Joe's Jams 08.08.08: My Favorite Techno-Rock Fusion Songs

Posted by Joe Rivett on 08.08.2008

For some reason 1997 featured great techno rock music...

Yes, this is the same Joe Rivett that writes in the Politics Zone. I also have a passion for music. Ask yourself if this has ever happened to you? You want to download music but you feel like you have everything you like. That happened to me so I began to search lists throughout the Internet. They gave me ideas but it bothered me that the lists offered very little if any explanation. In addition, the lists were very generic ie. (Top 10 rap songs…) My hope is to give you some ideas of what to download, stir debate and occasionally create some interesting lists.

Techno is a form of electronic dance music. It is great music but it has its drawbacks. For starters, most techno music does not have lyrics. Thus, a lot of it is repetitive. In the late 90s, techno became popular with people other than 'ravers'. Groups like U2, David Bowie and Madonna used techno to freshen their images. For Madonna it wasn't a big deal as pop music often uses synthesizers and dance beats. However, it was a big change for U2. I was a big fan of what I'll call the techno rock fusion genre. Here are some of my favorite techno-rock fusion songs…



Filter/Crystal Method – Can't You Trip Like I Do

The Spawn Soundtrack was released in 1997 and every track combined a rocker with a techno DJ. For instance, Metallica was paired with DJ Spooky and the Butthole Surfers were paired with Moby. The soundtrack wasn't very good but the first song was Filter's "Can't You Trip Like I Do". The beginning of the song sounds like it belongs in a Matrix movie and the chorus hits you with some heavy metal and fast drum beats. Again, I wouldn't buy the album, (I traded it in) but this song is worth a download.



NIN – Perfect Drug

Pretty much every Nine Inch Nails song combines rock instruments with techno beats and yet I've never been a fan of NIN. The combining is where the term industrial rock comes from. When this song came out I was hooked. "The Perfect Drug" was released in 1997 on the Lost Highway soundtrack. I like the way Trent Reznor feels the song. He sounds like he is addicted to the perfect drug which can be a drug, a girlfriend, or whatever you might be addicted to. The bridge in the song features an awesome drum solo mixed with some wacked out sounds.



David Bowie – I'm Afraid of Americans

I've never been a big fan of David Bowie, (I'm still haunted by his "package pants" in the movie The Labyrinth). But in 1997 (No surprise there) he released a song called "I'm Afraid of Americans." Apparently, he was in Java and saw a McDonalds and got pissed off. The video is cool and it features Trent Reznor stalking Bowie similar to the movie Taxi Driver. I would love to see a video today of GW Bush stalking Saddam. I like the NIN elements mixed with Bowie's voice. The best part of the song is at the end Bowie sings: God is an American.



Yummy!



U2 – Discotheque

Once again we head back to 1997 when U2 decided to catch the techno tidal wave with the release of their album entitled – "Pop". Most U2 die-hards that I know hated the album. I loved it and I even bought the single for this song which contained several versions. The best one to download in my opinion is the 12" version which runs at a length of 5:08 as opposed to the album version. I also could have chosen "Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me" on the Batman Forever soundtrack but I was on a roll with 1997.




Orgy – Blue Monday

Formed in 1997 the band Orgy hit the scene in 1998 with its cover of New Order's "Blue Monday". It is a tough task to take one of the biggest dance hits in UK history but Orgy added a heavy rock edge that made it different but still did justice to the original. Orgy wisely did not mess with the familiar drum beats. Like Trent Reznor, Jay Gordon feels what he is singing which makes the song work. For those who need good music to workout, this song gives you incredible energy when running or lifting weights. Orgy was also helped by the fact that "Blue Monday" was featured in the Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler.



The Killers – Somebody Told Me

I first heard this song listening to Loveline. Dr. Drew and Adam had the Killers on as guests. I had no idea who these guys were. After solving the sexual problems of 13 year olds it was time to plug their single. I went to change the channel. Before I could get there, I was hooked on this song. The guitars in the beginning with the synthesizer coming in catch your attention. Trying to figure out the meaning of the chorus caught my attention even more. The lead singer of the Killers once stated that this song has a lot of sexual energy. I couldn't agree more.

Let me know what I missed.