The Blue and White

Welcome to the newest feature of TBAW called 5 albums. From time to time I will post a list of five great albums that fit a particular theme or genre with a short description of each. This first installment will deal with albums under the punk-funk or dance-punk genre, a genre that started as an offshoot of the late 1970s post-punk scene. Bands of this ilk added rhythms and bass lines lifted directly from disco, funk, dub and Krautrock. Combined with their aggressive punk sound this created albums that you could groove to as easily as you could rock out to. Here are a few gems from this classic genre, and yes the Red Hot Chili Peppers were left off the list intentionally.

Minutemen – Paranoid Time EP

Double Nickels on the Dime is a far better album than this, but not only does this EP groove way harder, it’s just over six minutes long, so even if you hate it you won’t have wasted much time listening to it. It’s basically an extreme version of Wire (another great band but not funky enough for this list) with Bootsy Collins on bass. These guys were originally hated in the 80s hardcore scene for being too musically challenging, but at least they had the balls to try something new.

Gang of Four – Entertainment!

Twelve songs about how the rich exploit the poor. Oh, and did I mention that this is the most plagiarized album in all of punk and alternative rock? Think Steve Albini was the first with the scrap metal guitar tones? Nope. Think Fugazi were the first angular punk band? Nope. Think Bloc Party and countless other NME-post-punk revival bands based their entire recording career off this record? Yep. Think any of them were any good? Nope.

James Chance & the Contortions – Buy

Alright, now we’re starting to move into weird territory. The missing link between James Brown and NYC punk rock, frontman James Chance doesn’t sing as much as he yelps and squeals, and it helps that his rhythm section is the most powerful of any band here. Bonus points go to the fact they used a saxophone long before a bunch of lame indie bands explored the artistic boundaries set by Kenny G (I’m looking at you Destroyer, M83 and Bon Iver).

The Pop Group – Y

Less concerned with songwriting as they were with creating noise, the Pop Group were no doubt one of the most unique bands of the time. Mark Stewart outdoes James Chance at his own game, upping the ante for the role of demented lead singer. Instead of looking to James Brown for inspiration, he takes from Jamaican deejays, effortlessly riding along the loose jazzy-beat set by the his band. It’s the most out-there album on this list, but well worth a shot.

Public Image Ltd. – Metal Box

It’s the hardest album to dance to on the list, but easily the best. Every review I have ever read of this album goes into length on how Lydon was still “getting rid of the albatross” around his neck, but let’s not forget one thing: the songs are incredible. Bassist Jah Wobble is the true hero of this record, creating saturated bass lines that act as the perfect counterpart to Keith Levene’s textured guitar work. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s a Far More Interesting Band.

By Andrew Burton

5:06 PM: Aaron Boehlert here. The evening begins. Coffee urns are being set up in the corner, classical music plays, and there are couches and chairs grouped around a microphone on an Oriental rug. I wonder how they got those in here…

5:16 PM: Jacob Green here, just walking into the room. Wow! I’m gorgeous.

5:23 PM: Aaron Boehlert. Jacob Green has been successfully detained and I assure you he will not be contributing any more to the live blog. Eric Tweel walks into the room. He looks suspicious. Also #simplejack.

5:25 PM: Tweel left. Phew. He was starting to make people nervous.

5:32 PM: there is a group of TBAWers directly in front of me. We as a group might not smell great.

5:40 PM: Isaac Fish just shared some of his original poetry. Well done, sir.

5:41 PM: Dave Symmonds takes the stage. ‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Shelley. One of my favourites. Then ‘Journey of the Magi’ by T.S. Elliot. That is a looooong poem.

5:53 PM: JACOB GREEN STRIKES BACK! :P

5:57 PM: James Cheung just stopped by looking disheveled. Mr. Kawasoe is around, as are Messrs. Bauld and Dick. Jacob: heed this warning.

5:58 PM: Jeremy Foote is up to bat, reading a villanelle he wrote. Pretty good I guess… villanelles are so mainstream. Then OOOOOOLLLLDDD Walt (Whitman, that is) – ‘Beat Beat Drums.’

6:19 PM: just recited ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning. Not too long, just good.

6:35 PM: Will Rooney here, showing up just to leave again, waded through throngs of avid fans at the coffee house. I wouldn’t say it is deafening, but the admiring silence needs to be muzzled.

6:35 PM: I <3 cats -Nathaniel Sagman

6:36 PM:  Nathaniel Sagman signing on, I have no idea what this is, but it is my birthday, so if I do not get a wall post, or a follow on twitter (@NinjeaSagman) then I will break you

6:37 PM:  this is fun, a piece of advice:  never pet a burning dog

6:37 PM:  alright I’m done, have fun…Saggy out

6:37 PM: Eric Tweel here.

6:37 PM: Not sure if this is the right time. I think the clock’s broken

6:40 PM: or not

6:40 PM: Evan Coulter just recited some poetry. Good stuff.

6:46 PM: The music is good, apparently.

6:46 PM: Iceman has just stepped up to the stage to recite Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. (not the whole thing, of course)

6:48 PM: Great job. Whan that they were sake.

6:49 PM: Now “The Good Life” by John Dunn

6:50 Iceman moves on to “Beat Beat Drums,” by old man Whitman

7:03 PM: Burton steps up to the plate – ‘The Tyger’ by William Blake. Lovely and terrifying. – AB

7:12 PM: Graham Buckan just recited ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee’… brutal and delightful. Elliott just showed up in a tux, unable to tell me when the KR2 fight is… get it together, man.

7:32 PM: Dave Symmonds recites T. S. Elliot’s “Journey of the Magi”. It was outstanding!!

7:48 PM: Hey, James Macfarlane here to relieve Aaron of his duties.

7:51 PM: Just getting to know Spring Arts Night. Room looks open and conversational.

7:53 PM: Looks like things are winding down at Spring Arts Night. Signing off here. Excellent night.