Years after the fact, years after I wrote off all of these bands (with the huge exception of X-Ray Spex, whose “Oh Bondage, Up Yours” is one of the most-invigorating songs ever) as undisciplined, often shrill, distaff entrants into the punk world, what am I to make of bands like Au Pairs, The Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Raincoats, and many more? I so quickly dismissed these bands in my first few years of hearing punk rock and early post-punk that I’ve got them all confused these days. This called for a candid, from-the-gut reassessment.
On Saturday a couple of friends were talking about Au Pairs. One of them described them as a “female Gang of Four,” which is how I’d remembered them. Just now I found the clip that kicks off this post and confirmed both my memory of the band and my friend’s comparison. It’s pretty good, but as I felt back then, there was only room for one Gang of Four in my tastes. I still love hearing my Gang of Four albums a couple of times a year, but their style of music is a dead end. How many variations on the choppy funk chords and didactic, talk-shouted, 2-note vocals does a man need?
I went back and revisited Delta 5, another band I recalled being in this vein and having similar strengths and limitations, and my gut feelings held true. The music of this song is as good as the music in a Gang of Four song, but the lyrics sound like something a few creating kids would crank out for their 8th grade basement band. There’s a lot to be said for the off-the-cuff creativity of youth, but I felt a hundred years older than that when I was young. My loss, I’m sure. Although I truly understand the appeal of this style of music, I’m surprised young bands are still trying to ape that pose. We get it already, or at least I do.
Next, The Slits…
