God Is Dead: archived reviews
Scumbag Philosopher are from Norwich, and used to be called Fuck Dress. So subtlety might not be their forte. Their new single, God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead spends three and a half minutes having a go at people who read Nietzsche and listen to Thom Yorke and don’t have anything else in their lives, which I guess are legitimate targets.
However, the since the lyrics are more spoken, Fall-style (that reference is important, the band supported The Fall on a recent tour) and the guitar jumpy, which for some listeners may produce a certain Marmite quality. It could be either blunt, pointless and hardly pushing the boundaries of guitar rock, or it could be hilarious, sneaky and a goldmine of talent compared to the Top 40. Your choice, dear reader. That, and to at least mine own untrained eye, their single artwork looks suspiciously alike to Franz Ferdinand’s.
Scumbag Philosopher are a band destined to divide opinion. If it's not enough that they keep their attitudes and politics to the fore, the vocal is distinctly closer to being spoken that it is sung. In the same way that when most people (not me I assure you) first heard Art Brut and couldn't decide on whether they thought the band were shit or genius, it may take a few listens to anything by this gang of Norwich dwellers to decide if you actually like them or not. If you don't have time for that then that's fine.
However you will have 'God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead' in your head right from the first play. Sneakily and smartly it gets itself into yr consciousness and refuses to let go until you give it another listen. And another. The artwork is ace. Clearly. The Fall (with whom they've toured) are an obvious reference point. As are the aforementioned Art Brut. But unlike most of their contemporary art-popsters Scumbag Philosopher are pretty angry. Or at least, they don't like to hide any negativity. Intelligently letting out their scathing assault here on a certain type of Radiohead fan – the song was originally called 'Suburban Nietzsche Freak' (back when the band went under the name of Fuck Dress). As you might expect, the lyrics are the key here. So I won't go spoiling them for you.
Have a listen and a sly grin as you can be pretty much certain that Scumbag Philosopher are describing more than half of the Drowned In Sound message boards. Scumbag Philosopher are certainly persistent, so don't expect that this'll be the last that you or I'll hear from and of them. So whatever you conclude – and I'm definitely leaning towards embracing the band – you have to appreciate their lack of compromise and DIY attitudes . It's probably worth noting that Scumbag Philosopher aren't attacking Radiohead specifically here – more the attitudes that underpin a certain type of music fandom that in the past they attribute to Bowie fans – but I think probably points more towards a certain prog sect.
Jest wiele historii do opowiedzenia, ale nie będą tu teraz opowiedziane. Będzie zagrany utwór "God is dead so I listen to Radiohead" w wykonaniu Scumbag Philosopher. Tak właśnie będzie, a gdy to czytacie, tak właśnie jest.
From what I can garner, this Norwich-based five-piece used to be called Fuck Dress and this song was originally released under the title 'Suburban Nietzsche Freak'. Somewhere along the way they've rebranded (but why?) and decided that the chorus line would make for a catchier or marketable title. Perhaps they got new management or a guy at the record label pointed out that most people wouldn't have clue who Nietzsche was. If so, that's pretty ironic, not least of all because this isn't music for the intellectually stunted.
That isn't because 'God is Dead' is overtly complex – quite the contrary – but because it takes some kind of mental engagement to appreciate what Scumbag Philosopher are doing. The genius lies in its simplicity.
Coming on with fuzzed out guitars with the treble up high and a solid display of primitive, simple drumming, the likes of which Mo Tucker or Bobby Gillespie might've hammered out, 'God is Dead' melds the sounds of early Jesus and Mary Chain to the relentless repetition of The Fall. The one-line chorus, repeated over and over is knowingly dumb, the song itself a sharp, barbed comment on disaffected outsiders – the 'suburban Nietzsche freaks' – who express their feelings of alienation and existentialism through the quotations of the all-too predictable roll-call of philosophers and bands. Delivered with a 'kiss my shades' deadpan cool by a bunch of players who look anything but, 'God is Dead' matches form and content perfectly to mirror the nihilistic sentiment of the keenly observed and wryly, dryly humorous lyrics.
Oh, and it’s guaranteed to lodge itself in your brain in an instant.
Fuck me, they're using a proper hook and backbeat and channelling the anger into spiffy riffery. So, yeah, sounds like? The Fall comparisons still abound, but the dead vocal drone cum snarl and pipe bashing pipe sound of the bass will do that. However, the energy and the vim, the piss and the vinegar are with Scumbag Philosopher because they're younger, more vital, less crushed by experience and genuinely frothing at the mouth to get their noise into your ears. I thank the good lord, who doesn't exist, that Scumbag Philosopher do
This is just awesome. It's been on my ipod all weekend. Fuck Dress come from Norwich and are completely new. I love it when a brand new band step up and produce something like this that smacks you right on the nose end. They have loads of gigs coming up which are all unfortunately in the south of England. I say unfortunately but I suppose if you live in the south it's quite handy really.
"God is dead, so I listen to Radiohead" That is fucking genius and forms part of the nihilist baiting verse on Fuck Dress's 'Suburban Nietzsche Freak' which is kinda like Prolapse pissing all over These New Puritans' bookshelf. It's a monotone, scratchy sarcastic indiefest & I bloody love it.
It's even on grey vinyl for added monochrome frown action. Phil thinks it's good but the lyrics are "a bit naff", this from a man who runs out of the door on a Friday teatime brandishing German elevator muzak compilations laughing like a lunatic in drag. Strange chap but I do love him!
The flip is like A House full of pissed off Nightingales and I'd like to think every song they do sounds the same AND THEY'LL NEVER MAKE AN ALBUM BECAUSE IT'S POINTLESS.....NROne records do the do...
A simple song that has the feel of a summer indie anthem. Adam & Anne from Fiel Garvie feature in this Norwich group debuting with a furious, barbed song. There's also a hilarious video that "debates with the church".
Occasionally I put bands on. Occasionally they're half decent. And very occasionally they blow me away. Fuck dress were one such occasion.
People ran from the venue with ears bleeding as the band held the rest of us in their steam hammered grip, captivated by the camel crushing mix of melody, noise, energy and attitude pouring from the stage. But what the fuck (dress) were they on about? This single begins to explain things. Suburban Nietzsche Freak is a ranting commentary full of Fallesque mannerisms, with freaky neat rhythms and rhymes underpinning the streams of semi-spoken ejaculate. Underpinned by insistent boy/girl vocal trading and interjection, abrasive guitar action and prim..mostly) stand up drumming, the track seems to attempt to subvert post modern pomposities, complacent consumerist wet dreams and slogans for quietism "God is dead so I listen to Radiohead … I know what time the buses run, I know where to go to find my fun…"
If anything, the B side 'Sunshine Corporation (Palo Alto)' is even more lyrically unusual and unsettling, seemingly a cut'n'paste aural pastiche of bland phrases from a self help manual "You need to develop self confidence … Decide what you want to be and strive towards it … Keep a journal for joy … Leave the road to solitude and join the family way … develop new leadership skills… and influence people with the way that you speak in public…stop worrying and love yourself."
If all this sounds a bit unlike a rock'n'roll record, fear not. Both tracks are held together by insistently nagging riffs, head pounding drums and a very special combination of male and female voices that linger in the brain long after the ringing in the ears has ebbed away. OK so the CD isn't quite up to the aural assault of the Fuck Dress live experience, and their radio friendly alto ego of 'Bonk Frock' might actually be a better name than their sweary proper title, but what the hell? This is one fuck (dress) of a record. I can thoroughly recommend this band, and thoroughly recommend this CD Single of the month, no question.
9/10 "God is dead so I listen to Radiohead". "God is dead so I listen to Radiohead". There is no need to remember this simple lyric, because once you have listened to the single 'Suburban Nietzshe Freak' it will stay in your head for days. If The Streets (Mike Skinner) decided to use guitars and drums instead of turntables, this is what they would sound like. For a band from Norwich, Fuck Dress certainly know how to grab your attention. The quirky band have created such a hit on the underground scene they are beginning to gain radio air-time already with their much more PC friendly name Bonk Frock, and I am not surprised in the slightest. Madden's tales of the "concerns of a middle aged man living in a provincial town" are a joy to listen to, with his voice reminding me of early Joy Division demos.
The rhythm is spot on, and the intertwined male/female vocals fit perfectly into this superb single. It really does have the feel of a summer indie anthem. 'Sunshine Corporation' is again a top tune, although not as catching as its predecessor. The words of wisdom from Madden again fitting perfectly over a neat and catchy beat. The band fits together perfectly in their rant over an imperfect world.
Having reviewed quite a lot of records in the last 12 months, Fuck Dress are up their with the best of them, and is quite an achievement in me saying this is one of the most enjoyable singles I have heard in a very long time. Fuck Dress is the type of band Britain has been looking for.
Ever since The Fall the English have always been good at scumbag philosophy - I'm thinking in particular about Art Brut. Fuck Dress are especially good at this variety of knowing banter with balls. Their single has the pretty title of "Suburban Nietzshe Freak" and a vociferous chorus : "God is dead so I listen to Radiohead". Unfortunately, to listen to it, is like getting hit by a saw in the head: it's then impossible to get rid of that mesmerizing chorus - one stays human, too human.
Damn this is a fine slice of toe tapping temptation which between you and me I don't mind saying appears to bring us out in a strange rash whilst compelling us to do what can only be described as some oddly quickened tempo'd tribal dance performed by someone with an acute attack of appendicitis while being plugged into the household mains. The quaintly named Fuck Dress - I think there will be radio play issues here lads and lasses (though they are - give them their due - alternatively named Bonk Frock - which lets face it is worse still) - feature amid their flock straying members of the overwhelming under acclaimed talents of Fiel Garvie doing extra curricula cash in hand work.
So audacious and irresistible a tune is 'Suburban Nietzsche Freak' that we somehow wonder how we've so far gotten through the days before it greyly ran its austere procession by our hi-fi. In essence a 3 minute 27 second post punk party pack that gathers up all the best moments to be had from John Peel's late night radio shows c. 1979 - 1981 finitely tuning them into a potent blankly zoned and blistering beauty of a cut into which is woven some impish piss taking, shock treated needle-some wiring riffs that sound like the were hoodwinked from early career Fall master tapes and a cross weaving boy / girl chorus hook so acutely infectious its huggable though all finding themselves mugged by an insidiously addictive flat-lining gridlocked underpin that struts with dead panned menace. An absolute killer of a cut - jabs may be required. Flip side features the equally inspired and monochromatic sounding 'Sunshine Corporation' - another detached drilling of post punk edginess this though branded as though the wiring psychosis of 'join hands' era Banshees had met head on 'kicker conspiracy' era Fall, lacerated by fraying head jarring riffs and a monotonous almost brainwashing grind this cutie had us on more than one occasion recalling the decay riddled back catalogue of the Vichy Government. Essential of course.
Buggering hell here's the video featuring dancing cardinals, monty python moments, oodles of surrealism and zanyness, Benny Hill moments, grunt mags and er - Radiohead - well you can't have it all your own way - this video may not be suitable for those with absolutely no fuckin sense of humour while just one listen may well incur looping flashbacks and the acquisition of a good taste in music - hell you might even buy it - comes pressed on limited amounts of grey / silver wax or so we've been told - can we have one…..you can see the blighter right here…
Schon allein der Titel der Single hat mich stutzig gemacht. Als diese Single per mail an mich herangetragen wurde. Sie ist die zweite Auskopplung aus dem Album "It Means Nothing, So it Means Nothing". Spätestens beim Lesen des Albumtitels, ist wohl klar dass es sich um ein nicht ganz so ernst gemeintes Musikprojekt handelt. Ich bin ja sehr dafür, dass diese ganzen Radiohead Junkies und Musik-, Kulturhipster mal auf die Schippe genommen werden. Ich finde ja Radiohead respektive Thom Yorke auch gut aber er und die Band gehören definitiv zu den überschätztesten Musikacts auf unserer schönen Erde. Aber wenn man das als Musikblogger sagt wird einem sofort die Kompetenz abgesprochen. Ich tus trotzdem! Ihr Hipster und ach so cleveren Musikgurus könnt euch ja dann in den Kommentaren auskotzen. Der Song hat das ,was den meisten Radiohead Songs der neueren Generation fehlt - Struktur und Melodie. Er ist catchy und die Drums sind sehr stark eingespielt. Die Eddie Argus -mäßig eingesprochenen Passagen gefallen und der Refrain lädt zum tanzen und mitgröhlen in der Indiedisco an. Scumbag Philosopher haben zu dieser Single wie es sich gehört auch ein sehr lustiges Video zusammengebastelt. Also ich find die Singel irgendwie gut, hat Charme, aber für eine Single gibt es keine Zigaretten. Dafür gibts heute ein Link zur Homepage. Wenn ich viel Glück habe gibts eventuell bald auch ne Review zum Album, dann auch mit Kippen. Was halten denn meine Radiohead Ultras unter den Lesern davon?
We don't know what went wrong between Radiohead and Fuck Dress, btw the dancing clerical parody of 'Just' will make you smile for sure. These three tracks are from Their debut 7" single Suburban Nietzsche Freak (released by NROne records), and since its title bears an intellectualoid attitude, nicely and ironically deviated. From Norwich, UK, They shot three mad bullets swinging between new-wave and noise Music, with declamatory vocals à la Mark E. Smith that use images as slogan (You cannot ignore a non-sense pearl as 'God is dead so I listen to Radiohead', title track's chorus) as well the harsh and martial guitars, never falling from grace. Coordinates not far from Pixies (especially about the female backing vocals), Chameleons and, as mentioned, The Fall, - anyway Their inspiration and vocation is genuine, and that's what keeps this brief three pieces set truly enjoyable. [by Michele Pollice]
NR One Records continue to deliver the goods, making a mockery of the preconception me and others previously had about music in this area of England, suddenly Anglia and uffolk looks like the breeding ground for all future rock legends! The latest release is a very limited (250 only) 7" single from the wonderfully anti-radio-friendly Fuck Dress, a group which comprises three members of hotly tipped band Passing Clouds, who the Melody Maker were waxing lyrical about at the time. That band and the magazine have both met their maker since, however Fuck Dress seem to have come back with a renewed sense of purpose, Suburban Nietzsche Freak is a really good lopsided Fall-esque track. The vocals are well delivered from Grant Madden and on the back of this i'd really like to catch them live.
Quite so. How refreshing once in a while to find an utter throwback of a tune like this. Here we are with a slice of indie back from when that degraded word ever meant anything.
This has surely wormed its way through a rent in the fabric of time from 1985. (Perhaps Radiohead were actually named after this lyric then?) The label of the day is In Tape Records. The Fall are going through one of their periodic spells when they are fashionable and it's cool to acknowledge their manifest influence on all music (these moments are interspersed with long spells where everyone forgets about The Fall, but they keep working regardless). Yeah Yeah Noh are putting the fun back into being pretentious. The Membranes are the next big thing. The June Brides are surely going to change the world. And all records sound like this: thin guitar, robotically thudding drums, and two singers, a deep-voiced male and an accompanying female, apparently stood too far away from the microphone. Things are recorded in sheds, and sound like it. The lyrics are alienated, knowing and not afraid of wearing their smartness on their sleeves.
Yep, I like this, like it a lot, and I'm going to listen to it 27 times and then file it away for the next 10 years before rediscovering and being confused by it. It currently exists only in non-physical form but is due a real release from NROne records - no idea of the capitalisation there, it's a guess - sometime next month, and you can pre-order it (not an expression I have ever understood) there. Nrone has become one of those quietly good labels which most of the time gets it right. Inevitably there's a Myspace site, which rather shatters the illusion that it's 1985, when we were all using ZX Spectrums, and there are other tunes knocking around the internet, none of which, inevitably, are as great as this. Yet another fuck band, by the way, in what's getting to be quite a collection, but it's becoming a bit boring to keep pointing this out, isn't it?
Now this is why I started the blog to bring tracks like this outstanding one to the attention of a wider audience. It's one of the best tracks I've heard this year, and one of the few (along with The Lovely Eggs 'I Like Birds But I Like Other Animals Too' and Eux Autres 'When I'm Up') that has been on constant repeat. It's a serious contender for the Devil's top 10 of 2008 and it's only August.
With it's angular guitar, metronomic drums and alienated male and female vocals it harks back to a time when indie actually meant something, a time when indie was a badge of honour for bands who stood outside the mainstream not a day pass to the 'C' list, a time when intelligence and experimentation meant more than a diploma from the Brits School.
Add in the annoyingly catchy chorus 'God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead' which buries itself in your brain and refuses to leave, and you have a cast iron indie classic. The video, with it's dancing cardinals, ecclesiastical grunt mags, Benny Hill pastiches and Radiohead video spoofs looks as good as the single sounds, and it reveals how Thom did that singing in water thing without drowning.