The Strypes

DEFTLEFTHAND

Anybody listen to these Cavan guys? They're very young, all between the ages of 15 and 17 I think.

They've a nice little sound going, somewhat reminiscent of an early Rolling Stones. It's good to hear kids of that age pursuing the arts of songwriting and musicianship, especially in this era of the 'X Factor'.

SubBusted

They're a Late Late Show band.

NIMAN

They do sound good from what I have heard of them, really enjoy their genre of music.

Do they actually write their own songs too?

DEFTLEFTHAND

NIMAN wrote: »

They do sound good from what I have heard of them, really enjoy their genre of music.

Do they actually write their own songs too?

Yes they do write their own stuff, I've heard a few songs online. Afaik they haven't released a full album yet, that will be the test for them I suppose.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

SubBusted wrote: »

They're a Late Late Show band.

nice summary.

they're for people who think music should have stopped being made after 1969. i bet ya tubridy loves them.

they're only young lads though, might come out with great stuff in the future.

DEFTLEFTHAND

georgiecasey wrote: »

nice summary.

they're for people who think music should have stopped being made after 1969. i bet ya tubridy loves them.

they're only young lads though, might come out with great stuff in the future.

Well that's it they're only teens, it's too early to judge them or write them off as a 'LLS band' whatever that means. Personally I like their sound and I'll look forward to see how they evolve as a band overtime, providing of course that they stay together, which I hope they do.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Great potential in these lads, scary to see a group so young with such strong influences. Saw them in Whelans in December and they blew the roof off the place and can only imagine it was like seeing The Rolling Stones in a tiny venue in the early 60's. A lot of covers in their set, but the originals they did play were more than good enough.

Looking forward to their album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny-QRO77eG4

rgiller

Saw them at Other Voices in Dingle in December. THey're a funny bunch: all dressed the same (fully suited) but all different styles. Singer is Jaggeresque. Bass/harmonica guy is a nerdy Kinks type, lead guitarist is gothy and the drummer is generic modern trendy band member. They were annoyingly good at their respective instruments but I didn't like the content of their own stuff - crap lyrics and quite gimmicky. Talented no doubt but they need a bit more time

Epicness

Uninspiring pastiche of a 60s pastiche of the 50s. The **** I'm writing at the moment will blow these Late Late Show poseurs out of the water. Nothing to see here, move along. Did I mentioned they only have covers out so far. For an actual inventive appropriation of this sound, why not check out Palma Violets, Pond. or may be even.... the Rolling Stones.

TheFairy

Epicness wrote: »

Uninspiring pastiche of a 60s pastiche of the 50s. The **** I'm writing at the moment will blow these Late Late Show poseurs out of the water. Nothing to see here, move along. Did I mentioned they only have covers out so far. For an actual inventive appropriation of this sound, why not check out Palma Violets, Pond. or may be even.... the Rolling Stones.

Nothing to see here? All over NME and featuring on Jools Holland on 9th April. Pffft!!!!

lewisdhead

I like their sound and style. I do think their original song "Blue Collar Jane" is a bit weak lyrically. But they are only 15/16 yrs old. Give them time to develop and grow. They are getting a lot of exposure, and a lot of big names talking them up. Hopefully it doesn't go to their heads. Stay grounded and the could have a big future.

Looper007

Epicness wrote: »

Uninspiring pastiche of a 60s pastiche of the 50s. The **** I'm writing at the moment will blow these Late Late Show poseurs out of the water. Nothing to see here, move along. Did I mentioned they only have covers out so far. For an actual inventive appropriation of this sound, why not check out Palma Violets, Pond. or may be even.... the Rolling Stones.

The old Irish blow hards out in force i see. Knocking Irish success acts is always a hip thing to do.

I think they are great mixture of Dr Feelgood with early Jam, great musicians for their age, i like their choice of covers and shows they know what they are doing. By the way most of their released stuff isn't covers so they you are smarty pants. Best thing to come out of Ireland in a while. lets rejoice in them plus they dress good. whats not to love.

NIMAN

Think they did very well for themselves on JH Show

These guys have a big career ahead of them.

The Gibzilla

Epicness wrote: »

Uninspiring pastiche of a 60s pastiche of the 50s. The **** I'm writing at the moment will blow these Late Late Show poseurs out of the water. Nothing to see here, move along. Did I mentioned they only have covers out so far. For an actual inventive appropriation of this sound, why not check out Palma Violets, Pond. or may be even.... the Rolling Stones.

Very immature post which stinks of begrudgery but all the best with the **** you're writing.

I don't like to generalise but Irish musicians (in particular unsuccessful ones) tend to be quite nasty to those who seem to be "getting ahead" in music.

I think these lads are good. They can play, they have an image and they have a sound (albeit one that has been done 1000's of times but where's the harm in doing it once more!) There's a bit of a novelty/nostalgic act with them at the moment but if it helps them to get their foot in the door of the industry then fairplay to them.
They've clever management behind them, who've wrangled them a good record deal so I'm afraid the people standing on the sidelines hoping that The Strypes will fail look set to be bitterly disappointed.

Call me Al

I was really looking forward to seeing these lads on Jools holland Friday night and I must say they didn't let me down. Thoroughly enjoyed their set, their performance and their style. They got a great reception for the audience and other performers.

They were on with Tom Dunne in the morning and they are a sound bunch of lads, with a mountain of talent just waiting to be developed. The trick for them now is to get the right help and it sounds like they are on the right track with Chris Thomas. They are so young that I just hope they can stay grounded.

Irish Aris

Saw them last Thursday at Olympia, they played a few songs for the Barretstown charity gig.
I was really impressed. As said, they are very young and have room to develop, but the energy on stage is superb!!

Definitely ones to watch.

madness98

To be honest not the worst band I've ever heard of but I think they do sound pretty generic.

rcaz

I find it hard to listen to lads singing about how their baby done them wrong before they've done their Leaving Cert.

thesultan

Maybe they didn't get the shift?

Pighead

rcaz wrote: »

I find it hard to listen to lads singing about how their baby done them wrong before they've done their Leaving Cert.

You're over-complicating matters. It's all about the music maaaaaan. If you heard a song on the radio for the first time and you thought it was absolutely fantastic would you change your opinion of it later on if you found out they were youngsters?

Doesn't matter what age they are if they can deliver the goods.

Anyway young teenagers can fall in love and get their hearts broken too. Pighead spent three days in his room crying his eyes out back in 1990 when his first girlfriend Betty Brennan kissed 'Smooth' Seanie O'Shaugnessy behind Danno's Dooley's haybarn.

Looking back, Pighead probably should have wrote an album about it rather than cry for three days solid.

The Gibzilla

Pighead wrote: »

Anyway young teenagers can fall in love and get their hearts broken too. Pighead spent three days in his room crying his eyes out back in 1990 when his first girlfriend Betty Brennan kissed 'Smooth' Seanie O'Shaugnessy behind Danno's Dooley's haybarn.

My condolences "that yo' baby thapt gone and done yo' wrong" Pighead, hopefully 'Smooth' Seanie is rampant with STI's now!

But I agree with your post. Are these lads supposed to wait around 'til they're "of age" before they're allowed to write a song?

If they had a typical, modern indie look off them instead of the 60's rhythm and blues image and wrote the same song people would more than likely dismiss them as an Arctic Monkeys tribute band. You can't win.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Does every artist have to have lived the lyrics to perform it adequately? Whether they play covers or originals, these kids play the **** out of what in my opinion is the most exciting genre of music there has ever been (rhythm and blues) and you can tell they absolutely love it so fair deuce to them.

Fabo

i saw them when they started out in cavan (just for the record)

blue collar jane is not a good song. what the people dont see is a better tune musically and lyrically , it was bad management to put BCJ as the a - side.

there is a girl band from dublin right now who are writing much better songs , better than anyone else in fact , albeit ill qualify that by saying 95% of contemporary music (signed and unsigned) is not at the races so anybody who's musically literate, has a bit of wit and who tries can write music better than the feeble 95% .

you do have to be a little careful with the strypes though, they are still too young to judge but they have a firm grasp of musical theory (probably sub-conscious but thats ok, the beatles had a subconscious grasp in the early days too) and culture which will stand to them in a few years. its not always about heartache and blues.....johnny marr wrote the music for charming man when he was 18/19.

Epicness

Looper007 wrote: »

The old Irish blow hards out in force i see. Knocking Irish success acts is always a hip thing to do.

The Gibzilla wrote: »

Very immature post which stinks of begrudgery but all the best with the **** you're writing.

I don't like to generalise but Irish musicians (in particular unsuccessful ones) tend to be quite nasty to those who seem to be "getting ahead" in music.

Not true at all I am not a typical Irish begrudger, I hate that attitude usually, I am just not a fan of this. I respect that they are good musicians though. I spend far to much time hoping for great new Irish bands to oome up and do well and wish nothing more for a band and I do my best to promote new bands too.
Btw thanks The Gibzilla for the well wishes.

Fabo wrote: »

i saw them when they started out in cavan (just for the record)

there is a girl band from dublin right now who are writing much better songs , better than anyone else in fact , albeit ill qualify that by saying 95% of contemporary music (signed and unsigned) is not at the races so anybody who's musically literate, has a bit of wit and who tries can write music better than the feeble 95% .

Who are they? I'd love to hear them!!

Naessens

There is no denying that they can play their instruments. But their whole 60's style feels really forced. In most of their band's photo's they have these stern, almost world-weary looks on their faces. Only one of them ever seems to smile,and their 15-17!

That's what gets to me. Their attempt at being mature way past their age. I personally think that the could have done with a few more years to develop. Especially in the lyrics side of things. Blue Collar Jane is pretty woeful, and i'd say it's because they have no experience of what they're writing about.

I think if their music was a little bit more punky and with lyrics a la The Undertones "Teenage Kicks" or Supertramp's "Girlfriend" it would be more believable.

At the moment, for me anyway, they feel like an enforced charade. That coupled with Blue Collar Jane's undeserved hype has led me to dislike them.

I think once they are as mature as their music is trying to be they will become a much better band. Definitely one to keep an eye on. At the moment, to me, they are a gimmick.

And he really needs to lose those shades. :cool:

mikom

Needs more drugs..........

ElvisChrist6

I'm really into that style of R&B, but I find them quite lacking. In saying that, they are young and might get better, but I think they got such a hype way too quickly, which might stop them progressing if they get complacent. Weller loves them, they had a spread in Mojo a while back. There's just nothing special about them like there was with the Kinks or the Stones or the Yardbirds.

I saw them in the Workman's awhile ago, playing some radio thing; I went for Fionn Regan, but everytime they passed they'd nod to me because they thought I was there for them as I dress in a sorta mod style. I thought they might be good, young mods, but they just weren't interesting. They're fine for playing in a club, but they've not got enough originality. The hype has been way too soon, I hope it dies down until they can get better. Fair play to them all the same though

Edit: I also agree wholeheartedly with Naessens!

Denalihighway

Look the fact is there is nothing particularly exciting here musically. That's not begrudgery, that's reality, so spare me the 'typical begrudger' tag like lots of people throw out.

Every so often this musical rehash thing grabs people's attention. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it but it's got no substance in the long run. Who will be talking about Imelda May or Alabama Shakes in a years time? Mumford and Sons? Seasick Steve? All great acts but all pastiche bands.

What IS very impressive about them is their musicality, stage poise and maturity at such a young age. I'm very impressed by that. That's about it. You don't get marks from me for dressing and sounding like the Kinks or whatever band you want to insert here.

The 'big new thing' / 'fresh new sound'...etc tag is, I'm sorry, usually bestowed on bands like this by either youngsters, the musically naive or of course, people like Hotpress desperate for headlines. If it's 'fresh' it's because we haven't heard it in a while...but it's all been done before.

I don't want to sound miserable - seriously I'm all for people supporting these fun young lads and everyone giving it socks, I hope they have a great time and get as much out of it as they can but musically it's just well...boring to me.

We live in a small country with a small pond dominated for too long by white boys singing rock songs - I was one of them once upon a time. Things are finally getting interesting now that the first serious wave of immigrants are getting out there and bringing about an interesting fusion of musical styles. Like New York, London etc...have been doing for eons. Now that's interesting...

PS...I'm not writing them off. They've plenty of time to get interesting!

Fabo

naeseens hit the nail on the head.

i was kinda hoping they wouldnt make it too big too soon, but thats what happened. the sound they have now has little nuance in it , its too hard hitting and blunt which is probably down to their young age.

Epicness

Denalihighway wrote: »

Look the fact is there is nothing particularly exciting here musically. That's not begrudgery, that's reality, so spare me the 'typical begrudger' tag like lots of people throw out.

Every so often this musical rehash thing grabs people's attention. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it but it's got no substance in the long run. Who will be talking about Imelda May or Alabama Shakes in a years time? Mumford and Sons? Seasick Steve? All great acts but all pastiche bands.

What IS very impressive about them is their musicality, stage poise and maturity at such a young age. I'm very impressed by that. That's about it. You don't get marks from me for dressing and sounding like the Kinks or whatever band you want to insert here.

The 'big new thing' / 'fresh new sound'...etc tag is, I'm sorry, usually bestowed on bands like this by either youngsters, the musically naive or of course, people like Hotpress desperate for headlines. If it's 'fresh' it's because we haven't heard it in a while...but it's all been done before.

I don't want to sound miserable - seriously I'm all for people supporting these fun young lads and everyone giving it socks, I hope they have a great time and get as much out of it as they can but musically it's just well...boring to me.

We live in a small country with a small pond dominated for too long by white boys singing rock songs - I was one of them once upon a time. Things are finally getting interesting now that the first serious wave of immigrants are getting out there and bringing about an interesting fusion of musical styles. Like New York, London etc...have been doing for eons. Now that's interesting...

PS...I'm not writing them off. They've plenty of time to get interesting!

I'm very excited to hear the cultural influence and new sounds the immigrant wave has brought to Ireland. We have definitely been lacking in that department compared to the cities you mentioned. Do you have any such artists you'd recommend?


Also I wonder what would happen to their sound if you gave The Strypes acid? lel

Fabo

has anybody heard the new tune ? i think its even worse than blue collar jane - the lyrics are really bad. be interesting to see how long the hype will keep their career going.

i read recently about suede and animal nitrate - where there was a lot of hype about them and then they released this single which completely lived up to the hype and instantly eliminated any detractors.

the strypes really need a song like this but i dont see it coming

lewisdhead

Fabo wrote: »

has anybody heard the new tune ? i think its even worse than blue collar jane - the lyrics are really bad. be interesting to see how long the hype will keep their career going.

Personally I think it's a vast improvement on Blue Collar Jane, and lyrically it's decent. I like the line abiut "missing the jab, but hit with the hook". I dont like the "TTTripping" and "SSSlipping" bits. It's a bit "My Generation", not that that's too bad.

leakyboots

Fun fact, they're managed by the same guys who manage Rubberbandits

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Big fan of these lads, seen them twice live and love their influences so they hold out a lot of promise. Thought Blue Collar Jane was a great tune too, however the new song sounds pretty naive. If I didn't know anything else about them or had not seen them live I wouldn't think much of it. They also didn't play that song at either of the gigs I have seen (one which was very recently), sounds like it was written in a hurry.

Can't be too critical considering their age and how fast things are moving for them, lets just hope they have a decent first album, earn them a bit of breathing space.

Really are a band you have to see play live to appreciate though.

Flunch

The Strypes are playing the Academy on the 19th of September. I just got tickets, type of band you need to see live I reckon

Mick Murdock

Like where they are coming from, and cool that young lads are influenced by some of the greatest bands ever, but other than being great musicians for their age, they have very little going for them. Sounding and looking like a band from the 60's is relatively simple, writing songs like bands from the 60's is a completely different thing.

A whole lot of averageness, but good luck to them.

tedobrien98

I am looking forward to their album in September, Snapshot. I am seriously worried that it won't live up to the hype, but I really hope it does. For their own sake really because they've dropped out of school like so what else have they going for them? If it doesn't work out they'll end up playing weddings or something...

The whole thing needs to be done very carefully, they haven't really got anything to fall back on.

Even though the lyrics of Blue Collar Jane are poor enough, I think it was best to have that as the A-side because it's a relatively catchy, riff driven tune.

Lyrics of Hometown Girls and the new one What a shame are a great improvement I think. Still a good way to go til they live up to all this craic about them being the next big thing, Beatles, Stones etc. but lets hope that they have saved some good stuff for the album and not to be relying on the previous singles for the success of it.

8 of 14 songs were original on Please Please Me, 7 of 14 were original on With the Beatles. I'm just putting it out there. The Beatles are in my opinion the best band ever and I won't be persuaded otherwise. I'm not trying to feed this idea that they're a new Beatles or Stones but I'm just saying that an album half filled with covers isn't necessarily a disaster. The deal they have with Mercury is for 5 albums as far as I know so just think of what the Beatles were doing 5 albums later... Help, then to Rubber Soul, then to Revolver, and we know what happened after Revolver!!! Again, not buying into this stuff about them being the next Beatles, but a lot can change in a few years and it's hard not to hope it doesn't go to their heads and that these lads do well, if you have any kind of a heart at all!!! :P

LOTD

Are they good or just good for their age. They have lots of time to develop, but I find them musically a little heavy handed. I don't mind bands showing there influences, but to the point of dressing like them it can be a little bit of overkill.

Fabo

tedobrien98 wrote: »

I am looking forward to their album in September, Snapshot. I am seriously worried that it won't live up to the hype, but I really hope it does. For their own sake really because they've dropped out of school like so what else have they going for them? If it doesn't work out they'll end up playing weddings or something...

The whole thing needs to be done very carefully, they haven't really got anything to fall back on.

Even though the lyrics of Blue Collar Jane are poor enough, I think it was best to have that as the A-side because it's a relatively catchy, riff driven tune.

Lyrics of Hometown Girls and the new one What a shame are a great improvement I think. Still a good way to go til they live up to all this craic about them being the next big thing, Beatles, Stones etc. but lets hope that they have saved some good stuff for the album and not to be relying on the previous singles for the success of it.

8 of 14 songs were original on Please Please Me, 7 of 14 were original on With the Beatles. I'm just putting it out there. The Beatles are in my opinion the best band ever and I won't be persuaded otherwise. I'm not trying to feed this idea that they're a new Beatles or Stones but I'm just saying that an album half filled with covers isn't necessarily a disaster. The deal they have with Mercury is for 5 albums as far as I know so just think of what the Beatles were doing 5 albums later... Help, then to Rubber Soul, then to Revolver, and we know what happened after Revolver!!! Again, not buying into this stuff about them being the next Beatles, but a lot can change in a few years and it's hard not to hope it doesn't go to their heads and that these lads do well, if you have any kind of a heart at all!!! :P

Some good points there, but having done a bit of research into the beatles influences, I see a big difference between the strypes and the fab four. The Beatles started out doing songs like this :

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

and this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD3QRSZ3WGM

There are many other examples, but the point is that these songs are far removed from the 12 bar blues blueprint, and contain many of the songwriting ideas and chord changes that they would later use. The Strypes are mainly schooled in 12 bar heavy blues stomps, and their own songs dont contain many chords. They really only have a small palette when it comes to writing their own songs and that could be their downfall. There's only so much mileage you can get out of 3/4 chord stomps. Personally, I think thats why Ive lost interest in them, but I hope that the other songs on the album will have a few new sounds - they need to be trying something different with the other originals on the album.

The Beatles were the best band ever because they could put their hand to any music style and put their own stamp on it. The range of material on their first 2 albums is breathtaking, could you imagine a band doing that nowadays - No way.

Dubhthamlacht

I seen The Stypes play on the back of a lorry in Baileborough a few years ago. If anyone had told me they'd be as big now I'd have laughed my ass off. Super talented musicians (they kill a lot of bands way older than them in that repsect), but the songs are rubbish. Meat and two potato rock, lacking decent melodies or hooks. Dreadful stuff - I've heard the new album and it's done nothing to change my mind about them. Maybe in time as they grow older, they'll gain some measure of song writing ability, but for now it's a large 'meh'. Shamefull that this is what gets picked up to be signed to a big label while vastly more talented local acts are left pluggging away unsigned. Just goes to show what a load of money, media and managerial connections will get ya.

Fabo

yeah one wonders how they'd get on if they started out in their twenties. I think the novelty factor of their ages meant less critical analysis of their songwriting

iomega

Fabo wrote: »

yeah one wonders how they'd get on if they started out in their twenties. I think the novelty factor of their ages meant less critical analysis of their songwriting

Agreed.

Prettyblack

The Strypes, man I just don't know. I mean, good musicians, but what's the point? The studied look. The clothes. The videos. The covers. I think they are an aging mod's wet dream really. They aren't offering anything new. At least Oasis on their first album married trad rock with punk and came up with something interesting. You'd be better of going to the originals as they were at least "real".

The Beatles always vastly improved the songs they covered - go and listen to any of the original versions and the Beatles version knocks them out of the park. That's from playing 100s of hours in Hamburg and the Cavern before they were even signed. The Strypes are doing it cos someone told them it was cool.

Its like that other godawful band, The Thrills - how they "decided" to learn and copy the soft-rock California sound. Rather than it actually being something natural and evolutionary.

And who's going to buy the Strypes anyway? Old guys? Going to buy music made by 17 year olds? Teenagers? They'd prefer One Direction anyday!

guy5

Anyone going to see these guys on the 19th in the Academy?

Jofspring

Saw them at Rock Im Park in Germany and was really impressed with them. With a bigger crowd they would have really had the place rocking.

tedobrien98

Does anyone know if the vinyl copies of Snapshot come with a digital download? Y'know the way there'd often be a little card inside it with a code for a free download.

Fabo

dont know.

i got the deluxe version only because i think delilah is one of the best things they do. i listened to it all the way through and tbh , it gets a bit tiring listening to the same riff track after track. the album is crying out for a ballad or something like "do you want to know a secret" or "baby its you" from please please me - just to give some relief from the tense riffs and chord changes. dont think i will be buying anything else from them after this . the album will probably sit on my shelf - maybe perfect storm will get the odd play.

it seems most of the media wanted to satisfy elton and gave it big plaudits , only the IT did a fair review
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-strypes-snapshot-1.1517361

purplepanda

Comparing The Strypes with the early Stones, Who Beatles and others is way off the mark, the Stones had 2 members in their mid 20's plus when they made their 1st LP & that was all cover versions.

There's no bands that I know of (apart from manufactured product) that young who have made a debut LP, even The Small Faces were much older.

In the internet age it's possible to get publicity & interest very quickly compared to playing the clubs for years building a following, once the Flat Lake performance was out there it was just a matter of time.

The Strypes playing covers is way better than most bands playing local pubs or average struggling Indie bands IMO. But it will take them 5 years to make a album that will compare favourably to their influences.

At least the younger generations have an alternative to Simon Cowell & his evil "product", hopefully it's the change that many have been waiting a while for :pac:

NIMAN

The band "Hot Sprockets" on the Late Late last night reminded me of the Strypes, although slightly older.

thesultan

yeah liked them

purplepanda

purplepanda wrote: »

Comparing The Strypes with the early Stones, Who Beatles and others is way off the mark, the Stones had 2 members in their mid 20's plus when they made their 1st LP & that was all cover versions.

There's no bands that I know of (apart from manufactured product) that young who have made a debut LP, even The Small Faces were much older.

In the internet age it's possible to get publicity & interest very quickly compared to playing the clubs for years building a following, once the Flat Lake performance was out there it was just a matter of time.

The Strypes playing covers is way better than most bands playing local pubs or average struggling Indie bands IMO. But it will take them 5 years to make a album that will compare favourably to their influences.

At least the younger generations have an alternative to Simon Cowell & his evil "product", hopefully it's the change that many have been waiting a while for :pac:

Silverchair released their first album Frogstomp when they were only 15. It's far better than the rather generic and mundane stuff I've heard from The Strypes, who seem to be a band that people are embracing simply because of their age and the fact that they are playing something a little less mainstream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF33EJ85-1I