S.C.U.M - shoegaze? Indieposeur? Dreampunk?*

[bethnoir]

you know when you get all excited about a new band you've discovered and feel all cool and brave for a minute? or is this just me?

Well thanks to this free Mute sampler I discovered S.C.U.M. I was put off by their name, but listened anyway, as I generally love more Mute signings than ones I hate and now I reckon I'm a fan

Disappointingly, the more I find out about them, the more I find I'm being totally predictable and that if I'd read the press I wouldn't like them (related to the Horrors? Dating Peachesor possibly Pixie Geldolf? Poses like Nick Cave? (well actually I like that last one, but I thought I was liking something out of my usual thing, you know), New Grave? already liked by 2 of my facebook friends who like similar music) *sigh*

Anyway, free downloads from Amazon are cool and if I lived closer I'd be keen to see this lot.

Dreamed of hugging a friend who was dressed in metallic shiny briefs and lots of scarves. Inside my head is cool, but unexpected.
Nearly ready for Christmas, but bored of it all now.
Bathroom is finally painted after 3 days of having a heater on in there constantly to try to get the walls dry. Note to self, don't paint rooms in wet December.
Ate the most delicious rainbow fruit salad ever.
Want to buy new music, but must not spend more money.
Have a good weekend everyone!

*dreampunk copyright wolfy_codex

Comments

[miss-october.livejournal.com]

Nice song! They look like a cross between 1960s and 1980s.

Yeah, their band name sounds like it would be some awful nu-metal band, or something!

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

I definitely thought the name suggested something very metal, and Whitechapel makes mw think of Jack the Ripper which is not something I necessarily want to hear a song about, but shows I'm wrong doesn't it?

[wolfy-codex.livejournal.com]

Oh, what happened to my copyright? I thought I could have made some much needed money out of that! Heh, still the more I learn of their name the less sense it seems to make. Apparently it's from the 1968 feminist manifesto, the Society for Cutting Up Men. Wikipedia says it's supposed to be an ironic reference to the all male make up of the band prior to the replacement of their drummer. Did no one think to mention that this little joke makes them sound entirely inappropriate for their music? Still, the SCUM manifesto is itself uses parody and satire and they probably think it's all sorts of clever and post-modern. It is interesting really, that like you despite finding they make a pleasing noise, the more I find out about them the more irritating they become! I only wonder which side of that will end up winning out in my head!

Ah well, glad to hear you are Christmas ready but hope the day does not turn out too boring when it does actually get here. Like you I think I really just want it to be here now but hopefully despite present trials things will yet all work out well for all and you is now enjoying the final dancings.

*fluffy festive hugs and tinsel sparkles*

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

I reinstated the copyright! Sorry, I couldn't work out how to change the size of the font in the title, so I removed it whilst I thought about it. I should really tweak entries before I post them, but it's "make hay while the sun shines" with LJ lately!

We're both on the same page with "the more I know, less I like" about S.C.U.M. Also typing their name is very irritating. I do like the noise they make though, I gave in and downloaded their album, as it was the same price as paying for Spotify for a month so I thought it was acceptable. It is rather splendid, I think.

Yes, Strictly was fab, we had a split vote in our house, 2 for Jason one for Harry, but I think the right man won and I'm delighted that irritating Chelsee didn't get to hold up the glitter ball.

I'm sure Christmas will be fine, I have my grandmother and Dad coming up for a pre-Christmas Christmas meal next week, so I'm getting prepared for that, cooking a chicken and have to tidy up, but it'll be okay, I expect.

Tinsel sparkles and dreams of the finest colours to you!

[wolfy-codex.livejournal.com]

Yay, I intend to retire on the strength of owning an entire music genre. I shall demand vast royalties for anyone to use the term! Hm, still I shall glare menacingly at livejournal for you and hopefully persuade it into greater reliability.

Hm, I find myself in somewhat two minds now about the song I have heard. Pleasant though it is, my irritation with the band itself makes me wonder if the noise they make is just trying to be a little too hip and clever too. I have but heard the one song though of course and that knowledge of the band aside, I do likes it. I suppose I know a lot of writers whose work I enjoy but as individuals sound like the most thoroughly unpleasant people!

Strictly was quite impressive, especially that gladitorial opening number I thought. It managed to stay just the right side of being too utterly ridiculous! Anyways, glad you enjoyed and I would agree that Harry deserved the win. Jason was already the seasoned showman from the start after all. Hee, and yes, I won't have to keep wanting to correct Chelsee's grammar when she speaks now, or indeed how to spell Chelsea. Heh, I am the pretentious type though. :)

Well I hopes your Christmas be enjoyable and time with family be pleasant. Once I'm there I think mine should be ok assuming I can be in reasonable form. If not, big brother is driving me back on Boxing Day! Hee.

Fairy lights and fabulous fantasies back to you. :)

[nemesis-to-go.livejournal.com]

Is this where I mention that I've been reviewing S.C.U.M since 2008?

They used to be very 'art'. Most of their sound was one big cloud of reverb. Now they've gone all Echo & The Bunnymen...which isn't a bad thing.

It's certainly a better reference point than The Horrors, which is the comparison that always gets trotted out. I think people just make that reference as a kind of default, because one of S.C.U.M is the brother of a Horror, and it saves doing any actual thinking.

Just as well none of them are related to Susan Boyle, I suppose.

S.C.U.M do seem to be picking up some, erm, baggage as they go along, though. I realise that's not a polite way to speak of Pixie Geldof, but when I heard that the singer was stepping out with her, my first thought was that the band was trying a bit too hard to tick all the alternative-celeb boxes!

My latest S.C.U.M live review.

My review of their album (scroll down a bit). I included the video for 'Whitechapel' - probably their most Bunnymen-esque song...

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

thank you for the links nemesis_to_go. I knew you'd have reviewed them as I saw one of your photos of the lead singer on their facebook page. I don't know how I'd managed not to hear of them until 2 days ago, but I think their name put me off enough not to bother investigating.

I shall be perusing your excellent publication later on in the weekend, I expect I'll discover someone else interesting that I haven't heard of, I usually do. Now I just want them to play a gig with Ulterior and Blouse in Bristol and I'll be a happy bunny.

[calico-pye.livejournal.com]

Interesting - a little like Simple Minds meets Echo and the Bunnymen.

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of Simple Minds, I wonder if they wanted to sound like them? Possibly not. Have a good Christmas!

[calico-pye.livejournal.com]

I sent your card about 3 days ago, so with any luck it might just be there before Xmas. Have a good one yourself - are you down in Cornwall to see relatives etc?

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hasn't arrived yet, but there are lots of deliveries before Christmas yet :-)
We'll be in Cornwall after Christmas, Wales this year.

Happy Solstice!

[changeofthemoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the LJ cookie gift!

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

:-)