The Strypes

[Wooderson]

Im not trying to knock it but I'm beyond giving a fiddlers what age a band is in appreciating their music.

Last preternaturally talented band that came along were The Arctics. Everything about them; humour, musicianship, lyrics, appearance, career trajectory seemed natural and "earthy". There was a freshness about them that transcended their relative youth.

This bunch don't have that or anything like it and as a result aint my bag, baby. A glorified R&B combo with zero to contribute, irrespective of their age.

[fatyeti24]

The Strypes being "derivative" is a cliche already. But show me a band of 15 and 16 year olds who aren't? At 15, Lennon was still playing one chord skiffle on top of stacked boxes at Village Fetes.

I've seen them live, they're great fun. And there was no record company behind them at that stage. And they were the same. So theres no contrived image here. They dress like a standard old school R&B band. Don't see the problem.

I love when you see kids playing so well. Gives you hope for the future of music. 3 singers, 3 guitarists, 3 bass players. They swap musical duties for the entire gig. And they're obviously educated in old school music.

Find it odd people are so quick to knock an obviously talented band with potential so early in their career. They've only recorded 2 or 3 songs! The drummer is only 15 for fucks sake! Hes cant even drive for another two years

Also, Chris Thomas is producing the album. Very interesting.

[Wooderson]

Arctics had more demos than sense in the public eye prior to being signed. They were in or around the same age as the eldest guys in the Strypes too. Songs that said something. Songs that crucially -meant- something. They sounded new.

I'm the opposite to you Nal (as often happens, eh!) in that I look on the Strypes as being negative for the music industry. Rehashing of music that was niche 35 years ago, styled like Cowell's idea of an indie band. Clearly just an opinion but theres hundreds of bands out there making something new thats going to drive forward. These kids make music that adults like you wish kids were listening to.

Never a good thing.

[abdoujaparov]

that's part of the issue though isn't it? all the hype - on tv, at festivals, hanging out with Elton, be it their fault or otherwise - over a young band of no more than 2 or 3 songs. just let them get on with it. instead they've already been packaged up by the industry and presented as a product, without much of their own material to back it up with yet. that kind of situation will always attract ire.

[abdoujaparov]

Clearly just an opinion but theres hundreds of bands out there making something new thats going to drive forward.

[mrtourette]

I guess I'm just suspicious of any band/artist where the actual songs are fifth or sixth on the list of things that people bring up when talking about them. Even if it is great that they're young, and can play each other's instruments and work hard are are honest there's hundreds of bands out there like that. What are their songs like? (That's rhetorical, I have my own opinion on their stuff). Seems like a lot of style ofver substance.

[abdoujaparov]

I guess I'm just suspicious of any band/artist where the actual songs are fifth or sixth on the list of things that people bring up when talking about them. Even if it is great that they're young, and can play each other's instruments and work hard are are honest there's hundreds of bands out there like that. What are their songs like? (That's rhetorical, I have my own opinion on their stuff). Seems like a lot of style ofver substance.

[mrtourette]

Good point well made. I guess if you like the music you can ignore all that crap, if not then it just annoys you even more.

[Wooderson]

I guess I'm just suspicious of any band/artist where the actual songs are fifth or sixth on the list of things that people bring up when talking about them. Even if it is great that they're young, and can play each other's instruments and work hard are are honest there's hundreds of bands out there like that. What are their songs like? (That's rhetorical, I have my own opinion on their stuff). Seems like a lot of style ofver substance.

[Mardy]

They are what they are. Young, and using that youth as a selling point. As long as that doesn't overshadow anything else, there's a possibility they might develop into something half interesting.

At the moment they're the sum of their record collections and not much more than a pub covers band. It's what they do next that matters. Come back to me with their third LP and we'll see if they made it any further than that.

They're pretty much the mod Musical Youth of our times. If they escape that, might be some hope for them. Don't get me wrong, I think 'Can't judge a book by it's cover' is a cracking couple of minutes, but that alone doesn't justify the acres of coverage they get.

They remind me of those talented/freaky young artists that crop up on the news occasionally that can absolutely accurately reproduce some old master, but never go on to create much of their own or cause a stir once they grow up.

[Wooderson]

When I was 15 the music I listened to baffled and alienated my parents in equal measure. All kids look to "their" music around that age. Of course you can look on the skill and no small amount of style in the Strypes output, but given the amount of hype theyve generated you'd want to get something new from their sound.

Trying to think of big hits from newish bands in the John Peel over the years... you know the ones hypey outfits that had people ten deep outside trying to get in...

KOL

Killers

Ting Tings

Add this crew to that list one would think.

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

Haven't seen Jools Holland yet but I do have a ticket to see them in Bournemouth next week. I don't normally get swept up by band hype but I like what I've seen so far and the tickets are only £6 each

[The Nal]

Trying to think of big hits from newish bands in the John Peel over the years... you know the ones hypey outfits that had people ten deep outside trying to get in...

KOL

Killers

Ting Tings

Add this crew to that list one would think.

Edited April 10, 2013 by The Nal

[dentalplan]

Don't really like them (for the similar reasons to previous posters who aren't fond) but did anyone find it a bit condescending at the end when Jools Holland said "do you like Dr. Feelgood? We do too" to them.

Although, it's not to say I expect much less from Jools.

[Wooderson]

The hype is purely from people who have seen them live. Originally anyway. To put them in any other category other than "lots of potential" is premature at the moment. As is putting them in a "style over substance" or a "Hanson" category.

[The Nal]

they appeared assembled by a consultancy group.

[Wooderson]

Course. But anyone who has seen them prior to being signed can tell you thats not the case. They're exactly the same as when I saw them. When they were just some random R&B band 4th last on the bill in a small pub and were unblemished by "the industry". Except they have a little more acne now.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Wooderson

[abdoujaparov]

Okay so they had designer hairdos and wore shades in some boozer when you saw them aswell? Ace.

Now that Ive heard that it makes them even less appealing. They've always looked like preening little dickheads.

Edited April 10, 2013 by abdoujaparov

[Wooderson]

If you cant preen yourself when your 17, then when the fuck can you? I vaguely remember being that age and it was all about whether you looked right first...

[mrtourette]

Okay I give up. Theyre gonna be bigger than The Beatles. Fuck it, they are already.

[LondonTom]

Throw in a load more who were hyped up beyond belief and turned out to be total shit. The View, The Fratellis, Glasvegas, The Enemy, The Kooks, Razorlight and so on.

[TheSeventhOne]

They look like somebody put an already shite grown up band in a washing machine on hot wash.

[ian the worm]

They are becoming popular because:

1) they are very good

2) they toured a lot and got a big fanbase

3) they then got signed

4) they are being put into the spotlight

Points 2),3) & 4) only exist because of 1)

[sjp61]

I actually like them regardless of their age. I was / am a fan of Dr Feelgood / Wilko Johnson.It's about time good old R&B had a renaissance!

In my opinion anyway!

[abdoujaparov]

I actually like them regardless of their age. I was / am a fan of Dr Feelgood / Wilko Johnson.It's about time good old R&B had a renaissance!

In my opinion anyway!