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Subject: Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Underground Music (Circa 1975-1980s)
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[TypicalGirls] another call for blurbs + revised list (again, sorry)
- From: "Dina Hornreich" <dina.hornreich AT gmail.com>
- To: "Typical Girls" <typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: [TypicalGirls] another call for blurbs + revised list (again, sorry)
- Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 21:51:02 -0600
Title: The Typical Girls Listserv Presents:
The
Typical Girls
Listserv Presents: Must-Have CDs for Girl Rockers! (Compiled
by the List Moderator, Dina Hornreich) Action Pact!: “Punk Singles Collection” (Captain Oi) From
no brain singalong pogopunk
(London Bouncers) to more thought through goth/post
punk. (Smurf) The Adverts: “Anthology”
(Devil's Jukebox) 2CD with singles, demos and live material They
had Gaye Advert on bass, an icon that would influence dozens of female bass players
in the future if you ask me. (Smurf) …like
the Talking Heads, there was a woman bass player in [the] band, and it was no
big deal. They just rocked. (Theresa Meire) Altered Images:
“I Could Be Happy: The Best of Altered Images” collection (SONY) Laurie Anderson: "Big Science" 1982 album reissue (Warner Brothers) Au Pairs: "Stepping Out of Line" 2CD anthology (Castle) The Avengers:
“Died for Your Sins” live, demos, oddities, and out of print tracks
(Lookout!) The
Avengers lead singer and songwriter Penelope Houston blasted a white-hot streak
of articulate energy fronting this San Francisco-based punk band. The Avengers
opened for the original Sex Pistols' last show, which was in The B-52’s:
self-titled 1979 debut album reissued (Reprise) Bangles: “All
Over the Place” 1984 debut album reissue (SONY) Their
first full-length, and an absolutely terrific power-pop album with touches of
the "paisley underground" psychedelic vibe. Notable feature: all four of them wrote songs
and sang leads (and harmonies), although all the hits they're remembered for
were sung by Susanna Hoffs, and almost all of them
were covers… I put "James" on a mix CD a few years ago, and
half a dozen people emailed me to ask "were the Bangles always that
awesome?" (Douglas Wolk) Blondie:
"Parallel Lines" 1978 album reissue (Capitol) Bush Tetras:
“Boom in the Night” collection of demos and EPs 1980-83 (ROIR) Delta 5: "Singles and Sessions 1979-81" (Kill Rock Stars) A funky, feminist-minded group -- that featured
more males than females. With two bass players and songs like the often-covered
"Mind Your Own Business" and "You", Delta 5 stand out as
one of the best from a scene that featured several female-friendly bands. (Bob
Moore) Essential Logic: "Fanfare in the Garden" 2CD
retrospective (Kill Rock Stars) Lora Logic was in X-Ray Spex
– that’s her playing sax on “Oh Bondage! Up Yours” – but was supposedly kicked out for
getting too much praise in a review.
Still a teenager, she picked herself up with a new band, and recorded a
set of material really unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. Early tracks
like “Aerosol Burns” and “Popcorn Boy” feature neckbreaking changes in tempo and mood, with Lora’s
self-assured vocals and presence making it all seem easy. It’s the sound of a recent high-school
graduate wondering if her entire childhood and teenage life was a sham. Later tracks went for a more straight-ahead
dance beat and a more spiritual approach, but are no less fascinating. Sounds like nothing before or since. (Mike Appelstein) ESG: "A South Bronx Story" retrospective (Universal Sound) The
Scroggins sisters often speak of their childhoods in the ‘70s Girlschool:
“Screaming Blue Murder” 1982 album reissue import (Castle) If
I had heard them, I would’ve picked up an instrument a lot earlier. Much
more than the “female Motorhead” (Theresa
Meire) Go-Go’s:
“Beauty and the Beat” 1981 debut album reissue (A&M) From singles like "Our Lips are Sealed",
which was co-written by former Specials member Terry Hall, to the fantastic
b-side "How Much More?" this album features some happy, upbeat music.
A song doesn't have to be angry or political to be functional, right? Plus, how
many other bands had three great songwriters? (Bob Moore) The Gymslips: “Rockin' with Renees: The Punk Collection” import The Gymslips aren't that punk but they did play all
their own instruments and sing their own songs. (Theresa Meire) Nina Hagen: “Nunsexmonkrock/Nina Hagen
Band” 1982 album reissue (SONY) Essential. Really. She is fucking
insane and beautiful and inspiring. I
still listen to that last song "UFO", because she says "You
are not alone" over and over and it is like some magical fairy godmother
making everything okay. (Kendra Hadlock) LiLiPUT: (formerly named Kleenex) self-titled 2CD complete collection (Kill
Rock Stars) This compilation is incredible, I really don't know
how else to put it! I think this one stands out a bit from the other similar
reissues, I can't explain why exactly. (Jamie J.) Lene Lovich: "Stateless" 1978 album
reissue (Rhino) {IMPORT VERSION IS RECOMMENDED} If you have the chance to hear the Manicured Noise: “Northern
Stories 1978-1980” import collection (Caroline True) Marine Girls: “ Martha and the
Muffins: “Far Away in Time” collection (Caroline) Catchy pop rock
with a slightly ironic edge to it, and Canadian content. (Tim Murphy) Maximum Joy: "Unlimited 1979-1983" collection (Crippled Dick
Hot Wax) If you can only pick
one jazz-influenced post-punk band to listen to, make sure it is Maximum Joy.
(Bob Moore) Mystère
des Voix Bulgares:
self-titled (Nonesuch) …completely
mindblowing to everyone that heard it for the first
time back then, partly because of the melodies, but especially because it was
this MASS of women making all kinds of incredible vocal sounds without any
preconceptions of (or training in) traditional/classical singing technique. (Chuck
Warner) OH-OK: "The Complete Recordings" (Collectors' Choice) A perfect example of how you don't need a lot of
technical ability to make great music. Beginning girl rockers would definitely
be able to relate to the songs from the 7". (Kip Shepherd) Penetration: “Best of Penetration” collection (Caroline) Poison Girls: "Their Finest Moments" import collection (Nectar) ...an intro to this anarcho-punk-feminist
group fronted by a woman old enough to be today's 12-15 year old girls'
great-granny (and, in the time these recording were initially made, would have
been the right age to be their mother). (Tim Murphy) Pretenders: self-titled 1980 debut album 2CD reissue (Rhino) The Raincoats: self-titled 1979 debut album reissue (Rough Trade) If I had to pick a favorite band, it would be The
Raincoats. Their self-titled debut is a great introduction to a band that was
among the best, most clever, artsiest, and at times weirdest of the post-punk bands. >From a
memorable cover of "Lola" to "The Void", which was later
covered by Hole, this is one of the best "girls that rock" albums you
are going to find. (Bob Moore) Singular and lovely. These women
made music in the best way -- uplifting, human, smart, funny, fascinating. (Robin Dunn) The
Runaways: self-titled1976 debut album import reissue (Cherry Red A bunch of teenage girls not only singing but
playing and being badass? Yes
please! Feed me, charge me, teach me the
ways of Rock n’ Roll. Oh Joan, Lita, Sandy,
Jackie and Cherie. (Theresa Meire) Siouxsie & The Banshees: “The Best Of Siouxsie and the Banshees: Sound + Vision Deluxe”
2CD+DVD (Polydor) I was in love with the Siouxsie singles collection when I was 15. (Marissa Magic) Miz Sioux herself sort of prompted that whole Sex
Pistols cursing on television controversy caused by the host's flirting with
her. That was maybe a pivotal moment for
punk in general. And
the weird connection of Budgie actually drumming on [The Slits’] “Cut.”
(Kendra Hadlock) Skeletal Family: “Burning Oil & Bonus Tracks” 1984 debut
album reissue (Anagram Gothic) Girls can sing in gothic bands too, it doesn't have
to be all malecentric like The (Southern Death) Cult
or Sisters Of Mercy and proof that it didn't start
with Nightwish or Within Temptation. (Smurf) The Slits: "Cut" 1979 debut album reissue ( These
girls are both better musicians and songwriters than the punk elite will admit,
and just because there are not a dozen bands that sound just like them does not
mean that they are not influential. (Bob Moore) Patti Smith:
“Horses” 2CD 1975 debut album reissue with bonus material (Arista) Patti
is one of the most free performers to ever grace this earth and she is really
the original everything in my book! This record goes through every emotion and
I know that the first time I heard it made me want to just go out and start a
band. Plus, that voice! (Jamie J.) Patti
is nothing but strength and beauty. Her
voice and her words and her form stood out like some kind of lighthouse, a
pillar, while she said "Anybody can do what I'm doing. Anybody can get on a stage and sing."
Listening to Patti is like taking your vitamins. (Robin Dunn) Sonic
Youth: "Confusion Is Sex/Kill Yr Idols" CD (Geffen) 2 definitive 1983 releases reissued on 1 CD (note - I think EVOL
is probably a better choice but it didn't come out until 1986) (Sharon Cheslow) Tracey Thorn: “A
Tom Tom Club: self-titled 1981 debut album reissue (Sire) Too
long have they been considered a novelty side-project from some Talking Heads. Tina and Chris, Tina's sisters, Sly and Robbie, some
of the Talking Heads touring band...they were pioneering in mixing New Wave,
Funk and Hip-Hop, had a few chart hits, and created several all-time dance floor
classics... People should definitely look past the hits because both albums are
filled with gems. I've been DJing "This is a
Foxy World" from the second LP lately. If you're not already turned on or
think Genius of Love and Wordy Rappinghood is where
they stopped, [...then] check out L'Elephant and
Lorelei. (Dan Selzer) Violators: “The
No Future Years” (Captain Oi) With
the anthems “Gangland” and “Summer Of
81” with boy/girl lead vocals (Smurf) The Waitresses:
“The Best of the Waitresses” (Polydor) X: “ …belong[s] at the top of any list of how to
write great songs with your lover. Only
the songs survive... (Chuck Warner) X-Ray Spex: "Germ-Free Adolescents"
1978 album reissue (Castle) Germ Free Adolescents might be a bit repetitive with
its constant theme of consumerism, but it is to this day one of the most unique
sounding albums ever released. (Bob Moore) Y Pants: 1980 self-titled EP + 1982 "Beat it Down"
album reissue (Periodic Document) Melodic No Wave played exclusively on toy instruments. The songs are largely about everyday events,
only barely hide unsettling and unresolved emotions underneath. “That’s The Way Boys Are,”
a sweet acapella song that gradually gives way to
terrified screaming, is one of the scariest songs I’ve ever heard. (Mike Appelstein) DIY at it's best.
I can listen to them on repeat every day and never grow tired of
it. The best girl band of all time! (bold statement, I know) They took me where I wanted the
Raincoats to go. (and I adore the Raincoats) but Y
Pants is this nearly delicate but fiercely independent and wholly unusual
balance of improvised toy instrumentation and catchy girl-singing. And still under the radar. (and not easy to find!) I stole my copy from my ex-boyfriend.
(Kendra Hadlock) Young Marble Giants: "Colossal Youth and Collected Works" 3CD
collection containing 1979 album reissue with bonus material (Domino) There were only a few ingredients to this Various Artists:
“No I'm
really glad somebody told me about Lydia Lunch when I was 13. She has insane
groundbreaking rock roots and has gone on to break into other multiple art
forms and continues to stick to her own thing and be true to herself... which
sounds really cheesy, but is really important. (Marissa Magic) Lydia
Lunch was pretty much my gateway drug to interesting music. I got into Hole when they were getting radio
play in the early nineties (I a teenager) and in a Hole biography Courtney Love
complained that people called her a "Lydia Lunch knockoff" or
something so I thought who is this Lydia Lunch?
She coincidentally had done a song with a band I liked (Sonic Youth) on
their album Bad Moon Rising. (Which, time-wise is the tail-end of the TG era, but is my
vote as it has my favorite Kim songs.)
Teenage Jesus introduced me to No Wave (!) which forever changed my life
for the better. Ikue
Mori's drumming is sublime. "Everything" is relatively easy to get ahold of - but also Lydia Lunch's "Hysterie"
is easier, and has the bulk of the TJ songs. (Kendra Hadlock) The Typical Girls listserv is an
e-mail based music dialogue and discussion group for the discovery of (and
appreciation for) the unknown legends in women's punk/post-punk/underground
music history. Typical
Girls ideally focuses on the pre-riot grrrl
female innovators in music starting around 1975 and ending around 1984. For more information, please go
to our
website at <http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/typicalgirls>. |
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-
[TypicalGirls] another call for blurbs + revised list (again, sorry),
Dina Hornreich, 06/04/2007
-
Re: [TypicalGirls] another call for blurbs + revised list (again, sorry),
Merrill Aldighieri, 06/05/2007
- Re: [TypicalGirls] another call for blurbs + revised list (again, sorry), Daniel Selzer, 06/05/2007
-
Re: [TypicalGirls] another call for blurbs + revised list (again, sorry),
Merrill Aldighieri, 06/05/2007
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