Archive for the ‘british’ tag

The Handsome Devilz: Girlfriend In A Coma

What I love about the Handsome Devilz is that they are the least pretentious musicians I have ever met. They know they’re talented and have had success in other bands playing their own music, but they absolutely love The Smiths and Morrissey and dedicate a night a month covering their heroes at the Abbey Pub. Lisa and I are big fans of their night “The Queen Is Dead” and look forward to hosting their after show party on the last Thursday of every month. If you go to the show this week, remember that Atomic is free with a wristband or ticket stub from the Abbey and you’ll get to hear Guest DJ Arturo spin a Smiths/Morrissey set!

Placebo: Bigmouth Strikes Again

Somewhere back in the ’90s, I drug a handful of friends to a Placebo show in St. Louis. Having only ever heard their solitary US hit “Pure Morning”, they were skeptical, and I can hardly blame them. I don’t much care for that song; to me it is to Placebo what “Vaseline” is to Flaming Lips fans: an annoyance that requires so many “no but really, their other stuff is so much more than that” explanations.

I’m proud to say that my friends left the show that night as Placebo fans, and henceforth trusted my judgement about these sorts of things.

Despite the little airplay they get here in the States, thankfully they’ve attracted enough of a cult following to tour here every few years. I always go see them, and -I can’t say this about too many bands- they’ve always gotten better. One of the things one comes to expect from their encores is a cover of someone who has influenced them; I’m quite fond of what they’ve done to The Pixies and Kate Bush. But since this week we are providing the afterparty for The Queen Is Dead (details to your right), it seemed more fitting to post their rocked-out version of The Smiths’ classic “Bigmouth Strikes Again” from their collection of covers Sleeping With Ghosts. Though not necessarily as good or true to the original, their take on it is worth noting.

Placebo on Amazon
Official Website

Electronic: Getting Away With It

In honor of the New Order tribute this week at Atomic, I present Electronic. Electronic served as a side-project of New Order lead singer Bernard Sumner. Joining forces with him was ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, both sharing a mutual love for both electronic (obviously) and house music.

This likely combo also dragged along Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys for the ride on their 1989 debut single “Getting Away with It.” Rumor has it that the lyrics of the song were a parody on Morrissey’s lyrics and public interviews, including the chorus: “However I look / It’s clear to see / I love you more than you love me.”

The first Electronic album of the same name is ranked highly among my favorite work of Sumner and is definitely worth pursuit if you are new to the band.

Hear this song and other New Order related tracks this week on Thursday, February 4th for Atomic at Neo… See you in the dark.

Electronic on Amazon

New Order: Tribute at Neo 2/4/10

I  still get excited every year when we do our New Order Tribute Night. It’s not only a chance for us to play a bunch of New Order that we don’t normally play at Atomic, but it’s now one of the few times a year that I indulge in the brilliance of one of the most influential bands over the last thirty years.

The two songs here represent two completely different New Order styles, but they share that sentimental touch that ties the history of the band together. “Dreams Never End” is from their debut album Movement. Musically, the album still had a Joy Division feel to it, but it laid the ground work that turned them into international pop stars later in the decade. It’s one of the few New Order songs with Peter Hook on vocals. Listen to Dreams Never End (1982) and then The Cure’s Inbetween Days (1985). Trust me. The second song, “Here to Stay” was recorded for the 24 Hour Party People Soundtrack in 2002 and was dedicated to Martin Hannett (Joy Division/New Order producer), Rob Gretton (Joy Division/New Order manager), and Ian Curtis (Joy Division lead vocalist).

New Order Online [official fansite]

OMD: Sugar Tax

Sugar Tax was essentially a solo album released by Andrew McCluskey under the name OMD in 1991. Paul Humphreys left the band in 1989 and was followed by longtime members Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes, stemming from their unhappiness over the band becoming increasingly commercial. In addition, Graham and Neil Weir, who joined the band in 1985 and contributed to OMD’s mainstream success, left after disputes over their roles in the band. Surprisingly, Sugar Tax was a success in the UK and received attention in the States as well. Although it was missing many elements of what made OMD so great, the album included many memorable tracks such as “Sailing on the Seven Seas” and “Pandora’s Box”. McCluskey released two more albums as OMD (Liberator and Universal) before calling it quits. However, McCluskey, Humphreys, Holmes, and Cooper re-united in 2006, and have consistently toured since. OMD announced plans for a new album (History of Modern) to be released sometime in 2010.

Official OMD Website
Sugar Tax on Amazon

Fiction Factory: (Feels Like) Heaven

A Scottish band of New Romantics, Fiction Factory were best known for their 1984 top 10 UK hit “(Feels Like) Heaven” from their debut album Throw the Warped Wheel Out. They were recognized for writing melancholy pop songs and vocalist Kevin Patterson sounds frighteningly similar to Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory in my opinion.

The song was most recently revived only to be featured in a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups television advertisement. Go figure such a tragic end for such a bittersweet piece of the new wave story. “(Feels Like) Heaven” remains a personal favorite of mine & holds a special place in my dark little heart.

Recommended for fans of Ultravox, Japan & Freur.

Throw the Warped Wheel Out on Amazon

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