A musical query

[mizarchivist]

Wex and I were having a musical cataloging discussion and the question came up: what would be the current appropriate category for Sisters of Mercy? I would put SoM in with whatever one would call Peter Murphy, but "goth rock" just doesn't seem to work, because he predates the use of the word Goth.
I do not listen to SoM enough to have a real grasp of this. My ex listened to them all the time (iirc) and would be an ideal person to ask, but that would be ... inadviseable. (Samurai, if there's a natural way to discuss it, feel free to ask for my sake :)
If Isabelluna is out there this week and listening, I expect she'd know the answer but the rest of ya'll who are interested in such things feel free to chime in. Curious Minds want to know.

Comments

[eac.livejournal.com]

Goth Rock would be where I would put them, too, though I imagine that Andrew Eldritch would froth at the mouth about that...

[drwex]

What wouldn't Eldritch froth about?

[eac.livejournal.com]

*grin*

He does have a talent for frothing, doesn't he?

[isabelluna.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with eac on this one. Sisters of Mercy are Goth. He can deal with it. That's where his fan base originated.

[mizarchivist]

You are my preferred authority on such things, so I can dig it. Thanks!

[trystero.livejournal.com]

Despite the synths and the textured guitars (on the earlier records, anyway) and the Panzer-metalle guitars (on the later records) and the drum machine... they're just rock 'n' roll. (Uh, baby.)  :-)

Or, if I were really pressed for something more specific, "gloomy post-punk".

[samuraizergling.livejournal.com]

Well, seeing as how the Sisters themselves don't seem to know...

"This is the official site of The Sisters Of Mercy.

We are a rock'n'roll band. And a pop band. And an industrial groove machine.
And intellectual love gods in our spare time.

We make records, sometimes.
We play concerts, sometimes. "

:)

P.S. If I can manage it, I'll ask.

[mizarchivist]

While discussing this on the way to dinner with Fubar last night, he insisted that just because they pre-date the term "goth rock" doesn't mean they're not, and sited that the Seattle (mostly) boys were still "alternative" or "grunge" even before we called 'em that.
Fine, fine- gloomy post-punk is probably where I was going with all this anyway- thanks, Trystero

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

I'm with fubar on this one. Bands like Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, and Kiss predate the term "metal", but that's what they are. Why not call Sisters of Mercy "goth"?

[mizarchivist]

alright, alright- I'm sold :)