The Stranglers have been my favourite band for 44 years, and I've probably heard 'No More Heroes' several thousand times. It's one of the best and most iconic punk songs ever, and it's so strange and oddly refreshing seeing someone hear it and react to it for the first time. Glad you liked it, and you must explore further! I can't imagine going through life without having the Stranglers' music as a big part of it.
Oh man Nick, you are so lucky! I wish I could be discovering the Stranglers for the first time. I'm not sure why but I'd assumed you knew this band already. "No More Heroes" was the first Stranglers single I bought with my pocket money all those years ago and I've seen them play a few times. Never saw them at their peak though as I was too young. It's hard to make recommendations as there are so many great tracks but this would have been one of them. Try "Go Buddy Go", "Duchess", "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)", "Nuclear Device" and all of the "Rattus Norvegicus" album. You are in for a treat, you lucky laddie!
BOOGIE!!! Was the first word i heard being yelled out of his mouth on Top Of The Pops. I was 14. The band was The Stranglers. The song was Go Buddy Go. The memorable performance is on RU-vid
To my mind, they just can't be pigeonholed. They are my favourite band. It really is like being part of a cult-in the best possible way. The most underrated and criminally overlooked band ever. It was unfair on them but I would have disliked them to be the go to cool, outsider band like Nirvana, the Smiths, Radiohead et al. They're way cooler than that.
Loved the post punk, new wave of the late 70's and with bands like 'Stranglers', 'Undertones', 'Buzzcocks' & 'The Only Ones' you can't go wrong, there is so much to discover but discover you must... Nice reaction as always, just wish more delved into this kind of music...
Yet again your exploring another great band The Stranglers, their big hit was “Golden Brown” personally I always loved “Nice ‘n’ Sleazy” and “Vladimir & the beast” - Part 3 they do a fantastic version of the Burt Bacharach song “Walk On By” which is well worth a listen
First Album I ever Bought was Black and White. If I remember Rightly , Walk on Bye came with it on a White Coloured EP. Hell I wish I'd Kept It. 59 Now.
Punk was a raw garage band sound which you could easily attribute to The Stranglers. Sure, Cornwell has tried to distance the band from punk because they saw themselves as more rock 'n' roll merging into new wave, but everyone knew they were a pub punk band in the 70s.
Pick any song from their first 4 albums or indeed albums 15, 16 or 17 and you'll be in for a treat. Their sound changes all through their career, but oddly retains their core sound. One of the greatest bands ever imho. New record out in Sept. Great review of no more heroes by the way.
The stranglers were incredible..one of the best bands to emerge from the punk era..Cornwall had an amazing voice and Dave greenfield was one of the best keyboard players ever..the stranglers were all amazing musicians..I can’t believe you have not listened to them before wtf
First punk band I got into with there first album in 1977 but they were such more than a punk band they changed with every subsequent album for the next few years
Love the stranglers since picking up Rattus Norvegicus on its release. To me they are the best band ever!! The variety of style and the track construction the way the base and keyboards weave in and out is superb. Hard to pick top tracks as there are so many, but Down in the Sewer is right up as one of my favs ...RIp Dave...genius!
Hugh was a big fan of Goucho marx and was in the states during promotion for the first album and went down to Mexico to see Trotsky's office in Mexico city during this visit Marx died and then Elvis Pressley and these deaths of one his personal hero and then Pressley a global icon gave him the inspiration to write the song.
1. If you thought Hugh's voice was gruff, check out one of JJ's songs with even harsher vocals, e.g London Lady 2. The Stranglers transitional "neither punk nor pop era" is especially rewarding (the albums Raven & MenInBlack and the non-album singles) - lots of unusual rhythms, electronics, low-budget-special-effects 3. Of course we have to mention the Stranglers penchant for "calculatedly obnoxious" songs - good dirty fun for those who truly despise pro-censorship activists, e.g: I Feel Like A Wog, School Mam, Ugly etc
Strictly speaking they weren't a punk band, but were associated with that movement. Had their first hit in 1977 I think. They almost got to number one in the UK with Golden Brown in February 1982 - they claimed it should have been at that position but were denied by some clever marketing of Town Called Malice by The Jam's record label!
Very interesting review mate,. . . just in case you didn't know, regarding your comments on Hugh's singing. one of Hugh's solo albums was named. . 'Wolf' ;). . also. . the very first time I ever heard this I went. 'Whhoooaahhh' as well. Nice one
When the music was good, the songs told stories,band's could play instruments, singer's could sing, and kid's had more than a 2 minute concentration span,we could wait for the climax, not expecting instant gratification at every second,(geez I'm gettin' old)
To get that fat bass sound punch some holes in yer speaker🎶 the kinks done it on you really got me wi the guitar👌 punk is reaction were as new wave was the message disguised in order to achieve industry success..
Great call that. I remember as i kid being completely blown away by the whole album, but that song in particular, got me into the Bass guitar. That Bass solo to the song exit..... man oh man is just mind-blowing.
The intro is actually played on the Bass Guitar! By Jj Burnell. Watch any live gig to see for yourself Hugh Cornwell left the band early 80s, after, basically, he had a row with JJ. Yet Hugh formed the band, and asked JJ to join it in the beginning. JJ Burnell (Jean Jacques Burnell-he's half French-French mother I believe) is an accomplished black belt in Karate, and opened his own dojo at one point, training young people.
Reaction request to Safe from harm by Massive Attack. Frontman and former graffiti artist 3D is strongly rumoured to be the famous street artist Banksy so will be fun to look into this further.
You looked truly intrigued by some of the sounds invading your brain, this is the sound of my youth, this is the anarchy of the time, no electronic manipulation of the voice, true venom in the lyrics and real adoration in them too, complexity of the song writers mind . You did well young man getting the nuances of us "OLD" bastards😁 or in old London vernacular... "The Boy dun good!!"👍
First time listener to you channel. Subbing now. Read the "About" section of channel, and I appreciate what you are doing. Have you thought about creating a community on the channel, perhaps to do polls, post comments, etc. Good reaction; I will be back.
The Stranglers “punk”? They were given that label but each and every member of the band could play their instruments. Brilliant band I’ve seen too many times to remember. Dave Greenfield now sadly missed.
The amazing intro is played by JJ with the bass and not with obvious guitar. Nobody could touch them at that time and the only problems was that they liked literally to kick ass to so many journalists. It turned out it doesn't help in order to become big sell everybody's darling but who cares.
Love the Stranglers. Like others have already said, I wouldn't consider them punk either. Unique sound, subject matter, and aesthetics that have stood the test of time. As for your M Friday, considering his birthday was last Saturday, it's only fitting you do 'It's Not Your Birthday Anymore." Some of his darkest lyrics and most ambitious vocals ever.
Interesting you associated Cornwell's voice with a wolf... That is the title of one, if not the first, of his solo albums after leaving the group.... Wolf
