reference in The Heartthrobs bio

Trouser Press

www.trouserpress.com 

 

Heartthrobs

(FEMALE-VOCALS, ROCK, POP) 

 

Playing gutsy girls'n'guitars rock-pop, the Heart Throbs--a quintet from Reading, England--have a nifty melodic sound that ages the Primitives from adolescence into young-adulthood.  The Heart Throbs win brownie points by resisting the temptation to add what would be trendy but superfluous J&M Chain-styled noise.  Guitarist Rose Carlotti (augmented by her bass-playing sister, Rachel) gives the songs a strong vocal personality; the band's three male members underpin the dynamic, full-bodied arrangements with a mid-Atlantic stylistic accent that occasionally recalls Holly and the Italians.

 


 

reference in Big Hello review

www.notlame.com  

 

BIG HELLO

The Apple Album

 

Finally, the debut CD from Brad Elvis (ex-Elvis Brothers) arrives in all its rockin' pop glory.  This is not power pop, but rocking pop.  With the excellent front woman vocals by Chloe Orwell (and I'm not a big fan of female fronted bands, generally speaking), this CD is crisply produced by Cheap Trick producer Jimmy Johnson and is sure to light up fans of Blondie/Voice of The Beehive/Primitives school of pop.  In a better world, many of these songs would take over radio, but for now the Beatle-y stylings of songs like "Sister Mary" and the pure pop of "Clouds Cover The Mountain" will have to do for those of us in the know.  Jaw dropping hooks rip the flesh of the savoring mouth.  A reworked version of the song that appears on Not Lame's "World's Best" comp "Today Will Be Yesterday" is included!  Extremely Highly Recommended...even for pop fans who don't dig female lead vocals and DEFINITELY for those who do!

 


 

reference in Eggplant review

www.notlame.com 

 

Eggplant

Sweet Anarchy EP

 

Huge buzz in England on these ladies, 4 varied Primitives post-pop and a song that even sounds like the Wipers!

 



reference in Delightfull Little Nothings review 

www.notlame.com 

 

Delightfull Little Nothings 

7" EP 

 

Not unlike the fab, lamentably forgotten Primitives, this band has a post-My Bloody Valentine take on pop, but the songs are straightforward and only take their Kevin Shields cues from their guitar sound and other odd ball-ish sounds here and there.  Cool indie pop!

 


 

reference in Cinnamon review

www.snackcake.com 

by MC

 

Cinnamon
The Courier
Island


About every two years someone finds their older sibling's Primitives record collection and decides to write some songs.  Not such a bad idea I guess.  Cinnamon (one girl, three guys) is a contemporary, jazzy, AOR, MOR, pure pop group built on a even keel of squeaky clean vocals, lush guitar/keyboards, and "the rhythm."  Well-structured songs that remind you of rides in convertibles on sunny days.  There's not a single song you can hate, not a single one you won't find yourself humming in your head.  This might as well be a Stephen Street production but it's not.  I am truly convinced that this is someone's favorite band. 

 


 

reference in Stormclouds bio

www.clivejones.demon.co.uk/biography.htm 

 

..."It took us just four months to record our second tape, the songs were coming thick and fast.  The first tape was a mixed bag of styles and we wanted this tape to sound like a coherent album.  I'd heard stuff by The Primitives and other bands who were stealing from The Ramones and I thought I could do it better."...

 


 

reference in Vinyl Devotion review

www.westnet.com/consumable/pre1994/old/c000atoz.txt

 

Vinyl Devotion 

(demo cassette)

 

"Sorry Isn't Good Enough" is a beautifully crafted tune, in the musical style of Lush or the Primitives, which will immediately capture the listener's attention.  The lyrics tell a different story; "After wheels came motorcycles smeared with blood and scorn / Angels fighting for teenagers hardly worth to mourn / Sorry isn't good enough when there's time to think / in a million different places wallpapered in pink."  Nothing fancy musically here, but quite enjoyable nonetheless. 

 


 

reference in Courtney Love article 

VOX Issue 92, June, 1998

 by Jerry Thackray

 

Courtney Love And The Return Of Hole  

 

...After years of loving pop, I've finally written the ultimate pop song!" she continues.  She's talking about 'Heaven Tonight' the 'happy' song written for her daughter, which is supposed to mirror the sound of horses galloping across the fields.

"If you can rise above the bullshit, shoot-yourself-in-the-foot cynicism of my generation and write a song which is such a triumph of pop as that...every time I hear that song I fall in love with it again.  The f**king Primitives can kiss my ass!  This is my homage to British pop.  That song makes me f**king happy, it makes my child leap around the room because she thinks its about her.  It's still the truth, but of a different kind- it's not 'Live at the f**king Witch Trials' [The Fall]. It's not 'She's Lost f**king Control' [Joy Division]."

 



reference in Tiger Trap review

vicious kitten zine; issue 2 

by Bruce Earl

 

TIGER TRAP 

(K-records)


My favourite Trap track, the candy coated ‘Words And Smiles’, closes side one.  This song also appeared on one side of a split single on the obscure (to me anyway) FLW label from San Jose (Bratmobile were on the flip, and if that doesn’t make for a double bill from heaven, show me one).  ‘Chester’, along with the sad but ever cute ‘My Broken Heart’ take the honours on side two.  For want of a token comparison or two, think The Primitives or Shop Assistants, only miles better.  A 10" EP - ‘Sour Grapes’, followed this album, but the band folded shortly after.  Vale Tiger Trap. I strongly recommend that you become the third person in Australia to own a copy of this LP.

 


 

reference in The Yum Yums bio

NOISE FOR HEROES zine

 

In the spring of '97 The Yum Yums did some shows with a young Norwegian girl rock-star - Vibeke Saugestad.  According to the bio info on the Yum Yums website: "The idea for "Vibeke Saugestad and The Yum Yums" was to play a lot of girl pop/punk songs and the band did every song in the book.  Blondie, The Primitives, Scandal, The Photos, Holly Beth Vincent, The Go Go's, The Darling Buds, The Bangles and even Nena.  You name them... The shows were great and I'm pretty sure we will do more together."

 



 

reference in Morrissey interview

New Musical Express February 18, 1989

by James Brown

 

The Playboy Interview, Part 2

 

...How do you view your relationship with your children? Those fans and bands who receive attention because of your patronage: The Primitives, Bradford, Shaun Duggan, Lucette from the 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' video?
    "Well, I think some of them suffer for it.  Morrissey's children?  Well it's about time I gave birth.  Medical science is not that advanced yet.  Yes I look at those shining smiling faces and think it has not been in vain.  Ho ho!  Other times I feel like, 'Get out of my life, brat'.  No, I never feel like that.  It's absolutely, totally paternal.  This is why it's difficult to talk seriously about being a symbol of lust..."

 


 

reference in The Pretenders article

The Cleveland Plain Dealer May 27, 1994

by Michael Norman


...Last of the Independents pairs Hynde with two new Pretenders — ex-Katydids guitarist Adam Seymour and ex-Primitives bassist Andy Hobson.  The Pretenders' original drummer Martin Chambers returns full time for his first album since 1986's Get Close, while the group's longtime guitarist Robbie McIntosh contributes on the funky "I'm a Mother."...

 


 

reference in King/Paul King bio

Trouser Press

www.trouserpress.com 

 

...Birmingham's Reluctant Stereotypes--which not only contained King but future Primitive/producer Paul Sampson--played likable reggaefied rock/pop much like another band of the same city and era, the Beat...

 


 

reference in Martyn Bates bio

Trouser Press

www.trouserpress.com 

 

...Bates' latest effort, handsomely produced by Paul Sampson (who is best known for his work in and with the Primitives but was actually once Bates' bandmate in the Reluctant Stereotypes), manages to make his voice--showing better control than in the past--more palatable than ever before...

 


 

reference in Flying Tortellini's  bio

http://www.havic.com/Artist/F_Tort/FTBio.htm 

 

...Anthony Harty: Bass, vocals
Multi-instrumentalist who joined Paul Weller's Style Council on leaving school to tour USA, Japan & Europe. Extensive tours USA tours with The Truth and Special Beat. Studio/stage work with The Primitives and The Walnut Conspiracy...

 


 

reference in Feline bio

The iZine

http://www.thei.aust.com/music2/evans6.htm 

 

...Vox Magazine said: "Coming in on a heaven sent fusion of Hole's sonic battery and The Primitives pop suss. 'Save Your Face' flashes past in a blur of primal screams and spangly guitar solos." Can't say fairer than that...

 


 

reference in The Heartthrobs review

Melody Maker Mar 3, 1990
by Paul Lester

I WONDER WHY

(One Little Indian)


...The Heartthrobs used to be spat out in the same bad breath as The Darling Buds or The Primitives, but those toytown collectives never managed anything as neurotic or wilful as this, "Big Commotion" (no flatulent remixed B-sides here) is a tortuous, grunge-rock lament that makes "Burst" or "Sick Of It" seem like very slender fare indeed...

 


 

reference in The Heartthrobs interview

Melody Maker November 5, 1988
by Ian Gittins


HEART for art's sake

 

...Rose: "Well, because we do upbeat pop we're seen on the surface as another bubblegum band. But what we do is much more intense and disaffected. Journalists want things to be simple, so on one hand they put Sonic Youth, Big Black, those bands, and on the other The Primitives, Darling Buds. But we feel more in common, spiritually or intellectually, with bands like The Pixies. Or Dinosaur. They're brilliant!"...

 


 

reference in The Heartthrobs interview

Lime Lizard July 1992
by Gareth Grundy


The Glamour And The Glory


...the band were on the fringes of another of the weeklies' little fads: Chris Roberts' unintentionally comic 'Blonde' movement, which also included such members of the 'where are they now' hall of fame as the Darling Buds and The Primitives...

..."We were a blonde failure," remarks Rose, "Our roots showed too much! The Darling Buds and The Primitives are like, real pop bands. The Heart Throbs are a pop band but we like to take ourselves a bit seriously which you're not supposed to do...

 


 

reference in The Heartthrobs interview

Melody Maker Mar 10, 1990
by The Stud Brothers


THE VANITY FARE

 

...If The Heart Throbs set the world on fire, or at least inflame a bit if unseemly desire (the latter's possibly preferable, certainly more likely), ingratiating shitehawks like Piers Morgan are liely to first embrace, then dismiss them as a two-headed Primitives. Basically the problem's the blondes, Rose and Rachael. Despite the noble efforts of Chris Roberts and Ellen Barkin, blondes still tend to elicit a curiously fickle response. Think blonde and at best you think siren, at worst bimbo, often both. Which is okay, but with The Heart Throbs way off the mark. They're not The Primitives, nor The Darling Buds. They're tacky and tasteful, they're genuinely bright, they shine where others simply sparkle like tinsel...

...Does it really matter if people mean what they're doing, it's never particularly mattered to us. "Well, it matters to us," says Stephen. "I mean, we could've taken a much easier route, at one point we could've easily gone in with The Primitives and Darling Buds doing trashy disposable stuff, we could've promoted the girls in the band. That was suggested to us. But we didn't." ...

 


 

reference in The Heartthrobs interview

New Musical Express Mar 24, 1990
by Steve Lamacq


PROBABLY A THROBBERY

 

...This is one of the reasons they were never happy being daubed with the Blonde tag, which suggested a throwaway happiness/heartbreak air. The Heart Throbs were and still are a nastier-sounding group than The Darling Buds or The Primitives...

 


 

reference in The Heartthrobs live review

Melody Maker Nov 2, 1991
by Everett True


THE ONE AND ONLY THE HEART THROBS
Camden Underworld, London

 

...The songs they present us with tonight kick ass so feebly, they make The Primitives sound like Big Black. Presumably this is an indication The Heart Throbs are going for the American market in a big way. One hopes so: it would be sad otherwise, to see a once fair-to-great band ruin themselves so needlessly...

 


 

reference in My Bloody Valentine interview

Q magazine Jan 1992

by Andy Gill

 

...And, when it comes to the crunch, the group value their art more than the blandishments of transient fame. Contrasting their approach to that of former Lazy Records labelmates, The Primitives - currently residing in the Where are they Now? section alongside The Tap - he stresses that, for My Bloody Valentine, music is a more important consideration than career...

 


 

reference in The Lightning Seeds bio

Jollificational Lightning Seeds

by Paul Gorman

www.albia2000.force9.co.uk/seeds 

 

UNSUNG HEROES

 

...Having started his career alongside Holly Johnson, Bill Drummond and the Banshees' Budgie as a member of 1977 Liverpool scenesters Big In Japan, Broudie spent the Eighties collecting an impressive series of production credits, working on the first two Echo & The Bunnymen albums and a slew of releases by acts such as The Fall, Wah!, The Icicle Works, Northside, The Primitives, Alison Moyet, Frank & Walters, Dodgy and Sleeper...

 


 

reference in The Automatics review
Twee Kitten zine January 9, 1998

by Scott Zimmerman

www.tweekitten.com 

 

The Automatics

I Wish 7"
American Pop Project 002

...The flipside opens with the immediately catchy "Secrets" which is a cover of the Primitives song.  It's the most memorable track on this release, which actually makes this record a bit disappointing to me as I would prefer to be blown out of my shoes by original songs.  But, hey, I don't mind adding cool Primitives covers to my record collection and this one is mad-crazy punk-rock fun...

 


 

reference in Catatonia review

Twee Kitten zine

by Scott Zimmerman

www.tweekitten.com 


Catatonia

"Sweet Catatonia" CD-EP
Blanco Y Negro NEG85

... In fact, it sounds like a rip off of a proven winner, the Primitives "Sick of It" (at least at the beginning).  Ahh, maybe that's because Paul Sampson (maybe he's famous, too?) produced both songs!  In fact, now flipping through all my Primitives records, I see that his name appears all over the place.  So, if you like the Primitives' sound you may want to check out Catatonia.  But on the other hand, since track two "Acapulco Gold" doesn't do much for me, and neither does "Cut You Inside (Demo)," maybe you'd be better off just completing your Primitives collection instead.  Cerys's voice starts to get on my nerves, while I could listen to Tracey's all day.

 


 

reference in indiepop review

The War Against Silence

by Glenn McDonald

www.furia.com/twas/twas0211.html#entry10 


...And if you streamline Heavenly in the way I fear you'd have to to give them a chance at mainstream popularity, you'd probably end up with something very similar to "Crash", the two minutes of effortlessly buzzy pop genius that the Primitives spent the rest of their career trying to live up to.  Pealing arpeggios, restless drumming, bass churn, sunny boy-girl harmonies and roars of guitar noise: Heavenly did every detail better than this, but one of the most magical truths about pop is that it often doesn't matter. "Crash" will never inform my life the way "C Is the Heavenly Option" or "So Little Deserve" or "Trophy Girlfriend" have already begun to, but I will be able to hum it until I die...

 

 

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