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Graham Catt's Reviews > Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics
Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics
by
by
For 15 minutes in the early 80's, the New Romantics were a "thing". There was the Blitz Club, Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran. No real music fan took them seriously.
In Sweet Dreams, Dylan Jones tries to persuade us that this blip in UK musical history was somehow an all-pervasive "movement" that included anyone who touched a synthesizer or wore eyeliner. Much of the text deals with bands/artists who had nothing to do with the "New Romantics" - OMD, Heaven 17, Simple Minds, Japan, Depeche Mode, Psychedelic Furs etc.
His New Romantic narrative wanders far from Steve Strange and Spandau Ballet, dipping into glam and punk, 80's publishing and Sade (Jones is keen to ensure that we think well of this mid-80's cul-de-sac). It becomes quite infuriating.
For more accurate and honest accounts of this period read Simon Reynolds or Jon Savage.
In Sweet Dreams, Dylan Jones tries to persuade us that this blip in UK musical history was somehow an all-pervasive "movement" that included anyone who touched a synthesizer or wore eyeliner. Much of the text deals with bands/artists who had nothing to do with the "New Romantics" - OMD, Heaven 17, Simple Minds, Japan, Depeche Mode, Psychedelic Furs etc.
His New Romantic narrative wanders far from Steve Strange and Spandau Ballet, dipping into glam and punk, 80's publishing and Sade (Jones is keen to ensure that we think well of this mid-80's cul-de-sac). It becomes quite infuriating.
For more accurate and honest accounts of this period read Simon Reynolds or Jon Savage.
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Reading Progress
July 10, 2023
–
Started Reading
July 10, 2023
– Shelved
July 21, 2023
–
Finished Reading
