Lost Bands and Artists, my tuppance worth

[Librarian on Fire]

Following on from Billy's thread. I had a fossick around home and found these.

The Good

THE SNAPDRAGONS, Always confused with the Soupdragons. Did the great song "Dole Boys Sleep on Futons". Should have been a athem for 100's of lovelorn indie boys.

THE HEARTHROBS, Had two sisters in the band, and they were great. Released about three albums but the first "Cleopatra's Grip" was the one everyone remembered. Probably because it had a rude/slang title. Did the song "Dreamtime" "In Vain" and others. Very much a lost great band.

THE BADGERS, Lying somewhere between a cross with The Sundays/Cocteau Twins. Released one ep before returning to their set.

THE TELESCOPES, Signed to Creation. Joanna Doran was an utter sexy ice maiden with a guitar. The ep "To Kill A Slow Girl Walking" deserved a prize just for the title.

THE WOODENTOPS, Stable mates to the Smiths on Rough Trade. Had that agricultural pop sound. Weren't that bad.

AND ALSO THE TREES, "Lady D'Arbanville" was a sub gothic High Victorian moody single. The band were very versed in literature, a bit like modern day Jack. And everyone thought that the Sisters Of Mercy were gothic, pish.

SWERVEDRIVER, "Rave Down", still sounds brillant played loud.

THE POPINJAYS, I think they had one half of Shakespear's Sister. Very poppy.

The Not So Good

THE DYLANS, Released the single "Godlike", which wasn't quite, but at the time sounded halfway decent.

NEW FAST AUTOMATIC DAFFODILS, They had such a stupid name. Were sort of industrial artschool. They sounded horrible when I played them before.

LOOP, Released one of those double LP's that played at 45rpm, which meant you have to get up to change sides every 15 minutes. Perhaps that's why they were cr@p.

ADORABLE, Weren't.

THE WENDYS, Signed to Factory they released the single "The Sun's Going To Shine For Me Soon. It didn't.

THE YOUNG GODS, Swiss arsequakers. Very popular at the time.

SIDI BOU SAID, All girl band. Not a patch on the fab Hearthrobs.

GAYE BIKERS ON ACID, With Mary Mary, who should have teamed up with Tracy Tracy Primitive. "Drill Your Own Hole" was the single and you had to punch the centre hole in on the 12"

[The Magic Fairy]

See link below - some chap from London has put together his own site for bands he thinks were underrated. We correspond now and again; I helped him out with his Family Cat and Telescopes discography. Work a look!

I think you are being a bit hard on the New FADS. The early singles were bloody great for moshing to, especially "Lions", "Beam Me Up" and "Music is Sh*t". Then they slowed things down and were terrible.

I'd like to mention Edsel Auctioneer. Started out in 1989/90 with a then unfashionable guitar sound reminiscent of Dinosaur Jr. Sadly, they couldn't live up to the earl promise and the last couple of albums were a bit average.

TMF


More forgotten bands here

[Ruffian]

> See link below - some chap from London has put together his own site for
> bands he thinks were underrated. We correspond now and again; I helped him
> out with his Family Cat and Telescopes discography. Work a look!

Wasn't the Family Cat another South London band!! Like to take ownership where I can.. watch rising stars, Athlete, as well! The family cat song 'Fire Music' was brilliant.. check it out!! And I still wear 'The Family Cat, All other bands are dogshite' T-shirt with some pride!

TMF, You're a good bloke for reminding me! All thsi cool British indie music before the Britpop thing started. It's such a great time to think about.

[Librarian on Fire]

> I think you are being a bit hard on the New FADS. The early singles were
> bloody great for moshing to, especially "Lions", "Beam Me
> Up" and "Music is Sh*t". Then they slowed things down and
> were terrible.

The late period must have been the era I was familar with. I listened to "Fishes Eyes" just before I did my post, and it didn't sound to flash.

I also remembered Milltown Brothers, and The High. I actually thought the High were quite good at the time. They came from Manchester as well, but I think might have released just the one album.

I visited the Telescopes site from your link. They're still going! Commendable.

[The Magic Fairy]

> The late period must have been the era I was familar with. I listened to
> "Fishes Eyes" just before I did my post, and it didn't sound to
> flash.

Yeah, that was when they slammed the brakes on. It was also the last single of theirs that I bought (clearly unimpressed, we parted company). The single before that, "Big", was probably the last good thing they did. Heh heh. That's another good one to thrash around to. Groo, I used to half-kill myself dancing with flailing limbs to that sort of stuff!

The Family Cat! Yes, they were based in South London but were from ooh arr the West Country originally. I was mates with them, from a distance, thanks to regular correspondence and occasional gig meetings. An underrated outfit, who didn't have the best of luck with record labels.

TMF