Howdy folks. Brand spankin' new G4 Web Content Producer Frank Meyer here. For years I have penned a roving column called Frankly Speaking, which has served as a place for me to spout off about what’s cool, what’s hot and what’s rockin’ in the world of music. Or... at least in my world of music. Now that I have brought this sweet baby over here to G4, I will be changing the focus a bit. Rather than just being a home base for my useless knowledge and music trivia, and a place where I call rock stars derogatory names, the new and improved Frankly Speaking will take a “pick hits” approach. Every two weeks, I will lob your way some music worth checkin’ out via theme-oriented tips and recommendations. With that in mind, here we go with our first installment of Frankly Speaking.
New Wave Now: The sounds of the New Wave ‘80s are making their way back into the mainstream via a slew of alternative bands embracing the genre. Below are five albums that best represent the trend of fusing the synth-laden sounds of new wave with the current sounds of rock. If 2002 was the year that garage rock broke, then 2004 is the year of the skinny tie.
Red Planet We Know How It Goes (Gearhead) – These San Francisco power poppers toss some Soft Cell/Modern English influences into their jagged punk sound. This is what The Cars would (or at least should) sound like if they made a new album today. If you like the sound of the synth in Sweet’s “Fox on the Run,” you dig the Ramones, and your guilty pleasure is Psychedelic Furs, then you have found your Nirvana.
The Hives Tyrannosaurus Hives (Interscope) – First they were punk, then they were a garage rock band, now they go new wave! The Hives have an uncanny ability to genre hop, but they do it with such style, grace and sheer rock-i-tude, that they always make it work. Their stiff robotic sound here may have been Devo inspired, but the result is more Elvis Costello than anything. Is there a better frontman out there than Howlin' Pelle Almquist? Maybe his girlfriend in the Sahara Hotnights…
Sahara Hotnights Kiss & Tell (RCA) – Sweden’s answer to the Donnas (who are really just Palo Alto’s answer to the Runaways), the Sahara Hotnights came scorching out of the gate last year with their major label debut, a bitchin’ slice of rawk ‘n’ roll called Jennie Bomb. But their latest disc is less punk and more Valley Girl, with “Who Do You Dance For?” sounding as much like The Waitresses than anyone has a right to.
Beck Midnite Vultures (Interscope) – This album may have come out in 1999, but it was ahead of its time in terms of embracing the retro chic of ‘80s new wave (ahead of its time in being behind the times, does that make any sense?). From the Prince-isms of the ballad “Debra,” to the Rick James funk of “Sex Laws,” the old school rap meets Morris Day stylings of “Hollywood Freaks,” to the rigid Casio-pop of “Mixed Bizness” and “Get Real Paid,” this album covers virtually every style of ‘80s music there is. All he needed was to add a metal song about riding on a steel horse to complete the puzzle.
But if you are really dying for a fix of bad hair, leg warmers, and herky-jerky dance steps, go straight to the source and pick up the greatest hits CDs by Devo, Missing Persons, Psychedelic Furs, The Fixx, Depeche Mode, Bananarama, Huey Lewis and the News, and… yikes!... Haircut 100! And if you wanna hear an ‘80s icon sound like he did when he was great, go pick up Prince’s new one, Musicology. You will not be disappointed.
Check out Frank Meyer's own music at www.thestreetwalkincheetahs.com and www.sweetjusticetheband.com.
