Scottish bands

Dudess · 17-02-2008 9:27pm #1

If, like me, you consider bonnie Scotland to be an utter hotbed of musical brilliance, you'll be extremely happy that BBC4 is showing the long overdue documentary Caledonia Dreamin' - a history of Scottish pop.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/listings/programme.shtml?day=friday&filename=20080222/20080223_0055_4544_26536_60&service_id=4544

Sadly it's only a one-off, therefore many, many greats have to be left out, but I'm pretty darn chuffed that there's gonna be a major chunk devoted to the story of Postcard Records which gave us the poptastic likes of Orange Juice and Altered Images.
OJ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBikNb5oEcU
AI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXL20PtSkjQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0BoRMuEh2c
As a little kid in the early 80s I absolutely adored Altered Images, who were girly but with a bit of a darker edge (kinda like me

). And I just wanted to be their lead singer Clare Grogan. I even called my doll after her - or at least what I thought she was called: "Alter Dimages"

So, Scotland. Scored an own goal by giving us Wet Wet Wet, Deacon Blue, Del Amitri and rowdy pub favourite 500 Miles by The Proclaimers.
Gave us acts who got it both right and wrong: Simple Minds circa '80 - fabtabulous; Simple Minds circa '90 - tedious pomp rock.
Sheena Easton - at first, awful middle-of-the-road blandness, but then she teamed up with Prince and got all sexah and edgy.
Big Country - utter classics like In A Big Country and Look Away, but then the stuff that's... not very good.
And then there's the stuff that is good - some of my favourite bands EVER are in this list: Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins, Teenage Fanclub, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Bill Drummond (KLF), Sons and Daughters.
And it's not cool to like them because they got all popular but they still churn out a good tune: Franz Ferdinand. And Shirley Manson of Garbage - a great voice and a cool chick.

So, come on! Gimme more...

Xavi6 · 18-02-2008 12:31am

How can you not have Idlewild on that list of stuff that is good?! Or mention them at all?! My favourite Scottish band ever. Roddy's solo album was excellent too.

Most of Snow Patrol are Scottish as well. Sons & Daughters are pretty poor imo having seen them live.

Basq · 18-02-2008 12:32am

Idlewild are excellent alright. Big fan of Travis too.. their latest album was a step back on track after '12 Memories' (which was woeful).

GrahamThomas · 18-02-2008 12:52am

+1 on Sons And Daughters, was planning to go see them tonight in Whelans but had to cancel due to work :mad:.
The Repulsion Box was one of my favourite albums of 2005; loved the dark, gothic sound on tracks like "Rama Lama". I'm really liking their new stuff too, "Darling" is so catchy I think it may be hazardous to my health!

Cocteau Twins are a band I've only started listening to recently, Elizabeth Fraiser has such an incredible voice. Have a complation CD and hopefully will get my hands on some of their studio albums in the very near future.

By the way: Jesus And Mary Chain, any tips on which album(s) to start with?

orestes · 18-02-2008 1:02am

Xavi6 wrote: »

How can you not have Idlewild on that list of stuff that is good?! Or mention them at all?! My favourite Scottish band ever. Roddy's solo album was excellent too.

Gotta agree with that! I was shocked that they weren't mentioned in the original post. I first saw them at the first all-weekend summer festival in Ireland (not sure if I can mention it by name, you know the one though, back before it got renamed), had no idea who they were and by the end of the first song they played (I see shapes

) I bloody fell in love with them! Been a loyal fan ever since! Missed their recent gig though cos I was away, gutted! :mad:

Kold · 18-02-2008 2:38am

Mogwai win Scotland.

DerekD Goldfish · 18-02-2008 1:39pm

GrahamThomas wrote: »

+1 on Sons And Daughters, was planning to go see them tonight in Whelans but had to cancel due to work :mad:.
The Repulsion Box was one of my favourite albums of 2005; loved the dark, gothic sound on tracks like "Rama Lama". I'm really liking their new stuff too, "Darling" is so catchy I think it may be hazardous to my health!

Cocteau Twins are a band I've only started listening to recently, Elizabeth Fraiser has such an incredible voice. Have a complation CD and hopefully will get my hands on some of their studio albums in the very near future.

By the way: Jesus And Mary Chain, any tips on which album(s) to start with?

Re Cocteau Twins you should try Lullabiles to Violane (sp) its a 4cd comp including every single/ep they every released somefantastic stuff that doesnt appear on the albums the origonal issue of it is alos the most beatifly packaged cd ive ever owned re-issues of it were taditional jewel case though.
Head over Heals is the best studio album

Re: J&MC Psychocandy was thier first and best record one of the best of the 80's

also nobody has mentioned the Associates and the Fire Engines both fantastic bands particularly the associates album "Sulk" really beautiful album

The Orange Juice comp "The Glasgow School" which compiles all thier postcard stuff ios essential to everyone that has ears pretty much the blueprint for 90% of indie since

Dudess · 18-02-2008 1:39pm

Ooh yeah, The Associates - Party Fears Two is one of my fave songs ever! Aw you can't blame me for not remembering everyone in the first post!

GrahamThomas wrote: »

Cocteau Twins are a band I've only started listening to recently, Elizabeth Fraiser has such an incredible voice. Have a complation CD and hopefully will get my hands on some of their studio albums in the very near future.

I cannot recommend highly enough their 1990 album Heaven or Las Vegas as your first buy.

By the way: Jesus And Mary Chain, any tips on which album(s) to start with?

Darklands (1987) or Psychocandy (1985) if you're beginning with their early material (which is their better stuff, in my opinion - although I think it would be the general consensus).
You get a nice mix of feedback-drenched, dark, noisy stuff, as well as the catchier, more melodic Phil Spector/Everly Brothers-influenced stuff.

Sorry folks, Idlewild are a band I've never paid any attention to.
For the older folks who remember the charts in the 80s, Aztec Camera could pen an infectious ditty.

KrazeeEyezKilla · 18-02-2008 2:54pm

Dudess wrote: »

Darklands (1987) or Psychocandy (1985) if you're beginning with their early material (which is their better stuff, in my opinion - although I think it would be the general consensus).
You get a nice mix of feedback-drenched, dark, noisy stuff, as well as the catchier, more melodic Phil Spector/Everly Brothers-influenced stuff.

Listening to Just Like Honey on Youtube now. Very good. Is that what their first two albums are generally like.

Pighead · 18-02-2008 4:28pm

Have to throw the Trashcan Sinatras into the mix. Cracking band and this song contains one of the best lyrics EVER!

I come aboard
I sing a lament
The world isn't round
It's Twisted and Bent

Damn right lads!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of3DZ3Sx6CI

Mr E · 18-02-2008 4:33pm

One of my recent discoveries is a fantastic Scottish band called The Goldenhour.

Homepage: http://www.thegoldenhour.info/
MySpace (for sample songs): http://www.myspace.com/thegoldenhour

I've nearly worn out their latest CD in my car - I've listened to it at least 20 times since the start of the year, and their previous one is just as good.

Dudess · 18-02-2008 5:24pm

Ooh ooh! HOW could I forget The Blue Nile?!

KrazeeEyezKilla wrote: »

Listening to Just Like Honey on Youtube now. Very good. Is that what their first two albums are generally like.

Yes, that sound is quite prevalent - it's classic Jesus and Mary Chain (as ripped off by The Raveonettes in recent years). And there are lighter, poppier moments too (like the insanely catchy Down on Me, and Head On - as covered by the Pixies). And also there are darker moments.
Genius band.

noby · 18-02-2008 5:34pm

Dudess has covered a lot. Just to add Ballboy and Camera Obscura

Amazotheamazing · 18-02-2008 5:35pm

Mull Historical Society deserves an honourable mention surely?

Dudess · 18-02-2008 5:57pm

'Course they do! I knew I was gonna leave out plenty - that's why I was asking you guys to - as Britney says - gimme more!
Yeah, I just remembered Camera Obscura too.

Kali · 18-02-2008 5:57pm

I'm shocked that this thread hasn't managed one mention of Chemikal Underground yet. My second favourite record label, and the vast majority of artists are fantastic even though some may no longer be with the label. Mogwai, Delgados, Arab Strap...

Dudess · 18-02-2008 6:00pm

I'm a hoor for all the 80s and early 90s stuff - kinda stuck in a musical time-warp in that regard (don't know why, I was only a pre-teen/early teen then so it's not like I was able to go to gigs or anything).

GrahamThomas · 19-02-2008 12:43am

Dudess and Derek

Thanks a million for the tips.
Been checking out some Jesus & Mary Chain stuff on YouTube, and I like what I'm hearing!

Dudess · 19-02-2008 10:17am

You're welcome. I'm always happy to inform people about the J&MC and their 80s/early 90s peers. In fact I used to present a show on Cork community radio consisting entirely of that kind of stuff.

Serpentine · 19-02-2008 1:49pm

Anyone mentioned the Vaselines?

Dudess · 19-02-2008 1:59pm

Ooh yeah, another great. Scotland seemed to have a "thing" in the early 90s for American rawk.

The Pastels - they were another bunch. And of course Alan McGee is a great Scot.

keefg · 20-02-2008 1:26am

And now Ladies & Gents for something a little heavier from our celtic cousins I give you.....

The Almighty :cool:.

For some reason I can't embed the file but check out "Over The Edge"....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOpQF_mLHac&feature=related

Serpentine · 20-02-2008 11:59am

Isobel Campbell. I know B&S were mentioned already but her solo output is well worth a mention as are The Gentle Waves

lordgoat · 20-02-2008 12:12pm

Belle and Seb, Arab Strap, Malcolm Middleton, Aidan Moffat. Oh and the one and only Ivor Cutler. Barapadapada (spell)

If you see a man with a couple of woolen eyes...

pgasm · 22-02-2008 2:47am

i recorded these guys album, theyr from kilmarnock in scotland and stayed at my studio for a month, they released the album themselves and have been doing really well in scotland over the last few month. check them out - THE CIDER SPIDERS. Theyr recordings are good but i went to go see them live and they are amazing - the craziest most energetic band ive seen in years - mental!

I think they r gonna do really well!

Dudess · 22-02-2008 3:09pm

Wow, I've seen people use the :rolleyes: smiley unnecessarily but that takes the biscuit.

Nailz · 22-02-2008 8:48pm

What about Primal Scream? They're very much so Scottish, and IMO they're great! But Mani a Manc ofcourse, as I always say you can't be a truely great Alternative-Brit band without the Manc's!

Sure the Best ones were MaDchester greats, Happy Mondays, New Order/Joy Division, Stone Roses, Ian Brown, Charlatans (mainly Norwich though) and ofcourse A Certain Ration

(I can't be serious for that one).

Dudess · 23-02-2008 1:27am

The awesome Scream were included in my first post. A Certain Ratio were great.

Creamy Goodness · 23-02-2008 1:35am

biffy clyro - sans new album
idlewild - sans last two albums
sucioperro
aereogramme
marmaduke duke

IanCurtis · 23-02-2008 1:40am

Hue and Cry had a great live album.

Plus Paolo Nutini is excellent.

Dudess · 23-02-2008 3:30am

18th of May - my birthday (it's weird to hear every year on the morning of my birthday "and on this day in 1980, lead singer of Joy Division, Ian Curtis, committed suicide" especially when Joy Division are one of my fave bands ever).

Anyway, the Scottish music documentary was on earlier. I really enjoyed the first part - Orange Juice and Josef K were fantastic. It's ridiculous how blatantly they are being ripped off by the current "indie" crop. That brittle, glacial guitar sound is just gorgeous. Altered Images were featured too, as were The Associates (their lead singer - what a talent. He died awfully young).
Then the quality dropped: they only played some of the Blue Nile's gorgeous Tinseltown in the Rain in the background for a few seconds and then things got truly horrible - Deacon Blue, Wet Wet Wet (oh god how I hate them) and Del Amitri. Hue and Cry weren't the worst I suppose. I remember absolutely loving their single Labour of Love.
Then there was a good chunk on Scottish musicians getting political - in particular The Proclaimers.
The 90s - Teenage Fanclub, Belle & Sebastian and right now, Franz Ferdinand. So, absolutely tons left out. Not even a mention of Alan McGee/Creation. I understand the issue of time constraints, but really, it's rather ludicrous that Primal Scream and The Jesus and Mary Chain weren't even mentioned.

Overall though (apart from the "blue-eyed soul" bit) 'twas good stuff.

IanCurtis · 23-02-2008 3:38am

Dudess wrote: »

Hue and Cry weren't the worst I suppose. I remember absolutely loving their single Labour of Love.

Good song, but their album stuff was a million times better.

My older brother had their live album pretty much playing on a loop in our house and I grew to love it.

Really Scottish with loads of guest violinists and all sorts of stuff.

Check out 'Rolling Home' on YouTube for a taste.

You've got good taste in music Dudess....!

Dudess · 23-02-2008 3:55am

Cheers

I suppose I like to think so too!

That documentary has just started again on BBC4.

Camac Hibs · 29-02-2008 2:45pm

Someone mentioned The Blue Nile there - the finest scottish band of all time.

A Walk Across The Rooftops and Hats are two of the most breathtakingly beautiful albums ever made.

wezzopalooza · 04-03-2008 3:23am

2 fantastic Scottish bands from the post punk era are "The Skids" and (especially) "Doll By Doll", the most underrated group of all time in my opinion..Their 4 albums were released on cd for the 1st time ever last year after over 25 years in vinyl obscurity, they're available in Tower Records for a tenner each..Well worth picking up the whole lot (especially Gypsy Blood) and marvelling at how such a stellar band has been so overlooked..In their frontman Jackie Leven they had perhaps one of the greatest and biggest voices in music, and he's still making great albums to this day, quietly building up a formidable back catalogue to rival......... just about anyone!!!!:D

Benwarb73 · 24-09-2022 5:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/55266382#Comment_55266382

The Effect, mid 90s band who used to support Whiteout and The Commercials at Sleazy's, Cathouse and 13th Note....quality live act

Dank Janniels · 24-09-2022 5:51pm

MON THE BIFF!!!

iamstop · 26-09-2022 9:06pm

Average White Band are probably the funkiest and most sampled band to emerge from Scotland.

Everlong1 · 26-09-2022 9:28pm

Never saw this thread before. The OP was way too harsh on Big Country. Their first two albums were excellent, next two pretty good...they lost it after that alright, but there was a lot more to them than just the two singles the OP mentioned. First class live act. Two of the original members still tour as Big Country and they've still got it.

bodhrandude · 26-10-2022 3:09pm

Nazareth, I often thought Dan McCafferty would have made a great replacement for Brian Johnson in AC/DC.

Django Django: Scottish as well as Northern Irish members, saw them live at Body&Soul Festival in 2012, a great act.

Chvrches who I've seen at various Electric Picnic's, another great act.

NewbridgeIR · 27-10-2022 11:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119668660#Comment_119668660

Agreed. The debut is a classic albeit In A Big Country is very clunky (single mix much better)

Steeltown & The Seer are fine albums and the 1990 single Save Me is also class.

OP also very hard on Deacon Blue (Raintown a classic), Wet Wet Wet (poptastic debut) & Del Amitri (C86 roots - ignored now) - really reeks off a too-cool-for-school vibe although it was posted nearly 15 years back.

And fails to mention the brilliant Urusei Yatsura, The Yummy Fur, The Delgados, Arab Strap, The Beta Band, Josef K.....

This is a fantastic selection of Scottish music - https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/big-gold-dreams-a-story-of-scottish-independent-music-1977-1989-5cd-boxset/

trashcan · 24-12-2022 9:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/55168897#Comment_55168897

Oh yeah, now you’re speaking my language. My absolute favourite band ever. (Check out the username !) If I may be slightly pedantic, it’s “so come aboard, let’s sing a lament, the world isn’t round, it’s twisted and bent.” They have a host of great tunes and clever lyrics, and one of the great singers in Frank Reader (brother of Edie Reader - who is married to John Douglas of the band.)

Cake, I’ve Seen everything, and Weightlifting are three of the finest albums you’ll ever hear. I’ve you haven’t discovered them, do yourself a favour.

Other top Scottish bands, Teenage Fanclub, Aztec Camera/Roddy Frame, Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura. Also, has anyone mentioned Edwin Collins ? Such an inspirational man.

rpirl · 29-09-2023 6:33pm

Recently re-discovered this '90s dance tune, remember it from when it was around but didn't know they were Scots

The Time Frequency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKR7DjxjMNY

rpirl · 29-09-2023 6:37pm

A Band Called Quinn - 'Wolf Cries Boy'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlCXc8Rw16s

NewbridgeIR · 29-09-2023 6:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121173940#Comment_121173940

They had three more classics

New Emotion (was on Hits '93 Volume 1)

Such A Phantasy (was on Dance Hits '94 Volume 2)

Dreamscape (was on Dance Zone Level 3)

bodhrandude · 30-09-2023 12:05am

The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b2T8K2D-ps&pp=ygUadGhlIHNoYW1lbiBlYmVuZWV6ZXIgZ29vZGU%3D

TheDocMan · 01-10-2023 1:39am

The Marmozets!

2 albums and each equally splendid. Nothing since 2018 but strong rumours that were back together ( in an altered line up) rehearsing new music. Can't wait!

https://spotify.link/UdReg7JQwDb

Scottish bands

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