For this week's top ten, please come visit The Big Takeover!
Thanks to Chris over at the Small Takeover (no relation) for always reminding me to re-listen to The Goops, whom I ignored back in the mid-90's. They put out two albums (one on NYHC label, Blackout Records, one on Warner Bros.) that aimed for a sorta Blondie-MC5 hybrid and came off like a sister band to Seattle's The Gits (or the East Bay's Tilt). The Goops were, very loosely, part of an early 90's punk revival in New York that emphasized the sleazy-yet-poppy side of punk (see also, the Devil Dogs, DGeneration, NY Loose and maybe The Vacant Lot).
While the word sleazy and New York are practically synonyms in some people's lexicons, one must be careful describing a female-fronted band that way. However, this sloppy performance below certainly suggest lead singer, Eleanor Whitledge to be more brazenly exhibitionistic than their album covers and publicity shots suggest:
So while the band pummeled they way though a pretty good repertoire, their greatest fame probably came from this single's B-side, a cover of The Foundation's "Build Me Up Buttercup" that Kevin Smith used for the movie Mallrats:
On The Road With The Goops 7" link (which includes the extra-sleazy definitely NSFW eight page comic that came with the record) is in the comments
Speaking of comments, pray tell what do you make of Eleanor Whitelage and her Goops?
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Support the bandGoops' Myspace
Elanor's MySpace
Amazon
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AW C'MON SOMETHING IN THAT POST IS COMMENT-WORTHY ISN'T IT?
http://www.mediafire.com/?iud4l2ouos8i9io
I only saw them once when they swung through Dallas, and frankly I cannot remember specifics other than they singer's presence. She was considerably more clothed than in the video clip but she had a very aggressive stage presence. Not in a violent of hostile way, but she definitely made you notice her. I wish her voice came through better live, at least when I saw them, as I think she has an equally captivating voice that pulls the listener in and keeps them. Just thinking about the show has me smiling now many years later.
ReplyDeleteThe debut seems to be an album I listen to only when I get asked to re-up it and then I remember just how much I enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the linkage. Earlier in the year Jack Rabid flicked me an email saying that he liked the blog. I think Matthew Berlyant pointed him towards it.
Covertido
ReplyDeleteExcellent to hear from someone who actually saw them and can add to what we know. Thanks, man.
Chris
Thanks for championing the band and glad to hear JR liked your blog!
I got turned on to The Goops in the early/mid 90's, when most of what passed for punk, or rock and roll, seemed watered down and contrived. While The Goops broke no new ground they were a nice pleasantry to my ears. I've got the 7" with the comic book and the second album on vinyl. Thanks for reminding me about them, now I'm going to go home and listen to Where The Wild Things Are, my favorite track of thiers.
ReplyDeleteOllie
ReplyDeleteAs we surely both agree, breaking new ground is not necessary to great music!
Awesome page! Good selection of vids. Nice to see we're not totally forgotten. Lord knows we had fun, (that comic is actually based on two weekend road trips we made Providence - Boss Fuel forever! - and is probably 90% true).
ReplyDelete-Brad (Goop) Worrell
Brad
ReplyDeleteHey not letting people forget about good bands is what we're all about here.
Glad you enjoyed your post here - it was going to be just a little item but the more I researched the better it got!
Sooner or later we'll post some more Goops and I'll add your reminiscences.
P.S. If there's any more Goops related things to link to, please let me know.
Saw the Goops open for Rancid in 1994 in Indianapolis. It was a good time for a punk revival, and they were awesome.
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