Just how good were/was/is/are....

[Papper]

stone roses - it's a great album but i think it (and the band) got elevated to cult levels by how it was embraced and the culture around it. there's epic tracks on it though having bought it at the time i didn't find it particularly ground breaking. jingly jangly guitars go all the way back to the sixties and the indie scene of the mid eighties was rich in that sort of music, not much of it played in the mainstream. so the bands that were able cross the divide probably got all or most of the attention. it's as much a reflection of what was lacking in the mainstream and how music was disseminated at the time. it's fair to say the band probably had a bit more swagger and confidence about them which must have helped them get on the music press covers. you could apply that to many other bands, beatles, stones, included. as paul implies it probably helped that they came from manchester due to the city's rich musical history, though i can't agree with the massive generalisation in there. whether you rate the album or not it is well loved and has cultural significance

I don't think they were musical geniuses in terms of how they played their instruments (not that it matters) but 88-92 for me had incredible energy and expression and none of it was manipulated by outsiders although (by all accounts) the heavy influence on the club scene in Manchester was house music from New York. You cannot underestimate the contribution of MDMA to the equation. The fashion wasn't exactly unique or exact to any time really. Bands like the Mondays and Roses were free ventures but shyte like Oasis were totally manufactured and actually not very good. I wish I liked Ian Brown's solo stuff but I don't.

 

[Langers]

As a slight aside, I thoroughly recommend Peter Hook's book about the Hacienda and Factory. It's very interesting, very funny in places and just batshit mental in others - they hadn't got a clue what they were doing which was a huge factor in them haemorrhaging money.

 

[Keef]

The roses were definitely a band that was the sum of its parts,together they had an era defining sound,separately they weren't very good,Reni is up there as one of the best drummers,I love the groove he's got,especially on waterfall in the Shane meadows roses film,even Ian brown sounds good on that

 

[Templeton Peck]

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. The group as of now consists of a trio of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting), and Andy Fletcher (keyboards).

Depeche Mode released their debut album Speak & Spell in 1981, bringing the band onto the British new wave scene. Founding member Vince Clarke left after the release of the album; they recorded A Broken Frame as a trio. Gore took over as main songwriter and, later in 1982, Alan Wilder replaced Clarke, establishing a lineup that continued for 13 years.

The band's last albums of the 1980s, Black Celebration and Music for the Masses, established them as a dominant force within the electronic music scene. A highlight of this era was the band's June 1988 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, where they drew a crowd in excess of 60,000 people. In early 1990, they released Violator, an international mainstream success. The following album, Songs of Faith and Devotion, released in 1993, was also a success, though internal struggles within the band during recording and touring resulted in Wilder's departure in 1995.

Depeche Mode has had 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart and 17 top 10 albums in the UK chart; they have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Q included the band in the list of the "50 Bands That Changed the World!". Depeche Mode also ranks number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In December 2016, Billboard named Depeche Mode the 10th most successful dance club artist of all time. They were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2018, and will be inducted as part of the Class of 2020.

Several major artists have cited the band as an influence, including: No Doubt, Marilyn Manson, Deftones, The Killers, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Muse, Linkin Park, Fear Factory, Rammstein, Arcade Fire and Nine Inch Nails.

One of my favourite bands. Got into them when I randomly brought their 'Singles 81-85' album having vaguely been aware of about two songs. I was expecting lots more 'Just Can't Get Enough' but after the departure of Vince Clarke Martin Gore took on songwriting duties and they've got progressively darker ever since.

Their peak was probably 89-93 when they released Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion. Every track on Violator is excellent including two of the finest pop songs written by anyone ever - Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus. Whilst Violator is an electronic album Personal Jesus gave a taste of what was to come next with the grungy and gospelly Songs of Faith and Devotion. Another brilliant record but not quite at Violator levels of greatness. The live version of the album has often been cited as one of the best live albums of all time but the excesses of the tour itself almost split the band and nearly killed the lead singer.

In 1997 they returned with Ultra (again, a very good listen) and have been releasing albums every 4-5 years ever since. It's fair to say they've never hit the heights of Violator since with each of the more recent albums being less accessible than the last and Martin Gore might just be running out of ideas. Still, after starting in 1980 I can probably forgive him that.

I chose DM because whilst massive in the USA and Europe, they've never quite hit the heights here either commercially or critically - 'a prophet is not without honor except in his own town' - and I wondered what you lot thought.

 

[Tony Towner]

Personally I like their earlier borderline new romantic stuff like See You, People are People Everything Counts and Blasphemous Rumours more than the more critically acclaimed Violator and post that gothic type tracks like.

Fun fact I went to the Depeche Mode bar in Tallinn in 2003 before it became stag central.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Personally I like their earlier borderline new romantic stuff like See You, People are People Everything Counts and Blasphemous Rumours more than the more critically acclaimed Violator and post that gothic type tracks like.

Fun fact I went to the Depeche Mode bar in Tallinn in 2003 before it became stag central.

I went in 2003 too! Lovely little place. The city I mean. The bar was amusing though.

 

[The Weasel]

Absolutely brilliant live band. If you get a chance, go see em while you can. Frankly its amazing Dave Gahan is still alive.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Absolutely brilliant live band. If you get a chance, go see em while you can. Frankly its amazing Dave Gahan is still alive.

Seen them a few times. Last time was at Olympic stadium 2018 I think. You're right - always brilliant live and Gahan looks bizarrely well.

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Just catching up on this thread.

Saw Depeche at the NEC around early 90's. They were absolutely brilliant. One of the most enjoyable concerts I've ever been to.

Saw Led Zep at Earls Court around 1975. Nearly four hours on stage. Just brilliant. Always on my playlists - even stuff like In Through The Out Door and Presence which some people don't rate.

 

[b3h]

This is the one which finally got me in to Led Zep:

Hippie

 

[lemonjelly]

Underworld

Underworld became one of electronic acts of the 90s. The trio's two-man front line, vocalist Karl Hyde and keyboard player Rick Smith, have been recording together since the early-'80s new wave days. The pair released 2 obscure rock albums, then recruited Darren Emerson. Heavily treated vocals, barely-there whispering, and surreal wordplay, stretched out over electronic soundscapes became their forte. They trialed music in Emersons dj sets, via their own radio shows (including online), and through live gigs - usually unrehearsed, and with no set list - the band agreeing the opening track 10 mins before going on stage, and designing the rest of the set as they played.

In 1992, the trio debuted with two singles, "Dirty"/"Minneapolis" and "Bigmouth"/"Eclipse," both released on Junior Boys Own Records. 1993's "Rez" and "MMM...Skyscraper I Love You" built their reputations. The band also played a 14 hour set at Glastonbury.

The first album by the trio, Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1993), appeared to a flurry of critical acclaim. Second Toughest in the Infants (1996), was the group's following LP.

Trainspotting broadcast Born Slippy (NUXX) to the world. Initially a b-side, Danny Boyle sought it to end his film.

Underworld remained busy with Tomato -- their own graphic design company responsible for commercials from such high-profile clients as Nike, Sony, Adidas, and Pepsi -- and remixing work for Depeche Mode, Björk, St. Etienne, Sven Väth, Simply Red, and Leftfield. Underworld's 1999 LP, Beaucoup Fish, entered the U.K. chart at number three. The band released live album Everything, Everything, after which Emerson left to continue his DJ career. A Hundred Days Off, was released in 2002.


A series of online-only EPs were released during 2005 and 2006, as well as a live 3 hour show from Tokyo. They also recorded new material for soundtracks (Breaking and Entering, Sunshine). Oblivion with Bells, appeared in 2007. Whilst touring this album Underworld recorded each night, releasing the discs to concert goers. It was followed in 2010 by Barking, an album that featured numerous guest producers.

In 2012, Underworld were music directors for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, held in London. They wrote two songs ("And I Will Kiss" and "Caliban's Dream") for the opening ceremony, and 11 of their tracks were included on the ceremony's official soundtrack album, Isles of Wonder. This followed writing a score for the National Theatre performances of Frankenstein.

2016 saw the release of "Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future, followed by Drift, a process of online, musical, written and visual arts released weekly for 52 weeks. Drift was formed of "episodes", challenging the notion of the traditional album format, and inbetween episodes the band made available previously unreleased archival material, live recordings, and other experiments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwFkp1-R0DA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhcgUodizro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh-ECOO05xE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUuV7nOWGM8&list=PLehAq9SJvDGjObZ3VA_DZGDycsdbDSkCp&index=6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nyOdMyzemo&list=PLehAq9SJvDGjObZ3VA_DZGDycsdbDSkCp&index=18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM8gz3dXCQg&list=PLehAq9SJvDGisLIe0u6FG2CAMaFeg1OQd&index=2

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Never knew they did a 14hr set at Glastonbury. The word epic does not cover it....

 

[Paul]

14 hours of anything or anybody would be excruciating