Giselle62 wrote: 
Quite the contrary in fact. They started as a super creative, highly melodic powerhouse. Incredibly well crafted music through the 1980's and 90's. Terrific musicians, Matt Johnson on vocals, Zeke Manika on drums etc.
They were often grouped together with the likes of Soft Cell, Swans, Cabaret Voltaire etc. My opinion is that they were a cut above all these these bands. (My opinion of course)
Anyways get yourself a copy of Soul Mining-1983 and judge for yourself.

you say this is an album of Hank William's songs? neato.

This is good—-this band started as an industrial-noise band if I remember right.

 boober wrote: 
Check the date

Love this rockin' version of the old-timey Gospel-y bluegrass song.

Sounds like The Black Keys

It took the genius of Matt Johnson to open my ears to the genius of Hank Williams. Hanky Panky is sublime!

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
I I believe believe that that I I concur concur.

Thus Thus rules rules the the Arizona Arizona Hanging Hanging Judge Judge.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
IMO Infected is better, but both are chock-full of Matt Johnson's raw anger at the Thatcherite 80s and US colonisation of the UK, which was especially evident during the Thatcher regime and its very close relationship with the Reagan regime. Johnson also loathed US-style evangelical religion a' la Billy Graham, with good reason IMO. I'd not known about this album before, though, so I might hunt it down in the record stores.

Not bad enough to be a 1... but it gets a 2.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
+1

Soul Mining is THE The The album imo.

 copymonkey wrote: 

I'm in favor of that.

Is this supposed to sound like Spinal Tap eating Deep Purple?

IMO this is some of the worst from a pretty decent band.

Need to play UNCERTAIN SMILE!!

 earthbased wrote: 
You are correct Sir....here's the personnel listing for the Hanky Panky (1995) release:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanky_Panky_%28The_The_album%29

 TravelRat wrote: 
Yeah, Mind Bomb was probably their biggest album.  I wish they were still putting 'em out.

 nate917 wrote: 



here in France we call them simply "zuh zuh" (or "zee zee"....;)

Dogs of Lust was a good one

and then?

 SmackDaddy wrote: 
No kidding!  I've liked these guys since the 80s—was always surprised they didn't get a bigger following.

The most underrated artist/band/songwriter ever.

warderblu wrote:
I think Johnny Marr only played on Mind Bomb and Solitude. He left the band before this was released, and the guitarist on this album was Eric Schermerhorn.

The The.

Right on Bill! I dig these guys. I think I prefer the Mind Bomb album.

Just right!