My 3 cents


These dames from the Riot Grrrl movement completely rode the coattails of their male punk forefathers like The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Ramones, Bad Brains, and so forth. They put nothing new on the table except their gender, and even in that aspect they were beaten to the punch by X and Exene Cervenka, Xray Spex, and others. The Riot Grrrls measured a big zero on the music originality meter.

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Nonetheless their music meant a lot in a lot of people's lives. For instance, there was a new video game out this year called "Gone Home" which portrays a girl's youth in the '90s and the music of riot grrl bands are one of the aspects that defines this person's life. Why is the "originality meter" important? Exene Cervenka, Xray Spex, etc. were all older bands. This was the next generation of female punk rockers. They don't have to be original, they're continuing a tradition.

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They don't have to be original, they're continuing a tradition.


Okay, if they're just "continuing tradition" then why did these traditionalists embrace and advertise a whole new descriptor like "riot grrrl" to describe the music and the scene? If you're going to get a new music genre then you damn well ought to put something new on the table.

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You could say that about ANY punk band from the 90s or any era after the 70s/80s punk beginnings. Riot grrrl launched a movement that got women into the scene. That's what's significant about it.

But also, riot grrrl does often have a certain sound. I can always tell when a girl punk band isn't just a punk band but a riot grrrl influenced band. Maybe you can't cuz you weren't that deep into it, but for those of us who were, I can hear the distinction.

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mstwriter-861-462130 wrote:

I can always tell when a girl punk band isn't just a punk band but a riot grrrl influenced band.


What, two chords instead of three?

Most punk bands sucked, and like the Riot Grrrl thing were all style over substance, particularly with regard to the music. But the punk era of the 1970s did produce some great music to complement the style: The Clash, X, The Dead Kennedys, The Jam. They could really play and put something new on the table for a discriminating set of ears. Who is the Billy Zoom of the Riot Grrrl era?

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Don't worry. It's ok if you don't get it.

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Wow! That's so interesting. I had no idea at all that The Ramones had songs about sexual abuse and empowerment. They were social activists like Riot Grrrl? Please give examples of this. What? You don't have any? huh

Fear is the mind killer

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Haha, well said. Do stupid to compare bands because they are from the same genre.

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bikini kill was really more about shock value, but sleater-kinney put forth some fabulous music with an unique aesthetic. sorry, but I don't think you were listening hard enough.

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This!
Sleater Kinney is by a huge margin the better band.
"Dig me out" is an amazing punk song.
Also Carrie Brownstein seems to have less of a stick up her butt than Hannah.

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[deleted]

yikes, that's not very nice.

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So no one should make music because it's already been done (but not said)?
Wow you are an idiot.
Learn what being influenced means.
Snobs like you shouldn't listen to punk rock.

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You need to go to the back and watch the girls go to the front.

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