rayge
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Post by rayge on Feb 12, 2020 14:32:02 GMT
A Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
B Mechanical Servants - Study Up
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2020 15:25:20 GMT
I was never much of a fan of A, something about the tune never really did it for me. Still it's proficient pop which delivers the statement they wanted it to. B is a bunch of chancers of no musical talent trying desperately hard to be wacky.An utter waste of time.
A
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2020 16:38:42 GMT
A
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2020 17:24:33 GMT
Masterpiece of the genre vs. Lo-fi, NYC Synth..
I have heard the full ep from Mechanical Servants (Min X Match) and all the songs suffer from one glaring issue: They are too long. If they had survived as a band, they might have learned brevity is key to pop songs. If "Study Up" were 2:30, it might have worked better. That being said, I like the amateur feel of the song. Sort of like going to a bar and seeing an act in the lounge with a Casio, spunk and a dream..Just not enough to knock off the behemoth that A is, though... Vote A
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toomanyhatz
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I've met him/her. He/she's great!!
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Post by toomanyhatz on Feb 12, 2020 19:13:21 GMT
Yes, I realize the bottom line is it ain't my genre...
I do get some pleasure out of both, though. A is rich in sounds that don't move me, and for good measure sounds like a big influence on stuff that I like even less, but the hook works and the vocals are at least pleasant to listen to. Don't get me wrong, I still hate it, but I can hear what people like about it.
B is, as has been mentioned, not made with any particularly high level of skill. And it's a bit jarring and unpleasant to listen to. But here's where my prejudice comes out in full - my deeply rooted belief is the only way to play synthesizer is as if it's a fun, expensive toy.
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Post by Crunchy Col on Feb 12, 2020 21:43:39 GMT
I quite liked B, a kind of bold, unashamedly odd Devo/Flying Lizards kind of effort. One minute is enough, tho'.
A is a true 80s classic. There's a real melancholy spirit to the thing that carries through the ages. Although big in the clubs it was the soundtrack to sad, unfulfilled lives - a little like Soft Cell in that regard. It sounds better to me now than it ever did.
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Post by osgood on Feb 13, 2020 18:28:06 GMT
I was dreading to go through the matches in this cathegory, listening to what Spotify suggested as synthpop when searching for something to pick for my list was painful enough. But I have found both picks in this match quite enjoyable. More or less for the same reasons that Hatz said, I'm going to go for
B
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2020 22:03:04 GMT
A is one of those songs that have become such a cliché, of provincial gay youth in this instance, that you can easily forget how good it is. So returning to it is always a joy. I do know where CG is coming from with the melody, you could argue it's a little incongruous, but for me that give it some of its power -- the contrast it has with Somerville's voice betraying the conflict at the heart of the theme. One of the heights of popular music as an artform.
B... I've got a bit of a soft spot for this kind of no-wave fun in the right spot. This could have been a cute track if it was half of its length, which is a sore point given it's only three and a half mins as it is.
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Post by DarknessFish on Feb 14, 2020 14:58:47 GMT
I can't vote for this tie since it's my home tie, and all that, but I'll comment anyway. I think Smalltown Boy is a fantastic track, the synth bass is a bit cheap and dated, but the little melancholy melody is perfection, and Jimmy's vocal is sublime and powerful. It's a great proper pop song.
Mechanical Servants' "Study Up" is something I only became aware of because a Korean artist called Nakion included it on her debut album "Oh Ah!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnuNp-s-Iq0) it's not even a cover, it's just directly lifted and pissed around with a bit, and she didn't even credit the band. Anyway, it's a big bag of amateruish fun, and I like the way the lyrics don't really fit and are kind of shouted in a rushed fashion just to get them over with.
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Post by fonz on Feb 14, 2020 17:43:31 GMT
Never been keen on A. Overplayed and dull now.
Therefore, B.
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rayge
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Post by rayge on Feb 15, 2020 11:09:34 GMT
a Lapped this up when it came out - always had a penchant for high tenor/falsetto lead vocal - heritage of doo wop I guess. Continued to get BB and Communards singles as they came out for a while, but in hindsight, nothing beat this. Hearing it again after a few decades, I thought it a bit overlong, and realised that the synths were essentially being used as rhythm instruments, with Jimi's voice carrying the melody. B good to hear a female duo in this genre. The vaguely shouty female vocals are perfectly in context for me, reminding of the Slits, Raincoats, Lilliput and other angry women post punk bands. Looking back, I think that the introduction of non-demure female creators was one of the best features of punk and post punk, and for all its wacky, 'unmusical' noisiness and found sounds – although no more than in the deservedly lauded Cabaret Voltaire – there's enough variation to keep me interested.
B
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Feb 15, 2020 11:34:24 GMT
B....why would you even listen to such daftness. Chancers
A is a classic and deservingly so. sounds better as the years go on.
Easy...
A
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Post by oleandermedian on Feb 16, 2020 0:50:24 GMT
A – I love this song! I’ve always liked the official video, where the emotionally-stunted old man slips the lad a tenner for him to spend on poppers as soon as he gets off the train.
B is annoying.
A
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Feb 17, 2020 15:23:45 GMT
B, for the singing, which I think is quite wonderful.
B
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Post by The Red Heifer on Feb 20, 2020 19:52:17 GMT
I gave B a chance, wasn't up my street, but this is a round where I hope to find a few gems.
I vote A, great song.
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