"Wonky Pop" - Classic or Dud?

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The new media buzzword to describe the antidote to landfill indie bands. search things like MGMT, Santogold, Mr Hudson, Black Kids and whoever was in that 2009 "most likely to" list.

While I'm pleased to see the back of the tight trouser brigade, why is this happening now? It's not as though bands with a leftfield but accessible mindset haven't always been around (Arcade Fire and Elbow spring to mind), so why are the media tastemakers suddenly deciding this is the sound for 2009? IT also worries me that like all recent "movements" this will be jumped on and assimilated by everyone wanting a piece of the pie, thus watering it down to self parody.

All the same, I think a return to the experimental spirit of the post punk era can only be a good thing.

the next grozart, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 11:53 (fifteen years ago) link

It’s not wonky at all, which is a problem.

Chewshabadoo, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:15 (fifteen years ago) link

Good point, although every genre name is arguable. I guess it's wonkier than Razorlight and their ilk though.

the next grozart, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:26 (fifteen years ago) link

This is last year's stupid buzzword dude.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:40 (fifteen years ago) link

Also it was a stupid buzzword to describe people like Alphabeat and Frankmuzik, not MGMT or Santogold.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:43 (fifteen years ago) link

Actually I count seven misconceptions in that opening post, it's difficult to see how it could be any wronger.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:44 (fifteen years ago) link

coined by mika's pr (or manager?) apparently, which says it all. you can be pretty much assured that any act under this umbrella is dreadful.

lex pretend, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:52 (fifteen years ago) link

Come on, surely we have to thank Mika for returning us to the experimental spirit of the post punk era?

Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:53 (fifteen years ago) link

"wonky pop" falls under the general rule that "anyone who tells you they're crazy, isn't"

snoball, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:53 (fifteen years ago) link

see also Hoosiers and their self defined "odd pop"

snoball, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:54 (fifteen years ago) link

They nicked it off my "odd pop" neologism, which I started a thread about ages ago.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:56 (fifteen years ago) link

Wonky plop morelike

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:58 (fifteen years ago) link

While I'm pleased to see the back of the tight trouser brigade

Never a sight that I enjoyed tbh.

Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:00 (fifteen years ago) link

While I'm pleased to see the back of the tight trouser brigade

― the next grozart, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 11:53 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

n/h

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:00 (fifteen years ago) link

Ponky Wop morelike

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:01 (fifteen years ago) link

This is last year's stupid buzzword dude.

Seems to have made it to tabloidland now tho?

Pescetarian Reich (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:01 (fifteen years ago) link

They nicked it off my "odd pop" neologism, which I started a thread about ages ago.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, January 13, 2009 1:56 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i dunno nick, is qualifying the word 'pop' with the adjective 'odd' counting as a neologism now?

anyway, more like neo-jism amirite.

DANCE MUSIC STUCK AT RECOMBINANT PLATEAU (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:41 (fifteen years ago) link

If wonky pop was similar in tone to wonky techno, it would be the best genre ever.

Chewshabadoo, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:52 (fifteen years ago) link

Chewshabadoo, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:52 (fifteen years ago) link

Put a wonk on it

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 13:54 (fifteen years ago) link

http://www.thisiswonky.com/

hasn't mikas manager registered/trademarked the phrase ?

mark e, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:06 (fifteen years ago) link

Can I register the phrase 'landfill wonky'?

Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:12 (fifteen years ago) link

Landill Wonky? Was he a Redknapp signing?

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link

They nicked it off my "odd pop" neologism, which I started a thread about ages ago.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:56 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I'll vouch for this. When Twat Hoosier started bandying that around I was all "But that was Sicko's term!".

the next grozart, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:20 (fifteen years ago) link

Look, let's just lay it down on the fucking ground now: this 7,000 genres an album, 2,000 hooks a song, no good tunes a career approach is a direct-line descendant of the Xenomania template ILM was sucking off a few years back, and Xenomania themselves really should apologise for ruining music forever.

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:22 (fifteen years ago) link

a thread to bookmark indeed.

DANCE MUSIC STUCK AT RECOMBINANT PLATEAU (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:22 (fifteen years ago) link

coined by mika's pr (or manager?) apparently, which says it all. you can be pretty much assured that any act under this umbrella is dreadful.

― lex pretend, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 12:52

I'm pretty sure I coined it in 2002 (see the blurb under the blog title, which hasn't changed since then) and P3t3r R0b1n50n nicked it off me! I've asked him though, and he swears he'd not seen my blog before he started using the term. No mention of Mika from him either...

Background Zombie (CharlieNo4), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:24 (fifteen years ago) link

http://www.thisiswonky.com/

hasn't mikas manager registered/trademarked the phrase ?

― mark e, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:06 (18 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

More like "wanky pop"...

snoball, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:27 (fifteen years ago) link

Peter Robinson?

Enrique (Raw Patrick), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:28 (fifteen years ago) link

He is certainly taking the DUP into areas Dr. Paisley had not envisioned

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:29 (fifteen years ago) link

peter robinson is the popbitch and guardian guy, enrique.

DANCE MUSIC STUCK AT RECOMBINANT PLATEAU (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:30 (fifteen years ago) link

pretty sure I was the first person to say the words "wonky" and "pop" in sequence in 1993, guys

Glans Christian Christian christian Christian Andersen (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:32 (fifteen years ago) link

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n24/n123882.jpg

^^^I always think of this dude whenever anyone says Peter Robinson

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:33 (fifteen years ago) link

wait Enrique is back? I thought that cunt had had enough punishment

Glans Christian Christian christian Christian Andersen (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:33 (fifteen years ago) link

http://redstick.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/trainwreck2.jpg

Local Garda, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link

http://a879.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/88/m_8ea1904b06f036ce08d5f1f9d5789266.gif

^ Saw them live at some ridiculous beer-sponsored mini-festival in FUCKING PRESTON circa 1993. They were quite good. Ridiculous beer-sponsored mini-festival more noteworthy for the appearance, and subsequent baiting and pelting with cans, of Sultans of Ping FC. (Most ill-advised comment from a shit-band singer ever: "If you don't stop pelting us with cans, we're not going to play any more.")

Anyway. Neo-jism, aye.

Special topics: Disco, The Common Market (grimly fiendish), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link

They nicked that train wreck idea off me.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:38 (fifteen years ago) link

peter robinson is the popbitch and guardian guy, enrique.

― DANCE MUSIC STUCK AT RECOMBINANT PLATEAU (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:30 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

duuuh sorry i meant peter robinson is the popjustice guy. not popbitch.

http://www.popjustice.com/

DANCE MUSIC STUCK AT RECOMBINANT PLATEAU (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:38 (fifteen years ago) link

Not exactly braggin '09 about knowing this, but Peter Robinson does Popjustice not Popbitch

haha xpost

Pescetarian Reich (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:39 (fifteen years ago) link

oh no i think we should have been googleproofing peter robinson.

DANCE MUSIC STUCK AT RECOMBINANT PLATEAU (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:42 (fifteen years ago) link

wait Enrique is back? I thought that cunt had had enough punishment

― Glans Christian Christian christian Christian Andersen (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:33 (8 minutes ago) Bookmark

I came back because I thought you'd gone. No such luck.

Enrique (Raw Patrick), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:44 (fifteen years ago) link

p3t3r r0b1ns0n?

Enrique (Raw Patrick), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:44 (fifteen years ago) link

Aren't there two Enriques?

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:45 (fifteen years ago) link

You're thinking of Enrique who used to post as Acrobat, that's Ferg, he quit.

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:46 (fifteen years ago) link

Aren't there two Enriques?

Just put Dom midway between the two of them, see which one he runs to first.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:47 (fifteen years ago) link

lol homosexuals

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:48 (fifteen years ago) link

now this is happening

Snore Patrick (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:49 (fifteen years ago) link

ahaha look this hilarious gif is dancing to some wonky pop

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/WidowOfDestiny/Jiggle_Panda.gif

Wackrobat (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:53 (fifteen years ago) link

Now for whatever reason I have "wonky pop" stuck in my head being sung to the tune of "Rocky Top."

^likes tilt-a-whirls (Pancakes Hackman), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:55 (fifteen years ago) link

Hi guys what did I miss?

Henry Gay Miller (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:56 (fifteen years ago) link

n/m

Enrigay (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:56 (fifteen years ago) link

never understood why he didn't just call himself H. Kevin Miller to differentiate himself

Enrigay (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:58 (fifteen years ago) link

It'll never catch on here though

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:59 (fifteen years ago) link

can't believe people are fighting over ownership of this pathetic term

Timezilla vs Mechadistance (blueski), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link

lol homosexuals

a direct-line descendant of the Xenomania template ILM was sucking off a few years back

Timezilla vs Mechadistance (blueski), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 15:08 (fifteen years ago) link

Apparently women can also perform fellatio these days. Truly feminism has struck yet another blow for equal rights.

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 15:08 (fifteen years ago) link

another blow job for equal rights!!!

acrotwat (MPx4A), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 15:10 (fifteen years ago) link

so now you're hating on women too now. typical...

Timezilla vs Mechadistance (blueski), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 15:17 (fifteen years ago) link

Acrobatty boy, morelike

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 15:20 (fifteen years ago) link

i thought wonky just meant affected 'weirdness'/'QUIRKINESS'.

titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 16:42 (fifteen years ago) link

ugh son

Wonky Pop

December 1st, 2008 by sparky

Biography

So much has happened in 2008, so let us reflect: The Olympics have passed once more; Elbow won a Mercury; The credit crunch ‘crunched’; The Wispa came back; But perhaps the most memorable part of 2008 is the movement that is Wonky Pop.

Wonky Pop was the first to say “C’mere Alphabeat you lovely Danes, you’ve got great taste in music and you know how to have a good time”. They were the first behind Frankmusik and The Clik Clik. Wonky Pop actually changed lives all round the country by putting Sam Sparro on a tour with Sneaky Sound System. If that wasn’t enough Wonky Pop pulled London’s club scene out of drought and set a precedent for live music and good times as they hosted a monthly night at Cargo, showcasing the best upcoming acts.

Wonky Pop strives to bring an eclectic mix of new artists that capture their ethos. slightly off-kilter, dazzlingly special and ultimately very pleasing. Expect weird and wonderful sights, amazing performances, secret guests, everything from the bizarre to the down right saucy!

www.myspace.com/wonkypop

Wonky Pop will perform at The Big Chill 2009.

Timezilla vs Mechadistance (blueski), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 13:59 (fifteen years ago) link

Whoever co-opted Fred Falke into this abomination can cock off, by the way.

Matt DC, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 14:09 (fifteen years ago) link

Tired of chart pop that's all manufactured groups and reality TV shows? Just as fed up of bland indie? Then Wonky Pop might just be the thing for you. Alexis Petridis reports.

...

The Wonky Pop artists are unmanufactured but unashamedly melodic and capable of playing live without recourse to lashings of dry ice, troupes of dancers and an interlude during which they fly around the stage on wires. As well as Alphabeat, it features the vaguely psychedelic pop-soul of Leon Jean-Marie, a dreadlock-sporting refugee from a Damage-style boyband who once toured with Steps, and Vincent Frank, a wiry 23-year-old who plies an intense brand of self-produced electro-pop under the name Frankmusic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/may/02/popandrock.alexispetridis

James Mitchell, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 16:30 (fifteen years ago) link

I missed all that awesomely puerile LBZC flag-waving yesterday. Top marks, fellas.

Goodnight, Mr. Johnson. (country matters), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 16:32 (fifteen years ago) link

might as well vote in the Nazis now and have done with it.

Eddie Funnie (special guest stars mark bronson), Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:24 (fifteen years ago) link

Wonky Pop actually changed lives all round the country by putting Sam Sparro on a tour with Sneaky Sound System

You don't say?

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:26 (fifteen years ago) link

I am listening to Sneaky Sound System right now, for the first time. It is some garbage really. Not very wonky or pop. MOR SMD is how I break it down to an extent. Some lazy zing reviewer should do something with the fact that the line "I love it" is sang so it it sounds exactly like "I loathe it". Or just not review it at all.

Pescetarian Reich (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:40 (fifteen years ago) link

Frankmusik's 'In Step' is good

Timezilla vs Mechadistance (blueski), Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:41 (fifteen years ago) link

I honestly don't get what Alphabeat have to do with any of this, being as they're just a Scandipop act with Deacon Blue production. I mean, are fucking Operator Please wonkypop as well?

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:46 (fifteen years ago) link

Presumably they have the same PR agency and are mates with someone at Popjustice?

Matt DC, Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:48 (fifteen years ago) link

Which is the enrique i miss? I miss him anyways.

Also "I love It" is good, back of hataz.

Tim F, Thursday, 15 January 2009 14:26 (fifteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonky_Pop

^^^fair play

Peter Andre Test Tube Babies (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 29 January 2009 15:34 (fifteen years ago) link

Rudebox is a British term meaning unsteady, shaky, awry or Scottish.

O Supermanchiros (blueski), Thursday, 29 January 2009 15:37 (fifteen years ago) link

but click the link to the rudebox site and you end up at the ATP site ?

mark e, Thursday, 29 January 2009 15:42 (fifteen years ago) link

i got Mika

O Supermanchiros (blueski), Thursday, 29 January 2009 15:43 (fifteen years ago) link

"Site for Rudebox" link ..

mark e, Thursday, 29 January 2009 15:44 (fifteen years ago) link

Vandalbots transform and roll out.

Mare Street tour guide (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 29 January 2009 15:44 (fifteen years ago) link

"Unsteady, Shaky, Awry, and Scottish" = an unfortunate law firm consisting of dwarves

Ye Mad Puffin, Thursday, 29 January 2009 16:04 (fifteen years ago) link

Wikipedia becoming more and more like an ILX clusterfuck thread every day...

snoball, Thursday, 29 January 2009 16:57 (fifteen years ago) link

Predicting this guy Dan Black's cover of 'Hypntz' (sic) by Notorious BIG will be met with universal praise on ILM

Peter Andre Test Tube Babies (DJ Mencap), Friday, 30 January 2009 12:58 (fifteen years ago) link

the name 'urge overkill' has never been funnier in any context

what is your beef with the mac? (electricsound), Friday, 30 January 2009 13:02 (fifteen years ago) link

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wonky_Pop&diff=prev&oldid=268435920

you can't get anything past these guys

EMPIRE STATE HYMEN (MPx4A), Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:39 (fifteen years ago) link

List of Acts that influenced Wonky Pop

* David Bowie
* Kate Bush
* Frank Bough
* Spragga Benz
* Prince
* Ian Brady
* Madonna

childish lolz

am I selling cardamom or am I selling thyme (DJ Mencap), Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:58 (fifteen years ago) link

Deleted: Possible vandalism

^^^like the fact that they admit they don't know this for definite.

Limoncello Carlin (The stickman from the hilarious "xkcd" comics), Sunday, 8 February 2009 21:01 (fifteen years ago) link

still says it's a "loose groping of musical acts" as well

EMPIRE STATE HYMEN (MPx4A), Sunday, 8 February 2009 21:16 (fifteen years ago) link

one month passes...

Matter: Friday 20th March: WONKY POP
10pm-7am
Tickets: £8 advance / £10 on the door / £5 students

ROOM 1: LIVE - Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes, Heartbreak, Defend Moscow; DJs - Gary Numan & Ade Fenton, Goldierocks
ROOM 2: CIRCUS - Jodie Harsh, Patrick Wolf (DJ), William Orbit

Hreidarsson The Storm (Matt DC), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:28 (fifteen years ago) link

Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,
Tinchy Stryder, The Pipettes,

Hreidarsson The Storm (Matt DC), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:28 (fifteen years ago) link

That's the first time I've seen Jodie Harsh's name in a long time.

Mylene Cockfarmer (Raw Patrick), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:38 (fifteen years ago) link

Nothing says 'circus' like a set from Wiliam Orbit

Luka ModReq (DJ Mencap), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:41 (fifteen years ago) link

five years pass...

Electrelane are included in the Wonky pop wikipedia page's list of Wonky pop artists, the citation is a 2011 review from The F-Word (the feminist blog, not the Gordon Ramsey thing)

soref, Sunday, 1 March 2015 23:12 (nine years ago) link

(cur | prev) 07:19, 12 March 2012‎ Sabrebd (talk | contribs)‎ . . (9,213 bytes) (-11)‎ . . (alphabetise - need some evidence of the Crunk connenction) (undo)

soref, Sunday, 1 March 2015 23:18 (nine years ago) link


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