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Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 15 Jul 2017, 5:39pm
by Dr. Medulla
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 4:24pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 3:18pm
Wolter wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 2:43pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 2:16pm
Was Let's Dance regarded as a sell-out by his ardent fans or was it treated as yet another sly reinvention? Or something else altogether?
Kind of a sell out. But it wasn't until he repeated himself but worse with Tonight that he lost most of them.
I can see why some regarded it that way, but the advent of MTV seemed perfect for a visually compelling artist, so releasing something that would get MTV play seems artistically justified.
Bowie was as you say "visually compelling" but always retained a certain artistic dignity with regards to his music. Up until "Let's Dance" he was the guy who led the way with innovative music but "Let's Dance" was definitely a stab at commercialism where previously he would find his success by breaking new ground. Nothing at all wrong with "Let's Dance" being a pop record as it contains some fine pop music. If you play Scary Monsters then play Let's Dance straight after it's like two different artists.
That makes me think of what I once read about PiL in the late 80s—once they (he) charted their own course and success came on their terms, but now the band sounded like any number of alternative acts of the time. Some good tunes here and there, but nothing especially distinct. (To a degree, the same could be said about Wire in the late 80s, too.)

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 15 Jul 2017, 7:47pm
by Marky Dread
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 5:39pm
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 4:24pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 3:18pm
Wolter wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 2:43pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 2:16pm
Was Let's Dance regarded as a sell-out by his ardent fans or was it treated as yet another sly reinvention? Or something else altogether?
Kind of a sell out. But it wasn't until he repeated himself but worse with Tonight that he lost most of them.
I can see why some regarded it that way, but the advent of MTV seemed perfect for a visually compelling artist, so releasing something that would get MTV play seems artistically justified.
Bowie was as you say "visually compelling" but always retained a certain artistic dignity with regards to his music. Up until "Let's Dance" he was the guy who led the way with innovative music but "Let's Dance" was definitely a stab at commercialism where previously he would find his success by breaking new ground. Nothing at all wrong with "Let's Dance" being a pop record as it contains some fine pop music. If you play Scary Monsters then play Let's Dance straight after it's like two different artists.
That makes me think of what I once read about PiL in the late 80s—once they (he) charted their own course and success came on their terms, but now the band sounded like any number of alternative acts of the time. Some good tunes here and there, but nothing especially distinct. (To a degree, the same could be said about Wire in the late 80s, too.)
Yeah I think it's a criticism that can be levelled at a number of great bands/artists as they headed into the 80's and tried different sounds/technologies in order to compete in the pop arena. As you mentioned PiL I'll stck with them (him) one minute you sound like nobody else around and make an incredible ground breaking album (MB) then you need to do it all over again. Now Commercial Zone had some decent ideas and songs however Lydon is a lyricist not a song writer and it really showed when Levene quit and Lydon and Atkins put out TIWYWTIWYG ...sadly John it was what we got but defifinitely not what we wanted.

Also a lot of bands from the punk/new wave era became better musicians and wanted to expand their craft as song writers incorporating different sounds/textures so the agression was dropped and the initial sound becomes diluted. Personally I'm happy to hear No More Heroes and Golden Brown and I'm glad they both exist but those two styles are far removed from one another. For some fans it's too much to take that their fave band wants to progress their musicality and not keep churning out the same sound and sticking to the tried and tested formula. It also has to be said as people age their attitudes mellow and they become more established with families/motgages etc they have responsibilites so there is a greater need to make money and be successful. Paul Weller for example now has 8 children to pay for and he has said he can't afford to give up making music.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 15 Jul 2017, 8:04pm
by Dr. Medulla
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 7:47pm
Also a lot of bands from the punk/new wave era became better musicians and wanted to expand their craft as song writers incorporating different sounds/textures so the agression was dropped and the initial sound becomes diluted. Personally I'm happy to hear No More Heroes and Golden Brown and I'm glad they both exist but those two styles are far removed from one another. For some fans it's too much to take that their fave band wants to progress their musicality and not keep churning out the same sound and sticking to the tried and tested formula. It also has to be said as people age their attitudes mellow and they become more established with families/motgages etc they have responsibilites so there is a greater need to make money and be successful. Paul Weller for example now has 8 children to pay for and he has said he can't afford to give up making music.
This is fair all around. It's also a lot to expect that an artist that has been pathbreaking early on can just plain be expected to keep it up. It's hard enough to be distinct once let alone twice, but to keep mucking it up is a crazy demand on an artist. So even if they don't consciously think about their bank account and kids, they're destined to settle into a groove of playing around with old successes or current trends. That doesn't mean they're not being creative, just not to the degree the fans loved them for in the first place. Lennon's comment about fans pining for the Beatles applies—those old records still exist and you can still play them when you want.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 15 Jul 2017, 8:12pm
by Marky Dread
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 8:04pm
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 7:47pm
Also a lot of bands from the punk/new wave era became better musicians and wanted to expand their craft as song writers incorporating different sounds/textures so the agression was dropped and the initial sound becomes diluted. Personally I'm happy to hear No More Heroes and Golden Brown and I'm glad they both exist but those two styles are far removed from one another. For some fans it's too much to take that their fave band wants to progress their musicality and not keep churning out the same sound and sticking to the tried and tested formula. It also has to be said as people age their attitudes mellow and they become more established with families/motgages etc they have responsibilites so there is a greater need to make money and be successful. Paul Weller for example now has 8 children to pay for and he has said he can't afford to give up making music.
This is fair all around. It's also a lot to expect that an artist that has been pathbreaking early on can just plain be expected to keep it up. It's hard enough to be distinct once let alone twice, but to keep mucking it up is a crazy demand on an artist. So even if they don't consciously think about their bank account and kids, they're destined to settle into a groove of playing around with old successes or current trends. That doesn't mean they're not being creative, just not to the degree the fans loved them for in the first place. Lennon's comment about fans pining for the Beatles applies—those old records still exist and you can still play them when you want.
I have often cited this JL quote to friends as I feel it captures things perfectly.

Hey if you don't like what's on Tv don't kick the screen in just simply change channel or to turn it off and do something else.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 18 Jul 2017, 3:56pm
by Kory
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 8:12pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 8:04pm
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 7:47pm
Also a lot of bands from the punk/new wave era became better musicians and wanted to expand their craft as song writers incorporating different sounds/textures so the agression was dropped and the initial sound becomes diluted. Personally I'm happy to hear No More Heroes and Golden Brown and I'm glad they both exist but those two styles are far removed from one another. For some fans it's too much to take that their fave band wants to progress their musicality and not keep churning out the same sound and sticking to the tried and tested formula. It also has to be said as people age their attitudes mellow and they become more established with families/motgages etc they have responsibilites so there is a greater need to make money and be successful. Paul Weller for example now has 8 children to pay for and he has said he can't afford to give up making music.
This is fair all around. It's also a lot to expect that an artist that has been pathbreaking early on can just plain be expected to keep it up. It's hard enough to be distinct once let alone twice, but to keep mucking it up is a crazy demand on an artist. So even if they don't consciously think about their bank account and kids, they're destined to settle into a groove of playing around with old successes or current trends. That doesn't mean they're not being creative, just not to the degree the fans loved them for in the first place. Lennon's comment about fans pining for the Beatles applies—those old records still exist and you can still play them when you want.
I have often cited this JL quote to friends as I feel it captures things perfectly.

Hey if you don't like what's on Tv don't kick the screen in just simply change channel or to turn it off and do something else.
I get the sense that there can be a certain malaise around making music after you've been at it for a long time, especially at that level of innovation. You just get tired, and when you add grueling tour schedules and drugs in, it's a recipe for phoning it in. I get fed up with making music sometimes, and I only deal with half those issues.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 30 Jul 2017, 12:28pm
by coffeepotman
Marky Dread wrote:
15 Jul 2017, 8:12pm


Hey if you don't like what's on Tv don't kick the screen in just simply change channel or to turn it off and do something else.
Words to live by

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 09 Oct 2017, 2:17pm
by 101Walterton
There is an ad on TV at the moment and it is backed by a girl singing Changes backed only by a piano. It is a beautiful version, I should find a link.
That is all.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 09 Oct 2017, 4:35pm
by Marky Dread
So tempted to buy the latest Bowie box set but I held off this time 'round. So glad I did as I've heard they've actually managed to fuck up "Heroes" with a mastering fault. Now that is totally unforgiveable.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 09 Oct 2017, 5:46pm
by Kory
Marky Dread wrote:
09 Oct 2017, 4:35pm
So tempted to buy the latest Bowie box set but I held off this time 'round. So glad I did as I've heard they've actually managed to fuck up "Heroes" with a mastering fault. Now that is totally unforgiveable.
As a bonus feature, they refuse to admit it.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 26 Oct 2017, 8:36pm
by Rat Patrol


Heartily endorse this.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 27 Oct 2017, 10:45am
by JennyB
Rat Patrol wrote:
26 Oct 2017, 8:36pm


Heartily endorse this.
As do I. And I got to see it live two months ago. :fuck:

I love Gahan's voice so much. Like, a little too much.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 27 Oct 2017, 10:57am
by Marky Dread
Rat Patrol wrote:
26 Oct 2017, 8:36pm


Heartily endorse this.
Excellent.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 11:43am
by Silent Majority
Listening to Bowie live is fascinating because the fact he taught himself how to sing listening to records played at wrong speeds really comes through.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 06 Nov 2017, 1:39pm
by Kory
Silent Majority wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 11:43am
Listening to Bowie live is fascinating because the fact he taught himself how to sing listening to records played at wrong speeds really comes through.
Maybe that's my solution.

Re: The David Bowie is God Thread

Posted: 06 Nov 2017, 1:41pm
by Inder
Kory wrote:
06 Nov 2017, 1:39pm
Silent Majority wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 11:43am
Listening to Bowie live is fascinating because the fact he taught himself how to sing listening to records played at wrong speeds really comes through.
Maybe that's my solution.
Becoming David Bowie?