CBGB’s, Ramones, and Studded Leather Jackets
The Velvet Underground — White Light/White Heat
Before punk, post-punk, new wave, and a slew of other genres, there was White Light/White Heat. Predating punk rock, Lou Reed and company’s second album was the primary ventricle that would pump life into the post-punk scene nearly a decade later. The driving force behind White Light/White Heat is a heavily stripped down, straight to the point sound that pushes the boundaries of contemporary musical concepts for the time. Daunting and drenched in feedback, The Velvet Underground set the stage for an entire set list of artists.
>>Key Track: “Sister Ray”
Jump forward to the heart of the punk rock scene. Criteria for entry: a leather jacket, ripped jeans, and the same three chords over and over again. The Ramones threw a middle finger to conventional rock and roll with their debut album, which barely managed thirty minutes in total length. Simple and raw, the Ramones became the quintessential sound of CBGB’s and the New York punk scene in the 70’s. Basic song structures in tow, the Ramones detonated on stage and in the studio.
>>Key Track: “Judy Is a Punk”
As the anti-image punk scene quickly turned into an image itself, boredom began to fester. CBGB natives Television experimented and manipulated the punk sound to fit their liking on Marquee Moon, carefully building a complex sound out of a simple concept. Television’s poignant lyrics and technical song structure launched them into the unknown, well beyond the constraints of the tiring punk movement. The stark contrast to the punk sound can be heard in the elaborate mixing of scales on the ten-minute opus, “Marquee Moon.” Television gave rise to the post-punk movement in their blend of art rock and punk styles with their audacious, debut launch.
>>Key Track: “See No Evil”
Talking Heads — More Songs About Buildings and Food
Intellectual and ironic, Talking Heads solidified the budding post-punk movement with their release More Songs About Buildings and Food. Drawing on Krautrock styles, utilizing synthesizers, and building on experimentation in song structure, David Byrne and crew refined any remaining punk grit. More Songs even begins to hint at the looming new wave genre about to break loose.
>>Key Track: “Take Me To The River”
Perfectly tuned, stripped down and beautiful, Wire’s debut Pink Flag is the absolute pinnacle of the post-punk timeline. The British art rock-based band trimmed every piece of mediocrity, including ego-stroking solos and worthless bridges. The absolute epitome of high-energy, raw, post-punk power explodes on the leading track “Reuters” and follows straight through to “12 X U.” With the majority of songs on the album barely managing two minutes in length, Wire elucidates the idea behind post-punk: get to the point.
>>Key Track: “Ex Lion Tamer”
>>THE 20: Post-Punk Pt. 2 (Transitions and Evolutions)
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Comment by DOCTOR SCIENCE November 5, 2009 @ 7:19 pmTelevision’s Marquee Moon is one of the most underrated punk albums of all time. It’s fantastic.
Comment by Kyle November 5, 2009 @ 11:54 pmThis rules the universe my friend, drenched with synthesized sex
Comment by admirer November 6, 2009 @ 1:28 am[…] WERW show will include an hour of new music, an hour of post-punk from Chris Parker’s 20 and an hour of our favorite local music, as well as editor’s picks and favorite songs from […]
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