Prodigy-Smack My bitch up-live IOW

Re-Evaluation - Part 17..-Skinny Puppy

22 Years and counting. Skinny Puppy a name that probably didnt help them achieve any commercial success. But they released some of the finest examples of Electronic -Industrial music ever written. I discovered them on the late John Peel show in the 80s, it was so radically different from anything he was playing at the time. I then went to London to get hold of their 'Cleanse Fold and Manipulate' album, I liked everything about it , the sleeve was excellently designed and the music was unlike anything I had head.

They released albums of equal power, where Pink Floyd Dark Side of the moon, would often get spoken about a album that tests hifi equipment. Cleanse Fold and Manipulate does the same for me. Heavily densed, electro, featuring heavy samples and hard drum machine beats.

They continued to release albums into the 90s, but sadly stopped recording as a three piece when Dwayne Goetel died of a drug overdose. Their final record from that era was the Process. They reformed in early 2002 and released 'The greater wrong of the right'

Re-Evaltion - Part 17- David Sylvian & Japan

Probably a bit unfair to group him together with the band he was the front man with. In 1984 David Sylvian sort of went to what is reffered to as a 'year zero' , where his musical path didnt really match what had gone before. With Japan although commerically successful was essentially a pop band and as their recordings went on, the influences became less prominent and their sounds sort of found its own way

Re-evaluation - Part 16-Delerium

In writing these sets of articles I like the bands with History, but I also like the bands that are forward thinking. I first chanced upon this band as they were an offshot band from the line up of Front Line Assembly, who were a electronic band from Canada(more on them later). I brought the first album in 1989 which was called 'faces forms and Illusions'. Radically different from FLA, the album was sort of like listening to a industrial version of Enigma. Where as FLA's output was harsh and electro driven, the Delerium sound was atmospheric and used keyboards to create themes and Moods. No more is this evident on tracks like 'Hidden Mask' which features Ofra Haza on vocals. One of those songs that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

They release a album every one to two years as an average and are quite prolific, Semantic Spaces from 1994 is one of their best releases as this almost becomes very dancy-orientated on top of the more atmopsheric stuff. Bill Leeb is the man behind the band. In 2000 they did achieve success with Sarah Mclachlan as 'Silence' became an Early trance classic. It was strange to see a band that had remained on the outside of the music scene , suddenly achieving success.

Re-evaluation-Part 15 - Fleetwood Mac

Another band with like two phases, the Peter green part from 1966-1970.Then the Buckingham and Nicks Fleetwood Mac. Although they have had numerous line ups in between. When I think of my first memories of Fleetwood mac its of Stevie Nicks ridicolous perm and shoulder pads in the 80s videos of Everywhere and Little Lies. But to be fair although there most succesful period of singles they had been recording for 20 years pri0or to those hits.

In the 60s Fleetwood mac were like and R and B band but with a intrest in the blues , as their releases went on the Blues was a bigger part of their sound. They had hit singles as well and Peter green was a repsected guiatrist. As their albums went on and into 1969 Peter Green drug usage effected the bands , the songs of this times like 'the Green manalishi' are almost drug fuelled songs. But brilliant at the same time. Peter Green retired from the line up in approx 1970 and for the years afterwards the line up sort of changed almost yearly.

It was with the chance meeting in a american recording studio that their fortunes would change. Mick Fleetwood chanced upon hearing a tape of the Buckingham and Nicks album from 1974 and was told that the Guitarist was looking for a group. He was invited but insisted on bringing his then girlfriend Stevie Nicks into the line up.

They released a self titled album in 1976 which I like just as much as their succesful rumours album from 1977. The partnership then went onto record albums like 'Tusk'(1979-experimental almost in places), Mirage(1982) and of course Tango in the Night'. Linsey Buckingham left in 1988 and went into his solo worked and again Fleetwood mac soldiered on with various line ups until he rejoined again in 1997 onwards.

Fleetwood Mac is a band that soldiered on through adveristy to become probably one of the biggest bands the UK has every created, although not held in the high etseem of say floyd and Zeppelin. Their story makes for fascinating reading and features many highlights through out thier recording career

Re-Evaluation - Part 14. Porcupine Tree

What a band and I mean that as a compliment. Porcupine Tree have been around for ages, but Ive been aware of them from about the mid 90s. Although I didnt discover their music until 2004. Porcupine Tree is hard to define but I would called them 'Progressive Prog'. progressive as established but breaking new ground.

They started in the late 80s as Steve Wilson's fictious prog band. Their early 90s work was Pink Floyd like in terms of guitar work. In early 2000 they worked with Opeth and their albums went from lush almost classical like rock to full on metal riffing.

Richard barberi who was once with 80s pop artist Japan adds keyboards and the line up also features Gavin Harrison who is drummer with King Crimson. Where as they went from being influenced by those bands they are now amongst them and are influencing bands from their own generation.

Re-evaluation - Part 13-The Eagles

When you think of the eagles immediately Don Henley comes into mind. Not many drummers were also singers at that time. I think there is two era's of the Eagles bernie leadon period and then the other late 70s version. The Eagles were moire country/roots at the beginning butn their music sort of invented AOR. Songs that were typically american but with a songwriting edge that set them apart from their rivals. Their greatest hits album from 1975 was one of the biggest albums of the time.

With the Eagles I have to admit I dont like some of the singles but the albums and tracks like 'take it Easy ' and 'Desperado'. Put them on another level.

Of Course Don Henley had a succesful solo career as did Glen Frey, I was perhaps to young to appreciate them at the time. If anyone is looking to listen to the Eagles as a starting point I recommend their live album from 1999 callled ' Hell Freezes over'. Which is essentially acoustic and probably has the best version of Hotel California on it.