The Three Johns

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Dunno much about the band. I've got this singles compilation called "Crime Pays: Rock 'n' Roll in the Demonocracy", and I can't seem to get rid of it. (I mean, I can get rid of it, of course. Hell, I've successfully gotten rid of it twice... But I keep needing to buy the damn thing again. Worst part is, I don't even know why.)

Nerdy, Gang-of-Four-indebted English punk-funk. With John Langford of the Mekons, who I don't really give a shit about, except for "Where Were You" and "Never Been in a Riot". Similar to the Membranes and/or the Screaming Blue Messiahs, in a pre-grebo, we-want-to-be-American-but-not-really kinda way. I like it. Maybe you do too.

― adam beales (pye poudre), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 15:36 (seventeen years ago) link

yes, dug em. "Death of (the?) European." Langford's best side project.

― Dr M (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 15:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, them's the one. "Death of the European" is ace, but I'm most in love with the earliest trax: "English White Boy Engineer" and "Pink-Headed Bug". Killer drum-machine + guitar scrape dance punk. Some of it grates ("Men Like Monkeys"), some of it drags ("Rooster Blue"), but a lot of it rhules.

Other worthwhile LPs?

― adam beales (pye poudre), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

sounds like the first is for you, Atom Drum Bop

― Dr M (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 16:44 (seventeen years ago) link

That makes a certain amount of sense. If I ever see a copy, I'll buy it. Unfortunately, the crewel winds of history seem to have worn away all but the faintest traces of interest in this perhaps-once-mighty band, and with them, all hope for this thread. Ah, well...

― adam beales (pye poudre), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 16:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I believe they've toured a bit over the last year. "The Death of Everything" is a good record to pick up too, with a classic version of "Moonlight on Vermont" and an enjoyable intro.

― Paul Eater (eater), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 17:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I can't say I ever got way into them, but they had their own unique charm. When I first bought "Death Of The European" I didn't like it, then gradually it started to make sense.

― Bimbler (Sourkraut), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 17:25 (seventeen years ago) link

"Never And Always" is also an excellent 12" single.

mp3 blog Phoenix Hairpins had Atom Drum Bop up a while back, I think it's still there.

― sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 17:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Cheez! Thanks, sleeve, I'm defrauding the copyright holders as we speak.

― adam beales (pye poudre), Wednesday, 27 December 2006 17:51 (seventeen years ago) link

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.

The Three Johns - C/D?