So talk turned to Blur in one of the comment threads, which led me to this ridiculous interview featuring Damon Albarn and several members of Pavement. Question the first posed to Mr. Nastanovich: From whence came the band’s peculiar moniker? Bob effortlessly bullshits*
…We found a list of the twenty most pleasant sounding words in the English language, and “Pavement” was amongst them.
This got me thinking about some of my other favorite bands’ handles. Certain band names just have this undeniably classic feel—Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Laszlo Toth—that, though definitely bolstered by their owners’ repute, would likely persist independent of the type/quality/what-have-you of the music those groups went on to produce. I mean seriously, how the hell did it take until the mid-80s for a band to call itself Radiohead—how was there not a Radiohead before there was that Radiohead?
Then there’s the Ned’s Atomic Dustbin’s and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack’s of the world with names so doggedly un-classic they demand attention. How could they not be at least halfway decent if they landed a record deal with a name that stupid? Anyhoo, any other favorite classic or classically ridiculous band names?
* Legend says a random flip through the dictionary is actually to thank/blame.
Radiohead is definitely a classic. I also think Joy Division is an elite as well, but I guess in their case it’s mainly because it encapsulates their sound so well — an emo (yes the bad emo) Joy Division would annoy.
Other Faves: Guided By Voices, Archers of Loaf, and how can you not like a name as straightforward and unabashedly ridiculous as Goblin Cock? They sound exactly as you’d expect (and are actually a side project of Rob Crow, a.k.a. 1/2 of Pinback).
Kinda Dumb: Bran Van 3000 (sorry Scott, I know how attached you are)
Hate: Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah!, Hoobastank
Also, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead is either kinda cool or completely awful. The record store here in town labels their insert …And You Blah Blah Blah. I think I agree with them.
I totally agree on Joy Division. Really their entire image (name, album art, stage presence, etc.) was creepily spot on, as though sent down from some higher place to rally despondents the world over. Speaking of creepy, JD comes from a Nazi term (as does New Order, obviously) — it was actually the name of the brothels created in concentration camps.
Butthole Surfers
The Cure
Hey, just caught that BV3 knock. What the hell, Dude? Anyway, some additions that sprung to mind: The Flaming Lips (like JD, probably falls into that category of perfect for the band in question). The name (and band) Death Cab for Cutie has always rubbed me the wrong way for some reason — just feels very faux quirk. Also, Sufjan Stevens is a pretty cool band name.
Hey I’d be cool with Bran Van. It’s the 3000 that gets me. If it makes you feel better, I’m giving that album a spin right now in studio. Only a few songs in.
Ok, well it took a “bad band names” post to get me to give Bran Van 3000 a chance, but I must admit, it’s pretty good. Just goes to show you how important the name is.