VIDEO'S OF THE WEEK - THE ALARM-Special

[Niels (Mod)]

VOTW - THE ALARM Special

After becomming a huge fan of U2, I tried to find other bands, that had kind of the same sound, I think the movement was called New Wave, but I'm not sure. It was english bands, that appeared around the beginning of the 80's, but it wasn't Heavy Metal, Pop or Punk, or New age or whatever. After U2, the first band I "found" was Simple Minds. I knew them from 1981-82, where my sister (my POP-sister) had bought an album, and I'd taped a video from TV (remember?), but that's another VOTW, perhaps. In 1985 and 1986 U2 didn't release any new albums, so remembering Christmas 1984, where the big "discovery" was U2's The Unforgettable Fire, I was looking for a similar "discovery" and found out, that The band The Alarm, that I knew from a hit or two from the radio/TV, had released a new album, and I bought it or got it as a present, Christmas 1985. But let's see some video's, and I tell you more, but first a wiki-presentation of The Alarm:The Alarm are an Welsh alternative rock/new wave band that formed in Rhyl, North Wales, in 1981. Initially formed as a punk band "The Toilets" under lead singer Mike Peters the band soon embraced rock, displaying marked influences from Welsh language and culture. By opening for acts such as U2 and Bob Dylan, they became a popular alternative rock band of the 1980s, retaining a loyal following to the present day.The Alarm's highest charting single in Britain was 1983's "Sixty Eight Guns", which reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. Their 1984 album, Declaration, which contained "Sixty Eight Guns", peaked at number six in the UK Albums Chart.

THE STAND

From the first EP, they released in 1983. I didn't know them at this time, but I THINK, I saw a picture in a magazine, and though "Holy shit, weird hairdoes!!".In the beginng, they sounded a bit (or a lot) like The Clash, I think.

WHERE WERE YOU HIDING WHEN THE STORM BROKE

I heard "the hit" 68 guns from their debut-album in 1984 on the radio (or TV) and thought, it was okay, but nothing I would buy. Then I heard this track, and it planted a seed in my brain, and is probably the reason why I bought the NEXT album. Good song, I think. Good memories.

STRENTGH

Both "Strength" and "Spirit of 76" are from my first Alarm-album, Strength, released in October 1985. It didn't have the same impact on me as The Unforgettable Fire, but it was pretty close. I loved that album back in 85/86, even though, I thought they were beginning to sound a BIT too much like Bruce Springsteen.

SPIRIT OF 76

Yeah, espeially this one sounds like Springsteen, but I like the song anyway. I don't HATE Springsteen, you know.

PRECENCE OF LOVE

In 1987, The alarm released a new album, and.....I looooved the album. I don't know why, but I was a big fan of this album in late 1987. I remember going to a Bryan Adams-concert in late '87, and I didn't really care, and wished, that it was a Alarm-concert, I had a ticket for. The album hasn't dated very well, but back then, it was one of my favoite albums from 1987.

PRISON WIOTHOUT PRISON BARS (LIVE)

This is form the last Alarm-album, I ever bought, released back in 1989. I was changing my taste in music, and The Alarm was also not making as good records anymore, but.....in the start of the 90's, probably 1992, I suddently heard this song on the radio, and I thought "perhaps this song appear on that album, I bought in 1989, but only heard once or twice"?, and it did, and for a while, I was not an alarm-fan once again, but I was a fan of this song. The studio-version is better than this slow live-version, and again it hasn't dated very well, but at the time, I loooved the song.Just a last note: Between 2011 and 2013, the "leader" and singer Mike Peters was the vocalist for Big Country as well as The Alarm.

[Scott]

Didnt mean to leave this here for the past couple of days, work is nuts and I cant seem to find time lately...  but enough about my sob story...  

THE STAND ...  I think there was an official MTV video for this because I remember the song and MTV pushing it heavy.  But this to me was a one hit wonder, and maybe that an be questioned as well, because while MTV pushed hard, radio didn't, at least not my local radio.  Nor did the clubs oh which I was a frequent attendee at the time.  Didnt get it then and still dont...

WHERE WERE YOU HIDING WHEN THE STORM BROKE ... Seems like American MTV dropped them as well since this rings no bells whatsoever.  I dont hear anything special in this one either.  Maybe its an American thing?

STRENGTH ...  SPIRIT OF 76... I wouldn't be able to hear Springsteen in these because I dont care for his music.  This band seems to be trying to send messages more than crafting songs, their choruses are all flat.

PRECENCE OF LOVE ...  Now this sounds nice.  I like this kind of beat and its nice all the way through.  Easily the best song posted here and the best Ive ever heard The Alarm do

PRISON WITHOUT PRISON BARS (LIVE) ...  Well the hairdos have been fixed!

I think the issue is cultural, this band didnt fair well over here but had some success over there.  It happens in reverse as well. 

[RJhog (Admin)]

Not overly familiar with The Alarm.  I think they had a hit or two didn't they?  But I can't recall what it was.  I have to say that again, I had to listen to this at work, so again I couldn't really watch the videos.  It seems as though a couple of the songs were live.  

Basically, I don't think this feature has made me a fan of The Alarm.  That first track is really...loud.  I really didn't get a good feel for the band with any of this stuff.

Except for the song Strength.  It is very reminiscent of something U2 would have done.  

Also, Spirit Of 76 is a pretty good song.  And it most definitely sounds like Springsteen.  And I thought that before I read what you wrote about it.  By the way, I don't hate Springsteen either, I think he's pretty dang good (or at least he was at one time).

So that's it.  I will add that the guitar playing is pretty interesting.  Another educational experience here on CRB!