TS The Godz vs. Amon Duul

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So which group of blithering musical incompetents producing a godawful racket fit to wake the dead do you prefer? I think I'd have to go for The Godz because they actually wrote some not bad songs, had more of a sense of humour and were so totally and utterly musically inept that they occasionally stumbled over (melted) moments of genius - Amon Duul's ineptitude seemed more due to their drug intake than the real thing. In their defence however, Amon Duul had better haircuts and looked cool, and the more musically competent they became the more interesting they became - unlike The Godz who just got dull once they could play.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 11 November 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

The Godz by a mile. I couldn't contribute to the Can/Kraftwerk/Neu thread as I love them all too much to choose, but man, something in me just really doesn't *get* Amon Duul. I'd like to like them, but I can't.

― emil.y (emil.y), Thursday, 11 November 2004 12:52 (twenty-one years ago)

having just heard yeti, amon duul by a mile.

― doomie x, Thursday, 11 November 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

No no no, that's Amon Duul II - I mean Amon Duul!!!!!!!!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 11 November 2004 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

düüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüül

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 11 November 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Honestly, I've always been partial to Amon Düül--even prefer them to Amon Düül 2. The Godz were basically unlistenable for me whereas the drug-induced freak-outs of Amon Düül were at least musically interesting, especially when they unconsciously cop Stones and Beatles riffs while those bongos go berserk. When Amon Düül made a proper album ("Paradieswarts Düül), it's actually quite good if you can ignore the horrendous lyrics on a couple of the tracks.
This is a good article on why should like Amon Düül: http://www.furious.com/perfect/amonduul.html
Don't fear the bongos, embrace them.

― William Selman, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

well, o.k., amon duul is dull but amon duul II is well worth yr time and love and money. especially yeti. i've yet to hear a better freak out album then that!

― doomie x, Thursday, 11 November 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't get 'yeti'.. totally bores me. 'psychedelic underground' is awesome though, so are the godz

― mattp, Friday, 12 November 2004 03:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Godz II is my alltime favorite album.

― Ian John50n (orion), Friday, 12 November 2004 03:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I only know of the Godz because people have often compared one of my bands to sounding like them. We were going to cover "Elevem" at one time, hasn't happened yet.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Friday, 12 November 2004 03:18 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

...has it happened yet? The Godz are great.

― seahorse genius (seahorse genius), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Amon Duul had better haircuts"

The Godz had great bangs on the cover of Godz 2.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Amon Duul are GODZ! TS: Fugs v. Faust.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Ian, Godz 2 is one of my favorite albums ever, too.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:47 (twenty-one years ago)

i never thought the godz were blithering musical incompetents. or amon duul.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually think they had a lot of songwriting talent. You can hear it on the song-oriented stuff on the three albums from the sixties, but maybe people don't notice it so much or they forget. It's more overtly apparent on Godzundheit and Jim McCarthy's solo album Alien.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

You have NOT, I repeat, you have NOT heard blithering incompetence until you have heard THIS record:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=306&item=4712304217&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:20 (twenty-one years ago)

So, yeah, the answer to this question:

"So which group of blithering musical incompetents producing a godawful racket fit to wake the dead do you prefer?"

Womb, all the way. well, maybe not prefer, but you know, i'm kinda in awe of it.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Amon Duul is super and takes it by a country mile. The Godz are OK but I don't think I'm ever really going to listen to their stuff of my own choosing, plus they never made anything as flat-out freaked-sounding as "Psychedelic Underground" or as lovely as "Paradieswarts Duul."

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

"White Cat Heat" and "New Song" and "ABC" aren't as "freaked-sounding?"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"New Song" is genius. Totally GEEENIUS.

― Ian John50n (orion), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck that shit you should listen to Zweistein's "trip out/flip out/meditation" instead. It makes the godz and ad1 sound like fucking return to forever by comparison. 1 side (it's a triple album) is mainly just a radio tuned between 2 stations.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 7 April 2005 07:30 (twenty-one years ago)

GODZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― jack cole (jackcole), Thursday, 7 April 2005 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"White Cat Heat" and "New Song" and "ABC" aren't as "freaked-sounding?"

Nope (well not to me at least). Not like, say, "Ein Wunderhubsches Madchen Traumt von Sandosa." Rather, perhaps it's more appropriate to say that the Godz stuff is certainly really out, but in a way that seems more commonplace than the early AD stuff, which seems to me almost totally unrelatable in a really fascinating way. This is why I like AD more. That may be more cultural in origin - I'm much more familiar with New Yawk avant garde shtick than I am with weirded out communal hippie Germans. And when it gets to the other side of the equation, AD did much more beautiful stuff than the Godz ever could.

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

AD did much more beautiful stuff than the Godz ever could.

I don't know if I buy this. "Na Na Naa"?

― Ian John50n (orion), Thursday, 7 April 2005 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

He's probably talking about the Paradieswarts Duul album, which IS quite beautiful. But yeah, "Like a Sparrow" and "Take the Time" and stuff are, too.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 7 April 2005 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

"Love is peace/Freedom is harmony"

vs.

"All I wanna doo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo...IS LAY IN THE SUN!!!"
"We are poor little lambs who have lost our way. BAA! BAA! BAA!"
"Permanent green light means you can go on forever/Permanent green light means you can go on and on"

GODZ WIN

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 7 April 2005 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Got to disagree there, that "Love Is Peace" song is bootiful, I find myself singing it all the time - pity about all the crap "avant garde" bits at the end tho.

― Dadrock, Meshach and Abednego (Dada), Friday, 8 April 2005 08:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Mr. Ellison has illustrated the point nicely. I couldn't agree with him more. I mean, Paradieswarts Duul is a nice album, but i have to be in the mood -- I'm alwas in the mood for the Godz.

― jack cole (jackcole), Friday, 8 April 2005 08:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I did used to have "Contact High with the Godz", orig pressing on ESP disc as well. Its value as an artifact was far greater than its value as music, I though. The song titles "na na na", "squeak" "?" et al, and the sleeve notes were pretty funny. However, I've been to stoner parties in the dim and distant past where the acoustic guitar and bongoes were passed around, and it souded much the same, IE terrible. AD1s albums are pretty much terrible as well, apart from "Paradieswarts Duul" which I'll have to see if I can get on CD. So, I think I'll pick Amon Duul.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Friday, 8 April 2005 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

nine months pass...

i like this quote about Godz' Third Testament written by some guy on rateyourmusic.com:

Overlooked, and better than the Jefferson Airplane!

sooo OTM.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 03:11 (twenty years ago)

even when Godz became "good", they kinda prototyped gentle Ween ballads, which is better than nothing... (maybe)

I like both, but ultimately Godz here.. I'd want to revisit their albums, whereas the Amon Duul records don't really get me risen, as interesting as they are.. (I'd take the first three Amon Duul II records over everything by the former two, though.)

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:16 (twenty years ago)

Disaster, Psychedelic Underground and Paradiseeysuryeusts Duul are all good album.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:21 (twenty years ago)

it's sad to compare them to ween.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:37 (twenty years ago)

well, I'm talking Godz Bless California here, though...

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:47 (twenty years ago)

huh, i don't even now that one. the latest one i have is "godzheundheit," which sounds like the dead.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:47 (twenty years ago)

lemme borrow godzheundheit, joel!

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:48 (twenty years ago)

you should sell me a lot of yer records. i will give you more than a store will! i will pay nearly what the store would re-price it at!

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:49 (twenty years ago)

Godzhundheit is the fourth one which was the band's last good gasp, mainly just for the older outtake "The Whiffenspoof Song"..

the rest of Godzhundheit is just later more pedestrian stuff, like a cover of "Jumping Jack Flash" that's pretty straight forward and not really too rewarding.

Alien is basically a Jim McCarthy solo album.. it's nice, but he ain't Tom Rapp.

Godz Bless California is even less inspired... Jim leaves, Paul Thornton and friends take over.. no remnants of even Third Testament type vibes remain at this point.. although there's still some humor... (hence the Ween comment)

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:52 (twenty years ago)

harumph. i guess it's too much to ask for another three excellent godz albums.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:53 (twenty years ago)

You can thank Best Buy for widely distributing the original ZYX CD issues of all six of these albums in the 90s, btw. No other store, indie or chain, seemed to care for some reason.

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:54 (twenty years ago)

i think i have "alien," too. i don't think i'm selling anything soon, ian, but i'll let you know.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:54 (twenty years ago)

Godzundheit is fucking great and you will love it, Ian. They were all playing w/ different bands then and Stollman suggested they do it as a Godz record, taking turns on songs. The first three songs are Kessler, McCarthy, and then Thornton and they're all knockouts. Side two has a good Hank Williams song with a wailing Paul Thornton vocal, a version of "Jumping Jack Flash" that's like the version of "You Won't See Me" on Godz 2, their Godz 2 era single A-side "Whiffenspoof Song" (possibly the greatest thing they ever did), and another Thornton ballad.

They were still punks. If their politics are simplistic, they're also presented w/ humor and a bit of a 'fuck you'. And if you really dig the Godz, it ain't just them making a racket and their silliness, but their musicality and the fact that they were Beatles and Dylan freaks like everyone else.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:56 (twenty years ago)

*the older outtake "The Whiffenspoof Song"*

ain't an outtake. was a 45 A-side.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 04:58 (twenty years ago)

WHO IS THE NERDIEST, LET'S FIND OUT!

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:00 (twenty years ago)

I only point it out because it was so good that they put it out as a single.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:01 (twenty years ago)

Heavens! I rather be the NEDDIEST. ;-) I'll defer to Tim here on this one, as I just know that song from Godzhundheit.. and yes, it is one of their greatest songs.

There was that Godz tribute album feat. Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Quickspace (I think), and others, but also (again, I think) featured Kessler, who decided to come back and cameo on his own tribute. I never heard that track, though.

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:02 (twenty years ago)

Is this another band that people don't like because they're silly? Maybe if they were on Rough Trade Records people would like them more?

; )

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:03 (twenty years ago)

omg stence winked lol ;)

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:03 (twenty years ago)

I'm gonna ysi you guys Larry's "Godz Mix '96" from that tribute album. Hang tight.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:04 (twenty years ago)

xpost only at tim, not at you, donut.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:04 (twenty years ago)

Godzundheit blows, man, I'm sorry. That cover of "Jumping Jack Flash" just bums me out. I bought the ZYX cd back in the day to get the "Whiffenspoof Song" though, of course, after reading St. Lester's raves. and it *is* great, but it turns it out it isn't even the same version that was on the single.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:07 (twenty years ago)

i only like the one song, mostly, except i can't remember the damn name.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:09 (twenty years ago)

that's what happens when you finally get paid to write rock criticism, kids.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:09 (twenty years ago)

IAN WILL BE THE JUDGE.

Larry Kessler's "Godz Mix '96"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:20 (twenty years ago)

One thing to note about Godzundheit is that Paul Thornton has a song called "Give a Damn" on it and on the back cover photo HE IS SEEN WEARING A TEE-SHIRT WITH 'GIVE A DAMN' PRINTED ON IT.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:23 (twenty years ago)

Whiffenspoof Song

http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0BSNX9CHPM3D9059TVY4MGNLJP

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:44 (twenty years ago)

I remember that being really bad. I'm not going to download it to find out. The tribute album was cool though. I still have it. Quickspace and Stereolab and Thurston etc...

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:46 (twenty years ago)

eww "tribute album"

― HAKKEBOFFER (eman), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:51 (twenty years ago)

ok, Tim's YSI was meant as a joke, right?

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 05:55 (twenty years ago)

No, that's Larry. Dan, I was wondering if you'd like it!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 06:15 (twenty years ago)

btw, above I'm referring to the Larry Kessler 96 mix, not the Whiffenspoof Song. But yeah, the tribute album was good! I have to dig it out but I remember Quickspace Supersport being great. But I always liked them.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 14:24 (twenty years ago)

Man, listen to "In the Search of an Audience" on McCarthy's Alien album and tell me that's not great ...

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:02 (twenty years ago)

the song i like is "dirty windows," on godzheundheit.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:04 (twenty years ago)

yeah, that's killer

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:14 (twenty years ago)

but not the killers, hardeharhar.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:15 (twenty years ago)

*posts pictures of brandon flowers again*

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:17 (twenty years ago)

i am gonna download those YSI's later. also, joel lent me godzheundheit today.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:37 (twenty years ago)

Need hype for your unchampioned post-peak musical career?

Tim Ellison's your man

1-888-555-TSON

That's 1-888-555-TSON

Call Tim Ellison today for your quote. And give your regards to Broadstreet. ;-)

― Dom iNut (donut), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 21:38 (twenty years ago)

If that song had been written and performed by The Band, it would be considered one of the best songs they ever did.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 12 January 2006 02:14 (twenty years ago)

From "Take the Time" (Godzundheit):

What makes you think
That you have the power to swim a sink?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 13 January 2006 05:29 (twenty years ago)

Aren't Paul and Linda McCartney on one of the later Godz albums? With her vocal talent, Linda could certainly have been a God(z).

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Friday, 13 January 2006 10:18 (twenty years ago)

Vladimir Lenin is, too.

― Dom iNut (donut), Friday, 13 January 2006 16:21 (twenty years ago)

pass on this side = suck.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Friday, 13 January 2006 16:46 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

ALL I WANNA DOOOOOOOOOO
IS LAY IN THE SUN.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Saturday, 11 March 2006 15:25 (twenty years ago)

Is this another band that people don't like because they're silly?

that was definitely my first impression. but now i want to play it for my friends! thankx ILM!

― killy (baby lenin pin), Saturday, 11 March 2006 18:10 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

Whoa - Kessler, Thornton, McCarthy!

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/6115/godzimage/godz2006.jpg

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 05:19 (nineteen years ago)

From here.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 05:30 (nineteen years ago)

― señor citizen (eman), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 11:23 (nineteen years ago)

lollerskates

― disappointing goth fest line-up (orion), Thursday, 7 September 2006 02:24 (nineteen years ago)

Such a great photo.

― the dow nut industrial average dead joe mama besser (donut), Thursday, 7 September 2006 02:41 (nineteen years ago)

five months pass...

New Godz recordings:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/6115/godznew0.htm

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 8 February 2007 23:25 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

The Godz, if only for the mind-warping childlike genius of the first two records.

Amon Duul only compares fairly to Godz if you completely exclude Amon Duul II, which I would anyway cuz I'm not generally thrilled by prog nearly as much as I am by psychedelic improv racket.

― ImprovSpirit, Friday, 30 April 2010 20:23 (sixteen years ago)

Godz, for this amazing lyric from 'Crusade':

'And since that day ten years have passed
the starving dog is dead now
the dog is dead nowwww...'

― International Harvester Of Eyes (Jon Lewis), Friday, 30 April 2010 22:03 (sixteen years ago)

Oh yeah! The Godz lyrics could be most entertaining, often stream-of-consciousness lunacy. I'm hoping to one day translate 'White Cat Heat.'

― ImprovSpirit, Monday, 3 May 2010 18:24 (sixteen years ago)

Godz, for this amazing lyric from 'Crusade':

'And since that day ten years have passed
the starving dog is dead now
the dog is dead nowwww...'

... errrrrrrr.... this, in fact the whole lyric, is from Brecht isn't it?

― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 13:00 (sixteen years ago)

It is? Tell me more!

― International Harvester Of Eyes (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 15:55 (sixteen years ago)

It's from the poem, "The Children's Crusade"

― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:06 (sixteen years ago)

Damn that was my favorite Godz lyric! Another reason to like Brecht. Was that ever set by any of his usual collaborators, Weill, Eisler, whomever?

― International Harvester Of Eyes (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:21 (sixteen years ago)

By Benjamin Britten apparently!

http://assets.sheetmusicplus.com/product/Look-Inside/covers/5013161.jpg

― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:25 (sixteen years ago)

And also by some guy called Ralf Gawlick:

http://artsake.massculturalcouncil.org/blog/artsake/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/kinderkreuzzug.jpg

― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:28 (sixteen years ago)

Ahem... Krazy Klaus does it on here!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXGxfLeEyEg/SYcJESYJFyI/AAAAAAAAAXI/gHjCD70txEo/s320/Cover.jpg

― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:30 (sixteen years ago)

Crusade catches a lot of flack even from Godz fans, but I've always enjoyed it tremendously. Now there is yet another positve connection to make. Thanks!

― ImprovSpirit, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:31 (sixteen years ago)

Jesus how do i not have the Britten piece? That must be one of the only major works of his i don't own/haven't heard. Off to eMusic...

― International Harvester Of Eyes (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 16:48 (sixteen years ago)

fifteen years pass...

Great primitive pre-Godz Thornton side from '65!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCmCFa9oK3U

― timellison, Saturday, 25 October 2025 23:44 (seven months ago)

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