MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
19 October 2005
I like 80's art punk music, like the Talking Heads and Devo. But I'm not familiar with much else... {supplemental information inside}
The fact that I have no idea what art punk is is not going to keep me from answering this question, dammit. Mission of Burma, Scritti Politti, Gang of Four, Ultravox, Joy Division.
I tend to think of New Wave as being art punk but I'm sure many will disagree. Anyway...
Wire is an excellent recommendation. I'd point you towards Drums & Wires by XTC, Real Life by Magazine and Metal Box by PIL. You might want to take your chances with Killing Jokes debut album too.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest early Psychedelic Furs (before their John Hughes phase). "Sister Europe" is one of the best bridges between art punk and new wave, in addition to being one of the best songs of the 1980s.
Yes yes, Joy Division. See if you can find some Tones on Tail too. The first Love and Rockets LP is totally excellent. Icicle Works is a good time too. Christ, don't get me started, those were my salad days . . .
"Art punk" the following (already mentioned) immediately comes to mind:
Wire, Gang of Four, early PIL.
See also "No Wave": DNA, Theoretical Girls, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Mars. (Soon you can check out the re-issued No New York comp.)
The art punk, no wave revival of the 00s:
The Seconds, Ex Models, Liars (specifically, They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top).
---
I classify Joy Division, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets (all of whom I love) more in the post-punk / new wave blended category, but that's just silly ol' me. Television, hmmm...I don't know where exactly I'd put: proto-new wave, pre-punk? A great band, regardless. Early XTC and early Psychedelic Furs probably Art Punk but definitely drifting into new wave (as noted for the Furs by goatdog). I'll heartily second every one of these recommendations as great listening!
mmmm....iconomy mentioned Mission of Burma. MOB, indeed. And, I don't know how I could've forgotten Pere Ubu. The Modern Dance is a great album. I love this music.
I've never really checked out: Scritti Politti, Ultravox, the first Killing Joke album, Icicle Works, or Real Life by Magazine, so thanks to joelf for asking this question.
Devo and Talking Heads made music that didn't really fit what most people understood as "punk," though the term was sometimes used to describe them. For similar sounding bands, maybe Oingo Boingo?
In the same vein as above:
*the pop group, especially the album y, which seems to have influenced the "no wave" revival a lot
*wall of voodoo's call of the west (a little less "rock," but really wonderful)
*and, even though they were essentially a 90s band, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282--especially their Strangers from the Universe album (sometimes more rock, but always arty--and that's a good thing).
A little more punk and a little less art, but still within your definition of art punk (never heard that one before and never thought of the Heads as even remotely punk):
Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Jim Carroll
Patti Smith
[Gang of Four and
Television, even though already mentioned, they are just so good]
*Goes over to record collection*
Bauhaus (the first (better) incarnation of Love and Rockets)
PIL
the Selector (more ska, really, but good)
Psychedelic Furs
English Beat
XTC - (that's like the 5th mention, you really want to hear this)
Bow Wow Wow, the really early stuff
Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Squeeze, even though they're kind of pop
and don't forget early Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Violent Femmes
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Ouch, how could I miss "Siouxsie And the Banshees"? I had them in the text editor. So much for using a text editor. That was one very interesting group.
Given that I am still going on, I must put in a word for one of the finest punk, although not quite arty, bands of the time, "X." I am a fan mostly of the NYC scene but John and Excene rocked.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
