Labels

Algiers


Formed: 2009
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Genre: Post Punk, Post Industrial, Art Rock
Years Active: 2012 - present
Core Members: Franklin James Fisher (vocals), Ryan Mahan, Lee Tesche, Matt Tong (drums)
Way of Working: Collaborative
Style: Wide-ranging dystopian protest music

Essential Releases

Dummy

The Underside
of Power (2017)

A rallying cry against injustice.



Formed under the oppressive Georgian sun, Algiers blend noise, gospel, industrial, and electronica to reinvent the region's protest music for a new generation. Heralding from deep inside old confederate territory, where, in 1860, 44% of the population was enslaved, Algiers continue the tradition of their fellow Georgians, such as Otis Redding, but with a darker tone.

Gone are the impassioned pleas for acceptance found on Redding hits such as 'Respect' and in its place is a foreboding wall of noise that innovatively fuses gospel with post-punk to find a flicker of hope in the gloom, albeit a dim one.

The songs are noticeably more dejected than their sixties counterparts, more cynical and more jaded, as if the optimism-tinged marches of the civil rights movement have given way to disillusionment.

In the face of entrenched systemic racism, the struggles of the past are still being fought today, at the ballot-box, in the court room, and in the music of Algiers.


Meaning of the Name

Named after the film 'Battle for Algiers' (1966) which is about Algeria's struggle to break free from French colonial rule.

Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
75

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
80

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
55

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
45

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
60

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
80

Singing

i Technical attributes.
75

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
80

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
60

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
30

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
55

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
90

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
70

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
65

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications

Charts

Critics >>>

  • American Songwriters: The Underside of Power (2017) - Best Albums of the Year #15
  • The Quietus: The Underside of Power (2017) - Best Albums of the Year #24

CONTROVERSY

  • Some people find protest music from a band who tour the world hard to take. They argue the civil rights movement changed society for the better and that people today aren't oppressed in a comparable way to those in the sixties.

  • Some people find Algiers using the language of the civil rights movement to be pretentious and disconnected from reality, especially as the band come from the suburbs and didn't experience the same harsh conditions as people living in poor, inner-city environments.


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