GANG OF FOURDAMAGED GOODS
Of the many bands which appeared in the punk/post-punk British wave, Gang of Four is probably – with The Clash – the most influential of all. Often cited by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea as a major influence, Gang of Four has also been stated to have pre-defined the sound of Rap Metal. In today’s music, bands such as The Rapture, Liars, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Dead 60s and many more owe a lot to their sound which they only slightly modernized.
Did they sell many albums? No they did not. They probably were too radical and too avant-gardist for their own good but their music remains a crucial component to today’s indie sound and, thus, deserved to be rewarded with their compilation on “Baistophe.” Actually, their first two albums (1979’s Entertainment! and 1981’s Solid Gold) are must have for anyone even mildly interested in (post) punk or indie rock.
My GANG OF FOUR Top Three
1 – Entertainment! (1979)
2 – Solid Gold (1981)
3 – Hard (1983)
RIYL:
Mission of Burma, Talking Heads, Bloc Party, Fugazi
4 comments:
Great compilation! I have followed GoF for many years and have seen them for 3 memorable shows including the 2004 Reunion which was amazing and vital.
My observation is this: Why hasn't their SONGS FOR THE FREE album been appreciated more? I actually think the "sound" of that record is more influential today than their earlier work. Andy Gill's guitar on that album is hallucinatory.
Thanks again for this brilliant single-disc distillation.
Actually, would have I expanded my list to 4 albums, SONG FOR THE FREE would have been fourth.
Still, I think their earlier work to be of a more crucial importance.
I do love this band, I'd only notice they don't actually try to be a rock band, they rather emphasize the ideological message of their songs by means of a brilliant "white" funk musical texture (at least on their first two albums). Anthrax with its Hendrix-inspired opening may be the exception. Great music indeed, up to par with the best of the English scene from Wire to XTC though clearly different from both.
Thx for sharing it with those who are too young to remeember and be still enjoying. I own legitimate material, anyway.
Franco
Well, I'm a bit late in finding this blog, but just wanted to say I love the idea of giving us a representative taster of a group's music - and excellent artwork too!
I've followed a different approach - selecting groups I really love (including Gang of Four) and then indexing all the links still alive on the web to the group's bootlegs.
If, after this introduction by Baistophe, the Gang of Four tempts you further, I have indexed links to all their available bootlegs (from their first UK tour in 1979 which includes two unreleased tracks to several top-quality live recordings in 2005-2006):
http://knowyourconjurer.blogspot.com/2010/10/gang-of-four-mega-post-by-dave-sez-go.html
All of my mega-posts (to date: Television, Magazine, Ultravox (pre-Ure), Gang of Four, JJ Burnel solo and Faust) are here:
http://knowyourconjurer.blogspot.com/search/label/Dave%20Sez
Don't forget to check the comments to the mega-posts too for updates and additions.
Cheers et merci, Dave Sez.
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