So it’s the beginning of 1994 and with the royal death of
the Madchester scene still being felt we find our music horizons looking quite fruitful
(even though we didn’t know it at the time).
As par of the course that is the British music industry we find the
local music magazines with front issues with spikey, skinny speed snorting
indie bands being touted as the “New wave of the new wave”. Was it all going to
end horribly? Or was it going to turn into something more beautiful?
Bands like Shed Seven, Elastica, S*M*A*S*H, Manta ray and Echobelly
who were all emerging in 1994 suddenly started being touted as the New wave of
the New Wave, but there was one band who never get the recognition they deserve.
This band was Britpop before it was called its namesake, some people call the
new wave scene of 1994 “Britpop but without the good bits”. But if you listen
closely you will hear bands that were trying something radically different that
had been heard in the Madchester scene from a couple of years before. But today
I would like to bring your attention to one band who was at the start of it all
and who are seldom mentioned.
I would like to introduce……. These Animal Men.
Forming in 1990 they gained interest with their early
singles that depicted young angst, drug references and boners! Eyebrows were first raised with the single
Speed King was released raised with its front cover showing a dinner plate full
of a white suspicious powder with straws stuck in it, this didn’t go down too
well in my local Our Price. For a time my world was filled with Adidas
tracksuit tops, gazelles and punky bands wearing Skinny leather jackets (I’m a
chunk so take skinny with a pinch of salt). The first time I heard them was the
single Speed King with all its drug references spunky distorted guitar and “am I
bovered?” Vocal style. With a sound that would be sadly lacking in other bands
in later years it sounded totally stripped of production and sounded like a one
take recording. Taking references from the new wave era of the late 70’s and
early 80s but also the mod movement of the 60’s we find a band that never
stopped for breath and with their debut album (Come On, Join) the High Society
we find an album crammed with songs that burst with enthusiasm and youth. Supercharged indie rock was the way forward
and with a performance on Top of the Pops performing Speed King the future look
bright for the band but then something happened …… Britpop!
As with quite a few bands of the era when the music press
get bored they attack! And this is what happed to the band and the papers
announced the demise of the new wave scene that they so called created. Britpop
was king and would rule for the next four years and the band knew this and
adapted to the scene change and would go on to release their second album
Accident and Emergency in 1997. With a new sound and a new outlook we find the
band with a distinctive rockier, more glam soundscape and a band who have
reinvented themselves to fit in with the current music scene. But alas the music press was gunning for them
once again and gave the new album poor reviews and continued to slate them with
the same lines that they used when the band first came on to the scene.
This was the fate of many bands of the era, many say it was
the fact that the scene was flooded with mediocre bands and sound-alikes. I completely
disagree, I have always blamed the music press for the demise of Britpop and
the loss of many bands who should have shined and been given the chance to
grow. Like many bands These Animal Men
disbanded and would be forever be written about on music blogs just like this
one.
Do yourself a favour and hunt down both albums and you will
find a band who were forerunners of one of the most exciting parts of British
music since the 60’s. You can also do
yourself another favour and NEVER read what is printed about bands, if you like
the sound of something then welcome it with open ears and don’t get bogged down
in the music presses babble!
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