Noir Music

[Donna Moore]

Now that Daniel has helped this technical numpty with how to upload videos, I have decided that every couple of days I will update a couple of videos from some of my favourite Scottish artists (and some other lesser known favourites. So far...punk band The Skids' INTO THE VALLEY from 1979, new Dundee Band The View with Superstar Tradesman, Jesus and Mary Chain's APRIL SKIES from 1987 and all girl Glaswegian rock band The Hedrons with HEATSEEKER.

And, as a special for today, a band who aren't Scottish but who are one of my favourite bands - The Flaming Stars (not to be confused with The Flaming Lips). They are an English band formed in 1994 and who most definitely should be better known. The two videos I've put up are not my favourite tracks but still give a good flavour of their sound, and the dark and humourous lyrics.

The Village Voice described them thus:

“... manages to conjure the Jesus and Mary Chain, ‘50s swamp rock, and nights spent guzzling cheap wine and leaning unsteadily against a jukebox...”

With song titles such as A HELL OF A WOMAN, NEW SHADE OF BLACK, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and NEW HOPE FOR THE DEAD, it's no surprise that lead singer Max Decharne is a big fan of crime fiction and noir film. He is also the author of a couple of books including the wonderful STRAIGHT FROM THE FRIDGE, DAD - a dictionary of hipster slang, which includes such classic lines as "Hum Dum Dinger from Dingersville"* and "I tried to carry a moose head through a revolving door"**.Also HARDBOILED HOLLYWOOD which gives the origins of films such as GET CARTER, LITTLE CAESAR, THE BIG SLEEP, POINT BLANK.

Some of my other favourite 'noir' artists - Warren Zevon (can't get a much noirer sentiment than "I'll sleep when I'm dead"), Tom Waits (of course!), Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan's METHAMPHETAMINE BLUES. Then there's The Handsome Family, and the Violent Femmes' COUNTRY DEATH SONG which always makes me think of Daniel Woodrell's books with its dark and creepy lyrics ("Well, I'm a thinking and thinking, til there's nothing I ain't thunk, Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk. It was at that time I swear I lost my mind, And started making plans to kill my own kind" brrrrrrrrrr). And, of course, mustn't forget The Clash. I can never hear a police siren without thinking of them.

So, what are some of the songs that make you think of crime fiction?

Plant ya now, dig ya later dollfaces.

* a beautiful girl

** somebody beat me up

[Donna Moore]

Mary - those pictures are great! You should find a way to send them to the band.

Daniel - somehow, I think it will be Tribe!

[Daniel Hatadi]

I finally made it back here! Donna, no worries about mega-video-uploadation. I'm placing bets on who's gonna do the most - you or Tribe. :)

[Mary Reagan]

The Hedrons are one of my new favorites. Got to see them a while back when they made their first trip to NYC. I've got some pictures of the concert here
http://nycphoto.interactivenyc.com/archives/2007/03/the_hedrons_hit.html
It was a lot of fun.

[Donna Moore]

LOL - good for you Karen! I have a Slits record somewhere (one of those old time vinyl things we used to have. Can't play the bloody thing, but I have it.

Daniel - it's VERY easy. I do hope I am not adding too many videos though?

[Daniel Hatadi]

From numpty to video-uploading machine. All in one easy, two step program!

Between Banks and me, we got your Tom Waits already covered, but you can always add more. There's just never enough of Tom to go around.

[Karen from AustCrime]

It's a relief to find somebody else who even knows who The Slits are these days - Ari Up was on a local TV show here recently as a guest and I swear I was the only person within a 200 mile radius that was deliriously happy.

But I fixed 'em all - got out all my Slits albums and played them that night - very very loudly.

[Donna Moore]

Ah, Karen - memories! And, of course, The Slits had a song called Femme Fatale...very noir title - I can't remember the lyrics.

Brian - agreed - "Well I spend my night times drinking and you spend your days in bed." And, of course, they are Scottish! We do bleak very well in Scotland!

And another band with great noir (if bizarre) tracks - The Cramps.

[Karen from AustCrime]

Dread More Dan Dead by Ari Up (solo as opposed to part of the The Slits) has a great track "Kill Em With love" - I have no idea why, but I always think it would make a great crime title.

[Brian Thornton]

Donna! What about Del Amitri??? "Just Like A Man"? "Kiss This Thing Goodbye"? "The First Rule Of Love"? Talk about BLEAK!

Yer Pal in Del Amitri Goodness-

Brian