Taking Sides: Ireland V Scotland; which has the worst bands?

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I suppose there have been good bands from each, but there's an enormous amount of shite also; certainly, Manchester or Liverpool have beeen way more productive than either of these two whole countries. Discuss. ( Or, does Simple Minds, Love and Money and Deacon Blue = one U2, or they just win by been the so big and so bad?)

― sonofstan (sonofstan), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Ireland. And Simple Minds are good.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Manchester and Liverpool have dished up the shoite too.

Ireland win for Microdisney.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

And Enya.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

ireland has far worse bands (and a lot of really bad, earnest folk music). scotland were srsly on a roll in the '80s, although less so now.

― el borracho (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Taking Sides: England V the US; they produced the odd good band.

At least we can all agree that The Alarm + Stereophonics = LOSE

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:54 (seventeen years ago) link

B'witched, anyone?

ENGLAND VS US NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO although OTM about the Stereophonics.

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:55 (seventeen years ago) link

although pointing out that the Stereophonics suxxxor = the cheapest OTM I've yet seen on ILX

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Del Amitri vs Boomtown Rats, Scotland wins.

― zeus (zeus), Monday, 4 September 2006 20:59 (seventeen years ago) link

When does Dadaismus come in and say Sensational Alex Harvey Band pisses all over Manchester and Liverpool?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Alex Harvey pissed all over a lot of places.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Thin Lizzy vs Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Enya > Sigur Ros

in fact I think she gave birth to them all

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

And even then Brian Robertson was in Lizzy.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Sigur Ros aren't Scottish.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

What exactly is wrong with Simple Minds??

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 4 September 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

irish pop music is absolutely dreadful, i can barely think of anything i've enjoyed from home shores the last few years. that may seem like too much of a blanket statement, but there really is a tendency towards the monochrome among irish bands, and it infuses almost everyting. i remember thinking that the first single off the thrills' second album was my favourite exception, and the rest of the thrills' stuff was utterly dullsville, but that tune really did it for me. that's one good piece of recent irish pop music i can think of.

scotland? i think they do certain things pretty well. i would not get excited about scottish music, but there's been several bits and pieces i've enjoyed.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Hows about Hull Vs Lanarkshire, jim?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:04 (seventeen years ago) link

My Bloody Valentine

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:04 (seventeen years ago) link

We have The Puddingtons, ergo We Lose.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:05 (seventeen years ago) link

oh wait this thread was only looking for the bad stuff? sorry, i misread it. i don't have time to list off all the crap irish music i've heard, but the frames deserve a big shout.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Del Amitri vs Boomtown Rats, Scotland wins.

just making sure .... do people understand that 'winning' here means being the worst?

― sonofstan (sonofstan), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Fila Brazilia = we fight on

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Also The Gargoyles. And Hub. And the first 3 Beautiful South albums.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:07 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm leaving this thread alone before I say something horribly offensive about The Pogues and their God-awful, faux-Oirish, samey claptrap, the musical equivalent of an O'Neils chain pub. Oh, dang it...

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:08 (seventeen years ago) link

jim are you going to that Theremin thing in a couple of weeks?

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh i misread it too. No way are thin lizzy and sensational alex harvey band shite.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:09 (seventeen years ago) link

The Pouges are great you loon

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:09 (seventeen years ago) link

The Pastels, Orange Juice, Aztec Camera, early Mongwai, Arab Strap, MOMUS! etc. we pretty much have losing the being the worst contest in the bag.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Mongwai lol

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:09 (seventeen years ago) link

multi xposts

I've been thinking about it. Isn't it this week? Patricia somebody?

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Mongwai was actually deliberate!

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Jim, I take your The Puddingtons and raise you with G.U.N.(or their hair metal GUN days, whichever you deem worst)

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:10 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost - does your email work btw? have tried to get in touch

it's http://www.myspace.com/pameliakurstin (from the moog documentary!)

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah just looked it up. I'm down with this if our lass isn't going out, I'll check me hotmail (it works but I'm slack at checking it.)

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Thats not true. You emailed me back 3 months later once.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Louis, you have never heard the Pogues in your life, have you?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:16 (seventeen years ago) link

CORRECTION: I was treated to their entire Greatest Hits in the car YESTERDAY, by my mum, who's a fan. I didn't miss it when it was over, hence my posting here. Although I still clearly know nothing about punk, so I have an excuse to sound ignorant on the issue.

Some of my words may have been a slight exaggeration, as well. :p

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:19 (seventeen years ago) link

xxpost LOL This is true

I can't see an email from you fand, either it got junk mailed or I've deleted it whilst pissed. Try noodlevague@googleFUCKOFFSPAMBOTSmail.com, I read that more often. I'm defnitely up for the gig, anyway.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:20 (seventeen years ago) link

ok :)

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:23 (seventeen years ago) link

The Pogues are cool merely by association with Kirsty MacColl.

― bad hair day house (fandango), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:23 (seventeen years ago) link

The Pogues is cool full stop. Louis, get "The Old Main Drag", get drunk, listen to it on a loop. It's Enlightenment or Bust.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Who said anything about cool? Get one copy of Red Roses for Me and listen to it properly.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Kirsty MacColl, eh? *refrains from making some gag involving Steve Irwin and the dangers that lurk in the sea*

Noodle Vague, admittedly the stuff on this 'Best Of' did sound as if it might be a little more subdued than their punky beginnings, and I did kinda like Rum, Sodomy And The Lash when I heard it at a very early age (we've kinda lost the cassette since then), but the stuff playing on our car stereo yesterday was puuuure bilge. Might follow your advice (or find RSATL) though.

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:27 (seventeen years ago) link

I think it's easy to mistake the Pogues for one of the foixrish bands that've come after them, but there's a big deep wide talented difference.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:30 (seventeen years ago) link

I've listened to Never Mind The Bollocks again, btw. It's actually quite good, not wholly my style, but no dismissing it offhand ever again. 'Bodies' is grate! :)

You know what music I mean when I compare them to an O'Neils pub, though!

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Does Scotland win the worst award if I mention Sandi Thom, KT Tunstall and that "punk" band Tippy is in?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Manchester or Liverpool have beeen way more productive than either of these two whole countries -ouch! That's a bit harsh no?

Pogues are genius, if you don't understand that you're a fool.

Texas = Scotland wins.

― lexurian (lexurian), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:32 (seventeen years ago) link

PAOLO NUTINI WINS IT FOR THE CALEDONIANS, actually.

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:33 (seventeen years ago) link

I wish i was a bread-maker with flour in my hair.

Sandi Thom is the Doomsday Weapon of this debate.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Monday, 4 September 2006 21:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Skipping 60 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I think it's meant to be about bad bands tho.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 10:32 (seventeen years ago) link

WALES WITH THE LATE WINNER

http://www.skysportsdvdshop.co.uk/catalog/images/GUDVD5719.jpg

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 10:34 (seventeen years ago) link

NOT SO FAST

http://www.paviliontheatre.co.uk/showHTML/shows_2006/images/sidneydevine.jpg

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 10:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Belle and Sebastian are our greatest living band FACT

Better check yourself foo'

― Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Now Stuart Murdoch's swearing they're like Gangsta Twee.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:34 (seventeen years ago) link

(xpost) Sorry, to clarify: I like Camera Obscura more just cos they were like brilliant live when I saw them.

Gangsta Twee? The mind boggles...

― Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Ice Cub

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:44 (seventeen years ago) link

*checks thread for mentions of Associates and Cocteau Twins, finds none so adds them duly*

I thought Marcello likes those bands.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Scotland: Why Is It So Musically Inept?/Why has Nothing Good Musically Come From A Nation 10 X the Size Of Manchester/.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:46 (seventeen years ago) link

I was thicko and didn't realise it was about crap Celtic bands per se (have Runrig made an appearance yet?).

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Del Amitri vs Boomtown Rats, Scotland wins.
just making sure .... do people understand that 'winning' here means being the worst?
-- sonofstan (stanerraugh...), September 4th, 2006.

Of course I know!

― zeus (zeus), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 12:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Keep taking the piss out of Runrig, I'm hoping this thread'll draw some World Class Googlers.

― I Supersize Disaster (noodle vague), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 12:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Aye.
Capercaille hadn't. They can't beat Enya/Clannad though.
x-posts

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 12:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Glasgow is the epicentre of bland

I know I'm quoting myself, but can someone tell me why this should be so? For a city that prides itself on its faux celtic macho image, why is it a veritble production line of world-class blandosaurs. As soon as one fades another pops up, thus; (taking a random staring point) Deacon Blue begat Wet wet wet begat Texas begat Nutini etc etc. It's pure no fair by the way big man.

― lexurian (lexurian), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 13:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Because of the bifurcation in the '80s of Scottish musicians' obsession with America, which can be divided into two camps:

(a) the bohemian dropout half who wanted to be Lou Reed - Orange Juice, Pastels, Mary Chain;
(b) the upwardly mobile urban half who wanted to be Sinatra, hey lookit those skyscrapers! - Wets, Hue & Cry, Deacon.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 13:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Some of us wanted to be Franz Kafka, but even Kafka dreamed of Amerika.

― Momus (Momus), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 20:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Kafka dreamt?

Jesus wept.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link

I still haven't heard this Nutini guy. Am I lucky?

I was hoping the irish contingent were going to remind me of some classic irish music a la Brendan Shine and the like.
The Fureys played Hamilton actually about 10 years ago. My mate and I were tempted to go hehe. My parents saw them in Glasgow a few years later but there seemed to have been some falling out and a few members weren't there. The only one i can remember the name of was Finbar.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 21:41 (seventeen years ago) link

No, Nutini is required listening for everyone who cares about music. Only when we comprehend the enormity of our foe do we know what we have to do, and how soon to do it.

― Obvious Ninja (Haberdager), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 21:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Finbar Furey's yer only man. There's nothing wrong with the Furey's though. They're no plastic paddies or anything. They're tinkers from Ballyfermot.

What about Luke Kelly?
"Onnnnn Raahh GLAnn RO-UDD"

Afro Celt Sound System - Crusty Dance / Trad you can take drugs too

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 21:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Ireland can win for bands but I sense Scotland has the better clubs?

― bad hair day house (fandango), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Hang on, if people are invoking granny-friendly cabaret like Brendan Shine and Foster & Allan, then Scotland has Fran & Anna. And the Alexander Brothers. Do we win yet?

The Dubliners vs The Chieftans
The Corries vs Hamish Imlach.

Are you slagging these people off?

I like, or at least don't dislike, far too many bands mentioned here.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Why do so many Irish bands go on and on about ... being Irish?

― Hot Hot Heat (Hot Hot Heat), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:05 (seventeen years ago) link

(i know all their late 80s/early 90s stuff as my dad liked them for a spell)

Worst excuse ever! Or were you tethered to him for a number of years or something?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:05 (seventeen years ago) link

xposts but no ailsa. I wasn't slagging any of them you mentioned.

And as for runrig, it was not possible to avoid them as he played them in the car constantly.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Kafka dreamed so much he never finished Amerika

― whatever (boglogger), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:13 (seventeen years ago) link

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s72139.jpg

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s146402.jpg

dear god I couldn't even remember their name last night... ugh

― bad hair day house (fandango), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 22:15 (seventeen years ago) link

"The Corries vs Hamish Imlach"

Neither are Irish. Both are good. What's your point?

― everything (everything), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 02:30 (seventeen years ago) link

I never said they were irish.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 23:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Scotland has Silly Wizard, which counts for something I guess.

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 23:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Kerr, don't you understand that listing one act v another act on a thread about "one thing v another thing, which is most shite?" might lead people to think that you are listing examples from each side, and declaring them shite in the process?

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 September 2006 15:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Ireland wins this hands down. Ireland has a music scene that thinks by its total disconnection from success and big record labels it's actually achieved something. This would be fine if all these acts were making experimental dub or something but most are actually bad commercial rock music.

Scotland is part of the British music scene at least, I don't mean that pejoratively either, just that there is some give/take between the two.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 8 September 2006 06:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Ireland has a music scene that thinks by its total disconnection from success and big record labels it's actually achieved something. This would be fine if all these acts were making experimental dub or something but most are actually bad commercial rock music.

I agree with the first sentence, but feel that actually Ireland's music scene is characterised by underachieving experimentalists with no obvious hunger to connect to a record buying public.

At the risk of appearing like a shameless self-promoter, here is my amazing list of the GREATEST EVER IRISH MUSICAL TUNES: http://inuitbikini.blogspot.com/2006/08/cd-greatest-irish-music-tunes-ever.html

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 8 September 2006 12:07 (seventeen years ago) link

four years pass...

ireland

― nakhchivan, Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link

simple minds could win it for scotland though

― Armand Schaubroeck Ratfucker, Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:01 (twelve years ago) link

There are a couple of Irish bands I've liked, can only think of one Scottish (Mogwai).

― Inevitable stupid samba mix (chap), Sunday, 21 August 2011 20:35 (twelve years ago) link

Was going to bring up The Pogues as a plus point for Ireland, then remembered they're actually English.

― Inevitable stupid samba mix (chap), Sunday, 21 August 2011 20:41 (twelve years ago) link

As much as it pains me to admit it, the answer is "Ireland"

― Can't Stop the Rop (seandalai), Monday, 22 August 2011 00:03 (twelve years ago) link

yeah, Ireland wins this one with ease

― Number None, Monday, 22 August 2011 00:09 (twelve years ago) link

even with simple minds and deacon blue, the answer is still Ireland innit?

― Armand Schaubroeck Ratfucker, Monday, 22 August 2011 00:09 (twelve years ago) link

Ireland has some good metal bands currently though in it's favour.

― Armand Schaubroeck Ratfucker, Monday, 22 August 2011 00:37 (twelve years ago) link

Inverness is perhaps the most overlooked area of Scottish Hip Hop though acts such as Spit-Dis and T-E-C were prominent in the Highlands & Islands. Spit-Dis consists of Brude (Glass Cage), John-Boi (Focus on the Day), KD (Life is a Game) and Sherbit (Hip-Hop). The members of T-E-C, Mgoff and Paul Scotti are perhaps most recognised for their tracks "Don't Doubt The Flow", "These Parts" and "The Movement". In an area disproportionately dominated by traditional Highland music and Rock bands, these groups are particularly influential in the local and national scene in a way which was previously unassociated with artists from this area.

― buzza, Monday, 22 August 2011 03:15 (twelve years ago) link

Can Scotland claim Gentle Giant? The Shulman brothers were born in Glasgow, didn't live there very long though. Anyway, I'm not sure if Gentle Giant would tip the scales either way for Scotland.

― Duncan Disorderly (Tom D.), Monday, 22 August 2011 13:17 (twelve years ago) link

ac/dc means scotland cant win.

jethro tull does

― Armand Schaubroeck Ratfucker, Monday, 22 August 2011 13:56 (twelve years ago) link

four years pass...

didn't know where to put this, been listening to this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSxrH8yYI_E

The stage banter at the end is hilariously cheesy after such a great and deep rendition

(i found it on a cheap vinyl record) another thread mentioned the Corries are remarkably unavailable on cd. (I certainly had never heard of them before, which must be very continental European of me)

― Ludo, Saturday, 30 April 2016 15:47 (seven years ago) link

Oh god, Ireland easily.

― 2rrican (Turrican), Saturday, 30 April 2016 15:51 (seven years ago) link

The stage banter at the end is hilariously cheesy after such a great and deep rendition

That's folk musicians for you.

― (Henry) Green container bin with face (Tom D.), Saturday, 30 April 2016 15:56 (seven years ago) link

I'd have to go with Ireland too

― i;m thinking about thos Beans (Michael B), Saturday, 30 April 2016 16:05 (seven years ago) link

Roy Williamson was a helluva talent, Ronnie Browne, er, not so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylj-O06Is_c

― (Henry) Green container bin with face (Tom D.), Saturday, 30 April 2016 16:19 (seven years ago) link

maybe Roy sold his soul to the devil, and had to include Ronnie Browne in the package deal hehehe. Haircut Ronnie certainly looks like he should just be in a Asterix and Obelix in Scotland in 3D adaptation

thanks for that vid!

― Ludo, Saturday, 30 April 2016 16:55 (seven years ago) link

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