Let's Stop Talking about Politics... What Bands Used to Have Edge Back in the Day?

One word: Journey

That applies to so many bands that started out with an edge. First of all, a lot of that 'edginess' came from their lack of playing ability and so it would sound kind of raw, stripped down. Bands for the most part start out with little to no money and back in the day that would mean recording on rudimentary equipment lending itself to that sound. And bands tend to come together while members are young, idealistic, and angry, wanting to change the world, charging their lyrics with more vitriol.

U2 has The one and only The Edge

When the Glenn Miller Band dropped "In the Mood" on the world it frickin blew minds.

U2 has The Edge. He’s pretty good, but a little too reliant on FX in my opinion.

kmaclam wrote:

That applies to so many bands that started out with an edge. First of all, a lot of that 'edginess' came from their lack of playing ability and so it would sound kind of raw, stripped down. Bands for the most part start out with little to no money and back in the day that would mean recording on rudimentary equipment lending itself to that sound. And bands tend to come together while members are young, idealistic, and angry, wanting to change the world, charging their lyrics with more vitriol.

Great analysis. Thank you. I would love to hear some personal examples from your musical life. I love the two U2 posts popping in the same minute, I knew I would get a few of those.

kmaclam wrote:

That applies to so many bands that started out with an edge. First of all, a lot of that 'edginess' came from their lack of playing ability and so it would sound kind of raw, stripped down. Bands for the most part start out with little to no money and back in the day that would mean recording on rudimentary equipment lending itself to that sound. And bands tend to come together while members are young, idealistic, and angry, wanting to change the world, charging their lyrics with more vitriol.

The recording studio budget between the first album and second album is pretty obvious with a lot of bands. And getting to work with the big name producer is also something that is very apparent.

Another big factor for "edge" is whether the band is filled with true amateurs or is made up of industry pros. Bands like Journey and Toto were packed with top level pros. Neil Schon was a guitar prodigy who joined Santana when he was 15. He formed Journey and built the band with top guys like drummer Steve Smith, who was a Berkeley jazz grad who toured with Jean Luc Ponty before joining Journey. By contrast, U2 was formed when Larry Mullen put an ad in the paper to form a band. No one in U2 had any experience as a professional musician prior to forming the band. So, the first U2 albums sounded totally raw and had a sound and energy unlike anything else. It caught on like wildfire on college radio. In the early 80s, you were cool if you had a U2 album or a War button.

RATM!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ

The Clash and other punk bands quickly cvome to mind. Looking back without much reflection The Animals, The Doors and The Velvet Underground quickly come to mind.

RAGERAGERAGE wrote:

RATM!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ

That's just the sort of thing a shitlib would like

RAGERAGERAGE wrote:

RATM!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ

Oops- I didnt read the OP’s full post...

“Which bands had edge and turned pop?”

RATM doesn’t fall into this category, they still ROCK!!!!!!

For starting out rock and ending up as pop, the one and only Michael Bolton is the best example.

OP, you are also in the right about DMB.

I’m an “Xer”. 2 bands that had ups and downs but seemed to stay edgy: pixies and sonic youth. One that was edgy and quit before they lost it was the Jesus lizzard.

I didn’t consider the then got pop factor. Pixies still apply sorta. Jesus lizzard and sonic youth not so much.