The Junkenstein Quandary

by **Sarc** » 20th Apr 08, 21:31

Ean wrote:So I guess congratulations are in order for finding a new angle on the Endless Nameless debate.

Aaaaaaaaaand we're off again.......................

by **WiredOut** » 21st Apr 08, 19:33

Maybe it doesn't seem like a 'song' because it's completely (and deliberately) lacking in melody. There are lots of rhythmic / almost rapped lyrical passages in WH songs, but they're almost always contrasted with a melodic sequence somewhere. I can only think of Naivety Play and Why You Lie as other WH songs that don't really have a melodic bit, although maybe 'cos NP and WYL are longer (and NP less frantic) they seem more song-y? I suppose Junkenstein lets Nurse Maximum do the melodic contrast bit on the album. IMO, awesomely dark and angry riffing and forensically vicious lyrics on Junkenstein.

One thing that doesn't seem to be mentioned often is that whatever you think of the way the album sounds, you could say that EN is often lyrically quite awesome in its exhausted melancholy and dark raging laser-precision venom.

I remember lending EN to a guy who was very into alternative music and while he didn't rate other WH stuff much, he thought that the album was brilliant and that Junkenstein was an amazing opener.

by **Ross** » 22nd Apr 08, 12:37

Course it has melody. It's just the punkiest song on an album where even the pop songs are distorted to fuck.

It's a brilliant tune and a superb lead-in to the album... It's only as non-song-like as Nexus Icon (which I also love, the best song on TWMBD)

by **Jeeze** » 22nd Apr 08, 17:38

EN is fuckin' quality and so is Junkenstein

Nuff said!

by **WiredOut** » 22nd Apr 08, 22:26

Ross wrote:Course it has melody. It's just the punkiest song on an album where even the pop songs are distorted to fuck.

It's a brilliant tune and a superb lead-in to the album... It's only as non-song-like as Nexus Icon (which I also love, the best song on TWMBD)

I also think Nexus Icon is the best song on TBMWD and I definitely think Junkenstein is a song. I also think that Nexus Icon does have bits you could call singable and 'melodic'. And lots of catchy rhythmic parts.

Maybe I don't know what a melody technically is then, and you are the musician here, but it seems like it should be something made of a distinctive sequence of different notes that you should at least be able to whistle along to, or something. Maybe not. Is all rapping melodic? If Junkenstein is melodic, then is there really any music that isn't?

I'm not saying I'm right, it's maybe just interesting to find out what people think 'melody' is. The Wildhearts were often described as a melodic rock band, but if Junkenstein is truly a melodic song, then I'm not sure I really know what melody is or what the 'melodic' bit means. Maybe I don't.

by **zachary_storm** » 26th Apr 08, 23:15

WiredOut wrote: he thought that the album was brilliant and that Junkenstein was an amazing opener.

...told you i wasn't the only one! :wink:

but yeh, didnt expect it to kick up this much of a fuss! haha!!

nevermind!! all's done now! haha!

...can go on to live our lives as normal!

by **Ross** » 28th Apr 08, 11:19

WiredOut wrote:
Ross wrote:Course it has melody. It's just the punkiest song on an album where even the pop songs are distorted to fuck.

It's a brilliant tune and a superb lead-in to the album... It's only as non-song-like as Nexus Icon (which I also love, the best song on TWMBD)

I also think Nexus Icon is the best song on TBMWD and I definitely think Junkenstein is a song. I also think that Nexus Icon does have bits you could call singable and 'melodic'. And lots of catchy rhythmic parts.

Maybe I don't know what a melody technically is then, and you are the musician here, but it seems like it should be something made of a distinctive sequence of different notes that you should at least be able to whistle along to, or something. Maybe not. Is all rapping melodic? If Junkenstein is melodic, then is there really any music that isn't?

I'm not saying I'm right, it's maybe just interesting to find out what people think 'melody' is. The Wildhearts were often described as a melodic rock band, but if Junkenstein is truly a melodic song, then I'm not sure I really know what melody is or what the 'melodic' bit means. Maybe I don't.

That's putting very narrow definitions on what a "song" is... I find the melody in the guitar riff... Yes it's true that there's not a great deal of "tune", but the "golden slumber" bit has a distinctive melody, almost playground-style chanting...

by **WiredOut** » 1st May 08, 11:22

Ross wrote:
WiredOut wrote:
Ross wrote:Course it has melody. It's just the punkiest song on an album where even the pop songs are distorted to fuck.

It's a brilliant tune and a superb lead-in to the album... It's only as non-song-like as Nexus Icon (which I also love, the best song on TWMBD)

I also think Nexus Icon is the best song on TBMWD and I definitely think Junkenstein is a song. I also think that Nexus Icon does have bits you could call singable and 'melodic'. And lots of catchy rhythmic parts.

Maybe I don't know what a melody technically is then, and you are the musician here, but it seems like it should be something made of a distinctive sequence of different notes that you should at least be able to whistle along to, or something. Maybe not. Is all rapping melodic? If Junkenstein is melodic, then is there really any music that isn't?

I'm not saying I'm right, it's maybe just interesting to find out what people think 'melody' is. The Wildhearts were often described as a melodic rock band, but if Junkenstein is truly a melodic song, then I'm not sure I really know what melody is or what the 'melodic' bit means. Maybe I don't.

That's putting very narrow definitions on what a "song" is... I find the melody in the guitar riff... Yes it's true that there's not a great deal of "tune", but the "golden slumber" bit has a distinctive melody, almost playground-style chanting...

I guess I can see what you mean about that 'golden slumber' bit. But about narrow definitions - I'm not even asking what songs are (I even said I definitely think Junkenstein's a song); just what defines a melody. I didn't commit to any definitions of that either. I just said what I thought it meant and pretty much popped pinging vertebrae all over the post when bending over backwards to say that my ideas might be inaccurate.

by **skychaserhigh** » 3rd May 08, 18:38

The man from del-monte say YES

Junkenstein in a beast of an Opening Track

So good i named myself after it on XBOX Live

by **Cwej** » 19th May 08, 12:31

Junkenstein was generally down on the sets as 'Punkenstein' altho not played at most of the shows , but reviewers of the time would still say it was .

I think it was in Nottingham .

A lot of the shows that tour were truncated due to Gingers broen ribs , but was still on average an 11 song main set , 3/4 song encore . They did get stick for playing between 3-4 covers as well as the 4/5 new songs as part of that . And 'Lovebank'

Was still amazing gig tho . Just when the sets had been getting bit samey and tired , seeing them live reminded me what i'd been taking for granted .. and then it was gone .

by **wildsam6o** » 19th May 08, 18:07

Jeeze wrote:EN is fuckin' quality and so is Junkenstein

Nuff said!

amen to that

by **Nickinvincible** » 23rd May 08, 20:06

not a song??? its a song and a jolly good one at that! how strange, i've never regarded it as NOT a song....i think its one of the best songs lyrically on e,n. and its storming musically as well.

by **nuno75** » 23rd May 08, 20:18

For the record, I never said it wasn't a song. I just said I don't like it. It is by far my least favorite Wildhearts song.

I generally like their crazy-heavy songs, and I generally like their EN-style fucked up production songs... but I can't do both at the same time, apparently.

by **Ean** » 24th May 08, 22:19

No, you didn't say that. But Zach did, and that's what this branch off is about.

You're perfectly at liberty to dislike anything you want. :wink:

by **Nomad** » 9th Jun 08, 07:12

Been off the board a while, since I didn't manage to drag myself to any of those nights at "Pianos" in the East Village.

But this thread caught my attention because I rather like Junkenstein. Never seen it played live though, unless they sneaked it in the Christmas show at the Forum in ~02-03 time.

In fact, I've got a quick and dirty homemade "best of" distillate I did for the car, 10-15songs, and it's on there. It's not their absolute best stuff, but a good mix of some classics and eclectics. There's some songs I wish weren't on it (Red Light Green Light, probably Action Panzer) and some I really love (S.O.D., So Into You).

FWIW, I don't really like Nexus Icon much at all (even less live), and if you want my opinion, best song on TWHMBD is So Into You (better off the single) or Someone That Won't Let Me Go.

The Junkenstein Quandary

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