songs aside, (Talk Show Host... and er... probably something else), none of the b-sides really stands up to the best songs on The Bends.

Which is why they're b-sides.  Only stupid or extremely prolific and talented bands release b-sides that are better than their album tracks.

←

The Iron Lung EP collected most of the Bends B-sides, didn't it?

Hang about, a quick Googling suggests that the following songs came off the Bends era:

The Trickster

Lewis (Mistreated)

Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong

Permanent Daylight

Lozenge Of Love

You Never Wash Up After Yourself

Maquiladora

Killer Cars

India Rubber

How Can You Be Sure?

Molasses

Banana Co. (full band version)

Talk Show Host

Bishops Robes

There are some crackers there, but also some stinkers. This list would have made a pretty terrible album.. So, er, yeah, I agree. With ojlim. And Alan. I think.

I'm glad they didn't turn into U2, aye, allowing themselves to stagnate in their own genre juices. But it's also very presumptuous to assume that they could have bashed out Bends-quality indie rock for the rest of their careers.

[Kelthink]

Have Electric Six been around long enough?

If so, Electric Six.

[Suizid]

I'd ask that too, but from completely the other viewpoint. I couldn't care less what the lyrics are (or what they're supposed to mean) in probably 90% of songs-with-lyrics. To take an easy example, who cares what the lyrics to "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" or "Hit Me Baby One More Time" are? OK, that's a frivolous example, but I also couldn't care less what most more serious bands are singing about, either.

In my humble opinion, there's very few people capable of writing lyrics that deserve attention. And I'm not about to draw up a list here.

←

Ok, thought about this for a bit. I agree with you - most lyrics are either throwaway tosh, mildly interesting tales or may have one line that makes you go "oh, that's nice". They're hardly works of literary genius. However, that doesn't defend really rubbish lyrics. While the rest of Radiohead's lyrics may not be the musical equivalent of Tolstoy, they're certainly more interesting than the childish drivel on some parts of Pablo Honey.

I'm a realist - most lyrics are nonsense made up to fit the song or a pretty weak theme. It doesn't excuse Thom Yorke's little teenage fits though