Refused followed Ornette's footsteps in egotistical naming of an album, but both wound up being apt titles.
What are everyone's feelings on Refused and The Shape of Punk To Come? I would probably put it in my Top 50 favorite albums of all time and my top 10 for Punk/Hardcore albums.
I am a big-time Refused fan. I remember seeing the video for "New Noise" on MTV2 or something like that almost 10 years ago and loving them from the get-go.
I watched that more recent DVD of theirs and thought it was pretty damn solid too (though a little short in my opinion).
Great band, truly "one-of-a-kind" band that no one has seemed to replicate to any great success. However, what i find strange about Refused is that "The Shape of Punk To Come" just kind of popped up out of nowhere, especially when you go into the bands back-catalog and realize that they were a pretty typical Victory Records "hardcore" band in the early to mid 90's. Along with At The Drive In (let it be said that i hate the Mars Volta) and Fugazi, Refused would round out my three most sorely missed "bands that i loved in High-School list", all of whom seemed to reach their apex (except perhaps Fugazi, who never released anything worse than excellent) and seemingly imploded.
R.I.P. Good punk rock
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
Originally posted by CleverName84: I am a big-time Refused fan. I remember seeing the video for "New Noise" on MTV2 or something like that almost 10 years ago and loving them from the get-go.
I watched that more recent DVD of theirs and thought it was pretty damn solid too (though a little short in my opinion).
Great band, truly "one-of-a-kind" band that no one has seemed to replicate to any great success. However, what i find strange about Refused is that "The Shape of Punk To Come" just kind of popped up out of nowhere, especially when you go into the bands back-catalog and realize that they were a pretty typical Victory Records "hardcore" band in the early to mid 90's. Along with At The Drive In (let it be said that i hate the Mars Volta) and Fugazi, Refused would round out my three most sorely missed "bands that i loved in High-School list", all of whom seemed to reach their apex (except perhaps Fugazi, who never released anything worse than excellent) and seemingly imploded.
I used to be obsessed with refused. I even remember waiting in line for the midnight release of the "refused are fucking dead" dvd. if shape of punk to come isn't the greatest hardcore album of all time, it is certainly close. i don't think any band of this genre has ever put as much thought into their music as was put into "shape of punk to come". how many other bands reference ornette coleman and stravinsky in the same fucking album?
that being said, the lyrics and political message are immature, poorly stated, and just plain band. but hey, no band is perfect.
Also, INC makes me want to cry. Dennis what the hell are you thinking?!?!
Posts: 517 | Location: San Diego | Registered: 26 November 2007
[QUOTE]Originally posted by CleverName84: ... "The Shape of Punk To Come" just kind of popped up out of nowhere, especially when you go into the bands back-catalog and realize that they were a pretty typical Victory Records "hardcore" band in the early to mid 90's.."
Agreed but that is what drew me into this type of hardcore in 1998, as someone who was into a lot of Epitaph stuff then, this was different.
Posts: 30 | Location: LA | Registered: 02 May 2008
Well, epitaph & Victory Records had very different kinds of bands at that time. Pre-Shape of Punk To Come, Refused was on Victory and sounded pretty much like Snapcase and other hardcore bands on Victory that had that whole "chugga-chugga-chugga" sound with the breakdowns and silly dancing and everything.
Personally, i think Epitaph was and is a much better label, not that i particularly like it now, but they put out "Shape of Punk To Come" (actually it was their Swedish sunsidiary Burning Heart, who also put out Millencollin wretched albums).
I used to like shitty music when i was in junior high... Shhh, don't tell anyone.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
"The Shape of Punk to Come" is astounding and Refused were a brilliant band. Although, it sickens me to see that the likes of Crazy Town would try to cover "New Noise" .
"Violence, she solved everything"
Posts: 1247 | Location: Nowhere | Registered: 31 July 2006
Originally posted by Everyoneanindividual: Crazy Town would try to cover "New Noise" .
Wait, HUH?! They did what?!
Better than "Liberation Frequency" I suppose
They most certainly did attempt "New Noise". HORRIFIC. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that no one should ever try to cover Refused, they're just one of those bands that can't be improved upon. Like a shoegaze band covering My Bloody Valentine, any attempt at covering Refused can only end in disaster.
Also, Hoobastank totally copped the guitar-riff from "New Noise" for that song that first got them mainstream recognition... Forgot the name thankfully, but it should be noted that Refused stole the riff from Helmet.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
Originally posted by CleverName84: it should be noted that Refused stole the riff from Helmet.
I knew that riff sounded familiar!
Yeah, it's one of Helmet's "bigger" songs called "Unsung" (Also the title of their best of album). By the way, it should be noted that i don't like Helmet.
And as for Hoobastank (God that name reminds me of terrible music circa 4 years ago), it was that song "Crawling in the Dark". It's a damn basic riff, but was best utilized by Refused in my opinion. By the way, it should ALSO be noted & go without saying that i don't like Hoobastank. Nay, i HATE Hoobastank, but that should pretty much be the concensus at this point.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
As far as albums go, The Shape Of Punk To Come: A Chimerical Bombination in 12 Bursts is their most accomplished and varied one. It takes their punk/metal sound and includes some experiments in it, as well as more complex compositions.
Their older stuff is more straight-up punk/metal. Songs To Fan The Flame Of Discontent is a very good album in that vein. Pure aggression with a good knack for head banging hooks.
Refused really needs to be explored more by both metalheads and punks who aren't metalphobic.
Originally posted by Portable Joystick: Refused really needs to be explored more by both metalheads and punks who aren't metalphobic.
i totally agree. i have been using refused to lure those of my friends who listen to exclusively metal (bad metal for the most part) into listening to more varied types of music, or even just to get them to just listen to better music from the genre they already love.
Posts: 517 | Location: San Diego | Registered: 26 November 2007
I thought I'd give this a shot since I happen to have a decent test subject:
My gf's brother is on probation for various reasons and his license is suspended. Since I'm the great bf, whenever he can't get a ride I always answer his call and give him one. He needed to be picked up from work the other day, and thinking about how you guys mentioned that metalheads really dig The Shape of Punk To Come, I thought I'd check it out. Before he got in the car I put it on... it was strange. He immediately started air drumming (he's an amazing percussionist) and talking about how good it was. He even enjoyed the electronic interlude when it was sandwiched between complex drum patterns and blistering riffs.
He actually knew about the album but had never listened to it...
Well, epitaph & Victory Records had very different kinds of bands at that time. Pre-Shape of Punk To Come, Refused was on Victory and sounded pretty much like Snapcase and other hardcore bands on Victory that had that whole "chugga-chugga-chugga" sound with the breakdowns and silly dancing and everything.
I remember when what band a label was on used to really matter to me. Funny stuff. Remember those Punk-O-Rama discs from Epitaph...i think Punk-O-Rama 4 introduced me to Refused haha. And speaking of Victory, what are some other labels of that ilk...anyone remember Equal Vision?
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