I'd go for Suite XVI. The last track, Relentless, is up there with their early stuff: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT95lnPB9Vo Other good 'back to form' tracks can be found on Norfolk Coast, especially the title track: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxWQ_z5l5vA and on their last album, Giants, where Freedom Is Insane is imo the best track: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzvze-92_KY All three of these have become live favourites. They even sell out Brixton Academy these days! As for Jet Black, he's just celebrated his 80th birthday! He no longer plays with the band due to ill health but still pulls the strings. For me it's mostly JJ's bass and DG's keyboards that made/make them unique. Go see them whilst you still can! And for those on this board who have never heard Go Buddy Go, wait for the chorus in this and see how easy Go Deeney Go fits! I look forward to hearing it when he scores against Man U... www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJS5r41Mgdg
I know matchday threads take some random turns but a move from our first win against Spuds in 30 years to how a 70s 'punk' band are doing these days must take some beating?!
I believe about 41% of our matchday threads end this way . Ps heard Norfolk Coast, the track, before and didn't think much of it but I'll give it another listen tonight. Agree the JJ and DG inputs made the unique sound, keyboards and guitar outstanding. They always stood out from true punk bands for being very talented musicians and I think already about 40 when they made it big 40 years ago ! Amazing that a band could switch from Rattus, via the druggy Don't bring Harry, to tracks like Always the sun and "Souls" a favourite of mine.
I'm not sure about post-Cornwell Stranglers. Replacing a singer whose personality and delivery was an huge part of the sound and identity is always dodgy. Saw the new version and thought, basically, 'tribute band'. You can always get a musician to replicate the sound of another musician as long as that musician is not an exceptional virtuoso. Seriously, I play and can do a credible J-J B, would have no problem in a soundalike Stranglers. Likewise loads of keyboard players could do a passable DG. My daughter for one. Saw the originals at the Roundhouse, one of my favourite bands. Sorry.
I saw The Stranglers a few times in the 70's & 80's. They were an excellent band in concert; good songs & they got the crowd going. Sometimes a bit too much as I recall …..
I was just sent this by a West Ham supporting friend from one of their forums where they're talking about the soulless London Stadium: I watched the Watford match and was so jealous of what they have ! Watford !! passion hunger energy commitment skill and a noisy ground with fans close to the pitch.
A Hammer mate of mine said the same thing : "Just seen your win over Spurs. Great desire by Watford. Shame we don't have half that"
They weren't really "punk" though....they mutated from the sort of "beyond-pub-rock" they had being doing during the punk "explosion". Probably explains their level of musicianship & lyrical approach.
I’m not going as far to say I feel huge sympathy for the West Ham Supporters. Droning in about how they won the World Cup in 66 and their delusion of grandeur puts paid to that. But I would hate to have the club I support run by the unholy, money grabbing, image whores, trinity that they have. I genuinely fear more for the day we inevitably move away from vicarage road than when we get relegated. Let’s hope neither happen anytime soon.
No, that was my point, they weren't a true punk band. Irrespective, to get from a track called "Ugly" ("it's only the children of the ****ing weatlthy that tend to be good looking") to "Strange little girl" is a hell of a shift.
I can see your point, but when did you see the new version? If with Paul Roberts from '90 to about 10yrs ago, fair enough. Once they kicked him out and became a 4-piece again they've enjoyed this successful late career surge. True, they'll never be the same as Mk.1 but they do a pretty good impression.
Just cos you’re allergic to (sulphuric) acid... Bits of Rattus were linked to their absorption of punk’s iconoclastic tendencies, but they rapidly moved on to ...Heroes...etc, so it could be argued Rattus was the anomaly. Still my preferred album, although other individual songs were superior.
Just caught up with those 3 tracks; Relentless - v good 7/10 Norfolk coast I'd heard before - middling 5/10 Freedom is insane - great 8/10 Still don't sound like the stranglers without HC though ! Listened to the Cornwell albums again. They did some fantastic stuff and some real poop.
