Sham 69, Cock Sparrer, 4Skins, Cockney Rejects, etc...
A lot of people increasingly demonize this as neo nazi music but I’ve always just saw it as nice scruffy working class music. Perhaps that’s because I’m from the states and not the UK.
Not a fan of the Oi music overall, but I still have my vinyl copies of Cockney Rejects Greatest Hits Vol 1 & Vol 2. I really need to get around to ripping them so I can listen to them again. I like some Sham 69 (Borstal Breakout comes to mind), but I've never heard anything by the 4Skins or Cock Sparrer. I may have to Google them to see what they're all about.
I think you'd really like Cock Sparrer.
I just checked out a few songs by both the 4-Skins & Cock Sparrer and if I were to pick up an album (CD) today, it would be Cock Sparrer over the 4-Skins.
Shock troops is a GOAT album.
Re: What’s the consensus on oi bands here?
Posted: 21 Mar 2021, 7:35pm
by Wolter
I quite like most Cock Sparrer. And yeah they technically predate Oi, but their sound is pretty much the template, though more melodic than some.
Sham 69 had their moments, That's Life is a pretty strong album. Aside from that, to be honest I don't listen to much oi! Or even punk in general, there's some good stuff out there with some obvious names but the majority I can take or leave.
I've always only liked the cream of the punk movement. The ones with the tunes to back up the attitude. And there wasn't that many of them...
There is a lot of repetition. I've always liked LA Hardcore, but that subgenre gets watered down (and boring) very quickly.
Re: What’s the consensus on oi bands here?
Posted: 22 Mar 2021, 8:40am
by revbob
So I did finally checkout the Oppressed and I have listened before. Not groundbreaking by any means but the lyrics are decidedly anti-fascist.
Re: What’s the consensus on oi bands here?
Posted: 23 Mar 2021, 9:02am
by Toppers Boppers
Don't know much about the others, was always suspect of Oi to be honest.
Sham 69 had the songs and Pursey was a decent bloke underneath all the blag. First band I ever saw too, around their commercial peak in 78, audience went mental. Having reggae band The Cimarons support them on that tour said loads about their anti-Nazi stance.
What about Pub Rock type bands? Eddie and the Hot Rods? Dr Feelgood? Tom Robinson Band? I sometimes feel like the Clash have more in common with these than stuff like the Ramones. I.e. Upbeat rock music with great songwriting in a social conscious bent.
Re: What’s the consensus on oi bands here?
Posted: 24 Mar 2021, 12:52pm
by Flex
this is one of those "songs from a band that sound like basically none of the rest of their output" but this has always been of my favorite oi - and punk generally - songs:
they never really dipped their hand into ska-inflected music again, which is a damn shame
What about Pub Rock type bands? Eddie and the Hot Rods? Dr Feelgood? Tom Robinson Band? I sometimes feel like the Clash have more in common with these than stuff like the Ramones. I.e. Upbeat rock music with great songwriting in a social conscious bent.
love eddie and the hot rods and TRB. the pub connection with the clash makes a lot of since due to joe's time with the 101ers.
What about Pub Rock type bands? Eddie and the Hot Rods? Dr Feelgood? Tom Robinson Band? I sometimes feel like the Clash have more in common with these than stuff like the Ramones. I.e. Upbeat rock music with great songwriting in a social conscious bent.
I don't think of TRB when I consider pub rock bands. Tom Robinson was in a band before TRB called Cafe Society.
Pub rock covers such a broad spectrum of bands. The ones I like are:
Dr. Feelgood
Kilburn & the High Roads
Eddie & the Hot Rods
The Count Bishops
The 101ers
The Hammersmith Gorillas
Ducks Deluxe
The Tyler Gang
Flip City (Elvis Costello)
The Stranglers
Brinsley Schwarz (some)
