ALL: Originality (was: Metallica)

[Mark Von Bargen]

One band who did show a lot of originality was Inner City Unit. Even if it
was only the originality of throwing in the same old components and
squirting them back out in a very different mix.
Oh for that originality now - please bring it back
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Lockwood" <rich at BEERPOWEREDNOISEFRENZY.CO.UK>
To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 9:49 AM
Subject: ALL: Originality (was: Metallica)


> >
> > But, I do have to argue with you on originality.  Back in the day (about
> > 1983 or so), their sound was very original, and they actually made a
> pretty
> > good effort at saving metal from the hair bands that were taking over.
>
> Their sound *was* original - although still wore its influences firmly on
> its sleeve - and Lars always seemd to make a point of namechecking them.
> Motorhead, Diamondhead and Venom.  However, (and this is a discussion
we've
> been having lately in the pub) can anyone out there name me a truely
> original and innovative band of the last thirty / forty years or so?  The
> vast majority of "new" guitar music has always just put a new twist on
Chuck
> Berry and Ike Turner - maybe you can count the originators of '50s rock
'n'
> roll as original - but then, wasn't that simply speeded up (and in many
> cases simplified) delta blues from the 20s and 30s?  (Which in its turn
> started out by putting simple guitar lines to vocal spirituals).
>
> The only bands anyone came up with (an I'd thought of them, but kept my
gob
> shut for fear of accusations of "just because they're your favourite
bands)
> were Hawkwind (the spacey synth side - the guitar/bass/drum work was
hardly
> brand new), and Half Man Half Biscuit (again - purely for the lyrical
side -
> nothing new about jangly indy guitar or skiffle).
>
> Venom?  Maybe lyrically but the music was simply speeded up Motorhead,
which
> in turn is louder, faster rock 'n' roll.
>
> See my point?  Some folk would cite the early rap/scratch records, with
good
> reason - but even then the breakbeats were taken from older soul or rock
> records.
>
> So there's the challenge - come up with a band who came up with something
> genuinely new, not just a new twist.
>
> >
> > So, let's give them some credit for their first 2 or 3 albums, but let's
> > forever expunge them from our memories for what they did after
"Justice".
>
> First three - Kill 'em All, Ride The Lightning, and the wonderful Master
of
> Puppets.  Justice was (IMHO) bobbins - as was pretty much everything after
> it.
>
> >
> > And as far as Lars being an intellectual, I argue again.  He's never
> struck
> > me as being particularly perceptive.  Maybe he just looks smart next to
> > Kirk, who has never shown any intelligence beyond that of most
unicellular
> > life.  Yes, compared to Kirk, Lars could be quite smart indeed...    (I
> > still think Jason Newsted was the smartest guy in the band, and really
the
> > only guy who didn't sell out.)
>
> It's quite scary to think that Dave Mustaine was probably the brightest of
> the lot of 'em!
>
> >
> > But you're dead right when you talk about Motorhead.  That's the band
that
> > really deserves to be mentioned when we start talking about originality!
> > Let's hope Lemmy continues for many years to come!
>
> Hear hear.  Certainly a candidate for an original band - see above!)  :-)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rich.
>