Interactive Poll XXVI: The Dreadful Decade

Who said "dreadful"...? - Last

Easy Money: Dead Kennedys are known to me, but were never really my thing (like most of Punk in general). The intro here is wonderful, but once the singing starts I'm less at ease. Great guitar riffs, though, and some surprising sound effects... I like the playfulness in this song and the echo-y production.

dr wu23: Wax Doll by Robyn Hitchcock starts of nicely with acoustic guitar and vocals before turning into a very pleasant pop-rock song with some orchestral touches. Not typical 80s to my ears (timeless!) and a very good listen. Steve Earle somehow is a major country-rock reference, but I must admit that I don't know much from him. I have to change that, because this really is a fantastic song! Great melody, great energy and very nice instrumentation, build-up and playing! Graham Parker is another big name, but here with a, imo, rather conventional (and typical 80s sounding, but that is not a complaint) pop rock song - the least interesting of the three to my ears.

Lewian: I vaguely remember Spliff, but not this song. We are in similar territory as with my Nena and Goede Doel suggestions, so you might guess that I like it. Unheimisch too, also reflected by the anti-war lyrics. Typical NDW, but with their own signature and great songwriting (both music and lyrics!). Great song! Herbergsvater by Joachim Witt starts off with that disco-dance-beat that I hate but then subtly merges into a more minimalist, angry, indeed dada-ist stance, which makes it quite fascinating. He must be crazy, but it's actually quite brilliant! Never heard of C Cat Trance and with They Made Them Up they indeed bring us into trance. A subtle start with the saz but then the funky bass and the very tight percussion kick in and don't let us go anymore. Very effective! Listened again to Fehlfarben and Black, but I prefer these three over them two.

Edited by suitkees - February 21 2021 at 03:44

The Gnags this time are the champions of Denmark. Wasn't much impressed by what I had heard from them earlier, but this one is very good straight and sharp music with a twist, which are eighties qualities that I appreciate a lot.

Edited by Lewian - February 21 2021 at 14:02

I'm listening my way through the suggestions (EBN/OZN have emerged as a surprise favourite, oh, and Iets van Gevoel - the Phew track is also great but I have that album). Let's collect final nominations until end Sunday; I'd like to have the list of things to vote on together end of Monday at the latest.


Edited by Lewian - February 19 2021 at 17:43

  Works! Thanks.

^ The third one doesn't show up for me. What's the artist/band and title? I will try to find a working alternative...

Snicolette wrote: TCat wrote: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - "Forest Fire"  Love this extended version....   Videos removed for space Mike, yours didn't work for me, is this the same one? [video removed for space]

TCat wrote: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - "Forest Fire"  Love this extended version....

  Videos removed for space

And concluding with first page, thoughts on George's and suitkees' entries.

George:  The Call “The Woods”  As I’d said, I do know and love(d) this band.  Almost progressive in feel to me, this song has a passionate vocal, instrumentation that keeps one’s interest and thoughtful lyrics.  And a walk down memory lane next up, with The lost Boys “I Still Believe,” scene.  I used to live close enough to the Boardwalk to hear the screams of the roller coaster riders, although I was across the San Lorenzo River, on the Seabright side.  Followed by “Let the Day Begin.”  I have another memory also associated with this one, as we carried Al Gore on one of our buses during his campaign that year.  We got a special “after hours,” tour of the White House, on a visit to DC, this was just a bit before 9/11, when they shut down those tours.  Great rock song, I’m not naturally as attracted to upbeat songs, but this one is just infectious as all heck.  EBN/OZN “AEIOU Sometimes Y”   Squeegly bass and synths, with a rap tale of an almost-achieved one-night stand and a bit of a class session on languages and communication.  Funny the guy kinda reminded of DLR in the video, another “Hot For Teacher,” sort of setup, lol.  Followed by them again, with “Bag Lady (I Wonder)”  This one is a more socially conscious effort, the instrumentation and general sound is similar to the previous, although actually singing, instead of talking through lyrics.  Much prefer this.  The song in another setting could still be released today, sadly.  And yes!  I recognized Imogene Coca, hadn’t read that yet, before I started up the video.

suitkees:  Nena “Satellitenstadt”  Never heard the album before, so interested in hearing something other than the huge hit, thank you for the translation.  Sort of a mysterious sound to the song, I really like the guitarist’s tone.  There is also a “coolness,” in her voice, that many of the 80’s bands had, which goes well with the idea of a satellite in space (at least for me).  The synths also are well-done, but it’s the guitar that grabs my attention here.  Het Goede Doel  “België (Is er leven op Pluto)”  This one has a more upbeat sound to it than the previous.  Synth and drum-driven, again the signature sound of the era.  This one is kind of spoken, but the chorus is sung.  I like the vocalist, when he’s singing.  Thank you again for the lyrics, I find them kind of funny (esp that America “doesn’t exist,” lol).  The song has a light-hearted feel and I also enjoy the bass line.  Followed by “Iets van gevoel (Something of a Feeling)”  this one has a much heavier feel (as it should, from the lyrics).  The keys almost create a bagpipe sound and the bass is very heavy-handed.  This one has the vocalist speaking the words.  The chorus is again sung.  There are some really nice touches about half-way through, ear-catching glassy sounds on keys and reverb-y sounding something, that I can’t quite touch on.  Sad song, poor guy.  Cutting Crew “The Scattering”  Begins with bright sounding guitars and drums, with a march-like beat (and sorta bagpipe-y keys again).  Very capable sounding vocalist (which is later proven, as the song continues).  Good story-telling, easy to picture what he signs of, in your mind.  A wistful song, they go into a tin-whistle part and have a full chorus singing in a call and response partway through.  And conclude with the tin whistles, pipes and the full sound of the band, as it fades.  Very nicely done.