Post Punk... (singer, metal, pop, reggae, genre)

Molecules · 02-08-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

PiL and the Pop Group opened my mind to dub and reggae, although I still don't really know much about those genres -- I like Lee "Scratch" Perry a lot though.

There's some really incredible basslines on Metal Box. Lots of post-punk bands had great bassists...Gang of Four, PiL, Joy Division, The Pop Group. I saw Gang of Four live 2 years ago, that was dynamite. They were probably the first post punk band I listened to, it was awesome to see them live although the vocalist was hammered. They had great presence and energy, and of course they're all very talented musicians as well. It was fantastic.

both volumes of this are great starting points...tbh there's so much on them it's probably all the dub you'll need.

i like PiL, they were as (if not more of) outrageous a statement at the time as the Pistols, and they practically got gobbed off the stage at their first gig in London...punk had become a self-enclosed and hypocritical establishment in such a short time.
for the dub influenced stuff the Slits' 'Cut' is easily in my top 10 records of all time...the Pop Group are challenging and they have their moments but you have to be in the mood to listen to them. The only member who could play his instrument was the drummer, the rest all recorded their parts separately and the whole album works on a 'cohesion through chaos' basis. still good though!

edit: i don't think their has been such an exciting era of sheer experimentation and diversity since the so-called post-punk years. The only time comparable to me is the mid-to-late 60's. Like then it was an intellectual movement as much as a musical one, just ****loads of ideas. In the end though it probably only payed off for the likes of Devo...