Agony Shorthand
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Sunday, January 04, 2004
THE ULTIMATE POST-PUNK C90?….Longtime scribe Jon Savage takes a stab at a definitive overview tape that he’d compile of late 70s/early 80s post-punk as part of the latest MOJO’s (January 2004) “post punk issue”. This issue’s got a good piece on the (overrated) PiL; a thing on No Wave, and an interesting (and revealing) sidebar on the connections between disco (think Donna Summer's “I Feel Love”) and punk-influenced electro experimenters (think THE NORMAL, THROBBING GRISTLE and CABARET VOLTAIRE). Anyway, I think Savage’s “tape” (tape?) is a good one; of course I’ve got some quibbles with his choices, like the aforementioned overrated PiL, overrated SLEEPERS (who I really want to like – why is their stuff so bland to me?), POP GROUP, SUICIDE and a couple others. And ORANGE JUICE?!? The Scottish twee-pop band? But most of these are can’t-miss knockouts, and I applaud him for starting a totally pointless debate that is nonetheless essential that we all engage in, posthaste. Here’s his “tape”:
1. PERE UBU – Street Waves
2. SCREAMERS – Peer Pressure
3. DEVO – Sloppy (Live)
4. CHROME – Chromosome Damage
5. SUICIDE – Ghost Rider
6. THE NORMAL – T.V.O.D.
7. THROBBING GRISTLE – United
8. ENO & SNATCH – R.A.F.
9. THE SLITS – FM
10. GANG OF FOUR – Love Like Anthrax
11. SUBWAY SECT – Chain Smoking
12. SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES – Nicotine Stains
13. METAL URBAIN – Hysterie Connective
14. SLEEPERS – Flying
15. URINALS – I’m a Bug
16. PREFECTS – Faults
17. MARS – 3E
18. THE POP GROUP – 3’38”
19. A CERTAIN RATIO – All Night Party
20. WIRE – A Question of Degree
21. TALKING HEADS – Drugs
22. HUMAN LEAGUE – Dignity of Labour Pt. 3
23. CABARET VOLTAIRE – Partially Submerged
24. JOY DIVISION – These Days
25. FLYING LIZARDS – Hands 2 Take
26. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED – Home Is Where The Heart Is
27. ORANGE JUICE – Poor Old Soul Pt.2
So now the clarion call to action will be issued: What Would YOU choose??? I’d love to hear your selections, keeping it in the 1976-1981 timeframe and the overall influenced-but-not-hamstrung by punk capsule. (Yeah, I recognize that tagging Ubu’s brilliant 1976 “Street Waves” as “post punk” is pretty odd, but musically it works for me, so go ahead and take your own liberties). I’ll think about mine and post them this week or next.
1. PERE UBU – Street Waves
2. SCREAMERS – Peer Pressure
3. DEVO – Sloppy (Live)
4. CHROME – Chromosome Damage
5. SUICIDE – Ghost Rider
6. THE NORMAL – T.V.O.D.
7. THROBBING GRISTLE – United
8. ENO & SNATCH – R.A.F.
9. THE SLITS – FM
10. GANG OF FOUR – Love Like Anthrax
11. SUBWAY SECT – Chain Smoking
12. SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES – Nicotine Stains
13. METAL URBAIN – Hysterie Connective
14. SLEEPERS – Flying
15. URINALS – I’m a Bug
16. PREFECTS – Faults
17. MARS – 3E
18. THE POP GROUP – 3’38”
19. A CERTAIN RATIO – All Night Party
20. WIRE – A Question of Degree
21. TALKING HEADS – Drugs
22. HUMAN LEAGUE – Dignity of Labour Pt. 3
23. CABARET VOLTAIRE – Partially Submerged
24. JOY DIVISION – These Days
25. FLYING LIZARDS – Hands 2 Take
26. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED – Home Is Where The Heart Is
27. ORANGE JUICE – Poor Old Soul Pt.2
So now the clarion call to action will be issued: What Would YOU choose??? I’d love to hear your selections, keeping it in the 1976-1981 timeframe and the overall influenced-but-not-hamstrung by punk capsule. (Yeah, I recognize that tagging Ubu’s brilliant 1976 “Street Waves” as “post punk” is pretty odd, but musically it works for me, so go ahead and take your own liberties). I’ll think about mine and post them this week or next.
