British bands like Placebo from the 1980s

[RJDG14]

I see similarity between the 1996-era Placebo (British) and some late 1980s American groups, such as Dinosaur Jr, yet can't think of any British ones with a sound like this from earlier than about 1991. I did a search for online bands, and still the only similar bands from the 1980s were American. My dad suggested that I look up when Bush formed. They formed 1992, so don't count. Then he suggested The Jesus and Mary Chain, who used guitar distortion, however the bass and echoey drums still sound very typically 80s. Can you name any alternative groups from the UK who released an album or EP before 1990 which had a sound in common with Husker Du, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, Placebo etc?

[scumflesh]

"usker Du, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, Placebo"

This is a bit wide I think

[RJDG14]

Yeah but they still have that definitive 80s-British sound - just the combination of vocals, drums/bass reverb and ambient noises. The guitar/bass playing on several Dinosaur Jr tracks from around 1988 reminds me of the guitar/bass on early Placebo songs (eg: "They Always Come" and "Bionic"). The vocals are nothing like each other; I meant in terms of the instrumentation.

My Bloody Valentine are the closest band that from this era that I know of with a British member, but by and large I consider them Irish. What I really meant to ask was if there were any British bands from the late 1980s that have a sound that either resembled British music from the mid-1990s or American alternative music from the late 1980s. Bands such as the Stone Roses were influential on the 1990s Britpop scene, but still have a much janglier guitar style.

As well as Placebo, you can also think of bands like the Pablo-Honey era Radiohead or Bush. XTC are a little like Blur.

[Lilja]

What about the Icicle Works or the Cult?

[Zhanteimi]

Originally Posted by elphenor

Blur sucks

Objectively or just, like, your opinion, man?

[Tristan_Geoff]

Originally Posted by RJDG14

Yeah but they still have that definitive 80s-British sound - just the combination of vocals, drums/bass reverb and ambient noises. The guitar/bass playing on several Dinosaur Jr tracks from around 1988 reminds me of the guitar/bass on early Placebo songs (eg: "They Always Come" and "Bionic"). The vocals are nothing like each other; I meant in terms of the instrumentation.

My Bloody Valentine are the closest band that from this era that I know of with a British member, but by and large I consider them Irish. What I really meant to ask was if there were any British bands from the late 1980s that have a sound that either resembled British music from the mid-1990s or American alternative music from the late 1980s. Bands such as the Stone Roses were influential on the 1990s Britpop scene, but still have a much janglier guitar style.

As well as Placebo, you can also think of bands like the Pablo-Honey era Radiohead or Bush. XTC are a little like Blur.

Unfortunately like 90% of all music from the 80's has the same production. I know, it's ear-grating (I love the 80's but it's hard to get past that FUCKING snare drum sound) but you're gonna have to get used to it.

[RJDG14]

I've noticed the snare production less on American music from the 1980s than British music - in America it was common on mainstream music while in Britain it seemed common on all music. I don't mind the sound - I just wanted to know if there were any British indie bands that were exeptions to the rule, since I can think of some American examples.

It feels as if American alternative had one main phase, from about 1984 until the early 2000s. British indie had two phases - the "snare" phase from about 1979 until 1990, and the "modern" phase since about 1991, which sounds closer to the American stuff. Were British bands after 1990 influenced by American bands which they hadn't previously been?

Was the "snare" sound chosen by the bands, or added to everything by most producers? I've heard live performances of them and they rarely sound that way then, even though you can easily create reverb live. Plenty of 90s British and 80s American music also uses reverb, but with more distorted guitar, a plainer and a different style of vocals it has a more modern "vibe" to it. Is there a reason why a lot of Irish bands sounded closer to the American bands of the era? An Irish singing voice may be closer to the American, or it could be down to differences in common influence.

So the Levellers have what I consider to be a 90s British sound, and New Model Army are essentially a similar band, but with an 80s feel to them. So if most 90s British bands were like the Levellers, and most 80s bands were like New Model Army, were there any 80s bands closer to the Levellers? This would probably be a better comparison.

[Lilja]

How about the Jam? Some of their songs might be closer to that kind of sound you are looking for (such as "That's Entertainment").

[RJDG14]

Their singer speaks in that dated 70s/early 80s singing voice.

[RJDG14]

Some research indicates there were none who were exactly like Placebo, although my contender for closest sounding would probably be The Wedding Present, judging by their album "Bizarro" from 1989. Some of the guitar/bass playing has a similar vibe to c.1996 Placebo. The album also sounds as if it influenced Radiohead and Interpol.