Alternative Weekend - NOT Rick Astley!

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(Edited)

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A few days ago I happened to walk into an HMV. Unlike decades past, the company is now a shell of what it used to be; a giant in the audio and video retail sector.

Now we get a piddly shop, still with two floors but the overwhelming aura of what it used to be is lost. Welcome to the internet and the systematic destruction of retail.

What's that song playing? - 'Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley'. How embarrassing, I couldn't hack it being there, turned around, and exited quickly. Someone might assume I am a Rick Astley fan which just would not do. The shame of it...


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...'Fuck off Rick, it's a no..., even then it was NO!...

Besides being several decades out of date, I don't figure it cool to like manufactured shite like this. It had its place once and should be left there.

Where are the strange-looking people behind the counter, with dyed red hair, Mohicans, leather jackets, and more importantly… where's the weird music that was a signature product of walking around their stores?

No matter, as once again I delve into the past and its mad, crazy, weird alternative music.

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Coast is Clear – Curve (Frozen EP – 1991)


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The more I listen to Curve, the more I like what I hear. After listening to the next song in this list from Chapterhouse around five times to let it settle, YouTube figured to give me a blast of Curve based on my preferences.

The one settled into my head amazingly quickly. Maybe the Curve vibe is digging into my psyche and their tunes don’t half have a drive about them.

‘doo doo doo do’.., love this one and it will be heading for the car which is where I can listen to it extra loud and destroy some more of my mammalian inner ear hair cells.

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Autosleeper – Chapterhouse (Whirlpool – 1991)


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It's no coincidence this is from the same era as the last song as my poking into the history of Shoegaze continues. Chapterhouse was another of those so-called defining frontrunners of the genre, so surely they had a standout song that would hook me?

It took some finding but this dark gem eventually found its way into me. Maybe it's the early Cocteau Twins dark sound mixed in with guitar madness in the chorus that never seems to progress that pulled me in.

Do you have to learn to like this genre, and listen more deeply than usual to all those textures that are whirling around your head? Some might say that's too much and that you either like it or you don't.

I long since acknowledged that I’m quite different from most music lovers and have to learn to like something, generally after a dozen plays or so. This one is getting there.

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Scarlet – Lush (Scar – 1989)


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I was hoping for a trio from 1991 but it wasn't to be. 'Ride' is another one of those Shoegaze bands but for the life of me, I can't hear anything good in their music, besides one live track that seems more grungy than usual.

With Lush I don’t need to try, their early material before the Brit-Pop sell-out is great, and this one is very early. Scarlet is ethereal and very airy with Miki's angelic voice, and it’s impossible to pick the vocals out of the song. Mix in some jangly guitars and it hits the button.

Give me a female vocalist, some guitars, preferably a little heavy, and many layers of effects and you've won me over. Who said I was tough to please?

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Nowhere (Live) – Ride (Nowhere 1990)


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I may as well add this one, though it still gelling with me. These guys are loud, and maybe were trying to get some inspiration from the grunge scene which was emerging at this time.

The vocalist seems a little ropey but their music, although quite monochrome sounding is kind of captivating. I was always open to a little industrial, though I'm not sure I could do much more besides listening to this din near the end!

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I think it might be time to use Spotify more and start listening to @dismayedworld's track list that she sent me some weeks ago. While her tastes are a little different than my strange ones, she has some of my DNA and has admitted to liking the odd Porcupine Tree track that's drifted into her bedroom. There is some hope.


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24 comments
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I was rocking out to some Rick on my way into work this morning. I was jamming to the 80's channel and it came on. I don't know why the song gets such a bad rap. Sure the lyrics aren't anything great, but that is pretty typical across the board no matter what decade you are in.

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I was rocking out to some Rick on my way into work this morning.

Oh @bozz, we are never going to be on the same music planet. Very few are on mine, come to think of it!

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Just remember, I like pretty much anything. I'm more of a planetary explorer.

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Well, I became a fan of Rick Astley after Getting rick Rolled hundreds of time listening to "Never Gonna Give you Up" once and it will run right up inside my head on loop entire day !LOL and there's no escape.

90s music is such a classic and Good vibes! Glad to know more of Cool music from this post. Was waiting for it hah!

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Well, I became a fan of Rick Astley after Getting rick Rolled hundreds of time listening to "Never Gonna Give you Up"

That would make me run and hide, not like it. Rick was actually the 80's.., I was there and had to endure the Stock, Aitkin and Waterman barrage of mostly shit music during those times.

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Down with Rick even now with the post-ironic repackaging of him as being good.

I like anything with a bit of guitar mostly. Ride reminds me of my old band. We were very much a product of the times! We would have probably have been a bit more twee and janglier if it hadn't been for me and my metal influences beefing it up a bit!

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Both Ride and Charterhouse are billed as Shoegaze (the former band have their eyes firmly on the floor while wailing on those guitars in the vid.), but both are pretty bloody noisy if you listen to the entire songs.

I would have liked your old band, metal influences are always a good touch.

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I was lucky in that our favourite recording studio had an old metaller for a Sound technician and he used to bump me up in the mix at the heavy parts!

Yeah, I saw that in the videos. Some serious shoegaze going on. Good downward staring times! I remember HMV of the past as well. What a place to while away the time in. The last time I went in it was all rubbish video games and DVDs, dont think I spotted any music!

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The last time I went in it was all rubbish video games and DVDs, dont think I spotted any music!

The games are gone, I think they were losing money.., even GAME is almost gone now, relegated to a small section of JBB Sports stores. All we have is CEX, and that's used stuff.

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It is all a bit goosed. I occasionally pop into CEX but in Glasgow and probably most places it can be a grim experience!

GAME, lasted quite well up here I think. There was a big one across from my work till a couple of years before COVID. Well, I think. The mind plays tricks was you get older!

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Could be GAME have a 'proper' store cuz' it's a major city. The ones in our local towns have all closed down. Not that I bought anything there, but it was a distraction from the tedium when @bingbabe was shopping.

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Your and my thinking are almost same. In my free time i always listen old classical music. Old singers voices gives you very relaxation. This song lyrics are awesome. I love to listen this music again and again. Thanks for sharing.

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Apparently some bastard doesn't want folks in the US listening to the first song. The second just doesn't fit my tastes. The 3rd and 4th definitely trigger some 90s music memories though I don't think I have heard those specific tunes before.

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There's always different versions posted..

The 3rd and 4th definitely trigger some 90s music memories though I don't think I have heard those specific tunes before.

Yes, all very 90's. If only I could find something decent from more recent times.

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Yeah, I just didn't have time to go searching when I commented. I don't know if weird shoegazey alternative rock is up your alley or not, but this album is from 1995. Youtube audio is crap, alas.

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Ya, this sounds OK. I note the entire album follows this track.., might have a listen!

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Although we have some similar tastes I'm just not into this stuff. There may be bits I like, but I don't think I'd be looking for more from these bands. But that's fine as musical taste is a very personal thing.

We still have HMV in Stevenage, but it's pretty small and seems to be filling up with DVD/Bluray and toys at the expense of music. I did go in Revolution Records (Steven Wilson's favourite record shop) recently, but it's mostly vinyl and I'm not too fussed about that. I'm not into collecting rare editions. I just tend to buy albums by bands I particularly like.

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Although we have some similar tastes I'm just not into this stuff. There may be bits I like, but I don't think I'd be looking for more from these bands.

I like to call it 'another branch of my taste', but apart from Lush this isn't in the same category as Porcupine Tree etc.., but I have emptied my brain about all that in the past.

but it's pretty small and seems to be filling up with DVD/Bluray and toys at the expense of music.

I was in there for just a few seconds, glanced around, noticed they don't sell games anymore and then heard Rick, it was too painful.

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Nice picks, I quite liked the Lush tune. And the guitar work in the Ride song was pretty impressive !

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HMV is turning into the "Hot Topic" of the UK. What used to be rows of CDs is now Tshirts and Funko pops. Adapt or die I guess.

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Curve were great, and not listened to them for flipping ages, and HMV, I cannot ever remember the last time I was inside one, I am surprised there are any left!

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