Forming an opinion on Cardiacs music is not easy for me. On one hand, I find some of the music exhilarating and challenging to listen to, yet rewarding once the effort is made. Some of it I find almost unlistenable. That's not a measurement of artistic worth, though, just my personal response. I don't like Schoenberg much, either!
The quasi-deification of Tim Smith (or anyone) by Cardiacs fans (or any other set of followers) has always left me a little uneasy. That has an effect on how I hear the music, as I was aware of that aspect before I'd ever heard a note from any recordings. I was introduced to Cardiacs in 2009 by a bass player who joined the band I was in.
What further complicates things for me is the knowledge that Tim Smith suffered a heart attack and two strokes one evening a few years ago that - still - means he cannot now play a guitar or even speak.
What is heartening is the way Cardiacs fans band together to try and help improve his life by raising money to pay for Tim Smiths care. They run fund raising-events where they get together and celebrate the music and past times they've shared. There is something special and worthwhile about that. Good for them!
Well Ive been listening to this band now for 10 days or so and I am convinced that they are one of the best bands to ever have walked the earth. In my top ten.....and I never heard of them til the tender age of 47. In my humble opinion, Tim Smith is an absolute musical genius.
I purchased from itunes, sing to god, guns, and a live album, garage concerts I think......There is some material that I find undesirable, but most of it I like. Smith suffered a heart attack and two strokes in 2008 which have basically left him paralysed and unable to speak, so Cardiacs will most likely never play again.
Please give this band a chance, buy some of their records and play many times at high volumes.
check out this rehearsal..... [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5QYijFfOaQ[/youtube]
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:22 am Posts: 800 Location: Austin, TX
Re: Cardiacs
I liked the second song posted in this thread a lot more than the first, but it's not my bag. Not meaning to offend anyone who is enjoying this stuff, just stating my reaction. Not your everyday approach to punk/prog, so my hat is off in that regard.
_________________ - Matt Wenge SG12 (SG12 MR) Black Bamboo SG12 (SG12 MR)
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:50 pm Posts: 421 Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Re: Cardiacs
In 2003, Tim Smith led Cardiacs through a series of concerts featuring the material he'd written 20 years previously, in his teens and early twenties. Music in a punk-tinged idiom of his own invention that the term "pronk" was coined to describe (prog+punk). Yes, they are playing to keyboard backing tracks. Oh, and their catalog is finally available on CD again.
Nice bump Monk. Guys....this is (was) the best band on the planet. If you aren't listening, you are missing out. In my top ten desert island bands....and they are number one on the list...
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:42 pm Posts: 2533 Location: Jersey
Re: Cardiacs
[quote="mad_monk"]Hi B Sharp,
This band belongs to the English tradition of elaborate silliness that once had a home in prog rock (to undercut perceived pretensions, I suppose). Bands used to sing about giant hogweeds and flying teapots and such but now every recording is a grand summing up of the human condition....[endquote] i'll stick with the flying teapots...but i did give it a try
_________________ Peace, Marty "The present day composer refuses to die" -Edgard Varese
Thu Feb 18, 2016 11:13 pm
K Rex
Elite Contributor
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:12 pm Posts: 2905
Re: Cardiacs
AnDroiD wrote:
mad_monk wrote:
Hi B Sharp,
This band belongs to the English tradition of elaborate silliness that once had a home in prog rock (to undercut perceived pretensions, I suppose). Bands used to sing about giant hogweeds and flying teapots and such but now every recording is a grand summing up of the human condition....[endquote] i'll stick with the flying teapots...but i did give it a try
Word up. Gong was my Grateful Dead, Droid. Steve Hillage was my Garcia.
K
_________________ The vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.
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