The Undertones

[Gunslinger]

I've never been a fan of the punk rock scene. I mean, come on, in essence punk rock is just a few chords played real fast with maybe a good drum beat and (seemingly) always with the rest of the band screaming backup for the lead singer.

But I've been searching for some great rock and roll. I'm not into mainstream. I don't like emo, punk, or the recent surge of British rock (sorry Brits, but I've only got Coldplay and Radiohead to judge for). So my searchings have got me digging into the roots of it all: the 70's and early 80's. It seems that my generation has missed out on a lot of decent music, considering that the majority of my generation seems to think Britney Spears is the epitome of it all.

So my friend, sympathetic to my plight, turned me onto The Undertones. We both like The Hives and he recommend The Undertones with a comparsion to said band. Hook and lure.

I get their first twenty-three track album dubbed "The Undertones". As I'm listening to it, the traces of punk rock is evident. Hell, it's screamingly obvious. But I don't take off my headset and throw the album away; partly because I paid ten bucks for it and partly because I'm fascinated by the voice of lead singer Feargal Sharkey.

I can only unfittingly describe (which is always the cause when talking about music people haven't heard yet) that his voice is distinct. Nothing overdone except for a touch of Irish that pulls through in some cases. For instance, on every long note, he sort of bleats it like a goat. Like when he sings, "I'm still in a tra-a-a-ance." Now, it's neither glaringly fake, manufactored, or intentional (unlike the late Dead Kennedys who seem to revel in the extended long note). It fits in because it's natural.

So the vocals are great. The guitar and drum beats aren't anything new. The lyrics are rather standard; they don't really do anything or say anything. But the vocals are great. Maybe not with the same unbridled enthusiasm or upbeat tempo as Pelle Almqvist, The Hive's vocalist, but still pretty great.

I'm glad that there's twenty-three tracks on "The Undertones" because for every hit, there's at least one miss to follow it. "True Confessions" and "Smarter Than U" have great guitar-grinding intros but "True Confessions" really shows the influences of The Ramones.

So if you're looking for a half-decent punk rock band, go for The Undertones.

 

[welsh]

thanks for the tip gunslinger.
Damn, punk.
Dead Kennedies, Ramones, Madness, Iggy Pop.... seems like a long time ago, but influential for a little while. Haven't listened to that in a long time. I think the last thing I heard that was remotely punk was Concrete Blond. These days closest I get is Talking Heads.

 

[Montez]

I'll see if I can find anything by them and give a listen.

I actually like a lot of so-called "punk rock", but only the late 70's/early 80's stuff - not because I'm elitist, but because everything afterwards that was called punk was stictly paint-by-the-numbers style, attitude, and chord-changes. I never cared for the "angry hobo" look that punk rockers always aspired too, but at least early on it was original. Now all that look says to anyone is "I put a lot of effort into looking like I didn't put any effort into wearing a costume. BTW, got any change?" It always drives me nuts when I read stuff like "I don't listen to this new crap, I listen to real punk, like Rancid". WTF? Rancid was family-friendly MTV-ready fluff. God damn punk rockers, go back to the suburbs and stop pretending your safe rebellion is worth anything. [/rant]

 

[welsh]

I have read a few papers on the origins of the Sex Pistols as the "first real punk band" and how they got pissed off that everyone was copying their style (if everyone wants to be a non-conformists what do you get?)

I think this goes back to the basic problem of popular music. Lots of pop music has some really interesting socio-economic roots. Look at early hip-hop, reggae, and punk, and you will see that the early performers were often doing this music as a form of protest. Yet, it became commericalized and depoliticized and then it turns to crap.

Why I still like the Talking Heads- interesting music, can think about it, and you can dance to "Psycho Killers." But, well, fuck all. I still like the Clash.

 

[SoNR]

the only music type I really like that contains punk in it's name is Turbonegro, norwegian death punk. They surely DO know how to play their instruments, even though their vocal isn't the best, it's original and inspired...

 

[Gunslinger]

Update on The Undertones:

I've now got mixed feelings about this punk band. I've personally bought their first two albums, "The Undertones" and "Hypnotised" (there seems to be a revival since the group got back together - minus lead singer Feargal Sharkey - so their albums are easy to find). And both are pure rock and roll. The track "Hypnotised" and "Hard Luck" of the later album are exemplary of the reason for why I like The Undertones. "Wednesday Week" is a pretty sophisticated song, some call it a rock ballad. I call it the beginning of the end because that was the beginning of the end for The Undertones.

My friend found their fourth album, "Sin of Pride", and it has absolutely no bearing nor resemblance to the earlier rock-heavy albums. The instrumentals have incorporated harmonica, harp, piano, etc. There's background singers. The lyrics are about love. So, in short, The Undertones have gotten soft by their fourth album.

So I'm just disappointed. I'll always like their first two albums but I just can't bring myself to listen to their other albums.