Post by Joe Chip on Jun 16, 2006 8:24:09 GMT
Can we have a thread to discuss and pass devastating and misinformed judgement on ex-Whitehouse members/associates and their work?
PETER SOTOS - Well, I'm a 'fan'. Tick and Comfort And Critique are my favourite books of his, and his writing was also adapted for some of the best 90s WH lyrics - Told, Daddo etc. His whining about WH since the split has been singularly unappealing, but when was Sotos (at least in his writing persona) ever supposed to be a nice upbeat guy? I wonder if he'll have a tactical response to the PB Asceticists lyrics, maybe a whole book called "I'll Scratch your Eyes Out Sweetie". In all seriousness though I do think PS is a world-class writer whose work will be remembered. A bullshitter for sure but are the 'autobiographical' texts of Genet or Celine strictly factual?
KEVIN TOMKINS - A great live performer when he was in Whitehouse, judging from the videos I've seen. Bodychoke were terribly dull musically IMHO and pretty lame live too - macho rock sub-Swans posturings. I haven't heard the recent SJ stuff so can't comment but of the 90s Sutcliffe Jugend albums "The Victim As Beauty" was a fantastic novelty record - Pure magazine with even more layers of bathos. The interview posted online this year showed him to be an intelligent and multi-faceted individual, I just think his work is very hit-and-miss.
STEVE ALBINI - I loved Big Black as a teenager and was lucky enough to see one of their last shows, M'cr Boardwalk '87. Have never understood the appeal of Shellac and generally detest their fans too - uptight hardcore boys feeling the need to wallow in 'angriness'. As a producer he's not to my taste either, I particularly dislike his drum sound. Making a band like Pussy Galore sound generic and ordinary was quite an anti-achievement. He did a great job on 'Halogen' and 'QT.' though.
STEFAN JAWORZYN - The early Skullflower discs he was on are classics, his stuff with Ascension doesn't really rise out of the improv mire although they could make more sense live and at high volume sometimes. I do like his ultra-morose writing sometimes, the guy should have been a comedian.
JIM GOODALL - A great great performer for the '93 US shows, resembling Lorenzo St Dubois from The Producers, and that Jon Wayne album is of course a cult classic. Not entirely aware of his other work, Medicine were a psych band on Creation? I hear he did at least one noise record too.
GLEN MICHAEL WALLIS - All I can find to say about Konstruktivists is that the music is generally pleasant and inoffensive, much like the man by all accounts.
DAVID TIBET - I know it was just one back-of-a-beermat lyric, but I'll include him. He really does come across as a mixed up and unhappy person in interviews etc. Of the C93 albums, several are absolutely unique and pure records (Swastikas For Noddy, All The Pretty Little Horses, Soft Black Stars) but their impact is lessened by a messy discography full of cash-in live/compilation/outtakes records done for the money. So is, for instance, The Fall's discography, but in the case of C93 this is more injurious to the main work as he's trying to convey 'spirituality' constantly while behaving like the Vatican bank...
STEVEN STAPLETON - Has carved out a place in the market with a little more dignity than Tibet. Will never surpass the incredible 'Sylvie And Babs' for me, what I've heard of NWW over the last fifteen years could be best descibed as pleasant, laid-back easy listening for the pretentious.
JOHN MURPHY - Has done so much varied stuff over the years that it's hard to comment. All I could say is, what an interesting life I bet he's had.
PETER MCKAY/PAUL REUTER - I would love to know more about these people and what they're doing now - yes, I know 'became ill and whereabouts are uncertain' etc.
Let the disagreements commence!
PETER SOTOS - Well, I'm a 'fan'. Tick and Comfort And Critique are my favourite books of his, and his writing was also adapted for some of the best 90s WH lyrics - Told, Daddo etc. His whining about WH since the split has been singularly unappealing, but when was Sotos (at least in his writing persona) ever supposed to be a nice upbeat guy? I wonder if he'll have a tactical response to the PB Asceticists lyrics, maybe a whole book called "I'll Scratch your Eyes Out Sweetie". In all seriousness though I do think PS is a world-class writer whose work will be remembered. A bullshitter for sure but are the 'autobiographical' texts of Genet or Celine strictly factual?
KEVIN TOMKINS - A great live performer when he was in Whitehouse, judging from the videos I've seen. Bodychoke were terribly dull musically IMHO and pretty lame live too - macho rock sub-Swans posturings. I haven't heard the recent SJ stuff so can't comment but of the 90s Sutcliffe Jugend albums "The Victim As Beauty" was a fantastic novelty record - Pure magazine with even more layers of bathos. The interview posted online this year showed him to be an intelligent and multi-faceted individual, I just think his work is very hit-and-miss.
STEVE ALBINI - I loved Big Black as a teenager and was lucky enough to see one of their last shows, M'cr Boardwalk '87. Have never understood the appeal of Shellac and generally detest their fans too - uptight hardcore boys feeling the need to wallow in 'angriness'. As a producer he's not to my taste either, I particularly dislike his drum sound. Making a band like Pussy Galore sound generic and ordinary was quite an anti-achievement. He did a great job on 'Halogen' and 'QT.' though.
STEFAN JAWORZYN - The early Skullflower discs he was on are classics, his stuff with Ascension doesn't really rise out of the improv mire although they could make more sense live and at high volume sometimes. I do like his ultra-morose writing sometimes, the guy should have been a comedian.
JIM GOODALL - A great great performer for the '93 US shows, resembling Lorenzo St Dubois from The Producers, and that Jon Wayne album is of course a cult classic. Not entirely aware of his other work, Medicine were a psych band on Creation? I hear he did at least one noise record too.
GLEN MICHAEL WALLIS - All I can find to say about Konstruktivists is that the music is generally pleasant and inoffensive, much like the man by all accounts.
DAVID TIBET - I know it was just one back-of-a-beermat lyric, but I'll include him. He really does come across as a mixed up and unhappy person in interviews etc. Of the C93 albums, several are absolutely unique and pure records (Swastikas For Noddy, All The Pretty Little Horses, Soft Black Stars) but their impact is lessened by a messy discography full of cash-in live/compilation/outtakes records done for the money. So is, for instance, The Fall's discography, but in the case of C93 this is more injurious to the main work as he's trying to convey 'spirituality' constantly while behaving like the Vatican bank...
STEVEN STAPLETON - Has carved out a place in the market with a little more dignity than Tibet. Will never surpass the incredible 'Sylvie And Babs' for me, what I've heard of NWW over the last fifteen years could be best descibed as pleasant, laid-back easy listening for the pretentious.
JOHN MURPHY - Has done so much varied stuff over the years that it's hard to comment. All I could say is, what an interesting life I bet he's had.
PETER MCKAY/PAUL REUTER - I would love to know more about these people and what they're doing now - yes, I know 'became ill and whereabouts are uncertain' etc.
Let the disagreements commence!