Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - CP Music Draft # 2

Aeneas · 01-11-2009, 04:10 PM

Oddly enough, I have saved one of my favorite bands for this late in the draft.
I could not decide which record to choose, so I will put in a greatest hits sort of album.

It is called "History: The Singles 85-91" and it is by NEW MODEL ARMY.

History doesn't have a very cool cover, so I use my favorite New Model Army album cover, "The Ghost Of Cain". Songs from this record make up a good portion of History.

The band's name is taken from the army formed by Oliver Cromwell.

The band is very popular in Europe and around the world, just not so much in North America. I think they had problems with the US when they tried to film the video for the Anti-US song,"51st State Of America" in and around a US embassy. As recently as 2007 they were not granted entrance visas to the US to tour. Not sure if it related to the 1985-ish incident.

"Put out the lights on the age of reason"
This is a line from "Here Comes The War", kind of sums up New Model Army's view of the disintegration of society, European in particular. They sing about many causes: enviromental, poiltical, and economic.

A line I really like about Europe circa 1989-1994:

"The wall came down in a thousand pieces, now everybody's building thier own."

A comparison of young men in England and former Yugoslavia in early 1990's:

"On a grey morning to the south of here, two young men in makeshift uniforms peer into the misty light...and figures dart behind the trees as a snap of rifle rounds echos out across the fields...well they hardly know their sacred mother tongue...but they know their duty to defend the flag hanging limp and bloody above the village church...while a thousand miles away in a warehouse complex down by the river...young money men play paintball games..."

It is this kind of imagery and storytelling which drew me to the band in the first place. Also what keeps me coming back. The above lines describing for me, the fine line between civility and savagery that exists in Europe is relevant today. The incredible acts of violence perpetrated by all sides in Yugoslavia were shocking; that young men who'd never lived in ---- (insert Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia) would rush back to kill their former neighbors.

Not all their songs are weighty, but they do tend towards issues. Hard economic times in northern England provide fertile ground for their songwriting.

The band is fronted by singer / songwriter Justin Sullivan.
Long time collaborator drummer/songwriter Robert Heaton recently passed away.
The other bands members have come and gone. Sullivan remains the voice and driving force of the band.

Tracks On History

"No Rest" (Justin Sullivan, Stuart Morrow, Robert Heaton) – 3:52
"Better Than Them" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:11
"Brave New World" (Sullivan, Heaton, Jason Harris, Joolz Denby) – 3:26
"51st State" (Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army) – 2:36
"Poison Street" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:04
"White Coats" (Sullivan, Heaton, Harris) – 4:18
"Stupid Questions" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:30
"Vagabonds" (Sullivan) – 4:21
"Green and Grey" (Heaton, Sullivan) – 4:56
"Get Me Out" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:19
"Purity" (Sullivan) – 3:55
"Space" (live) (Sullivan, Heaton, Nelson) – 3:42
"Far Better Thing" (Sullivan) – 5:17
"Higher Wall" (Sullivan, Harris) – 4:22

There is some interesting electric violin provided by Ed Alleyne-Johnson on several tracks.

I'll now try to link some videos. Thanks to Flizzenflozz who sent me many NMA related links.

This is a great live band.
WARNING: This band is from the 80's, some of the videos are amongst the cheesiest you'll see!!! Try to listen to the words...close your eyes if you have to!

Better post this and add videos after, computer is apt to do something evil soon...

01-11-2009, 04:10 PM	#707
Aeneas Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Exp:	Oddly enough, I have saved one of my favorite bands for this late in the draft. I could not decide which record to choose, so I will put in a greatest hits sort of album. It is called "History: The Singles 85-91" and it is by NEW MODEL ARMY. History doesn't have a very cool cover, so I use my favorite New Model Army album cover, "The Ghost Of Cain". Songs from this record make up a good portion of History. The band's name is taken from the army formed by Oliver Cromwell. The band is very popular in Europe and around the world, just not so much in North America. I think they had problems with the US when they tried to film the video for the Anti-US song,"51st State Of America" in and around a US embassy. As recently as 2007 they were not granted entrance visas to the US to tour. Not sure if it related to the 1985-ish incident. "Put out the lights on the age of reason" This is a line from "Here Comes The War", kind of sums up New Model Army's view of the disintegration of society, European in particular. They sing about many causes: enviromental, poiltical, and economic. A line I really like about Europe circa 1989-1994: "The wall came down in a thousand pieces, now everybody's building thier own." A comparison of young men in England and former Yugoslavia in early 1990's: "On a grey morning to the south of here, two young men in makeshift uniforms peer into the misty light...and figures dart behind the trees as a snap of rifle rounds echos out across the fields...well they hardly know their sacred mother tongue...but they know their duty to defend the flag hanging limp and bloody above the village church...while a thousand miles away in a warehouse complex down by the river...young money men play paintball games..." It is this kind of imagery and storytelling which drew me to the band in the first place. Also what keeps me coming back. The above lines describing for me, the fine line between civility and savagery that exists in Europe is relevant today. The incredible acts of violence perpetrated by all sides in Yugoslavia were shocking; that young men who'd never lived in ---- (insert Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia) would rush back to kill their former neighbors. Not all their songs are weighty, but they do tend towards issues. Hard economic times in northern England provide fertile ground for their songwriting. The band is fronted by singer / songwriter Justin Sullivan. Long time collaborator drummer/songwriter Robert Heaton recently passed away. The other bands members have come and gone. Sullivan remains the voice and driving force of the band. Tracks On History "No Rest" (Justin Sullivan, Stuart Morrow, Robert Heaton) – 3:52 "Better Than Them" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:11 "Brave New World" (Sullivan, Heaton, Jason Harris, Joolz Denby) – 3:26 "51st State" (Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army) – 2:36 "Poison Street" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:04 "White Coats" (Sullivan, Heaton, Harris) – 4:18 "Stupid Questions" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:30 "Vagabonds" (Sullivan) – 4:21 "Green and Grey" (Heaton, Sullivan) – 4:56 "Get Me Out" (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:19 "Purity" (Sullivan) – 3:55 "Space" (live) (Sullivan, Heaton, Nelson) – 3:42 "Far Better Thing" (Sullivan) – 5:17 "Higher Wall" (Sullivan, Harris) – 4:22 There is some interesting electric violin provided by Ed Alleyne-Johnson on several tracks. I'll now try to link some videos. Thanks to Flizzenflozz who sent me many NMA related links. This is a great live band. WARNING: This band is from the 80's, some of the videos are amongst the cheesiest you'll see!!! Try to listen to the words...close your eyes if you have to! Better post this and add videos after, computer is apt to do something evil soon...