Nicholas Rogers Song Analysis

“Identity”

Released as a single and the re-released on the album Germ Free Adolescents “Identity” was one of X-Ray Spex first songs.  The band formed in 1976 and was alive during the hight of the punk movement.  The song has all the elements of a classic punk song.  The song is fast paced, heavily distorted, the riffs are repetitive, has a heavy bass and they couldn't quite figure out how to play together.  The song also includes a saxophone which adds to the melodic disaster.  As if that isn't enough the singing is terrible.  The overall feel of the song is aggressive and so are the lyrics, which talk about smashing mirrors and slitting wrists.  The band name is also somewhat punk rock with the noticeable X’s and the idea of x-ray glasses.  The album cover is no different now different and plays along nicely with the sarcastic album title Germ Free Adolescents.  The cover has bright colors and is in your face.  It also has each member of the band contained inside their individual test tube.  The bad was formed in the height of the punk rock movement and its shown in their music.  THe song is violent, aggressive and in your face. It is punk rock

“Ceremony”

Written in 1980 by Joy Division “Ceremony” was not released until 1981 as a single under New Order on Factory Records.  After the death of Ian Curtis the remaining band members created New Order and eventually added Gillian Gilbert.  Compared to the music made by Joy Division and other songs by New Order this song is more punk rock.  Compared to the punk music created during the punk movement in ‘77 it is more post punk.  The song has a moderately fast paced tempo but is by by no standards as fast as traditional punk however, some of the same techniques were used in creating the song.  Although its long then most punk rock songs at4:25 it still contains a repetitive riff throughout and mild distortion.  The lyrics are also hard to hear as if they are being muffled, and the singing isn't exactly on key.  Even though it has these punk rock qualities, the over feel of the song is up beat.  Its not aggressive or in your face, and the lyrics are on a more personal level, rather than a more outspoken general level.  The name New Order is carried over from Joy Division, both of which play off of a Nazi/Hitler theme.  The album cover does not even remotely resemble anything punk rock.  It is very generic looking containing only the song name, the band name, and a blue stripe down the middle.  “Ceremony” still has roots in punk rock and you can tell by the basic sound of the guitar, drums, heavy bass and singing but the lyrics and overall feel of the song lean towards something else putting this song in the post punk category.

“Just Friends”

This song was released in under Cattle Company records in 1982 by Dogmatic Element.  The band formed in 1980, the start of the post punk era, and the music shows it.  The song starts out slow but when it picks up it shares many similarities with “Ceremony”.  The song has a heavy bass line that leads the song, followed by a repetitive guitar riff and mild distortion.  The song give off a neutral vibe.  It does not come off as aggressive or in your face like traditional punk, but it does not necessarily have an up beat feel to it.  The lyrics are personal as well and just like in “Ceremony” the singing is out of key and the singers voice is slightly muffled.  The word dogmatic means to make a statement based off of assumptions and no real proof, which relates back to the punk rock attitude of we don't care we’ll say what we want which is an appropriate use for the name of a punk band.  The album cover is more abstract if anything.  It does not stand out and its not in your face but it does leave those looking at it questioning what it is.  The song contains key elements of a punk song but juts like “Ceremony” it has the overall feel of post punk.