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Underground > Radio & Music >

soundz like...best of british

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autopilot disengaged

22:01 / 04.11.01

ok: so me and Vitamin-C were talking about who we thought were the important british bands/solo artists at the mo.

you WILL disagree with some of these. don't worry about it. i'm not claiming it's definitive. just startin' a snowball rollin'...

ok: so my 'incontestable' top three -
radiohead, massive attack and primal scream. obviously

then, the 'crossover dance supergroups that seemed like the future a couple of years back' contingent: chemical bros (though the last album pissed me off by being too trance and not hip-hoppenin' enough), underworld (but without darren emerson?), leftfield, orbital and the prodigy (but are any of these still relevent, really?)

and that's without considering the gulf between basement jaxx and aphex twin - and who lives there...

in terms of guitar-based stuff, i guess you've got to namecheck mogwai, the super furries and spiritualized. pulp and blur have weathered the Fall of Britpop pretty well (especially taking the gorillaz into account.

then there's the solo crew - badly drawn boy, peej harvey, trickyand roots manuva.

there's also a big place in my heart for the mighty asian dub foundation, david holmes and death in vegas.

ok: so, to refresh: this is about important bands etc of the now - who will be influential outside their immediate genre ghetto and in the future. we tended to avoid people that were too new 'cause it's difficult to tell how new bands are going to develop - or, indeed - if they're going to develop at all.

shit: just thought - i'd get crucified if i missed out the fall, wouldn't i?

any more for any more?

Ronald Thomas Clontle

01:55 / 05.11.01

The Fall are one of the greatest of all time-AH!

You're forgetting about Squarepusher and Autechre, who I think are both very far ahead of Aphex Twin.

I think that Clinic are the best band from your country right now.

02:27 / 05.11.01

not to justify this, but i think stereolab and the beta band will be remembered as 'important'.

if the list was just for me, there'd probably be a little bit of slowdive and mojave 3, and a big chunk of robyn hitchcock....

14:16 / 05.11.01

Dawn of the Replicants will prove a lot more influential than they are currently given credit for..

No, really, the future is a scary place.

14:27 / 05.11.01

Hate to agree with the NME, but from what I've heard of The Coral they are going to be either very big or very influential. Don't care if they're too new to tell - I just know.

15:18 / 05.11.01

Oh, how could I forget -

ELECTRELANE!!

Regrettable Juvenilia

15:23 / 05.11.01

Yes, another vote for Electrelane. I also think Hefner are an extremely underrated band - those that like them tend to hodl them very dear, but they don't get much press coverage. But they're very good at that "songs about bad relationships in London" schtick that ought to have made them huge about six years ago...

(N.B. There is another Hefner, a dance combo. No idea what they're like.)

15:54 / 05.11.01

Bit jazzy (in a bad way) and a bit crap

Pin

18:47 / 05.11.01

I like Alan Bean, and I'm quite sure I lied the Peel sessions of theirs I heard of them a while ago, but maybe I'm wrong.

And Clinic are from here? I never knew that...

autopilot disengaged

09:13 / 06.11.01

yeah to stereolab and the betas - and the electrelane album is one of my faves from last year.

there actually hasn't been half as much contention as i'd imagined...

i'm also gonna put U.N.K.L.E. in there, purely as a way of smuggling in deej shadow by fair means or foul.

Ronald Thomas Clontle

09:13 / 06.11.01

Clinic are from Liverpool.

Graeme McMillan

09:13 / 06.11.01

quote:Originally posted by autopilot disengaged:
i'm also gonna put U.N.K.L.E. in there, purely as a way of smuggling in deej shadow by fair means or foul.

But sadly, UNKLE are self-indulgent wank.

And I'd put the Super Furries above Radiohead anyday; it's the difference between acting like a teenager and feeling the world hates you and realising that, you know, smiling and having fun aren't bad things after all.

09:13 / 06.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Guy Grand:

But sadly, UNKLE are self-indulgent wank.

I disagree. Listening to the UNKLE album recently after a long absence has reminded me quite how good it was.

James Lavelle... there's the self indulgent wanker.

12:26 / 06.11.01

quote:Originally posted by autopilot disengaged:

i'm also gonna put U.N.K.L.E. in there, purely as a way of smuggling in deej shadow by fair means or foul.[/QB]

oh come ON. then i get to say
my bloody valentine are american because i once knew an american named kevin.

why should this discussion be UK-only anyway, though?

and if it's supposed to be about current bands, why mention the fall but leave out--and you knew i was going to say this--the jesus and mary chain? more songs about killing and fucking! wheee!

13:06 / 06.11.01

Yeah, except the Mary Chain have split up for good.

quote:Originally posted by Guy Grand:

And I'd put the Super Furries above Radiohead anyday; it's the difference between acting like a teenager and feeling the world hates you and realising that, you know, smiling and having fun aren't bad things after all.

Amen to that.

Not sure if this is gonna be at all relevent, but here's my list of new bands who haven't yet released albums or got much hype, but are looking to be very, very good:

Ikara Colt
Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia
Bear-Suit
The Loves
Monkey Steals the Drum

I reserve the right to say 'I told you so' if and when any of the above become famous and cool.

And another shocking omission -
LADYTRON!!

Ronald Thomas Clontle

13:08 / 06.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Rizla Year Zero:

And another shocking omission -
LADYTRON!!

not so shocking to me... they are nice, but a bit of a novelty act, don't you think?

No star here laces

14:53 / 06.11.01

Well if you're talking about important at the moment...

I personally think that all the following:

Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Chemical Bros, Underworld, Prodigy, Orbital, Tricky, David Holmes, Death In Vegas and UNKLE

are all highly irrelevant today. All of these acts are basically crossover dance and as such are riding the original ecstasy/rave meme from '87 or so. Much as all this stuff encapsulates the best years of my life, I think it seems highly irrelevant today. I can't listen to any of these guys without thinking how dated their entire approach sounds. They might be 'important' historically, but I don't think they are important in terms of zeitgeist or of moving things on.

UK acts that seem vital to me (and I don't personally like a lot of this stuff) would be:

The UK hip hop axis: Roots Manuva, Karl Hinds, Skitz, Skinnyman, Phi-Life Cypher

UK hardcore/metal: Defenestration, Blackwire and all the other stuff on that 'Kingpin' record

Gangster garage: So Solid Crew, Pay as U go cartel

Electronica: Four Tet, Aphex etc.

And possibly nu-psychedelia like Simian...

These people are all making music that seems relevant to today's culture and that is also a qualitative leap on from what was happening in the 90s.

Just my 2p worth, likes.

Ronald Thomas Clontle

15:13 / 06.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Tyrone Mushylaces:

Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Chemical Bros, Underworld, Prodigy, Orbital, Tricky, David Holmes, Death In Vegas and UNKLE

are all highly irrelevant today.

Agreed, save for Primal Scream...I enjoy their reinvention of themselves as the UK division of Rage Against The Machine Incorporated quite a bit). When I first saw that post, I was really questioning why anyone at all would think that Massive Attack was 'incontestably' relevant...I mean, they haven't put out new music in a number of years, their last record was horrible mainstream 'trip hop' schlock... I mean, I can think of loads of ways to contest anything they've done since 1994.

Chemical Brothers, Orbital, Prodigy, Massive Attack, Death In Vegas, Fatboy Slim....they ALREADY sound stale and dated. Already!

They are the 'retro 90s' sound of the future.

[ 06-11-2001: Message edited by: Flux = Rad ]

autopilot disengaged

20:40 / 06.11.01

contest away, but i stand by massive attack. especially since they'll be working with mos' def on their new album.

as for the chemicals and underworld - well, like tyrone says, i was a li'l hesitant in putting them forward - but i'm willing to see what they come back with. and as for the Prodigy - well - they've surprised me before (though i don't have high hopes, frankly).

i love david holmes. but i NEVER said ANYTHING about FatBoySlim - seriously - i live in his town and i'm no fan. aaaiiieee!

i should also, maybe, have slipped asian dub foundation into the 'incontestables' to see what reaction i got. they should be sooo much bigger than they are.

good distinction, by the way, Ty (heh) in seperating what's important from what one would like to be important. puts a different spin on the whole thing...

"say it ain't so..." important BAD bands:

steps - the last vestiges of emotion, humanity and thinky stuff sucked out of pop culture via a unisex enema - the redcoat revolution begins here!

travis - sugarcoat the melodies of radiohead ballads, cutesify the angst and generalize lyrics: bingo!

23:44 / 06.11.01

I know that my best of the British will get me killed, but bah.

Richard Ashcroft of The Verve - Not only cute but talented. Even the new album is great.

RadioHead - Of course.

The Beta Band - Just because.

and ... Oasis. (I know, I know)

[ 07-11-2001: Message edited by: Abydoss ]

23:59 / 06.11.01

i heard (and this is unconfirmed) that there are truly people who like belle and sebastian.... ??

Regrettable Juvenilia

00:03 / 07.11.01

Yes. Wanna make something of it?

(Listening to Belle and Sebastian doesn't mean you can't start some shit. Grrr!)

I suppose you're going to call them 'twee'. And then recommend Elliott Smith with a straight face.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

00:44 / 07.11.01

Man, is it just me? But all of this 'best of British' just seems distinctly average to me. I mean - sure - it's alright. I can see the talent there, but, well - I just don't care about any of it.

We need something a bit fucking rocking!

06:55 / 07.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Flux = Rad:

not so shocking to me... they are nice, but a bit of a novelty act, don't you think?

Ladytron made me laugh when I saw them live - a bit like bis wrapped in tinfoil.

06:55 / 07.11.01

Listen to Jonny Suede. Most artists mentioned so far are stale as old boots.

Edited, because Ty and Fly obviously thought 'listen to the Suede' was me claiming that Brett Anderson is the most important artist in the country today

.

[ 07-11-2001: Message edited by: E. Randy Dupre ]

No star here laces

06:55 / 07.11.01

Um folks, the original question wasn't:

"please drudge up the same stale old list of your personal favourite musicians"

It was in fact:

"which british musicians are important today"

Now, UK garage clearly doesn't "rock". You may not like it much. BUT it is currently defining:

1) A new rhythmic aesthetic that is neither 4/4 nor breakbeat

2) A new and uniquely british style of mcing that has finally combined the attitude and patois of dancehall, the rhythm of jungle mcing, r&b singing styles and the lyrical content of hip hop

3) A strongly teenage, working class and counter-cultural aesthetic

If this isn't a significant thing to be happening in UK music I'll eat my furry kangol.

Regrettable Juvenilia

06:55 / 07.11.01

That's 'The London Suede' for those of you in America.

Again, though, I don't know - autopilot asked for the best "at the mo" - do Suede still qualify? I actually liked their last album quite a lot, but that was a few years ago now, and I'm not *entirely* confident about the next one...

We are kind of short on things that are "a bit fucking rocking" over here at the mo. Although PJ Harvey qualifies, surely? As, I'd argue, do Basement Jaxx.

I'll get crucified for saying this, but the new album by The Charlatans is really good as well. They've got soul... sadly people still tend to see them as being dull lad-rockers, when they're nothing of the sort if they ever were.

Ty: it all depends on how you interpret the word "important" in the question, doesn't it? Cultural importance is only one way of doing that...

[ 07-11-2001: Message edited by: Flyboy ]

06:55 / 07.11.01

I didn't mean Suede! I was talking about Jonny Suede's comment!

Shitsticks! As if I'd really claim that Suede are even slightly relevant today.

I must edit my previous post, double-quick.

11:13 / 07.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Tyrone Mushylaces:

I personally think that all the following:

Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Chemical Bros, Underworld, Prodigy, Orbital, Tricky, David Holmes, Death In Vegas and UNKLE

are all highly irrelevant today.

I'd be with you on most of those, but I gotta stand up for Death in Vegas - they're not riding the retro-90s thing at all, they're going for a wholly more interesting gothic-psychedelic-dub thing, with great results, IMHO.

And Primal Scream still rock in every concievable sense of the word, even if their political shtick is looking increasingly poorly thought out..

11:15 / 07.11.01

Oh yeah, and this might also be a good moment for me to make known my conviction that Spiritualized suck beyond all reasonable belief.

11:20 / 07.11.01

While I certainly wouldn't go that far, the latest album definitely joins my list of 2001's over-hyped, over-rated, under-performing pap.

Ronald Thomas Clontle

12:58 / 07.11.01

quote:Originally posted by lolita nation:
i heard (and this is unconfirmed) that there are truly people who like belle and sebastian.... ??

don't. go. across. the. room.

14:47 / 07.11.01

Full Cycle

Smith & Mighty

Not sure if they're "THE FUTURE OF BRITISH MUSIC!!!!!" but I sure like them.

I like Rae & Christian too, but the Grand Central link seems to be down.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

16:13 / 07.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Tyrone Mushylaces:
Um folks, the original question wasn't:

"please drudge up the same stale old list of your personal favourite musicians"

It was in fact:

"which british musicians are important today"

Now, UK garage clearly doesn't "rock". You may not like it much. BUT it is currently defining:

1) A new rhythmic aesthetic that is neither 4/4 nor breakbeat

2) A new and uniquely british style of mcing that has finally combined the attitude and patois of dancehall, the rhythm of jungle mcing, r&b singing styles and the lyrical content of hip hop

3) A strongly teenage, working class and counter-cultural aesthetic

If this isn't a significant thing to be happening in UK music I'll eat my furry kangol.

I just think it is a sad thing that it is significant. It should clearly remain nothing more than a muddy puddle in the world of music.

What's that you say? Stirring up trouble? Me? Never!

16:26 / 07.11.01

Yeah, and reggae is vile too.

Must be something in the water, but I'm with Tyrone on this one as well.

I'm not the biggest fan of UK garage myself, and some of the attendant crap going along with the music - like breaking a 15-year-old girl's jaw, just coause she doesn't want to fuck you (Hi there So Solid Crew!) ain't nice AT ALL.

But the music remains very important, all the same.

And at least you didn't get him going on about nu-skool breakz...

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