Signature sounds

Discipline - 6-24-2006 at 04:07 PM

Have you noticed that it's really rare to hear a band with a signature sound these days?

In the early days of hardcore and punk a lot of bands had a sound all their own. If you heard a DK or Black Flag song for example, you knew it was them just by the guitars. Steve Jones had a sound all his own with the Sex Pistols. They had their own sound that made them stand out. It's pretty rare these days. Most bands, including many that I love, don't necessarily have a sound that is distinctly theirs.

Some here might disagree, but I think Madball has a sound that is instantly recognizable as being them, at least for me.

Blood For Blood have their own style, but is the sound unique? Yes and no.

A lot of it comes from bands just biting on the styles of other bands. You don't see many bands trying to come up with their own sound anymore, or even just trying to improve on a classic sound. Too many bands, especially newer hardcore bands, seem content to sound the same as 1000 other bands. I'll never understand that.

Any thoughts?

sippers - 6-24-2006 at 04:18 PM

sick of it all still have a unique and sound of their own after 20 yrs...

Kid Ugly - 6-24-2006 at 04:55 PM

I might get flak for this, but I think that AF has lost their signature sound. Sounds like they're copying bands who copied them.

sippers - 6-24-2006 at 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kid Ugly
I might get flak for this, but I think that AF has lost their signature sound. Sounds like they're copying bands who copied them.

i agree w/ya on the last release only.the music was'nt 100% agnostic but close...rogers voice will always be signature

tireironsaint - 6-24-2006 at 05:52 PM

Yeah, This is something my friends and I talk about a lot. I think it went downhill when Hard Core became more of a sound than an attitude. The early bands had very little in common sound-wise, but they shared certain ideological stances in some aspects. This is just another reason why I listen to more old stuff than new.

As far as the bands named so far, I don't think Madball stands out at all, but I do think they are one of the first bands to take their sound in that direction, so I guess it's the fact that there are a lot of clones that make them sound like everybody else. Either way they suck, so it doesn't much matter to me. I think Blood For Blood stand out extremely well. I can definitely hear their influences in there, but I don't see them as copping anybody's sound and as they progressed over the years I think their sound has become even more recognizable. Sick Of It All started out with a sound that smacked you in the face and made you say it's name, but as they changed over the years I think they faded into the crowd. I still love their early records, but I can't sit through anything they've done in years (haven't even heard the new one, but I doubt it's gonna bring me back into the fold). As for Agnostic Front, Kid Ugly said exactly what I've been saying since songs from Another Voice started showing up before the album came out. Roger's voice will always be unmistakeable, but I think it's shameful that they resorted to playing the style of bands who should be paying homage to AF.

Some bands that could loosely be considered Hard Core and are either still active or have released something fairly recently that I think have a distinct sound would be Slapshot, Awkward Thought, The Bad Vibes, Nihilistics, Bonecrusher, Slumlords, Integrity, The Freeze, and Poison Idea. I'm sure there's more, but those are the ones that come to mind right now.

I really think you have to step outside of HC to find bands with signature sounds now. Probably yet another reason I don't listen to a fraction as much HC as I used to back in the day. Some more or less current bands I like that have distinct sounds are: The Briefs, Welch Boys, Darkbuster, The Beltones, Antiseen, Limecell, The Bones, Turbonegro (although they change their sound a lot between albums), Charley Horse, The Meteors, Hank III, Joe Coffee, Kings Of Nuthin', Filthy Thieving Bastards, Hudson Falcons, Motorhead, Die Hunns, The Lizzies, Born To Lose, Street Dogs, and if I sat here for a while longer I'm sure I could come up with a lot more.

Voodoobillyman - 6-24-2006 at 07:26 PM

I couldnt agree more with the BfB statements made, they gained more and more of their own signature sound as they ventured further and further into the rock roots. AF definitely "sold out" as far as their sound, but I think they still genuinely enjoy doing what they do, so if they want to go that route, good for them. I just wont care to listen to it too much. I much prefer Roger Miret with the Disasters, very good punk rock n roll. As far as my choices, I would have to say I love Deadbolt (I dont wanna hear it Saint, I know you think they suck), they are still my favorite and I truly believe they have carved a signature sound out of influences they have and then threw themselves into it. I know Deadbolt everytime I hear them right off the bat.

Discipline - 6-24-2006 at 09:35 PM

I have to agree with some of the bands the Saint mentioned, especially Motorhead (the greatest band in history), Joe Coffee, Kings of Nuthin, and Antiseen. I will add Discipline, as to me their guitar sound is completely their own, and instantly recognizable, at least to me. The Ducky Boys would also fall into the category of bands with their own sound.

The reason I brought this topic up, is I saw an old show flyer online recently from the mid 80's. It was a show with AF, DOA, Flipper, and a couple other bands. My first thought was how diverse the sounds of that show would have been. This was appealing to me, because on the rare occasions I actually go out for a show these days I don't want to see 5 bands that all sound the same. Diversity is a wonderful thing.

It also came to mind because I was listening to some tunes on my ipod the other day. All the songs on it are from cd's that I own, yet there were a number of songs that I listened to that I couldn't remember who the band was. They all sounded the same and began to blend into one another. Kinda bugged me.

tireironsaint - 6-24-2006 at 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Voodoobillyman
I couldnt agree more with the BfB statements made, they gained more and more of their own signature sound as they ventured further and further into the rock roots. AF definitely "sold out" as far as their sound, but I think they still genuinely enjoy doing what they do, so if they want to go that route, good for them. I just wont care to listen to it too much. I much prefer Roger Miret with the Disasters, very good punk rock n roll. As far as my choices, I would have to say I love Deadbolt (I dont wanna hear it Saint, I know you think they suck), they are still my favorite and I truly believe they have carved a signature sound out of influences they have and then threw themselves into it. I know Deadbolt everytime I hear them right off the bat.

Hey, I'll be the first to admit that Deadbolt have a signature sound no matter how boring I find them to be. They are a truly recognizable band and I can respect that without enjoying what they do in any other way.

MyOwnWay - 6-24-2006 at 10:49 PM

Bands to me that have an unmistakable sound:

SOIA
Social Distortion
Fahrenheit 451
Motorhead
Where Fear And Weapons Meet
The Clash
Bad Brains

Voodoobillyman - 6-24-2006 at 10:53 PM

Social D for sure.........they have carved their place in the musical world. No one who has heard Mike Ness will ever mistake that voice.

Voodoobillyman - 6-24-2006 at 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tireironsaint

Quote:

I appreciate people like you my man, truly I do. You don't care for the band but can recognize and admit they have something like this going for them. We need more like us, and less like them.

BDx13 - 6-26-2006 at 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sippers
sick of it all still have a unique and sound of their own after 20 yrs...

i was thinking the exact same thing while listneing to the new album yesterday.

godabandonedme - 6-26-2006 at 11:58 PM

Yea I gota order that. I always though Lou had one of if not the most recognizable voices in hardcore.

godabandonedme - 6-27-2006 at 12:16 AM

I don't really agree with the SOIA statement saying they went with or faded into anyone elses style. Built to Last to me sounded like they were STARTING that more melodic tune, call to arms was all their own, I think it may have been yours truly I really found that weird. They got into some techno stuff or something weird with that one (if its the one I'm thinking of). I'm digging the new one though. Always one of my top 5 bands. I love BFB'S style now, more rock. However, Souless/Spit my Last Breath where amazing. More Sheer Terrorish but still definitly their own. See, I don't really care if certain bands like these mentioned change it up somewhat cause these are some of the originators. Like A/F for instance, yea the new album is more madball, but, 15 years ago they had some of the same type songs and where probablly considered TO metal for the times.