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Wow, even for Billy Joel (and I’m a bit of a fan), that’s an out there choice.
Yes, but, Leningrad 😉
Ooh, the forum embeds Spotify!
Debbie Gibson – Electric Youth
Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock
Guilty on both counts.
(How on earth is Hysteria uncool?!)
Don’t encourage him…
Aww. Sadface.
Di'Anno did Killers and Iron Maiden albums before Bruce Bruce was brought in.
I stand by the Supergrass choice. I should Coco is a "cooler" album but they were never a cool band. Just saying. Excellence and coolness do not necessarily equate with each other.
Love me a bit of neil diamond, not sure what he is measuring up on that cover there, but whatever it is I like it.
And queen, any era really
How about:
Am off to see these lot on Thursday:
Excellence and coolness do not necessarily equate with each other.
But, as explained with Graceland, excellence generally means credibility, so it fails the cred-free test.
How on earth is Hysteria uncool?!
Well, I'm guessing it was in your CD collection, ergo quod erat demonstrandum, dear boy, quod erat demonstrandum.
Shithead.
😁
How about a bit of Debbie Gibson, remixed by one of the coolest men in dance music (Louie Vega)?
You can't hear it quite so well on this, but on the original version the drum intro sounds a lot like Apache.
I'm a massive fan of this. I have the LP so fits the remit. Nobody I have ever played it to has lasted long so I think it counts.
How about a bit of Debbie Gibson, remixed by one of the coolest men in dance music (Louie Vega)?
So not un-hip or cred-free then.
Anecdotally - I personally love MAW/Kenny & Louie. When I used to tell people about the new Louie Vega remix they'd say something like: "oh yeah, I know. Loved Mambo No5"
🙂
Graceland - Paul Simon
So not un-hip or cred-free then.
Debbie has several mentions up the thread, if you'd care to review it.
Do. I (finally) caught them live a couple of years ago any they were, well, exactly what you’d expect and hope.
Saw them in 1989 or thereabouts just when the album came out, when they came to play in Wigan. Excellent gig for a young lad like me
I was tempted, until they booted Spike
Oh I wasn't aware that happened, I haven't kept up. They're playing a festival near me, not really that tempted by the rest of the bill tbh (apart from maybe Wayward Sons, they were great when I sae them supporting Living Colour) so I'mnot gonna spend a fortune on a 3 day ticket (or even a one day ticket) but might wander along the public footpath across the valley and listen in...
Edit - this suggests otherwise, and the three "current" members are names that ring bells for me as original members?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quireboys#Members
Pop by U2. It's not even a good U2 album but it's the one that stayed in my head.
Everything by Carter USM- the definition of un-hip and cred free.
submarined
Free Member
Kate Nash – Made of Bricks. It’s just a bloody great pop album.
Yes, yes it is.
Graceland – Paul Simon
By this point in the thread, multiple fail...
Kate Nash – Made of Bricks. It’s just a bloody great pop album.
I bit my lip when this was first posted, but I bought that album off the back of Foundations, which is a bloody great pop song, and thought the rest was absolutely terrible. Like, really terrible. But, different strokes for different folks and all that.
I stand with Nettles, I made the same mistake
How about a bit of Debbie Gibson, remixed by one of the coolest men in dance music (Louie Vega)?
Well, that started poorly and then went nowhere.
😁
Did my Prefab Sprout LP get reported/moderated?
(trying again)
Not a bad song on it
a few of my non-hip artists have recently got a bit hip (looking at you Bear's Den with your new album going in at no.6), but I've still a good backbone of unhipness to fall back on:
Les Rythmes Digitales : Darkdancer
Bush : Sixteen stone
Moist : Silver
Offspring : Ignition
and many, many, many more 😀
Les Rythmes Digitales
I don't think Stuart Price really belongs on this thread.
One of the most-accomplished dance music producers and he's kept his integrity while working with loads of really big names (he did some of Kylie & Madonna's best stuff).
One of the most-accomplished dance music producers and he’s kept his integrity while working with loads of really big names
True. But I guess it all depends on your definition of 'hip'. Obviously you and I think it's a belter of an album, but if I played it to the sub-25's in the office they'd definitely say un-hip.
Graceland – Paul Simon
No, you're not allowed that, Paul Simon is too cool 😀
How on earth is Hysteria uncool?!
If you like DL and Hysteria, you should check out Vega. They're massive DL fans and very DL-ish. They recently covered Animal - not a bad rendition either...
True. But I guess it all depends on your definition of ‘hip’. Obviously you and I think it’s a belter of an album, but if I played it to the sub-25’s in the office they’d definitely say un-hip.
Good point but I assume it means "was hip at the time and not generally seen as uncool now". He was very bloody hip and I suspect his early 80s-themed electro stuff might go down even better with the kids today.
Going off topic, but his Fabric mix CD was a breath of fresh air...
They recently covered Animal – not a bad rendition either…
Now, I'm all for interesting cover versions, and I'm quite partial to a bit of Dl/Hysteria, but that's exactly, like, exactly, the same as the original. What's the point of that?
What’s the point of that?
I guess a homage to their idols?
Seen them a few times live - very impressive. They just don't seem to have a lot of traction.
Some original work - with a random horse in the video - prob because that's all the budget stretched to...
^ I used to love Jeff Wayne's war of the worlds.... until about 15 years ago when a Peruvian waiter who lived downs stairs from me would relax at the end of his restaurant shift by listening to it at full belt until 2am, every night, until the night when we had a discussion about it and I pulled all the fuses out of his fuse box.
Anyway. Back in my college days me and a friend used to buy each other crap records from charity shops - all ways awful until on the same day I bought him an album of fairground organs tunes hand he bought me Zitherpops 2 - which we both loved and both still have 30 years later
the sleeve notes alone are worth the 25p
the electronic zither, the only one in the whole world, created an instrument which lends sound and swing to dull parties.
The medleys are ageless, the music, however, is suitable to the period. “With this music I am really happy”, says the trained trumpeter and violinist. And happy will be the various generations whom Wolf adresses with this album. “Zither-fiends” will not get one more in. The sound of Hubert Wolf is much too grand, too convincing – simple startlingly modern. Even stiff dolls will unbend.
Don’t get me started on prog
OK I won't mention King Crimson then.
with the benefit of hindsight I think U2 had the edge
Wheyhey!
I'm not sure where folk view:
Pretty much everything mentioned so far just says nearly all those that commented grew up through the 80s into the 90s 😂
Me too and I love most of what has been mentioned.
Two of my favourite groups ever are Pet Shop Boys and Erasure. They are both very uncool with my 20 something daughters, so I guess might fit the brief.
@twonks they were my favourites in the late 80s. I think I have about 7 different 12” of A little Respect, but I gave up on the in the early 90’s. In 1994 I was mostly listening to early chemical brothers, Underworld, Goldie, Orbital whatever Andy Westherall was remixing/producing at the time but one of favourites which I came too at the time which i still love is George Micheal - Listen without prejudice
King Crimson then
Still don’t get them them for some reason, it’s a mystery! Will try again. Genesis, Rush, Yes, Soft Machine, Gong, Can, Guru Guru, Nektar, Gentle Giant, all that stuff - and even Magma’s 1978 lineup!
I guess it all depends on your definition of ‘hip’.
If we're at that point, "hip" was no longer a cool word before I was born.
Nor was "cool" come to that.
A couple
Broadcast by Cutting Crew - but mainly because it reminds of a girl I was seeing at the time
Love Over Gold by Dire Straits - Telegraph Rd is a work of genius. Also reminds me of my late Dad.
Nobody admitting to owning any Country and Western then?
Jolene doesn't count.
Love Over Gold by Dire Straits – Telegraph Rd is a work of genius. Also reminds me of my late Dad.
But that is why it's not mentioned on this thread - Love Over Gold *is* cool... And anyone who says different is wrong.
I've also a thing for some trancy/dancy stuff that I should probably post on this thread
Nobody admitting to owning any Country and Western then?
Does Shania Twain Come on Over count?
But that is why it’s not mentioned on this thread – Love Over Gold *is* cool… And anyone who says different is wrong.
Dire Straits cool? 😆
Does Shania Twain Come on Over count?
I have the CD somewhere, but haven't listened to it or her for ages....
Haven’t read all the other replies yet so apologies if this is already there, but every now and then I love listening to Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood from beginning to end. Pretty uncool I still think this is an awesome album, even if it is about as uncool as it gets, ie a prog rock concept album.
Has anyone mentioned Phil Collins yet? We had post PG Genesis.
I absolutely love No Jacket Required!
Jolene doesn’t count.
In my opinion probably one of the best songs ever written.
Nobody admitting to owning any Country and Western then?
Yes me. I sort of segued into it via Bluegrass. Ideally Emmylou Harris or Bonnie Riatt or Buddy Miller. Just not that "Hot Country" rubbish. Yes Garth Brooks I'm looking at you.
The second album I ever bought was Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet. Definitely cred-free but still rocks in a sing-along sort of way. The first album I bought was Pet Shop Boys' Introspective but I still think that's pretty hip.
It is a great record, but it ain’t cool.
Yes. It is. He ignored the calls to boycott South Africa, went there to work with Black South African musicians, and brought the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to an international audience.
That’s cool.
OK I won’t mention King Crimson then.
@P7eaven - start with ‘In The Court Of…’, then check out ‘Discipline’, ‘Starless And Bible Black’ and ‘Red’.
Particularly ‘Starless’ on ‘Red’, which is stunning.
It was fifty years after first hearing ITCOTCK before I got to see them live, in London on the 50th Anniversary Tour.
I love that Chris Rea song where he’s operating a motor-vehicle homewards in keen anticipation of a seasonal feast!
Am I allowed Bad Boy Chiller Crew?
I think Vega might be my new favourite thing, today. The horse song sounds like what might happen if Def Leppard entered Eurovision.
What are they, Swedish? Dutch?
Hah, crap, they're from here! Who knew.
Asmoto Running Band by Principal Edwards Mahic Theatre.
I’ve got it so why not
Yes. It is. He ignored the calls to boycott South Africa, went there to work with Black South African musicians, and brought the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to an international audience.
Agreed. However to this day there are still disputes about the ownership/copyright of some of the tracks on the record. It's perhaps a mixed bag at best.
Anyway, I respect the adjudication of the OP and will say no more.
Gracelands is hip and cred-ful 👍
From watching Robin of Sherwood as a lad, i regularly have a listen to Legend by Clannad.
What are they, Swedish? Dutch?
Brummies!
Can recommend their 'Who we are' album.
That's some Brummie accent, he sounds like Joey Tempest.
Script For A Jester's Tear - Marillion.
<<END OF THREAD>>
Still love it, still play it, still turn it up to 11.
[EDIT]
Love Over Gold by Dire Straits – Telegraph Rd is a work of genius. Also reminds me of my late Dad.
Same. Dad's favourite album. He didn't get much time to himself, but he played Love Over Gold every Saturday morning. Fond memories of it thumping through my bedroom floor.
Brothers in Arms gets all the glory, but Love Over Gold is simply a masterpiece.
I've had a thread idea in my head now for a couple of years, "you've been listening to the wrong album all this time."
What a thread!
I have sooo many of the albums mentioned. Talking of Dire Straits, I'm very partial to 'Badges, Posters, Stickers and T-Shirts' the B-side to Private Investigations...
But in my attempt to bring in a thread-closer, I am still a huge fan of the album...
Heartbeat - By Don Johnson...
It has it all! The video of the title single has Dweezil Zappa playing guitar (though he actually played guitar on a different track, fact-fans...) but the rest of the album has '80s class too: there are TWO tracks that feature Stevie Ray Vaughan, there's a duet with Willie Nelson... What more could you ask for? 🙂
I love Dire Straits, but definitely couldn't claim them to be cooL.
Read a good interview with Knopfler once and he clearly struggled himself with the occasionally over-produced, (over?) ambitious nature of some of their stuff. He had a good quote about sitting in a bar and Telegraph Road coming on the jukebox. It was followed by "Rave On" by Buddy Holly and he just felt utterly depressed by the immediacy, vibrancy and simplicity of it by comparison.
Matt_outandabout - Rain Town is a work of genius. Dignity (in Scotland at least) surely transcends all notions of cool or hip. Fond memories of belting it out in an (otherwise!) quiet bar in Tignes with another long ex-patriated Scot after (remotely) attending a friend's funeral last year.
Love Over Gold is simply a masterpiece.
Beaten only by
Heartbeat – By Don Johnson…
I mean, wow...
Heartbeat – By Don Johnson…
got a copy of that too
Thought about, just for the craic, dropping in some albums that I know people on here will love but looks like I've been well and truly beaten to that scheme. Cards on the table, I love 'The Crunch-era' Rah Band stuff...
In a similar manner to the above.
Listened to this album loads when it came out and genuinely thought it was great.
Tried again and it certainly grates.
Tried again and it certainly grates.
Understatement of the century!
I vaguely recall liking that way back then...
On the same subject, reminds me of Robson & Jerome...
I think if the musicians involved take themselves far far too seriously but still manage to produce either: Over blown thinly disguised rip off of Beethoven - all Prog or; despite quite impressive individual skills - M.O.R. 4 bar R&R - All hair metal from the Eighties, then you're well on the way to both un-hip and cred-free.
Crocodile Shoes gets all the attention but the real Jimmy Nail bomb is 'Ain't No Doubt'.
I've not been able to post a YouTube video since they change the forum so you'll have to hum it.
Missed them first time round unfortunately but they made some great albums in the 70's.
Graham Parker & The Rumour.
Nobody admitting to owning any Country and Western then?
Slim Dusty (I lived in Country NSW for a while)
Not hip, soooo coooool, still played (on Spotify) -
A bit of love for Propaganda up there. Check out https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/24/the-return-of-propaganda-susanne-freytag-claudia-brucken-ztt
but Love Over Gold is simply a masterpiece.
Only let down by the inclusion of ‘Industrial Disease’. Thankfully, CD allowed me to skip that track, and I didn’t include it in the download on my phone.
Over blown thinly disguised rip off of Beethoven – all Prog
#rollseyes. There’s more heavy rock that involves orchestra, for example Deep Purple, or even ELO; true, some Prog got very self-indulgent, ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ being the classic example, it’s really up its own ass - it needs a proctologist to check its teeth for cavities - but most Prog owes more to jazz than anything else; Gentle Giant, Greenslade, Soft Machine, King Crimson, Gnidrolog, Caravan, all are far more jazz influenced, with very little classical. Gentle Giant has more influences from madrigals than classical.
A few notes from a Mellotron, and it’s a Beethoven knock-off?
Back on topic, I’ve been trying really hard to think of anything that’s ‘un-hip, cred-free’, that I still love, and I don’t think there is. Black Sabbath I used to enjoy, haven’t listened to them in years, I bought a T’pau CD on the strength of a single, played it once. ABBA, perhaps, but all my favourite songs of theirs are on their last album, and aren’t their big hits - possibly the nearest I get. The only music I ever heard growing up was on the radio, through the 1960’s, so lots of classic pop, until 1969 when I borrowed King Crimson’s ’In The Court Of The Crimson King’ and ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’ changed everything. Things like Tangerine Dream, Faust, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, the Prog bands above, as well as folk, I’m led by what I hear, if I like it, great, I don’t care what it is, or what anyone else thinks, ‘hip’, and ‘cred’, mean absolutely nothing. Only the hairs on the back of my neck standing up - actually, that’s made me think of one album that I’ve adored after reading a review in a hi-Fi magazine about its quality of production, and it’s never been considered to be the best by the artist, and that’s’Hearts And Bones’, by Paul Simon. It was supposed to be a Simon & Garfunkel record, but Artie was doing a movie or something, Simon got pissed off, removed the bits Artie had done, and put it out as a solo album. It’s never listed in a top five or ten of Simon’s albums, but I think it’s one of his finest.
Whatever, I’ve just read an article about a new Album by an artist called Amanda Shires, who I know nothing about, but I’ve listened to a track called ‘A Hawk For The Dove’, and went all tingly, so I’m just going to download the album. Hip, cred? Dunno, you tell me, but I’m liking what I hear.
@10 the very idea that Prisoner is lacking cred! It's one of the best debut albums ever. I utterly love it.
Am I allowed Bad Boy Chiller Crew?
Ding ding - we have a winner! A group that started out as a parody but segued into being 'serious' artists when their audience expanded enough to stop noticing the joke. That is despicably lacking credibility 😀
Only let down by the inclusion of ‘Industrial Disease’.
Oh, I like Industrial Disease, it's a bit of silliness to lighten it up. And it has the surprisingly profound lyric "two men think they're Jesus... one of them must be wrong" which I think is a fantastic quote.
I thought "It Never Rains" was the weak spot. It's just kind of... bland as an album closer.
Jean Michelle Jarre Forgot all about him - had a few of his albums on cassette back in the 80s.
Did all sound a bit samey after a while and all the track titles were just the albumn name followed by a number - so probably not a surprise it wasn't very varied.....
Whatever, I’ve just read an article about a new Album by an artist called Amanda Shires, who I know nothing about, but I’ve listened to a track called ‘A Hawk For The Dove’, and went all tingly, so I’m just going to download the album. Hip, cred? Dunno, you tell me, but I’m liking what I hear.
@countzero OT but she is fantastic. She plays in the 400 unit, is married to Jason Isbell (another fine musician and songwriter) and plays in another band called The Highwomen. She did some brilliant live sets with Jason from their barn throughout lockdown. Well worth watching on YouTube
I’m a massive fan of this. I have the LP so fits the remit. Nobody I have ever played it to has lasted long so I think it counts.
I absolutely love the Tommy soundtrack. I even think Oliver Reed’s singing is fantastic. The Who’s Tommy is one of my favourite albums, but the soundtrack album is great also.
As for unhip albums, I’m somewhat partial to:
Little bit concerned about two points, Firstly from the title of the thread, my first thought was Debbie Gibson. But already mentioned. Secondly a lot of the albums mentioned I own on vinyl. What does it say about me (and the other members of the STW collective).
But if we are going uncool, I like to enter Script for a Jester's Tear by Marilliom. What a load of twaddle. Still gets a regular outing