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Whippersnapper. 
"A fourword thinking guy."
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 Posted - 03/15/2007 : 16:37:15
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Its well documented that Blondie were a band looking for commercial success. When they started punk was seen as the way to success but soon that changed and so did they.
Talking Heads were, from their start, following the unique musical vision of David Byrne and that integrity was far more important to them than commercial success. When I listen to 77 I don't hear punk - ok, there is alienation aplenty, but its not about "the kids" which is the central punk concept. Talking Heads is about individual alienation rather than group.
It's precisely to differentiate between bands like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols on one hand, and Talking Heads on the other, that the term "New Wave" is used for the latter (although you could also say punk is a subset of New Wave).
Anyone who wants to call Talking Heads punk, go ahead, but you are missing the nuance of language which some of the rest of us feel exists between significantly different, if related, forms of music.
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Beanmimo 
"August review site"
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Posted - 03/15/2007 : 17:13:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Whippersnapper
Anyone who wants to call Talking Heads punk, go ahead, but you are missing the nuance of language which some of the rest of us feel exists between significantly different, if related, forms of music.
just listen to David Byrnes recent Album Grown Backwards to see how much of Talking Heads was him and how much was punk.
I'm with you on this one Whip. |
Edited by - Beanmimo on 03/15/2007 17:14:37 |
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Whippersnapper.
"A fourword thinking guy."
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Posted - 03/15/2007 : 18:31:59
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Interesting stuff, Beanie. Thanks!
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Shiv 
"What a Wonderful World"
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Posted - 03/16/2007 : 09:28:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Koli
quote:
Originally posted by Shiv
Anyone of fan of Stiff Little Fingers? I see they are touring again.
I wasn't a great fan but loved their single 'Alternative Ulster'.
I see they're in Birmingham on 6 May, and could be tempted. I have a son in Manchester and wouldn't be surprised if he went to see them when they play there. (Numbers 1 & 3 sons are both into rock but something went wrong with the second one: he's more of a R&B and hip-hop boy.)
I don't suppose they'll make it Down Under |
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Koli
"Striving lackadaisically for perfection."
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Posted - 03/16/2007 : 14:30:21
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This thread began with my defence of the Clash's status as a punk band, but now I find myself on the same side as those who are questioning the inclusion of other bands that commonly appear in punk compilations.
I always saw Talking Heads as new wave rather than punk. Blondie's first album features punk music, but they moved on fairly rapidly and of course ended up playing disco music. XTC punk? No, I agree they don't belong. Similarly, I never regarded Ian Dury and the Blockheads as punk; you might possibly characterise their music as a sort of 'urban folk', the forerunners of the Arctic Monkeys perhaps. (If memory serves, they were on Stiff Records along with a load of bands that emerged late in the punk era and are mostly new wave; the label did at least one tour when each artist played just a couple of songs; I caught it in Leeds.) I also have my doubts about the Buzzcocks but I may be in a minority there.
I have an early punk compliation that has on it Shake Some Action by the Flamin' Groovies. Great song, but I've never heard anything by the FGs that I'd classify as punk. |
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Punk Rock
