asp's classic albums # 88: gang of four - solid gold

atsonicpark · 11.24.2010, 02:55 PM

SOLID GOLD by GANG OF FOUR
1981 on Warner/EMI

ENTERTAINMENT! is widely regarded as Gang of Four's masterpiece, and with good reason... it's a masterful album, filled with classic songs... a tight-as-hell rhythm section, truly great lyrics (and I never pay attention to lyrics usually), unconventional songwriting, that weird and haunting melodica,dry production with loud bass, a great vocal performance (with multivocal interplay!), and...ONE OF THE GREATES GUITARS EVER! A true fucking guitar hero, inspiring a billion other post punk guitarists... in my opinion, not since Magic Band's Zoot Horn Rollo had their been such a truly unique, brilliant guitar player in the relative "underground". He was abrasive yet melodic, and sounded like he was about to go completely out of tune and fuck up the whole song any second.. but still amanged to keep it together. Some of the songs sounded like a "guitar solo", in a sense -- there soimetimes weren't any established "riffs", the guitarist just played what he wanted over the top for the whole song, sometimes never repeating at all, and it sounded great.

....well, this album is all those things, except it's way better, in my opinion... first of all, it's dark as hell; Entertainment! wasn't fairies and roses, but this album finds the band about a hundred times darker... the production is REALLY murky and evil, not since Wire's PINK FLAG had anyone heard an album this dark... and the songwriting is even looser and more unconventional, but it totally works. This band was all about taking risks (which probably explains why, after a certainn point, they released so much crap). Really, just have a listen to PARALYZED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnieM... 28B4&index=48

this is, simply, one of my favorite songs, and maybe the best opening track ever recorded. In 3 minutes, it perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album (and the last song is just as good, kind of a sequel of sorts).

I'm sure many people will reply saying they prefer Entertainment, but this album blows that one away in every way, imo. Though I've always wondered what the deal with that "ONE CHEESEBURGER TO GO!" sample was.

Go to that site for media, that's on fire, and attach /?ayqjnomqgze to the end and you might just get a surprise!!

automatic bzooty · 11.24.2010, 09:09 PM

a damn good record. what we all want and if i could keep it for myself are constantly stuck in my head.

i'm gonna go listen to it now.

SpectralJulianIsNotDead · 11.25.2010, 08:32 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY4gyk9puts

I saw them a few years ago, and though most people said their reunion sucked, they were awesome in Pittsburgh. One of the most energetic bands (mostly because of King) I've ever seen.

atsonicpark · 11.25.2010, 10:49 AM

Listened to the first 3 albums/2 ep's/peel sessions last night. Though they suffer from Wire syndrome (as in, their early stuff is essential, groundbreaking, mindblowing, influential masterpieces of music... while their later stuff is forgettable -- though both bands would recently release albums that are worthy of their name once again, even if GoF's is a retread of old material), they made their mark.

http://www.furious.com/perfect/gangoffour.html

great interview.

Really surprised more people aren't replying to this thread, honestly, I always assumed this band was extremely well liked here.

SpectralJulianIsNotDead · 11.25.2010, 11:14 AM

Their new version of "We Live As we Dream Alone" is really great.

finding nobody · 11.25.2010, 12:24 PM

I probably like Entertainment! better. But, this is solid ass record. you can tell they weren't trying to make the same album twice which, is very good. I bought one of their cassettes that came out in the early 90s.. and I did not enjoy it.
anthrax and It's not made for great men are my two favorite songs by them.
You are certainly right about the guitar player. Very influential. I don't think D Boon's or Steve Albini's guitar tones would've been the same without this cat.

atsonicpark · 11.25.2010, 12:28 PM

This album gets the nod just for the way he says "head down.. down to the floor" and the guitar afterwards.

The loose abstract dark feel of this album is wholly unique individual and brilliant.

I FEEL SAFE BEYOND THE CARES OF THE WORLD.

The bass in that song.. damn.

atsonicpark · 11.25.2010, 12:29 PM

Show Me A Ditch And I'll Dive In It.

11.24.2010, 02:55 PM	#1
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	SOLID GOLD by GANG OF FOUR 1981 on Warner/EMI ENTERTAINMENT! is widely regarded as Gang of Four's masterpiece, and with good reason... it's a masterful album, filled with classic songs... a tight-as-hell rhythm section, truly great lyrics (and I never pay attention to lyrics usually), unconventional songwriting, that weird and haunting melodica,dry production with loud bass, a great vocal performance (with multivocal interplay!), and...ONE OF THE GREATES GUITARS EVER! A true fucking guitar hero, inspiring a billion other post punk guitarists... in my opinion, not since Magic Band's Zoot Horn Rollo had their been such a truly unique, brilliant guitar player in the relative "underground". He was abrasive yet melodic, and sounded like he was about to go completely out of tune and fuck up the whole song any second.. but still amanged to keep it together. Some of the songs sounded like a "guitar solo", in a sense -- there soimetimes weren't any established "riffs", the guitarist just played what he wanted over the top for the whole song, sometimes never repeating at all, and it sounded great. ....well, this album is all those things, except it's way better, in my opinion... first of all, it's dark as hell; Entertainment! wasn't fairies and roses, but this album finds the band about a hundred times darker... the production is REALLY murky and evil, not since Wire's PINK FLAG had anyone heard an album this dark... and the songwriting is even looser and more unconventional, but it totally works. This band was all about taking risks (which probably explains why, after a certainn point, they released so much crap). Really, just have a listen to PARALYZED http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnieM... 28B4&index=48 this is, simply, one of my favorite songs, and maybe the best opening track ever recorded. In 3 minutes, it perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album (and the last song is just as good, kind of a sequel of sorts). I'm sure many people will reply saying they prefer Entertainment, but this album blows that one away in every way, imo. Though I've always wondered what the deal with that "ONE CHEESEBURGER TO GO!" sample was. Go to that site for media, that's on fire, and attach /?ayqjnomqgze to the end and you might just get a surprise!! __________________
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11.24.2010, 09:09 PM	#2
automatic bzooty invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,859	a damn good record. what we all want and if i could keep it for myself are constantly stuck in my head. i'm gonna go listen to it now.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.25.2010, 08:32 AM	#3
SpectralJulianIsNotDead invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,409	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY4gyk9puts I saw them a few years ago, and though most people said their reunion sucked, they were awesome in Pittsburgh. One of the most energetic bands (mostly because of King) I've ever seen.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.25.2010, 10:49 AM	#4
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	Listened to the first 3 albums/2 ep's/peel sessions last night. Though they suffer from Wire syndrome (as in, their early stuff is essential, groundbreaking, mindblowing, influential masterpieces of music... while their later stuff is forgettable -- though both bands would recently release albums that are worthy of their name once again, even if GoF's is a retread of old material), they made their mark. http://www.furious.com/perfect/gangoffour.html great interview. Really surprised more people aren't replying to this thread, honestly, I always assumed this band was extremely well liked here. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.25.2010, 11:14 AM	#5
SpectralJulianIsNotDead invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,409	Their new version of "We Live As we Dream Alone" is really great.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.25.2010, 12:24 PM	#6
finding nobody invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 7,275	I probably like Entertainment! better. But, this is solid ass record. you can tell they weren't trying to make the same album twice which, is very good. I bought one of their cassettes that came out in the early 90s.. and I did not enjoy it. anthrax and It's not made for great men are my two favorite songs by them. You are certainly right about the guitar player. Very influential. I don't think D Boon's or Steve Albini's guitar tones would've been the same without this cat.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.25.2010, 12:28 PM	#7
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	This album gets the nod just for the way he says "head down.. down to the floor" and the guitar afterwards. The loose abstract dark feel of this album is wholly unique individual and brilliant. I FEEL SAFE BEYOND THE CARES OF THE WORLD. The bass in that song.. damn. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.25.2010, 12:29 PM	#8
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	Show Me A Ditch And I'll Dive In It. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|