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Post by tory on Jul 29, 2021 14:04:14 GMT
Possibly one of the finest moments in UK pop music since whenever. But why? It is a complete, atonal mess of nonsensical lyrics, feedbacking guitar, rhythms collapsing into themselves and only Wardle's bass seems to keep any sense of order at all.
Is it just the whole (almost farcical) sense of it existing that propels it forward? I still think it sounds (and looks) thrilling over 40 years on - far greater in that sense of absolute anarchy than anything the Pistols ever did, but I struggle to comprehend why. It's like 2+2 = 5.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2021 14:41:38 GMT
Whilst I agree with the praise, I don't agree with your characterisation of it. I'd hardly call it "atonal" - Levine's guitar lines are melodic, even pretty, whilst lyrically it's far from nonsensical, there's actually a pretty clear narrative. By PiL standards it's relatively mainstream. I guess its power comes from the contrast between its dreamy ambience and the dark and disturbing themes of the track which it's repetition only heightens.
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Jul 29, 2021 14:45:23 GMT
Whilst I agree with the praise, I don't agree with your characterisation of it. I'd hardly call it "atonal" - Levine's guitar lines are melodic, even pretty, whilst lyrically it's far from nonsensical, there's actually a pretty clear narrative. By PiL standards it's relatively mainstream. I guess its power comes from the contrast between its dreamy ambience and the dark and disturbing themes of the track which it's repetition only heightens. I think Tory was referring to Lydon's vocals as "atonal", which I agree with, but I disagree with his assessment that the lyrics are nonsensical.
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Post by sloopjohnc on Jul 29, 2021 14:49:57 GMT
I guess its power comes from the contrast between its dreamy ambience and the dark and disturbing themes of the track which it's repetition only heightens. Which was PIL's calling card. Even their poppier songs like This is Not a Love Song are like that.
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Post by Mr. FOLLARD on Jul 29, 2021 14:59:25 GMT
I've been listening to it quite a lot lately. I love it. But it IS difficult, it's not even typical by PiL standards (their debut single was a blast of punk fun and later efforts were borderline pop).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2021 15:52:44 GMT
I've been listening to it quite a lot lately. I love it. But it IS difficult, it's not even typical by PiL standards (their debut single was a blast of punk fun and later efforts were borderline pop). Metal Box was their most experimental phase though, neither pop nor punk.
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Poptones
Jul 29, 2021 16:13:32 GMT
via mobile
Post by Mr. FOLLARD on Jul 29, 2021 16:13:32 GMT
Indeed! so why By PiL standards it's relatively mainstream. ?
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Post by blue on Jul 29, 2021 16:14:31 GMT
It's probably the most 'immediate' song on Metal Box for me, other than maybe Swan Lake/Death Disco.
The imagery of the lyrics are what stands out the most, it's like lines from a horror story over the sonic mesh behind it... "I can't forget the impression you made / you left a hole in the back of my head / I don't like hiding in this foliage and peat / it's wet and I'm losing my body heat..." And then the repetition of "the cassette played POPTONES" echoed by Wobble's rolling baseline to hint at the tunes on a loop on the tape. It's a masterpiece of situational atmosphere in a "pop" track.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2021 16:36:24 GMT
Indeed! so why By PiL standards it's relatively mainstream. ? Because Metal Box, the album it's on, isn't mainstream!
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Post by Mr. FOLLARD on Jul 29, 2021 16:56:09 GMT
*goes back to bed*
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2021 17:33:19 GMT
I don't think anyone else is confused John!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2021 19:54:54 GMT
I've never listened to this band if I'm honest.
Not sure if it's cause they never did a "How To Buy" in Mojo or I just never got around to it; certainly wasn't cause I wasn't intrigued....
Lydon is always interesting.
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Poptones
Jul 29, 2021 22:09:39 GMT
via mobile
Post by harrylemon on Jul 29, 2021 22:09:39 GMT
I've never listened to this band if I'm honest. Not sure if it's cause they never did a "How To Buy" in Mojo or I just never got around to it; certainly wasn't cause I wasn't intrigued.... Lydon is always interesting. is is now was
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Post by Sneelock on Jul 29, 2021 22:33:53 GMT
I think there's a lot of emotion in that batch. yeah, emotion. JL might think it's a dirty word but I can't think of a better one.
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