Which band epitomises best the city of Manchester?

Which band epitomises best the city of Manchester?

  • Stone Roses

    Votes: 41 53.9%

  • Joy Division

    Votes: 8 10.5%

  • The Smiths

    Votes: 11 14.5%

  • Oasis

    Votes: 12 15.8%

  • The Verve

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other - name them.

    Votes: 4 5.3%

  • 10 CC

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sad Cafe

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    76
  • Poll closed .
Happy Mondays should get a mention.

When i think Manchester, it's the Roses who pop in my head immediately, although i prefer the Smiths myself slightly.

Not one of them epitomises the city alone, obviously it's a mixture.
 
'The only one i know' is an alright track, didn't bother with the rest myself
 
roodboy said:
got some alright tracks but never a great band
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Wonderland is an awesome album, well worth a listen. However, I never considered them a Manchester band. If they are then we should claim James too.

And no mention of Intastella - I used to love them.
 
ralphie88 said:
Wonderland is an awesome album, well worth a listen. However, I never considered them a Manchester band. If they are then we should claim James too.

And no mention of Intastella - I used to love them.
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James were formed in Whalley Range. As for the Charlatans, Burgess was born up here but others were from Northwich. That said, they were a part of the Madchester scene.
 
ralphie88 said:
Wonderland is an awesome album, well worth a listen. However, I never considered them a Manchester band. If they are then we should claim James too.

And no mention of Intastella - I used to love them.
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Is it a recent album? dont know it to be honest - just know the old stuff

and Im definitely claiming James !

Intastella? I think you're on your own there mate :cool:

Who did you vote for anyway?
 
I'm refusing to vote.

It's not just one band :)
Impossible pick.
 
Utd heap said:
Happy Mondays should get a mention.

When i think Manchester, it's the Roses who pop in my head immediately, although i prefer the Smiths myself slightly.

Not one of them epitomises the city alone, obviously it's a mixture.
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All good points.

The Verve are from Wigan, they shouldn't really be in the poll, surprised that so many think the Charlatans have only one good song, I would cite:

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over
Just Lookin'
Crashin' In
Feeling Holy
Toothache
Sproston Green
Believe You Me

As very good songs amongst others, they're a very good band with more than one good song.
 
nemanja nemagic said:
surprised that so many think the Charlatans have only one good song
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well i did actually say earlier that they had a few good tracks but ive always seen them as no more than a decent singles band - dont think any of their albums can compare to The Stone Roses or Definitely Maybe (although I havent heard them all to be fair)

I have seen them live a couple of times and they were actually pretty good - Tim Burgess was a better front man than i expected.
 
The Smiths
Buzzcocks
Magazine
James
Oasis
New Order
Joy Division
A Certain Ratio
Durutti Column
Simply Red
Badly Drawn Boy
Elbow
 
Title of the thread is "Which band epitomises best the city of Manchester?" NOT which is the best band.


My choice would be the Roses.
 
mjs020294 said:
Title of the thread is "Which band epitomises best the city of Manchester?" NOT which is the best band.


My choice would be the Roses.
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Indeed.


Apologies for adding The Verve, I didn't know they were from Wigan. I really can't say why I thought they are from Manchester.
 
Wibble said:
Which is why I didn't mention the The Roses, The Charlatans or Happy Mondays.
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eh? You think The Stone Roses dont epitomise the city of Manchester but the other list of bands you posted do?
 
roodboy said:
care to explain your thinking on why Simply Red epitomise Manchester better than The Stone Roses?
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Because they weren't utter fecking rubbish. Simply Red aren't to my taste but at least they had a bit of talent.
 
Wibble said:
Because they weren't utter fecking rubbish. Simply Red aren't to my taste but at least they had a bit of talent.
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:lol: That might actually be the most ridiculous statement I have ever seen on the Caf (and thats saying something).

Perhaps I have wandered into a parallel universe where the The Stone Roses are 'utter fecking rubbish' and Simply Red have talent :confused:

Anyway the question wasnt even about talent, I note this has already been pointed out to you yet you still seem to miss the point.

I dedicate this to you - enjoy ...
 
roodboy said:
:lol: That might actually be the most ridiculous statement I have ever seen on the Caf (and thats saying something).

Perhaps I have wandered into a parallel universe where the The Stone Roses are 'utter fecking rubbish' and Simply Red have talent :confused:

Anyway the question wasnt even about talent, I note this has already been pointed out to you yet you still seem to miss the point.

I dedicate this to you - enjoy ...
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I vaguely knew Hucknall and thought he was an utter cock but they weren't half bad early on. I never really liked them but they produced good music even in their former incarnation as the Frantic Elevators.

Stoned Roses were a rubbish local band who got lucky after years of trying and made 4 or 5 half decent tunes before self destructing. Even then it was all production and no substance - terrible musicians as their live shows displayed. The Mancunian version of The Thompson Twins.

Their saving grace was that they weren't as as irritating as Happy Mondays who should have been collectively strangled at birth.

And I think innovative music preferably by talented musicians should epitomise Manchester not this shower of shite.
 
Spoony! said:
Wibble likes U2.

That is all.
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U2 were superb even if they have only made 1 good album since Achtung Baby. It is like hating Coldplay because they have copied their brillant debut album. People would hate Tom Waites if he was as big as either of those bands.
 
Wibble said:
I vaguely knew Hucknall and thought he was an utter cock but they weren't half bad early on. I never really liked them but they produced good music even in their former incarnation as the Frantic Elevators.

Stoned Roses were a rubbish local band who got lucky after years of trying and made 4 or 5 half decent tunes before self destructing. Even then it was all production and no substance - terrible musicians as their live shows displayed. The Mancunian version of The Thompson Twins.

Their saving grace was that they weren't as as irritating as Happy Mondays who should have been collectively strangled at birth.

And I think innovative music preferably by talented musicians should epitomise Manchester not this shower of shite.
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:mad:
 
Utd heap said:
Happy Mondays should get a mention.

When i think Manchester, it's the Roses who pop in my head immediately, although i prefer the Smiths myself slightly.

Not one of them epitomises the city alone, obviously it's a mixture.
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Well said that man.

No band really epitomises Manchester.

Infact, i cant really think of any band that really epitomises a city.
 
gaffs said:
Well said that man.

No band really epitomises Manchester.

Infact, i cant really think of any band that really epitomises a city.
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Really ? Do you need the uncouthness of rappers shouting their local city/state name in the chorus of all their songs for you to think they epitomise their city ? The point is which band's music or attitude recalls you best the city they are from, its inhabitants, its environment what do I know.


The Beatles epitomize Liverpool.
The Clash London.
The Strokes New York City.



etc etc etc.
 
Wibble said:
Sorry. I really really don't like them. James lite.
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You know I dont think I have ever heard anyone be so critical of them - there must some deep psychological reason for your intense hatred!

Obviously you are entitled to your opinion and if you dont like them then fair enough but I have to disagree with the following ...

Wibble said:
Stoned Roses were a rubbish local band who got lucky after years of trying and made 4 or 5 half decent tunes before self destructing.

That is not true - the line up Brown, Squire, Reni and Mani only came together in 1987 and they released their seminal debut in 1989.
Im sure that I dont need to tell you that this album always appears in lists of the greatest British albums or all time, sometimes it is even No1.
Cant argue with the self destructing part.


Even then it was all production and no substance - terrible musicians as their live shows displayed. The Mancunian version of The Thompson Twins.

Unfortunately I never saw them live so cant comment but ive seen Ian Brown live and although he is not a great singer, he is a great performer and front man. Mani is still going strong with Primal Scream and Squire is a more than proficient guitarist.


Their saving grace was that they weren't as as irritating as Happy Mondays who should have been collectively strangled at birth.

I take it you are not a fan of the entire 'Madchester' movement?
Whether you like the music or not, you should still recognise that this era is a major part of the musical history of Manchester.


And I think innovative music preferably by talented musicians should epitomise Manchester
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I agree completely and even if you dont like the music, you should still be able to recognise that their fusion of indie and rave was hugely innovative at the time plus they basically invented 'Brit pop'.
 
Nani Nana said:
The Beatles epitomize Liverpool.
The Clash London.
The Strokes New York City.



etc etc etc.
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Dont really agree with all this to be honest

cities like Manchester, London, NY have so many different scenes and always changing throughout history - I agree with previous comments that no 1 band represents it all.
 
It always surprises me how New Order never really figure into these sort of discussions. They seem to be underrated in British music in general, but I assumed they'd get a fair amount of respect in their own region for what they gave back to the city.

I'm not from Manchester so I won't make any claims, but from what I've seen and heard, Factory and the Hacienda pretty much was the Manchester music scene for a period. I associate Tony Wilson with the image of Manchester as a creative, innovative, resurgent city. To me New Order were the most developed of all the bands mentioned and had that arrogance and mystique. Perhaps the fact that they went on so long and released a lot of mediocre stuff whereas the Roses and Smiths came and went so quickly contributes to that, but for me some of New Order's singles and albums were unique and timeless.

And that's even before you add in what they achieved in Joy Division.
 
^^^
Good post - I agree with pretty much all of it.

I guess sometimes people lump Joy Division and New Order into one entity.
 
Gazza said:
It always surprises me how New Order never really figure into these sort of discussions. They seem to be underrated in British music in general, but I assumed they'd get a fair amount of respect in their own region for what they gave back to the city.

I'm not from Manchester so I won't make any claims, but from what I've seen and heard, Factory and the Hacienda pretty much was the Manchester music scene for a period. I associate Tony Wilson with the image of Manchester as a creative, innovative, resurgent city. To me New Order were the most developed of all the bands mentioned and had that arrogance and mystique. Perhaps the fact that they went on so long and released a lot of mediocre stuff whereas the Roses and Smiths came and went so quickly contributes to that, but for me some of New Order's singles and albums were unique and timeless.

And that's even before you add in what they achieved in Joy Division.
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Thank you for that post. I'll try to inform myself on Tony Wilson then.


To be honest with you, the only thing I know pertaining to New Order is they are the "smaller" sequel of Joy Division, thus I reckoned the presence of the latter encompasses both.


The only New Order song I know is Blue Monday. Which are their classics in your opinion ?
 
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