Batcave Redemption Radio - Old-School Dark Alternative Internet Radio

[GhostontheNet]

Diversifying a bit? (Don't get me wrong - it's a good album.)

Well, not in the sense of stepping completely out of my musical genres, although it's understandable why you would think that. U2 is a band that basically began their careers where Joy Division left off when the band's singer, Ian Curtis, tragically committed suicide. It's no accident that according to Tony Wilson of Factory Records (Joy Division's label), "Two months after Ian died, U2 were brought round to my office at Granada TV by this plugger looking to break them, and I remember Bono sitting on my desk saying how incredibly sorry he was about Ian's death, how it had really hurt him... how Ian was the number one singer of his generation, and he, Bono, knew he was always only ever going to be number two!" laghs Wilson. "And he said something else. Something like, 'Now he's gone, I promise you I'll do it for him.' Not quite that silly, but along those lines!" (Simon Reynolds, Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984 p. 366) To me, U2's music (especially early on) is the natural extension of Joy Division's music that answers the question of what would happen if Ian didn't commit suicide, but resolved his existential crisis and went on to become the mass visionary he always could have been. The first three U2 records were very strong, visionary, and hard-rocking Post-Punk music that fits right in with the other bands in my playlist(note the presence of the famous third album War). And then, just as U2 was really starting to make it big, along comes avante-garde musical genius Brian Eno (himself a recurring figure in the New Wave and Post-Punk scenes), who "encouraged the band to create sonic landscapes that turned ears into eyes, gazing into the far distance, literally visionary music." (Ibid. p. 368) Not surprisingly, Eno produced both The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree to massive effect. Indeed, listening to The Joshua Tree on my dad's stereo was like embarking on the visionary journey Ian went on in "Wilderness" from Unknown Pleasures, in which he sees all the persecuted saints and prophets of history, except this time we get to listen to their prophecies of redemption. It's times like this that make me glad to be able to raid my dad's record collection (he is quite the genius and aficionado for classic rock) from time to time to supplement my playlist with some real gems.

[Adrift]

To me, U2's music (especially early on) is the natural extension of Joy Division's music that answers the question of what would happen if Ian didn't commit suicide, but resolved his existential crisis and went on to become the mass visionary he always could have been.

Funny, I always figured that was what New Order was all about. But what exactly do you mean about Ian being a visionary? His outlook always seemed pretty bleak to me... Speaking of, have you seen the film about Ian called "Control"? (you might also be interested in 24 Hour Party People if you haven't already checked it out).

[GhostontheNet]

Funny, I always figured that was what New Order was all about. But what exactly do you mean about Ian being a visionary? His outlook always seemed pretty bleak to me... Speaking of, have you seen the film about Ian called "Control"? (you might also be interested in 24 Hour Party People if you haven't already checked it out).

Well, all the stuff I've heard to date from New Order is good fun and has interesting insights into personal relationships, but isn't exactly more than that. Ian Curtis' outlook is bleak only in the sense that is necessary to diagnose the problem before it is possible to prescribe the solution. True enough to form, his lyrics deal a lot with the atrocities of two World Wars, the looming threat of a third one, loss of control, lack of compassion, broken relationships, imperialism and conquest, the mass psychology that compels people follow dictators, and ominous standoffs between nuclear powers vis-a-vis the Cold War. The lyrics of U2 themselves deal a lot with these subjects when you look at the lyrical imagery, albeit with a much different tenor. As relates to Joy Division, when you look closely at the imagery, there's always the lingering hope that if dictators step forward as a false solution to these problems, then there is always the hope that more noble and compassionate individuals will step forward to truly solve them, which must happen not least because the times demand them. "Candidate" in Unknown Pleasures talks of an apparently honest and visionary candidate who fails to get elected because the coldhearted people were afraid he would "mess with your values / to change wrong to right." Similarly, in "Twenty-Four Hours," from the album Closer, Ian looks out on upon a world falling apart because of shattered trust and concludes "Gotta find my destiny, before it gets too late." These are but two examples that I hope serve to illustrate my point. Yes, I've seen Control, and am proud to own it as part of my movie collection, though I haven't seen 24 Hour Party People yet.

[Adrift]

Well, all the stuff I've heard to date from New Order is good fun and has interesting insights into personal relationships, but isn't exactly more than that. Ian Curtis' outlook is bleak only in the sense that is necessary to diagnose the problem before it is possible to prescribe the solution. True enough to form, his lyrics deal a lot with the atrocities of two World Wars, the looming threat of a third one, loss of control, lack of compassion, broken relationships, imperialism and conquest, the mass psychology that compels people follow dictators, and ominous standoffs between nuclear powers vis-a-vis the Cold War. The lyrics of U2 themselves deal a lot with these subjects when you look at the lyrical imagery, albeit with a much different tenor. As relates to Joy Division, when you look closely at the imagery, there's always the lingering hope that if dictators step forward as a false solution to these problems, then there is always the hope that more noble and compassionate individuals will step forward to truly solve them, which must happen not least because the times demand them. "Candidate" in Unknown Pleasures talks of an apparently honest and visionary candidate who fails to get elected because the coldhearted people were afraid he would "mess with your values / to change wrong to right." Similarly, in "Twenty-Four Hours," from the album Closer, Ian looks out on upon a world falling apart because of shattered trust and concludes "Gotta find my destiny, before it gets too late." These are but two examples that I hope serve to illustrate my point. Yes, I've seen Control, and am proud to own it as part of my movie collection, though I haven't seen 24 Hour Party People yet.

Oh... I just think the songs are pretty.

[GhostontheNet]

Oh... I just think the songs are pretty.

Heh, to hear that coming from you of all people, you rogue! Reminds me that scene in Control where Ian and Annik discuss beauty in music. Personally, without music I'd probably completely lose it, because people are generally unwilling to talk about many of the things I think about alot, but musicians are willing to sing about it. My music reminds me that I'm not alone, and that helps a lot with my perennial sense of loneliness and alienation.

[GhostontheNet]

I just added the following album to the station:

Frank the Baptist - Different Degrees Of Empty

[GhostontheNet]

I just added the following album the the station:

The Cure - Wish

[Faramir]

ok I have it streaming now. Not sure it is "me". Not bad , but not my favorite either.

[GhostontheNet]

ok I have it streaming now. Not sure it is "me". Not bad , but not my favorite either.

I think I understand, thank you for your time.

[Matt the Bat]

I just added the following album the the station:

The Cure - Wish

Good album, I used to have the CD before, but sold it. Still have the rip somewhere on my PC, though. 'Friday I'm in Love' was one of my favorite songs on that album.

[GhostontheNet]

I just added the following album to the station:

Niyaz - Nine Heavens

Good album, I used to have the CD before, but sold it. Still have the rip somewhere on my PC, though. 'Friday I'm in Love' was one of my favorite songs on that album.

I agree that it was a very good album, though I'm afraid I completely disagree about "Friday I'm In Love", which I thought was the worst song on the album. But then again, that probably has a lot to do with the way my mother subjected me to terrible country music for many years until I developed allergic reactions to it. My sporadic, but inevitably unpleasant Goth to drugstore cowboy encounters here in Colorado really don't help things either.

[Matt the Bat]

I see. What about From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea? That was another good one, I thought.

[GhostontheNet]

I see. What about From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea? That was another good one, I thought.

Now that was a great track!

[GhostontheNet]

I just added the following albums to the station:

Clan Of Xymox - Creatures
Bella Morte - Beautiful Death

[GhostontheNet]

Alright, having been on a binge of listening to my record collection when I was much younger, I've been rediscovering a lot of music. As such, I just added the following albums to the station, which I fondly remember provided my first encounter with the raw power of electronic music, especially of the darker variety:

Various Artists - Mortal Kombat Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various Artists - Mortal Kombat Annihilation Original Motion Picture Soundtrack