1984 was a year of sea change musically in some ways. I think for me it was the first year I could remember when not much of the stuff I liked was in the actual charts. This went on for a few years from the Mid ro late Eighties,.I never warmed to Wham! Spanday, Duran, Howard or Nik, Prince, Michael Jackson and Madonna seemed rule the roost in global terms
These artists began to clear to clean up along with a lot of frankly largely tasteless American AOR schlock freewheeling in their wake, This schlok was championed by the likes of Jonathan King and daytine Radio One DJs who didn't seem to even like music much, so in their confusion went for stuff like Journey. That wasn't of interest to me.
In R.E.M's slipstream came a host of wonderful American guitar bands. LA's Paisley Underground guitar scene, A sixties throwback movement and a marvellous and exciting one at that which led me to explore its roots and the West Coast music of 1967. But there were plenty more and too numerous to list. Husker Du, Replacements, Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, Minutemen,et al. It was truly a moment of explosion though you wouldn't have known it from the charts or Top of the Pops. Because these bands weren't in or on either.
There were some excellent Roots bands. Most notably The Blasters and Los Lobos. Some of this felt a bit 'old' for me. Slightly worthy. I've shied away from worthiness. In Folk, Jazz, Soul, and Rock & Roll. In real ale enthusiasm. I listened through to How Will The Wolf Survive a couple of months ago and was completely enthralled. Maybe I'm of the right age ar last.
No comments:
Post a Comment