The Soft Boys

lucifer_sam · 05-28-2009, 01:28 PM

Wow, I can't believe there isn't a thread on these guys. Oh well, here goes:

British grassroots indie music fronted by alt legend Robyn Hitchcock during the late seventies through the early eighties. Insanely influential, basically created the template for modern indie music through this day. Although they emerged the same time as other new wave artists, they borrowed a hell of a lot more from the Beatles and Syd-era Pink Floyd than with the klitsch and filter of other post-punk artists.

The music has appearances of lush arrangements and harmonized vocals from the quartet. Started with a bit of psychedelia, eventually trading it in for the jangle pop that made its way into their epically influential LP Underwater Moonlight. They trailed off after a few years, some members went on to form the Egyptians with Robyn Hitchcock, others disappeared entirely into the void, but their influence upon modern indie music is titanic.

If you want to hear what Guided by Voices and Elephant 6 would have sounded like a decade and a half earlier, this is it:

I can't find any of my favorite tracks from this LP, but even if you have just a waning interest in indie music, you need to hear this record.

Shoe · 05-28-2009, 05:46 PM

I'm liking it a lot actually. I'll have to pick an album up. They remind me of The Shins.

Brad Stengel · 05-28-2009, 09:42 PM

I wasn't that into Underwater Moonlight when I first picked it up, aside from 'I Wanna Destroy You' and 'Tonight', but now, many months later, I LOVE this album. Their singles are great too, 'He's a Reptile' and 'Wading through A Ventilator' being two prime examples.

Seltzer · 05-29-2009, 05:16 AM

Underwater Moonlight is the dog's bollocks.

lieasleep · 05-31-2009, 03:24 PM

really liking these guys already, thanks for the tip :]

Brad Stengel · 06-01-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seltzer

Underwater Moonlight is the dog's bollocks.

I'm american...does bollocks mean good or bad? Because to this day, none of us know...we might pretend....but we don't.

Seltzer · 06-01-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Stengel

I'm american...does bollocks mean good or bad? Because to this day, none of us know...we might pretend....but we don't.

Bollocks on its own is negative but the dog's bollocks is positive - it's like shit vs the shit. Though I have no idea about the origin of the dog's bollocks.

There's also the bee's knees, creme de la creme and the cat's {insert anatomical feature here}.

05-28-2009, 01:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	The Soft Boys Wow, I can't believe there isn't a thread on these guys. Oh well, here goes: British grassroots indie music fronted by alt legend Robyn Hitchcock during the late seventies through the early eighties. Insanely influential, basically created the template for modern indie music through this day. Although they emerged the same time as other new wave artists, they borrowed a hell of a lot more from the Beatles and Syd-era Pink Floyd than with the klitsch and filter of other post-punk artists. The music has appearances of lush arrangements and harmonized vocals from the quartet. Started with a bit of psychedelia, eventually trading it in for the jangle pop that made its way into their epically influential LP Underwater Moonlight. They trailed off after a few years, some members went on to form the Egyptians with Robyn Hitchcock, others disappeared entirely into the void, but their influence upon modern indie music is titanic. If you want to hear what Guided by Voices and Elephant 6 would have sounded like a decade and a half earlier, this is it: I can't find any of my favorite tracks from this LP, but even if you have just a waning interest in indie music, you need to hear this record. __________________ first.am

05-28-2009, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brad Stengel This Space for Rent Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 815	I wasn't that into Underwater Moonlight when I first picked it up, aside from 'I Wanna Destroy You' and 'Tonight', but now, many months later, I LOVE this album. Their singles are great too, 'He's a Reptile' and 'Wading through A Ventilator' being two prime examples. __________________ These is the musics I own: http://rateyourmusic.com/collection/BradStengel/oo

05-29-2009, 05:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	Underwater Moonlight is the dog's bollocks. __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

05-31-2009, 03:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
lieasleep Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 355	really liking these guys already, thanks for the tip :]