The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Hot take: Flowers of Romance is the best PIL album.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Metal Box.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Hard to argue this. It still sounds like nothing else.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Yep incredible record. "Flowers of Romance" is also great but for different reasons. Mainly because of it's inventiveness against adversity.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 6:39amHard to argue this. It still sounds like nothing else.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
FoR suffers (slightly, mind you) in comparison because the "tribal" or Burundi drum thing was being explored by others at the time (amusingly, including McLaren). It makes the album less adventurous compared to the "what the hell is this?" of MB. MB was the third PiL record I heard (after Album and TIWYW) and my ears were wholly unprepared for that.Marky Dread wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 7:16amYep incredible record. "Flowers of Romance" is also great but for different reasons. Mainly because of it's inventiveness against adversity.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 6:39amHard to argue this. It still sounds like nothing else.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Strange order to hear those records for sure.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 8:29amFoR suffers (slightly, mind you) in comparison because the "tribal" or Burundi drum thing was being explored by others at the time (amusingly, including McLaren). It makes the album less adventurous compared to the "what the hell is this?" of MB. MB was the third PiL record I heard (after Album and TIWYW) and my ears were wholly unprepared for that.Marky Dread wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 7:16amYep incredible record. "Flowers of Romance" is also great but for different reasons. Mainly because of it's inventiveness against adversity.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 6:39amHard to argue this. It still sounds like nothing else.
There is not any Burundi drumming on FoR although due to it's heavy percussive nature I can see why you think that. I think Atkins plays on three tracks. Lydon and Levene are responsible for the percussive sounds on the remaining tracks. On one track it's Atkins and Levene banging something.
Still three tracks from the sessions remain unreleased.
Woodnymphs
Twist and Shout
Johnny Remember Me
The last two being piss takes. Atkins has them on tape.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Album (Cassette, if you want to be specific) was the record that got me on this other path. And then I quickly found a used copy of TIWYW. Then, after reading about it, I ordered a copy of Second Edition. I think I next found a used (but still pricey) copy of First Issue. With the exception of Theme, that was much easier to comprehend.
But it's all groupable with other "tribal" percussion albums of the same period (e.g., Bow Wow Wow, Adam & the Ants). My point is only that the approach wasn't singular as with MB. That percussive approach was in the wind.There is not any Burundi drumming on FoR although due to it's heavy percussive nature I can see why you think that. I think Atkins plays on three tracks. Lydon and Levene are responsible for the percussive sounds on the remaining tracks. On one track it's Atkins and Levene banging something.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Tribal most definitely. But not because of the Burundi beat.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 9:53amAlbum (Cassette, if you want to be specific) was the record that got me on this other path. And then I quickly found a used copy of TIWYW. Then, after reading about it, I ordered a copy of Second Edition. I think I next found a used (but still pricey) copy of First Issue. With the exception of Theme, that was much easier to comprehend.
But it's all groupable with other "tribal" percussion albums of the same period (e.g., Bow Wow Wow, Adam & the Ants). My point is only that the approach wasn't singular as with MB. That percussive approach was in the wind.There is not any Burundi drumming on FoR although due to it's heavy percussive nature I can see why you think that. I think Atkins plays on three tracks. Lydon and Levene are responsible for the percussive sounds on the remaining tracks. On one track it's Atkins and Levene banging something.
There was an album called "Musique du Burundi" released in 1967 that a sample was taken from. A single called "Burundi Black" was a hit here in 1971.
Malcolm gave this single/idea to Adam Ant who then had hits with that sound. The original Ants that went on to form Bowwowwow with Annabella also used the same formula.
The Flowers of Romance album was only percussive because of musical limitations. None of the percussion used followed the blueprint of the Burundi sound. PiL were percussive out of necessity but not by design.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
I have to join the Metal Box bandwagon.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Whether it was intentional or not, Burundi or not, isn't my argument, tho. You're coming at it from a production side, whereas I'm coming at it from a consumption side. The reason why FoR isn't as striking—to me—is that there were other artists playing in the same general sandbox. That's all. If my terminology is off in describing things, mea culpa, and not for the last time, I'm certain!Marky Dread wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 10:08amTribal most definitely. But not because of the Burundi beat.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 9:53amAlbum (Cassette, if you want to be specific) was the record that got me on this other path. And then I quickly found a used copy of TIWYW. Then, after reading about it, I ordered a copy of Second Edition. I think I next found a used (but still pricey) copy of First Issue. With the exception of Theme, that was much easier to comprehend.
But it's all groupable with other "tribal" percussion albums of the same period (e.g., Bow Wow Wow, Adam & the Ants). My point is only that the approach wasn't singular as with MB. That percussive approach was in the wind.There is not any Burundi drumming on FoR although due to it's heavy percussive nature I can see why you think that. I think Atkins plays on three tracks. Lydon and Levene are responsible for the percussive sounds on the remaining tracks. On one track it's Atkins and Levene banging something.
There was an album called "Musique du Burundi" released in 1967 that a sample was taken from. A single called "Burundi Black" was a hit here in 1971.
Malcolm gave this single/idea to Adam Ant who then had hits with that sound. The original Ants that went on to form Bowwowwow with Annabella also used the same formula.
The Flowers of Romance album was only percussive because of musical limitations. None of the percussion used followed the blueprint of the Burundi sound. PiL were percussive out of necessity but not by design.
"Ain't no party like an S Club party!'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Oh I get totally what you're saying. But with the Ants and Bowwowwow it was aimed at a pop market. Although hits were necessary for PiL to survive financially I doubt pop is what they had in mind for FoR.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 10:34amWhether it was intentional or not, Burundi or not, isn't my argument, tho. You're coming at it from a production side, whereas I'm coming at it from a consumption side. The reason why FoR isn't as striking—to me—is that there were other artists playing in the same general sandbox. That's all. If my terminology is off in describing things, mea culpa, and not for the last time, I'm certain!Marky Dread wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 10:08amTribal most definitely. But not because of the Burundi beat.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 9:53amAlbum (Cassette, if you want to be specific) was the record that got me on this other path. And then I quickly found a used copy of TIWYW. Then, after reading about it, I ordered a copy of Second Edition. I think I next found a used (but still pricey) copy of First Issue. With the exception of Theme, that was much easier to comprehend.
But it's all groupable with other "tribal" percussion albums of the same period (e.g., Bow Wow Wow, Adam & the Ants). My point is only that the approach wasn't singular as with MB. That percussive approach was in the wind.There is not any Burundi drumming on FoR although due to it's heavy percussive nature I can see why you think that. I think Atkins plays on three tracks. Lydon and Levene are responsible for the percussive sounds on the remaining tracks. On one track it's Atkins and Levene banging something.
There was an album called "Musique du Burundi" released in 1967 that a sample was taken from. A single called "Burundi Black" was a hit here in 1971.
Malcolm gave this single/idea to Adam Ant who then had hits with that sound. The original Ants that went on to form Bowwowwow with Annabella also used the same formula.
The Flowers of Romance album was only percussive because of musical limitations. None of the percussion used followed the blueprint of the Burundi sound. PiL were percussive out of necessity but not by design.
But yes your primary argument being MB Vs FoR then I side very firmly with your view.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Right. They made it listener friendly, whereas PiL was not interested at all in appealing to the average listener. For a group that proclaimed itself a company and not a band (however satirically), they had a pretty dubious business model!Marky Dread wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 10:51amOh I get totally what you're saying. But with the Ants and Bowwowwow it was aimed at a pop market. Although hits were necessary for PiL to survive financially I doubt pop is what they had in mind for FoR.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Never thought about that before. But yes that assessment of the PiL business acumen is spot on.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 10:55amRight. They made it listener friendly, whereas PiL was not interested at all in appealing to the average listener. For a group that proclaimed itself a company and not a band (however satirically), they had a pretty dubious business model!Marky Dread wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 10:51amOh I get totally what you're saying. But with the Ants and Bowwowwow it was aimed at a pop market. Although hits were necessary for PiL to survive financially I doubt pop is what they had in mind for FoR.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
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Silent Majority
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
This Is Not A Love Song is the sound of the company righting itself in its quest for profit, having axed some eccentric junior vice presidents.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Then they downsized, hired some independent contractors, saw a brief stock surge with Album before steadily declining as a market force outside of the notoriously unstable American college radio market before imploding.Silent Majority wrote: ↑11 Apr 2021, 11:54amThis Is Not A Love Song is the sound of the company righting itself in its quest for profit, having axed some eccentric junior vice presidents.
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