80s Cup R9M6 - GNDT 7-12 Ranking Ted

[Penk!]

A

Hawkwind - Rocky Paths



B

Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

[Polishgirl]

I didn't mind the Hawkwind, but - of course- I'm all over B

B

[Jumper K]

A.

[Samoan]

B

[Deebank]

Is it me or is the Simple minds track proggier than the Hawkwind one?

A

[Purgatory Brite]

B a song I still listen to occasionally.

B rather a run of the mill Hawkwind song.

[toomanyhatz]

I'd have to be more of a Hawkwind fan to feel really enthusiastic about A, but I like it pretty well, particularly the loopy ending. And B is just so dull. Couldn't quite make it to the end, but as it lost me by the 2-minute mark, it wouldn't have made any difference.

[never/ever]

B

[Diamond Dog]

Hawkwind. Shit, aren't they?

B

[Darkness_Fish]

Eighties Hawkwind? Did anyone actually listen to them this far? Whatever had made them such a distinctive outfit in the 70s is long gone here, this is rubbish hard rock that could've been by any bunch of no marks.

B isn't really inspiring me any, either. The claim has always been that Simple Minds had a lot of songs which were much better than "Don't You Forget About Me", but I've never heard much to convince me. This is quite tedious, dragging on forever with little in the way of variation. Jim sounds drunk, slur-mumbling over the top like Andrew Eldritch after a stroke.

Abstain.

[C]

-+A+-



oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooof!




.

[The Modernist]

I didn't find the Hawkwind as bad as others. I quite liked its attack, but the lack of variation made it a bit of a repetitive listen.

The Simple Minds track has appeared quite a few times before, but it is one of their best and frankly you have to embrace quality in this competition when you can find it. It's all about that propulsive rhythm section and Forbes' pummelling bass in particular. I love the track's surging spirit, it feels so alive and positive. Don't know what DF is on about..this is what good electronic music from this period is meant to sound like -cohesive, powerful, full of peaks and excitement. You won't find a better track this round.

B

[trans-chigley express]

I'm a bit baffled as to why a track from this disappointing Hawkwind album was chosen over one from the previous year's brilliant Levitation which also qualifies for a 1980s cup. Anyhow, it's not a bad track but it very much signals the start of their 1980's run of mediocre albums that were a shadow of their 70's years.

The Simple Minds was ok, better than I was expecting in truth as I'm never been a fan, but it sounds like it sets the template for what was to come from them, which is not something I approve of.

A closer match than I was expecting on first glance but I'll go with A

[Rayge]

Nah

[Dayodead]

Abstain

[Hightea]

A - agree with trans Levitation is the better album. This still is good Hawkwind the times changed and so did they.

B - never got the whole love for SM they are okay but just don't do much for me.

A

[The Write Profile]

"New Gold Dream" is a classic in overreaching yet artful synth pop, and the sheer ridiculousness and pretension of the track mean that B is the clear winner.

[The Modernist]

"New Gold Dream" is a classic in overreaching yet artful synth pop, and the sheer ridiculousness and pretension of the track mean that B is the clear winner.

What,s pretentious or ridiculous about it? :

[WG Kaspar]

B

[Penk!]

A has some surprising verve and a catchy riff, and is much better than I expected. In fact it's probably better than most "classic" Hawkwind (not that hard, but still!).

B is probably a bit more my speed, although I've never really got into early Simple Minds the way people who were "there at the time" clearly did.