Entertainment For Lively Minds
It's deja vu all over again
Posted by David Hepworth on 9 November 2007 - 12:48pm.
Now I'm a grumpy old bugger who doesn't take much encouragement to express the opinion that the recent rash of British guitar bands are just re-running the 80s but even I was genuinely amazed to catch this on the TV this morning. It's the new single by The Enemy, this clip is shot by somebody off a telly (best version I can find at this point) but, well, see who it reminds you of.
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On first hearing...
Is it "That's Entertainment" dubbed over the video for "Ghost Town"?
'Ripped off' v 'inspired by'
At what point in time can "ripping off" become the more acceptable "inspired by"?
20 years after the original? 30 years? Is it ever possible in such a blatant case?
Pardon me while I pontificate....
..but I think a lot of this is to do with technology. In the past if you wanted to make a record that sounded a bit like, say, the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", the engineer could get you near to the effect. But now, they can hit a few buttons and summon up the exact sound of any hit record of an earlier era within seconds. Anyone who's played with Quark Xpress knows that there is a function called "Snap To Guides" whereby, as soon as you get near to a vertical or horizontal line, the shape you're describing is magnetically attracted towards the previously described line. It's a bit like that with music nowadays.
Blimey! Everyone's doing it
Interesting. I listened
Interesting. I listened before I read through the thread & I definitely heard Going Underground, but at least we're all hearing the same band, no doubt about that at all. They may as well have done a cover & be done with it.
It's the bastard child of...
"That's Entertainment" and "Town Called Malice"
It's all a bit sad really.
Tonight Matthew....
...I am going to be Paul Heaton doing an impression of Preston from the Ordinary Boys covering an old Jam song, backed by my good friends Hard Fi.
Of course it's 'That's Entertainment'
...but when it comes to re-running the 80s they're no more guilty than elder statesman of boring blue collar rock, Bruce Springsteen, whose 'Girls In Their Summer Clothes' sounds EXACTLY like the Icicle Works.
Finally...A supporter of the
Finally...A supporter of the cause.
My days as TheDailyBumbler were spent creating a barrage of insults against this less than credible nerk.
Just my opinion though.
I heard a bit of
'Going underground' too.
Scandalous
(No subject)
....they've done it before you know
(logo's a giveaway)
It's a chronologically correct 80's compendium
It starts off like Joy Division, morphs into 'That's Entertainment', then adds some late-period Smiths touches (Marr-like guitar with the pedal marked "Plangent" right down & the strings). The car they're driving is from 1993 though, which spoils the effect a bit.
At t' of the day...
..rock has been driven by influence, soundalikes, rip-offs call them what you will.
Ray Charles started as a Charles Brown/Nat Cole soundalike and the Beatles as Little Richard/Everly Brothers cribbers.
The point is that these acts weren't allowed to be what they became until they developed their own sounds.
As David says technology, especially sampling and mashing has allowed young acts to believe they can sound like anyone with no questions asked.
All I ask now is that it's done with heart, soul and commitment..
So that leaves these pustules out of the running immediately.
Like a crappy, nylon
Like a crappy, nylon reproduction of Paul Weller murged with Pete Doherty.
Just like the seaside knock-offs of South Park teddies.