|   The kids call it "Punk" | dean_martin
Nov 7, 2003 1:12 PM | | My teenager is into what he calls punk. Unfortunately, I recall only one band name and I may not have it right - MXBX? Anyhow, the overall style seems to be like the music soundtracks to the Tony Hawk pro-skater video game series. Can any of you young bucks or wannabe hipsters shed some light on this "genre"? Do you think a kid who likes this music would like an original punk comp like the new "No Thanks" from Rhino? A little insight will be appreciated. |
| re: The kids call it "Punk" | J
Nov 7, 2003 1:42 PM | | From a parental point of view, I'd say there's a lot worse stuff a teenager could listen to, especially since MXPX brings a new wrinkle to what they call 'pop-punk'--they're <i>Christian</i> pop-punk. So it'd seem that their message would be more wholesome, or something like that. From a spiritual point of view, I'm not the sort who usually likes religion injected into music, so I'm not going to be big on that sort of thing, and I'd rather hear young'uns sing about doing naughty stuff. Not that I want them to do naughty stuff necessarily, I just find music about bad behavior to be more interesting, generally, than music about good behavior. But most of the punk rock that I like has to do more with boredom than criminal activity necessarily. There are plenty of bands out there that are way more punk than pop, and I'd probably prefer them greatly to the likes of MXPX. But I just don't hear them all that much. I hear the poppier stuff way more. And I don't dislike it because it's poppy; I just don't hear anything that sounds like decent songwriting to me.
From a purely musical point of view, I can't really make any recommendations in this genre. I prefer the older stuff, but I just don't know how much the kids who like Sum 41 (on Letterman with Iggy last nite, eh), Good Charlotte, Blink 182, Mest et al care about the Ramones & the Clash & the Sex Pistols. I've seen the track listing for 'No Thanks' & I think it's awesome, but I just can't say that it's going to impress any teenagers all that much. I think it'd be great if everyone reached into their wallets & spent $65 or whatever it is on the box, because what's on it has been mostly woefully unappreciated for 25 years, but the bands today are cut from a different cloth, so who knows. I must admit I was surprised to find that of the 100 or so cuts on that box I'm actually missing at least 30, which makes me wonder how comprehensive the punk comps I've put together in the past actually are.
Anyway...the bridge between the pop-punk stuff & the old-school stuff is unquestionably Green Day. They sound like the new bands, but seem to have an attitude much closer to the old-schoolers in general. Any kid who likes all these new bands would, I would hope, appreciate Green Day (although some may not simply because it's their older siblings' music or some other such silly reason). From there I would hope they would discover Nirvana, the Replacements, Husker Du, and the 80s hardcore bands. And the Muffs (think Joan Jett singing, only better, with the Ramones, playing songs that sound like the Beatles; their 1st album is an all-timer). Not sure how realistic that is, though.
One surprise I found was Eve 6. I didn't expect much based on how they're a radio staple, but although they're more 'modern/alternative' rock than pop-punk, I found their last rec to have several impressive tunes. But they're the only one I think I can point to that's aggressive at all that caught my ear. |
| Pop Punk | DMK
Nov 8, 2003 2:10 PM | | Thanks for clearing up the genre for me. My kids one day announced that they were into punk and showed me discs they had borrowed from their cousing which included Blink 182, Good Charlotte, and Sum 41. Now I always thought that punk was as much a revolt/attitude as it was gnashing guitars where even the bands name should offend such as the Sex Pistols or the Dead Kennedys. These newer bands seemed much more...well, friendly! They then explained that it was "pop punk", a term I had never heard before.
Interestingly, they wanted to know where it came from. Without playing them my Pistols or other stuff too disturbing for young minds, I broke out Black Sabbath, some non-offensive Iggy, Ramones, Led Zeppelin and a few other things and they flipped! They demanded I make them copies of these discs and they have now branched off into Nirvana, Metallica and some of the other heavier bands. I caught one of them singing the Clash's "Brand New Cadillac" the other day.
They've always been fairly broad with music, something I believe I've helped foster. They still love Beethoven's Fifth symphony, blues harmonica from Little Walter and the occasional rollicking jazz piece as long as it's not too weird. They found Current 93's "Faust" disturbingly engrossing as well. :)
Anyway, thanks for your insight. |
| that'd be MxPx | Booji Boy
Nov 7, 2003 1:55 PM | | A lot of the so called "punk" of today starts sounding the same to me, and so for the newer stuff I tend to be more interested in harder and more experimental stuff like Racebannon and Blood Brothers. It's not that I don't like the general style of MxPx, but many of the bands really don't do anything different from each other or from what's been done for years to make it interesting to me. Others similar to MxPx are Ataris, Blink-182, and Frenzal Rhomb. Some I do like that are similar (and more recent relatively speaking) are Screeching Weasel and NOFX.
Now, getting off my soapbox, I do think someone into MxPx should love the No Thanks comp or something like the 1-2-3-4 comp on Universal (I think) that's outstanding.
BB |
| re. MxPx | mad rhetorik
Nov 7, 2003 2:48 PM | | They are mall punk i.e. power pop/pop-punk, and they suck. Most "punk" bands these days fall under this category unfortunately. Green Day and NOPX started the pop-punk genre, and while neither of them were really great bands they are a good deal more tolerable than the other pop-punk bands that followed, who seemed to pick up severely irritating "emo" vocalizing along with using the same 3 chords in each song, and whining about girl problems.
Do yer tyke a favor and pick up some albums by The Ramones, The Clash, Bad Brains, Wire (my new fave), and Husker Du. Oh, and just for variety pick up a Pixies album too. My 13 year old brother loves the hell out of his copy of London Calling. There's no reason for any kids these days to be listenin' to the unoriginal Tipper Gore-approved "punk" on the airwaves.
I apologize for the rant, it's been a long week. ; P |
| "NOFX" | mad rhetorik
Nov 7, 2003 6:28 PM | | -sp.
(typing too fast again) |
| Thanks, very insightful... | dean_martin
Nov 8, 2003 11:19 AM | | I've heard the pop-punk playing in the house and I've asked some questions about it. It does remind me of Green Day and I agree that Green Day is probably the bridge between these groups and the old skoolers. (I lost touch with what's new in the mid-nineties.)
Anyhow, after reading your responses I did peruse my collection in search of punk tracks. Unfortunately, I don't have much in this area. But, I did stay up late listening to Nirvana's covers of Vaselines tunes - "Son of a Gun" is awesome, a Wipers tribute album, Never Mind the Bullocks. I think I have some Clash 45s and Husker Du cassettes boxed up somewhere. Regretfully, I have no Ramones or Iggy Pop/Stooges. It's time to supplement the old collection.
Also, thanks for your opinions on "No Thanks." |
| a day late and a dollar short... | nobody
Nov 10, 2003 6:09 AM | | Good comments, but just figured I'd chime in.
I don't know that the kids listening to the modern pop-punk stuff would really like the old school stuff. Some probably would, some not. There are a few old school bands that may make the cross over pretty easily. I'd suggest the Buzzcocks and the Ramones. They both have pretty catchy tunes. The Ramones have that touch of comedy that appeals to many as well.
If you wanna see if they'd be interested in the harder old school stuff, I made a sampler of old hardcore stuff, mostly early 80s US stuff, but with a couple UK tunes tossed in. If you don't nmind the offensive language on some of the tracks, I could send you a copy and if your kid likes the stuff on there, it would be a strating point as to where he stands for old punk stuff. |
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