s y n t h p o p

[Blackmail]

1. What are your three favorite synthpop bands?

2. What synthpop band do you never want to hear again?

3. What is your favorite synthpop song of all time?

4. Do you like the current synthpop scene or the 1980's scene?

5. Do you wish local clubs played more synthpop and less goth/industrial/ebm/whatever?

1. Depeche Mode, De/Vision, OMD

2. Erasure

3. Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode

4. Today

5. Yes

[DeadBurgerKing (10)]

1.  What are your three favorite synthpop bands?

2.  What synthpop band do you never want to hear again?

3.  What is your favorite synthpop song of all time?

4.  Do you like the current synthpop scene or the 1980's scene?

5.  Do you wish local clubs played more synthpop and less goth/industrial/ebm/whatever?

1.  Depeche Mode, De/Vision, OMD

2.  Erasure

3.  Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode

4.  Today

5.  Yes

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1:Sepeche Mode, KMFDM (i know theyre more industrial but they can be onsidered synth...kinda) and Freezepop

2:Not sure

3Freezepop Forever - Freezepop

4: 80's

5: Yes

[phee]

1. Depeche mode, Covenant, Dirty Vegas.

2. Electronic

3. Something to Do - Depeche Mode

4. 80's

5. I wish they played "better music" of the synthpop/industrial/ebm/gothic/whatever variety.... synthpop included

[Blackmail]

I'm probably getting nitpicky but I do differentiate between EBM and synthpop. Two different things in my opinion, though there might be some crossover.

I don't really consider Electronic to be a synthpop band either. They use more guitars than synths. But again, I may be being a synthpop snob.

If 'A Different Drum' records wouldn't put it out, it ain't synthpop to me.

to me synthpop is a genre started by early 80's bands like Depeche Mode, Human League, Soft Cell that was pop with synths. By the mid to late 80's several synthpop bands had become mainstream such as Information Society, The Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Yazoo, Kon Kan. Depeche Mode had spawned several imitators such as Camouflage, Red Flag and Cause and Effect. The genre was dead in the 1990's for the most, except for Depeche Mode who became even more popular. Bands like New Order and Talk Talk made pop music with synths but they were not really pigeonholed into that genre in my view.

Synthpop made a 'comeback' in the late 90's in the underground and groups like Wolfsheim, De/Vision, Iris, Freezepop and today the genre is thriving. "A Different Drum" is the main source of these bands though 'Tooth and Nail' and 'Plastiq Musiq' also put out alot of underground synthpop stuff.

[phee]

Kewl

[DJ Nocker]

1.  What are your three favorite synthpop bands?

2.  What synthpop band do you never want to hear again?

3.  What is your favorite synthpop song of all time?

4.  Do you like the current synthpop scene or the 1980's scene?

5.  Do you wish local clubs played more synthpop and less goth/industrial/ebm/whatever?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1. Depeche Mode

2. Covenant

3. Cesium 137

I havent herd any bands that I can remeber then name of, why remember them if they suck ya know?

I dunno...i love enoy the silence by depeche

I like both scenes

I would like to here more, I think its easier to dance to.

[FarrIL]

1. Old Apoptygma Berzerk, Covenant, ???

2. I cant think of any band I've heard that I didnt like..... oO

3. "Until the End of the World" by Apoptygma Berzerk

4. I'm not old enough to remember the 80s..... so I have to go with Today.

5. Not necessarily play more of Synthpop than Industrial/Goth/EBM but a good mix of the whole lot.

[Scary Guy]

1. Old Ministry, simply for the fact that no one thinks it's Ministry or 8 bit weapon for the VG soundtrack remakes (technically synthpop). Or KMFDM and their synthpop styled songs (props to deadburgerking for saying it first).

2. Nothing is comming to mind, so I'll just go with anything overplayed and overrated.

3. I can't pick just one :(

4. 80's retro all the way, though some of the new new wave is good too.

5. I don't give a shit, I'm the DJ and if I want to hear something it gets played. I try to keep an even mix though.

[Fierce Critter]

1. What are your three favorite synthpop bands?

<--- long exhale a-la Napoleon Dynamite

The only one I can think of that I STRONGLY like that is very obviously synthpop is Depeche Mode. I'm an 80's baby. But the groups that I like the most blended synths with guitars pretty equally. That would include groups like Split Enz, Duran Duran, Devo, Level 42. Bands/artists who I liked but would be hard pressed to include on a top-3 "synthpop" list would include Howard Jones, Thomas Dolby, Kraftwerk, Yaz, Alphaville, Art of Noise, OMD, Talk Talk, Thompson Twins, etc. I just didn't like enough of their songs to say I like them particularly as an artist, I just liked some of their songs.

2. What synthpop band do you never want to hear again?

Well, I liked Chris DeBurgh's "Don't Pay the Ferryman". But near the top of my "most hated songs of all time" is "Lady in Red". I can't think of an entire artist/band I feel quite that strongly about.

3. What is your favorite synthpop song of all time?

M's "Pop Muzak" for strictly sentimental reasons. It's the song that set me on the "New Wave" path, while the rest of my friends went the "Eddie Money" and "Van Halen" direction.

If I were to choose a song from my only named favorite synthpop artist, it would probably be "Home".

4. Do you like the current synthpop scene or the 1980's scene?

I don't know. A lot of what I like is EBM. I have a humongous collection of 80's CD's and MP3's. I have very little of what I could consider "current" synthpop. I guess there's your answer.

5. Do you wish local clubs played more synthpop and less goth/industrial/ebm/whatever?

No. Because when I go to a club, I go to dance. And I can, admittedly, dance much easier to EBM than I can to synthpop.

Of course, it's hard for me to distinguish between the two.

If I was going to a club more for meeting friends, then I'd say "bring on the synthpop" for sure.

[DeadBurgerKing (10)]

I'm probably getting nitpicky but I do differentiate between EBM and synthpop.  Two different things in my opinion, though there might be some crossover.

I don't really consider Electronic to be a synthpop band either.  They use more guitars than synths. But again, I may be being a synthpop snob.

If 'A Different Drum' records wouldn't put it out, it ain't synthpop to me.

to me synthpop is a genre started by early 80's bands like Depeche Mode, Human League, Soft Cell that was pop with synths.  By the mid to late 80's several synthpop bands had become mainstream such as Information Society, The Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Yazoo, Kon Kan.  Depeche Mode had spawned several imitators such as Camouflage, Red Flag and Cause and Effect.  The genre was dead in the 1990's for the most, except for Depeche Mode who became even more popular.  Bands like New Order and Talk Talk made pop music with synths but they were not really pigeonholed into that genre in my view.

Synthpop made a 'comeback' in the late 90's in the underground and groups like Wolfsheim, De/Vision, Iris, Freezepop and today the genre is thriving.  "A Different Drum" is the main source of these bands though 'Tooth and Nail' and 'Plastiq Musiq' also put out alot of underground synthpop stuff.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well...I just got introduced to the synthpop world...so im not all knowing in the area yet...So...i feel kinda stupid now lol

[phee]

Here is another question.... why do people like synthpop? Just curious

[Blackmail]

Here is another question.... why do people like synthpop? Just curious

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Because most synthpop groups place an emphasis on strong melodies, sometimes it gets too cheesy in cases like Erasure, but other times it is great. Depeche Mode has made excellent melodies without being too obvious (some of their early stuff was a bit cheesy i.e. 'just can't get enough').

The other part, for me, is nostalgia. I loved the 80's and it's cool to not only see DM, OMD and New Order still making albums but a whole bunch of new groups pushing the genre forward.

Lastly, it's just pop music with synths and I like synth music to begin with. It's sort of like Depeche Mode is like the beatles, just with synthesizers.

[phee]

Good response...

I like it...

[Fierce Critter]

Because most synthpop groups place an emphasis on strong melodies, sometimes it gets too cheesy in cases like Erasure, but other times it is great.  Depeche Mode has made excellent melodies without being too obvious (some of their early stuff was a bit cheesy i.e. 'just can't get enough').   

The other part, for me, is nostalgia.  I loved the 80's and it's cool to not only see DM, OMD and New Order still making albums but a whole bunch of new groups pushing the genre forward.

Lastly, it's just pop music with synths and I like synth music to begin with.  It's sort of like Depeche Mode is like the beatles, just with synthesizers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

O.k. Let's see if I can get this re-typed and sent before I lose my signal again...

Ditto the melody thing. That's what draws me to all the music I listen to. You'll see very little of things like Industrial in my collection, 'cause it just doesn't satisfy my ear.

And ditto, also, the dislike of early DM. I really couldn't stand them when they were new, and can remember actual instances of sneering at their heavy, heavy use of synths. But from Violator forward, I think they're just brilliant.

But I have to add, I liked pretty much nearly all of the Violator album. But with the rest, I only actually like 2-4 songs tops per album. I picked every one I've got up from yard sales, and really wouldn't spend full price on them 'cause there's just not enough that I like. But it's those 2-4 songs that I'm just nuts about.

LOL at the Erasure reference. Agreed.

Speaking of New Order, borrowed their 2005 album from the library. I didn't like it. But I was never a huge fan of theirs.

[Blackmail]

O.k. Let's see if I can get this re-typed and sent before I lose my signal again...

Ditto the melody thing. That's what draws me to all the music I listen to. You'll see very little of things like Industrial in my collection, 'cause it just doesn't satisfy my ear.

And ditto, also, the dislike of early DM. I really couldn't stand them when they were new, and can remember actual instances of sneering at their heavy, heavy use of synths. But from Violator forward, I think they're just brilliant.

But I have to add, I liked pretty much nearly all of the Violator album. But with the rest, I only actually like 2-4 songs tops per album. I picked every one I've got up from yard sales, and really wouldn't spend full price on them 'cause there's just not enough that I like. But it's those 2-4 songs that I'm just nuts about.

LOL at the Erasure reference. Agreed.

Speaking of New Order, borrowed their 2005 album from the library. I didn't like it. But I was never a huge fan of theirs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, let's dee

Depeche Mode in my book have great albums all the way thru.....Black Celebration, Violator, Ultra, Some Great Reward.....those 4 albums I like pretty much every song on those CD's. The other albums are a mixed bag but genrally good enough to listen to, such as Music For the Masses....I like about half of it but the half I like is good enough to keep putting it on.

New Order's 2005 album 'waiting for the sirens call' is pretty bad, but New Order have not made a good album since 1989. They've been pretty bad since then, but they are in their 50's now. I consider New Order the best band in the world from 1985-1989 though. They are simply one of the most influential bands ever, heavily featured in the PBS documentary 'the history of rock n roll'. Just going thru myspace, almost everyone names them as an influence. Their 3 albums and 1 comp (Substance) from 85-89 were all brilliant.

OMD, I like almost everything they did except for a few years in the mid 80's. I think "Architecture and Morality" is one of the greatest albums ever made. Mojo magazine gave it 5 stars and most electronic music fans have also praised it. During the mid/late 80's they did get a little cheesy. I did like their 90's albums though and they just got back together actually.

De/vision - mixed bag but the stuff I like by them I REALLY like.

Wolfsheim - difficult to judge them. I like Heppner's voice and I like about half their stuff but sometimes he seems to use the same vocal melody on several songs. Plus they sometimes have that cheesy Erasure element ("It's not too late" for example) but they do have some great track as well like "Lovesong" and "Wonderwoll".

Freezepop - Fun. They sings songs about the mall, videogames, hanging out with friends and shopping on Ebay. Catchy too. I like them.

Joy Electric - Hard to judge because Ronnie Martin has his foot in two camps - one he makes cheesy christian songs. On the other hand he does really dark analog music (go to www.myspace.com/joyelectric and listen to the 'Monosynth' for evidence) that is reminiscent of early Soft Cell.

[mallochai]

First off.... I WILL answer this poll. Later. When I'm not totally thinking about something else.

Second.... Monosynth is one of my alltime favorite synthpop songs. At one time, it was my favorite, but I wouldn't say that now. But I'll always love it - not as hot on his other songs.

[Hellheart]

The only synthpop band I frequently listen to is Freezepop, because their lyrics are over-the-top with lots of old references and are just fun in a way that few other bands can match. Outside of that little niche, I have bands from other genres that fit the moods that most Synthpop bands would appeal to. I do listen to Depeche Mode sometimes, but it's rare.

Several EBM bands have incorporated synthpop elements into their songs. The label "futurepop" has been applied to these bands by some, because they aren't synthpop in the original sense of the term. It makes an easier distinction because a comparison between what would be futurepop with what was synthpop would bring up a ton of differences.

As an example, the traditional synthpop bands tended to use clear singing with little distortion, as a counterpoint to the synthesizers. Many futurepop bands use at least some distortion in order to better integrate the vocals with the music. While this may seem to be a minor difference, it factors hugely into the way the song impacts the mind, and its feel.

[Blackmail]

Awesome post, i totally agree that synthpop and futurepop are related but ultimately different genres. I point it out to people but more in a friendly way, i try not to be a snob. I am typing this on my mobile phone in the mens room by the way. I am into freezepoop. Ok sorry, that was pretty bad.

[Fierce Critter]

I am typing this on my mobile phone in the mens room by the way. I am into freezepoop. Ok sorry, that was pretty bad.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I both just died and laughed myself silly.

Y o u a r e i n s a n e.

Don't ever change.

[Hellheart]

I'm nonconfrontational, and tend to be conveying what I've read from other places, so I'm far from sure. It's a combination of what I've read and what I observe...thus the use of "many" instead of a more definitive term ("most" or "all"), and the use of "some," etc.

I know what I've seen or heard. Whether that means I'm right is another point entirely, and whether anyone cares isn't even a point because the answer is always "no"

I am into freezepoop. Ok sorry, that was pretty bad.

Wrong, try again.

[FarrIL]

I like Synthpop because of the melody factor as well.

It makes it easier for a person like me to figure out which notes on the Clarinet the synths are playing.

Seriously, while I agree with Critter and find EBM easier to dance to, I find some melodies in Synthpop more favourable than certain EBM.....

(( Come on, Enjoy the Silence beats about Bomb anyday ))

[Blackmail]

I'm nonconfrontational, and tend to be conveying what I've read from other places, so I'm far from sure. It's a combination of what I've read and what I observe...thus the use of "many" instead of a more definitive term ("most" or "all"), and the use of "some," etc.

I know what I've seen or heard. Whether that means I'm right is another point entirely, and whether anyone cares isn't even a point because the answer is always "no" 

Wrong, try again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed.

Sometimes putting a band into a genre is difficult to do using words, you just kinda know. Future Pop is sort of EBM + Synthpop + Trance.

Like if Nitzer Ebb, Paul Oakenfold and Depeche Mode all got together, it might sound like "I Stand Alone" by Covenant or "Dark Angel" by VNV Nation.

[phee]

Neat thread

[Blackmail]

Well...I just got introduced to the synthpop world...so im not all knowing in the area yet...So...i feel kinda stupid now lol

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wasn't saying anything bad about anything anyone said. You seem to have excellent taste in music!

We've had genre flame wars here in the past, I am totally not trying to do that.