[kj] Killingly amazed

[B. Oliver Sheppard]

It's only within the past half year that I've become a die-hard KJ fan, 
though I've heard their music in bits and pieces, here and there, at 
random almost, for maybe 15 years (I'm 32).

I think a lot of it has to do with what era of KJ you first hear. If 
someone is introduced to Killing Joke by way of "Brighter Than a 
Thousand Suns" they might not know they are listening to the same KJ 
that made 'This Tribal Antidote" of Hosannas from the Bsements of Hell. 
But half a year ago I sat down and listened to their whole catalogue and 
it all "clicked." My fave periods of KJ are still the 1978 - 1985 period 
+ the 2003 to current period. I really like that in the last few years 
KJ have hardened and honed their attack when so many old bands soften 
up, go wanky experimental, and mellow out. KJ have almost done the 
opposite, which is incredible. They have a dynamite, aggressive sound 
and write lyrics that are socially relevant ('Seing Red," etc.). 85% of 
bands 1/3 their age cannot do it as well as them these days.

There are patchy and dodgy spots in KJ's catalog -- I'll be the first to 
admit they've released some turkeys and I'd be embarrassed if someone 
picked one of those up, heard it, and thereby dismissed everything KJ 
has done. But I bet that's happened more than we'd like to think. I 
personally really cringe from some of their stuff from the late 80s, 
late 90s.

-Oliver


god botherer wrote:
> Hi Lennonka
>
> That's a good summing up. I know exactly what you mean. I was 
> initially stunned by Wardance when it first came out, but after that 
> as I got to hear more songs, part of me looked down on the apparent 
> simplicity of the music as I had been into much more complex music 
> before, but another part of me thrilled to the music and I kept coming 
> back for more, had a revelation when I saw them live and became 
> somewhat obsessed. I still am.
>
> There is indeed nothing like Killing Joke.
>
> How long ago did you make your discovery?
>
> Si
>
>
>> From: "Lennonka" <svoje.ja at centrum.cz>
>> Reply-To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the 
>> band!)"<gathering at misera.net>
>> To: <gathering at misera.net>
>> Subject: [kj] Killingly amazed
>> Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:37:52 +0100
>>
>>
>> The Killing Joke.
>> If you hear the music for the very first time, you have it for simple
>> and somewhat familiar what gives you an insight
>> that the music is common and unoriginal. But something deep
>> in your mind, your unconscious, tells you that there's something
>> unusual and strange in this music.
>> Later, the more you explore all about it
>> (because you are curious), the more you are getting amazed.
>> If you analyse the music, you can hear that it is not as simple
>> as you thought in the beginning. The songs have more and more
>> layers when you listen to it one, two, three (or better twenty) more 
>> times.
>> They are simply genius from the first letter of their name
>> to the last letter of their lyrics. They make you cry and laugh 
>> bitterly at once.
>> Their songs encompass everything you could want to hear in music.
>> It has flavours of dance, of trance, of punk, of rock, of metal, of 
>> classics,
>> of industrial, everything combined in the sense of perfection.
>> And though, this music doesn't belong to any of those styles.
>> Yes, I'm amazed. Yes, I don't have an objective point of view.
>> What more to say?
>> Hearing these melodies, I dissolve and feel communion of the universe.
>> And hearing the lyrics, my mind finds itself in tortures.
>>
>> (Hahaha, I probably smoked too much. But I couldn't help myself not 
>> to send it : ))))
>>
>> Lennonka, in her own write
>>
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