- Posted by Scott S -
Today it seems many of us are quick to catch on to anything with an old sound. This is the natural proclivity for nostalgia that the human ear contains and it’s great. But it seems like every other act that comes out is doing their best to sound like a 70’s postpunk band. It’s a trend and it will pass and the emulations will pointed in another direction, but while the current climate of rock music is on the subject, take a second and check out some of these actual post punk bands/songs. (for those who may not know, Post Punk was the era of music that came after Punk and just before New Wave, Post Punk embodies many traits from both genres)
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Venus by Television (Go here to play the song in it’s entirety - Click here to view album in iTunes)
Featured as the second cut off Television’s 1977 debut album Marquee Moon. Tom Verlaines wonderfully awkward vocal style is enough to make any hipster put down their Clap Your Hands Say Yeah CD and pickup Marquee Moon. Venus contains all the essential elements of post punk: Punk rock roots using driving guitars, but new wave pop sensibilities. Venus is simply one track off Marquee Moon worth hearing. The whole record is great.
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Shot By Both Sides by Magazine
Formed by ex-buzzcocks co-founder Howard Devoto, Magazine only existed for three years but put out some phenomenal material in this time. Appearing on Magazine’s 1978 debut album Real Life, Shot By Both Sides is a borderline surf rock tune. The guitar lines hark back to Dick Dale but the music is post punk at its finest. As a manchester band, Magazine was perfectly in keeping with the scene. They can at times sound like Joy Division but slightly lighter. Magazine remain one of the best kept secrets of the Manchester movement (see the film 24 Hour Party People), however having been covered by the likes of Radiohead and Morrissey, Magazine’s fusion of avant garde pop, punk, and new wave has not gone unnoticed.
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Black and White Town by Doves
While not a traditional post punk band, Doves hails from the 80’s manchester scene which makes them good enough candidates. Formed in 1985 Doves started as a punkinfluenced, New Wave Dance band. However in 1995 they disbanded. Luckily 1998 saw Doves reborn as a new band. Maintaining the same lineup throughout their career, Doves released Some Cities in 2005 to widely praised critical acclaim. The first single was Black and White town. Mixing a driving 60’s piano hook with punk rock guitars, and a catchy melody, Doves melds all sorts of styles on Some Cities, and more than once brings punk and new wave together in the tradition of Post Punk. Most definitely a record worth checking out.