The Dave

Looks as though you have a bit of catching up to do.

Urban Hat€monger ?

The MX-80 Sound were one of the lost gems of the post punk era. Forming in Bloomington, Indiana in 1978 the band moved to San Francisco where they cut this ,their debut album in 1980. To me MX-80 Sound kind of bridge the gap between punk & early indie. The obvious influences are bands such as Pere Ubu & Television. Lead vocalist Bruce Anderson's delivery owes a heavy debt to Jonathan Richmond of the Modern Lovers , the opening track 'Man on the Move' and 'Facts Facts' in particular. But they don't just leave it at that 'PCB's' for example fuses punk rock with a jazzy feel much in the same way the Minutemen would become well known for. Actually a few of the songs remind me a lot of early Sebadoh only less folky. 'You're not alone' has a kind of jangly Sonic Youth feel to it , but still manages to sound nothing like Sonic Youth. 'Civilised Demeyes' manages to sound like Wire slowed down. 'Afterbirth Aftermath' sounds like Frank Zappa doing punk. The album finishes with 'Checkmate' a short instrumental piece which sounds like lots of horns being played over a Slayer riff.
I love this album , it's like a greatest hits of musical styles between 1975 & 1982. It's badly produced , but in a good way like Dinosaur JR's You're Living All Over Me , It just adds to the charm of the album. Not the most original album around but the energy of it& the kind of homemade feel to it add to it's charm and make me want to come back to it again & again.

Favourite Songs : Man On The Move , PCB's , Facts Facts , Checkmate

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jackhammer

God damn you Urban, You know more than me. It's not fair! A great list fella!

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Urban Hat€monger ?

Thanks.

It's just a shame my next album will blow away any credibility I have

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Urban Hat€monger ?

OK OK Shut up. The way i've always seen it is like this. If you want to listen to big dumb rock music (And let's face it there's room for it , i'd go mad if I spent my entire life listening to intense avant garde unlistenable bollocks)Then you may as well embrace the biggest dumbest rock band there has ever been.

I can't help including this. I've owned this since I was about 14 years old and it still gets the odd airing. One of the things I love about this album is the production. It's just so in your face in the same way that Mike Tyson would be ,especially the drums. I'd love to know how many speakers i've damaged by playing this loud.

Kiss had a point to prove when they came out with this. Coming out after line up changes and their worst album ever in Music From The Elder. Hell , forget trying to write meaningful rock epics with Lou Reed , thats not what I want from Kiss , this is.
Once you hear the thud of the drums on the opening track (The title track) and Vinnie Vincent's flashy riff (Ace Frehley didn't play on the album and was fired shortly after) you know they're back on form. Creatures Of The Night is easily Paul Stanley's finest hour since Strutter. Even the traditional rock ballad in 'I Still Love You' isn't all that bad , well ... isn't bad compared to most 80s rock ballads anyway. 'I Love It Loud' is the best rock anthem Kiss ever wrote , it's good here but it's a shame it's not a live version. Seeing them playing it live in Rio De Janiero in front of 250,000 people singing along to it was one of my earliest musical memories and was a defining moment of me discovering music. One last track that deserves a mention is 'War Machine' the song that closes the album. It's the heaviest most powerful song Kiss have ever written. Which makes it a real shame that it was co written with Bryan Adams. Yes , THAT Bryan Adams. Oh well.

I now return you to your usual elitist music snob.

Favourite Songs : Creatures Of The Night , Keep Me Comin' , I Love It Loud , War Machine

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cardboard adolescent

i'll try to look into that mx80 album, sounds interesting

jackhammer

Keep It Comin is a great rock tune. I love the huge drum sound on this one too.

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sleepy jack

I havn't heard any of these albums except 13 Point Program To Destroy America =x. I think I'll start with Barrett's solo work I've been wanting to check him out.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

I think you might enjoy Akron/Family.

They just released a new album but i've not heard it yet.

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cardboard adolescent

It's less crazy noise more traditional indie pop folk so I like it less.