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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
 Posted - 05/20/2007 : 13:07:38
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Anyone into him or even heard of him? I love most of his albums. For those who don't know he was in a band called The Teardrop Explodes in the early 80's (they were quite big in the UK, not sure about elsewhwere) and since then he's followed a very idiosyncratic path and become less and less popular (sounds familiar, eh).
It's hard to describe his music but he's gone through quite a few different styles from very commercial pop to 12 minute Krautrock epics. He can be super-weird but his tounge is always firmly in his cheek. '20 Mothers' is my favourite album, other great ones are 'Peggy Suicide', 'World Shut Your Mouth', 'Fried', 'Jehovakill' and 'Citizen Cain'd'.
I'm only starting this topic because I've rarely met anyone who knows anything about him or his music. Anyone here?.......
Godspeed |
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Llamadance
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2543 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 14:08:42
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well, I've never bought an album of his, but I guess I like what I've heard, and isn't Peggy Suicide considered a fairly classic album? World Shut Your Mouth is his most famous solo single...I can still remember him on TOTP with the weird microphone.
I also know that he's a bit of an authority on standing stones and stuff, isn't he?
When you're going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 15:10:44
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Yeah, Peggy Suicide is probably considered his best (his TOTY I suppose). He's a world authority on stone circles and has written books about them - he's probably more known for this and his ecological musings than his music at the moment. In the days when he had hits and was on TOTP he was very consciously courting commercial success, I think he saw it as an experiment (and it was his weakest period musically I'd say).
I just think he's another great unsung artist, sometimes verging on genius. In terms of profile he makes FB look like Bono!
Godspeed |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 02:02:22
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I used to listen to the one that opens with "5 O'Clock World" a lot in high school. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't a goth type doom and gloom type (despite listening to the Smiths and Cure), so I thought some of his songs about death were a little over the top and silly. Around the same time, I got into Wonder Stuff and A House and the moody stuff started to escape me.
I remember he had a weird custom mike stand that he used to writhe all over.
I think I tried to track down a Teardrop Explodes album and didn't like it.
== jeffamerica == |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 03:16:48
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The album with '5 O'Clock World' on it is 'My Nation Underground' - far and away his nadir. This was the period he used the custom mike and was playing at being a 'pop star'. Unfortunately most people only remember this era and it's really not what he's about at all. I'd compare it to someone only being aware of, say, 'Fiddle Riddle' and thinking it summed up FB's music.
Godspeed |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 09:44:05
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I have all his stuff up to the mid-90s. I love it all but the ones I usually reach for are Fried, World Shut Your Mouth (the album), Jehovahkill and Peggy Suicide. It's always been fun to sing along to him because he's dead in the middle of my limited vocal range.
I was fortunate to see him on the Peggy Suicide tour but he hasn't been to L.A. since.
 "Join the Cult of Ray's Wife" |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 11:48:26
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| He's playing here this Thursday. I don't know any of his songs, apart from World Shut Your Mouth. |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 12:01:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Carl
He's playing here this Thursday. I don't know any of his songs, apart from World Shut Your Mouth.
You probably shouldn't go. |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 12:03:20
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| Heh, I wasn't intending to. That seems to be his calling-card song. |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 12:39:01
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I give up.
Godspeed |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 23:39:40
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I'm sorry, man. It's just one of those thing. So many great artists, too little time.
It's too bad I didn't get into his other stuff I guess. I think he reminded me of The Church a bit for some reason - like I said, I was starting to move away from the moody stuff at that time, and into the quirky pop stuff (like the Pixies for example!).
I blame MTV.
== jeffamerica == |
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Julian Cope
