A Ministry of Music

Echo Bunnymen

Aug 8, 2007 music cassettes
Posted by admin

Echo Bunnymen

Coldplay is a true 'Guilty Pleasure', we all like them, buy tickets to their concerts, buy their CDs and even see Gwyneth Paltrow films, just to support the band. However my friends there is an alternative and they are called 'Doves'. Not The Doves, just 'Doves'. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Coldplay is bad in any way at all. I would consider myself a huge fan but their music tires quickly. As a matter of fact, I will go on the record as saying that Coldplay hit the music scene and saved it the way that Nirvana did in the early 90's. Coldplay helped to pave the way for many great bands of this millennium. However, there is just so much Chris Martin falsetto that one can take in the course of a day.

The formation of Doves can be traced back to when the Williams brothers and Jimi Goodwin met at Wilmslow High School at age 15. The Williams bros are true musicians who were gigging on the mean-streets of Manchester since age 12. As Duran Duran was filming videos in Shri Lanka to support the Rio album, Doves were in grade school. Now don't get me wrong this is far from Robbie Williams and his boy band 'Take That', although Robbie will be the focus of another future writing after another good bottle of wine.

After multiple line ups and sounds throughout the eighties from 1989 onward, Doves had been gigging their hearts out and writing songs that delve into your skin. As most great bands had something to do with the Hacienda Club and Tony Wilson (Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, Buzzcocks etc., etc.), so did Doves. Performing as the band 'Sub Sub' before they came into their own, they released their first single in 1989 'Space Face'. With roots in dance music the band made a name for themselves but it wasn't until their studio burned down in the mid-nineties, that forced them to change their tune and become alternative rockers. They lost everything in their studio fire and from this disaster rose the trio we know today as Doves.

Their debut album Lost Souls in April 2000 was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize - for us common Americans, that's a great achievement but they lost to fellow Manchunian and former collaborator 'Badly Drawn Boy'.

Doves' second album The Last Broadcast was released two years later, reaching #1 in the UK album chart, and was again nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. This record contained the single "There Goes the Fear," which reached #3 in the UK singles chart despite only being released for one day before it was deleted. They are a bit quick over there. If you are a fan for b-sides, lost songs, instrumental version, you are in for a treat, since Doves got it all.

Doves recorded Some Cities, their third studio album, away from urban influences, and in cottages tucked away in the English and Scottish countryside. Lyrically, the theme of cities and towns and change became many themes of their songs. Some Cities was released in February 2005 and went straight to #1 in the UK albums chart, with the help of some of the strongest reviews they had received to date. The album was preceded with multiple UK hit singles and an opening gig touring with U2. They have supported Oasis and even Coldplay over the past four years.

The band's fourth album, Kingdom of Rust was released on April 6, 2009 and is a perfect follow up to their prior three albums. Do yourself a favor and check out this band. If you are a fan of Coldplay, U2,Oasis, A-Ha, Echo and the Bunnymen, Keane, Travis or R.E.M. you are in for a treat. Doves picked up where U2 left off in the late 90's and although their four albums are spectacular, they still haven't hit their stride and I am certain that they will release their 'Joshua Tree' within the next few years. In the meantime, put the Coldplay to bed and enjoy some undiscovered music.

http://www.musesicman.com

What are the best songs by Echo and the Bunnymen?

Lips Like Sugar (12" Mix)
Killing Moon

Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon [Music Video]

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