The Punk/New Wave era came along when I was turning 15, and really getting into music.I think he's been the best keyboard player ever, even better than Rick Wakeman, but it's all about opinion.
Thanks to @RobMCFC for inviting me to nominate an album as this is an excellent thread and not one I've kept up with. In future I'll review up and coming albums and I have a few more albums I'd like to nominate.
No worries. Once you've nominated, you are automatically in the list for the next round unless you request to leave.I think he's been the best keyboard player ever, even better than Rick Wakeman and that's saying something! But it's all about opinion.
Thanks to @RobMCFC for inviting me to nominate an album as this is excellent thread but not one I've kept up with. In future I'll review up and coming albums and I have a few more albums I'd like to nominate.
You can check out anytime you like but…No worries. Once you've nominated, you are automatically in the list for the next round unless you request to leave.
I think their 3rd album Black And White is better than No More Heroes but it's all about opinion...
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to No More Heroes although I do know some of the tracks off it. I did have Black and White and saw them live when they were touring that.There is one track on NMH that would not get anywhere near getting recorded today.
I can say it mate and I have. You clearly disagree but that’s what this thread is about. I will form an opinion on the stranglers without playing their entire back catalogue too if that’s ok.Sorry mate but you can't really say that without hearing a lot more than you've heard. You may still prefer The Doors(fair enough) but The Stranglers are a much better band than many give them credit for. Do me a favour and listen to their albums in order like I said to @OB1 a while back. He now appreciates them a lot more than he first thought he would : )
And his massive swelling organ ; )Dave Greenfield was brilliant!
I nominated an album to Rob several months ago and was invited to review the following album a while ago but was too busy at the time so here goes...
The Stranglers released their debut album Rattus Norvegicus in April 1977. They formed around 1975 as The Guilford Stranglers starting out as a pub rock band but soon dropped Guildford prefix. They soon started getting a following that grew and saw them playing bigger venues.
Hugh Cornwell was the main singer/lead guitarist, JJ Burnell was singer/base player, Jet black(Brian Duffy) was the drummer/ band founder and Dave Greenfield was on Keyboard and his wizardry gave the band a distinct sound.
I got into the Stranglers in 1978 as a 14 year old at a mate's house and we'd play Rattus Norvegicus for hours after school. I really liked Cornwell's angst in his singing and Burnell's heavy base playing, but Dave Greenfield was the bands unsung hero on keyboards, he developed a unique style having been influenced by Ray Manzarek-The Doors, Rick Wakeman-Yes and Jon Lord of Deep Purple.
Rattus Norvegicus contained 2 singles - Get a Grip On Yourself
Released: 28 January 1977, and Peaches - released: 21 May 1977.
A1Sometimes4:50
A2Goodbye Toulouse3:12
A3London Lady2:25
A4Princess Of The Streets4:34
A5Hanging Around4:25
B1Peaches4:03
B2(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Clark (3)
3:55
B3Ugly4:03
Down In The Sewer(7:30)
B4aFalling
B4bDown In The Sewer
B4cTrying To Get Out Again
B4dRats Rally
They also gave a free 7" single with the first 10000 albums
which contained the tracks - Peasant in the Big Shitty" (live)
and Choosey Susie on B side.
I don't think there's a duff track on the album and the keyboard crescendo of Down In The Sewer finishes off an excellent album, IMO of course and I therefore give it 9/10.
Have a listen and tell us what you think of it. Hope you enjoy and thanks for listening: )
It is very similar in mood and colour, to Given To The Wild. Just saying.
Known of the band since whenever but don’t think I have ever heard them before and their lack of singles chart action would make that likely. I certainly wasn’t motivated by the rave review in Q to go out and buy this album; I can hear why a Deacon Blue fan would.
I think a few of the comments made about the album I just reviewed could apply to this Blue Nile album. There’s nothing here to offend and it evokes the sound of the 80’s without being very distinctive. I like the music more than the singing but there’s nothing offensive.
I’ve played it four times and it’s a pleasant but unmemorable listen. I’m sure it makes for good background noise for a dinner party but I don’t think the compositions are great. I could put Saturday Night on a playlist if I used Spotify for much more than Blue moon stuff but I wouldn’t buy the album, unless I found a really cheap in a second hand copy.
Someone mentioned cranking up the volume to get the best out of it but I found when I did that the production started to fall apart a bit and I noticed more of its faults e.g the “bass” is too high in the mix.
6/10
I'm pretty familiar with both groups thanks (although I'm not sure I have heard a great deal of the Strangers) and to me the Stranglers don't come close musically. That's putting aside the derivative nature of much of the Stranglers sound. Don't get me wrong though, I do like lots of what they have released and had a couple of years back then listening to their music a lot. I won't be giving them a 'it's shite' review though pal so cool your jets :-).