LeaV

With all the Daily Music Dose bands that I've chosen to do write-ups on, are you beginning to notice a recurring theme?  Does that theme happen to do with moody men singing in off-kilter baritones wearing dark sunglasses in the evening singing about every depressing thing you can think of?  Well, I happen to be a creature of habit, pretty much a one-trick pony, and I do not disappoint.  So, without further adieu, let me tell you about a little band from the 80s called The Sisters of Mercy.

You see, I have a love-hate relationship with this band.  Of course, I'll hook you up with an interesting selection of songs from this band's limited discographic history; but I tend to base how much I enjoy a band by how much the band actually believe in their own hype.  I can appreciate a band that is passionate about a cause and actually puts their words into action.  This is why, believe it or not, I actually have a bit of respect for Pete Wentz even though I happen not to like Fall Out Boy.  You see, Pete I honestly believe is a humanitarian (in his own unique way)...from traveling to Uganda to raise awareness of the that country's problems to encouraging youth to Rock the Vote, Pete puts his words into action.  However, Pete can also laugh at himself and take advantage of his "looks" so to speak to market himself and his band, and as an extra bonus of Pete's marketing skills, he inadvertently encourages young people to become interested in issues that he is interested in.  Granted, you still want to encourage the youth to be able to think for themselves instead of copying what their favorite rock star does, but it's better than the youth supporting bands that oh, I don't know, have messages in their lyrics that insinuate that date rape is super awesome and cool like some bands I know.  I mean, look at the enthusiasm Pete's eyeliner-wearing self encourages...

"...pete is gonna save the world becuz he is so hot. nobody will be able to resist his hotness. I want to save the world i can b with pete. I love eyeliner on guys. it make them look so macho..."

Yes, this is an actual comment to an article on Fall Out Boy that I found on the web.  But, it's a start, right?  But I digress; so, about my love-hate relationship with The Sisters of Mercy.  It basically has to do with front man Andrew Eldritch.  I enjoy Andrew, don't get me wrong, but he needs to really get over himself.  Since the band's formation in 1980, they have had nine members leaving the band basically over the fact that Eldritch can be a huge douche-bag.  I mean, I can't verify this statement with any actual proof, and maybe he's just a really talented and deep misunderstood poet...but, I kind of doubt it.  My first clue would be that if you have so many of the conventions of your sound and image associated with "Gothic" elements, so to speak, and then so vehemently deny any associations with the Gothic subculture, I tend to think your full of shit.  Even though your lyrics allude to carnal imagery, associations with the drug culture, and biting criticism of Republicans in the United States (yes, most notably both Bush former presidents), Christianity, etc., and you wear you sunglasses at night and dress all in black, I suppose it's okay for you to state, "I'm constantly confronted by representatives of popular culture who are far more goth than we, yet I have only to wear black socks to be stigmatized as the demon overlord."  Well, okay, but it wouldn't have anything to do with you early in your career being accused of ripping off everything that is Joy Division, now does it?

But, my criticism aside, I still do love the sound of this band; and you cannot deny the influence The Sisters of Mercy have had on the second wave of goth rock that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s including the use of drum machines and the unique vocal stylings (and fashion, sorry Andrew).  For example, with this first song alone entitled "Walk Away," I can think of at least three different bands of today that I would not be surprised were influenced by this melody, these vocals, and even the look.

Okay, so here's another nifty song..."Lucretia, My Reflection," because it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Seriously, I got nothing. I just like this song. However, the video makes absolutely no sense to me; but nothing from the 1980s really makes much sense to me. Plus, the chick in the video (which they've used in pretty much all their videos, posters, flyers and what not) looks like Tim Curry in drag. OMG! If it was Tim Curry, I'd probably change my whole opinion of Andrew Eldritch.  

Finally, I give you the song "Black Planet," because you can never have too many songs on your ipod telling you about how much this world sucks and your life sucks and people suck and how everything sucks and that you should probably just crawl in a hole and pray for a sweet, merciful ending...right?  But, other than that, it's got a great beat and you can dance to it!  Yea, after watching this video, now I know why Ian Astbury started wearing those gaucho-cowboy type hats...oh, I think Rob Zombie does too!  Influence, I tell  you...they haz it.

As I barely alluded to earlier, The Sisters of Mercy have very limited amount of albums released.  Namely:

First and Last and Always released in 1985.
Floodland released in 1987. AND...
Vision Thing released in 1990.

The other two albums released were just compilation albums and therefore, in my opinion, don't count. Take a guess why The Sisters of Mercy haven't released any other albums since 1993 even though they still continue to tour and continue to treat audiences with new material on stage despite this "no new albums released since 1993?" Give up? A strike against their record company! Shocking! Even the band hasn't officially released any videos of their songs...so, maybe in his own way, Andrew is a man of his word sticking to his convictions and passions...And, I still do love them...I love the influence they've had on newer bands who have embraced the "dark culture," so to speak...I love that they're kind of creepy...I love that the drum machine is noted as a member of the band and is called Doktor Avalance...I love the Monkeemobile in the "Black Planet" video...AND I actually love that Andrew Eldritch is so weird. 

So, yea, go ahead and give them a listen...it's not like you'll turn gothic or anything. 

Just in case the videos don't show up, here's some links...

Lucretia, My Reflection
Black Planet
Walk Away

First of all, let's get the details out of the way:

Formed: 1978 in Northamptom (England people)
Members: Peter Murphy (vocals), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums), David J (bass)
Sound: Dark and gloomy. Considered the first true gothic rock band.

Discography:

In the Flat Field (1980)
Mask (1981)
The Sky's Gone Out (1982)
Burning from the Inside (1983)
Go Away White (2008)

Thanks Wikipedia!

Anyway, instead of belaboring the origins of this band which anyone could probably just type into Google and find out on their own…how about I try to convince you to give them a listen beyond the 9-minute long "Bela Lugosi’s Dead" (which by the way was written only like a month after the band was formed).

First of all, yes, that song is amazing…perfect for Halloween, perfect for freaking your parents out when portraying your edginess, perfect for trying to convince someone your way cooler than you actually are (don’t take offense…I’m like that too). Throw that song on, and right away folks think you’re deep and complex; when in actuality, it’s the only song you know and you heard it while flipping through the channels on a Saturday night, because you once again had no plans for the evening. I actually heard that song for the first time while flipping through the channels on a Saturday night, because I once again had no plans for the evening.  I happened to be watching the movie The Hunger with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve and a very young Susan Sarandon. Then there was this song and this band and this caged Peter Murphy looking like a frothing, gothic emo-cat.  See for yourself...

But, I wanted to like more than just this one song by them. After all, I had tons of people telling me what a cool band Bauhaus was. So, I listened; and although the band could be considered a more acquired taste, it was perfect music for those cold, damp, rainy nights when your heart is heavy and the moon is full. Translation=the music is very atmospheric. It’s heavily bass laden and synthed over sound with a lot of jangly guitars that alone would be cacophonous...but that jangly guitar with the synth, bass, and drums mash up just the perfect mixture of eerie, angsty mood music. It’s like a burrito. You don’t eat just a tortilla with onions and call it a burrito. No, alone, the onions and tortilla are less than appetizing; however, add beans and meat (or not if you’re vegan) and sauce and cheese to the onion and tortilla; and it, too, like the band Bauhaus, mashes up just the perfect mixture; and if it’s spicy enough, like Bauhaus as well, the burrito could make your heart hurt.

Among the more accessible tunes for a new listener of the band, you might want to try “Telegram Sam,” a remake of a T. Rex song believe it or not. Here, check out the video; and holy Dr. Frankenfurter, check out Mr. Peter Murphy!

Or, oh my god, Bauhaus’ remake of the David Bowie classic “Ziggy Stardust.” I hate to say this, but I totally love their version better than Bowie’s. I mean come on, even David Bowie said himself that Bauhaus played it the way it should be played. A rock star, god-like person destroyed by the fanaticism of his fans? Yes, Bauhaus--and Peter in particular--carry out a musical interpretation of those lyrics that just musically embody that tension and smug bravado with a hint of despair. Yes, people, look at the video...you must! Oh, and Peter plays caged em0-cat again. So awesome

So, my next song I'd like you to take a listen to is "She's In Parties". Let's play it and sit under the full moon drinking cocktails from coffee cups and contemplating life's cruelties....Just kidding. It's kind of one of those cool atmosphere songs that I like listening to, and again, check out the cool 80s video...Peter is so vampire man..

And what’s a great band without their songs against “the man,” although in this case it’s a rally cry and condemnation against the excesses of power, wealth, greed, etc., etc. Off their last (and probably final) album from just last year Go Away White, the song “Too Much 21st Century,” has such a groove rhythm to it, that I just like it, okay? You might too…give it a listen, yeah?

And as a side note…check out Peter Murphy’s solo stuff. The man is a genius and songs such as "Cuts You Up," or "Emergency Unit," are beautiful in my opinion…or it could be his voice. He’d probably sing the alphabet song to me, and it would shatter my little emo heart into a billion blood-red pieces, and I’d just burst into tears of pain and confusion and the weight of the world… Only not really …but those are beautiful songs.

SCREW EDWARD CULLEN...BELA LUGOSI'S DEAD...yea...