Sometimes you need an outlet for your anger, frustration and disappointment in humanity… for me, Nomeansno is just that. My all time favorite band, for which I went on a pilgrimage to Victoria, Canada when they dissolved the band two years ago.
Nomeansno started at the end of the 70s at the very end of the original punk movement as the brothers Wright playing music with just drums and a bass as lead guitar (Royal Blood did not invent this). They are considered to be “Canadian post hardcore punk”.
Many musicians today are a fan because they were known to be the tightest playing band ever playing music with crazy time shifts. For a while they toured with two drummers, you know for the stereo effect. I have seen them many times and got most of my hearing damage from those gigs. They. Are. Loud.
For reference, Metallica on TW in the 90s was not as loud as Nomeansno in the old 4AD... Finally, the band is known for, at first sight, nonsensical lyrics. Many of their songs contain a message or something to think about. At the same time you’re never sure if it isn’t nonsense either… I like that attitude.
Here’s the lyrics from “Stocktaking”:
Are you getting what you want?
And are you getting what you need?
I've heard it said that love is truly sacred
But nowhere is it written that it's guaranteed
Who decides what will happen
And who decides who for?
Is this just a crazy little game
Or is this just an ugly little war?
Are you sick and tired of the same old thing
Or are you happy enough?
Tell me
When does so much become so little?
When does too little become too much?
Listen to their seminal album Wrong:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m01lPNVv90s
O, and the album cover is my favorite festival shirt. You can easily spot me :)
Nomeansno started at the end of the 70s at the very end of the original punk movement as the brothers Wright playing music with just drums and a bass as lead guitar (Royal Blood did not invent this). They are considered to be “Canadian post hardcore punk”.
Many musicians today are a fan because they were known to be the tightest playing band ever playing music with crazy time shifts. For a while they toured with two drummers, you know for the stereo effect. I have seen them many times and got most of my hearing damage from those gigs. They. Are. Loud.
For reference, Metallica on TW in the 90s was not as loud as Nomeansno in the old 4AD... Finally, the band is known for, at first sight, nonsensical lyrics. Many of their songs contain a message or something to think about. At the same time you’re never sure if it isn’t nonsense either… I like that attitude.
Here’s the lyrics from “Stocktaking”:
Are you getting what you want?
And are you getting what you need?
I've heard it said that love is truly sacred
But nowhere is it written that it's guaranteed
Who decides what will happen
And who decides who for?
Is this just a crazy little game
Or is this just an ugly little war?
Are you sick and tired of the same old thing
Or are you happy enough?
Tell me
When does so much become so little?
When does too little become too much?
Listen to their seminal album Wrong:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m01lPNVv90s
O, and the album cover is my favorite festival shirt. You can easily spot me :)
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