The Jukebox: Bands Who Have Broken Up

Welcome to The Jukebox, your Friday fix of the best music new and old. Each week, a six-strong panel of Hercules Moments contributors will recommend their favourite tracks for you to soundtrack your weekend to, in a playlist centred around a chosen theme.

This week... BANDS WHO HAVE BROKEN UP


Minor Threat - Straight Edge

In the early 80s, American hardcore punk was at it's peak, but Minor Threat weren't just another hardcore band. They decided not to follow the norm and began promoting, through their music, living without drugs or alcohol. This lifestyle, named 'Straight Edge' (after the song) had it's fair share of followers and haters. Nevertheless, this song is one that will go down in history, as will vocalist Ian MacKaye who went on to establish post-hardcore with Fugazi.
Jake Lawson

Rapids! - Fuses
Imagine for a minute that Tubelord were from Bournemouth and had a singer for whom broken mic stands were simply offcuts from a good night out? In your head right now should be an image of Rapids!, a band who never really got the acclaim they perhaps deserved. They recorded less than half a dozen songs of which Fuses, a staccato, Foals-inspired ditty with a rip-roaring chorus, was the most successful, landing them airplay on XFM and an aural appearance on Soccer AM.
Joe Sutherland

Youthmovies - The Naughtiest Girl Is A Monitor
Youthmovies are the band that first got me listening to all of this post-rock stuff that has been filling my headphones for years. This track is the only single taken from their only full length album from 2008, Good Nature, and is a fantastic intro to Youthmovies. They are a band not afraid of somewhat long and winding tracks (at 4:43 this stands as one of the shorter tracks on the album) and that make an attempt to traverse a wide range of sound and style within each track. Beautiful indie based post rock, and a firm favourite of mine. 
David Lovie

The Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out
People can say what they like about Morrissey, but I have yet to find a lyricist who writes in a way that moves me so much. While his voice is an acquired taste, it suits the music and compliments Johnny Marr's superb lead guitar. The Smiths and Morrissey himself have a strange yet amazing tendency to write songs with sorrowful, meaningful lyrics, set to a strangely upbeat melody. Its the originality within that makes it so special. This particular song is a shining example of what this band did best. I adore it.
Emma Wright

Kartta - Henri Got Cancer
It's the biggest injustice on this earth that Kartta never conquered the world. They are quite possibly the greatest band this country have ever produced. This is one of my favourite songs of all time and it should be yours too. Rob Smith laments, "All our heroes die and we try to remember". Well I remember Kartta and I'll die keeping that name alive!
Tim Courtney


ISIS - In Fiction
Dark, dreamy, epic soundscapes slowly move in with close to perfect guitar tone during this huge song from the American post-rock (also classed as post metal sometimes) band. With three guitars plus a bass, there are many weaving guitar parts, reverbed bass, epic riffs and all with the feel of a massive build up that is indeed pleasing from beginning to end. My favourite part is when the crushing guitar riff comes in at 7:38 - it's heavy but without the crazy screaming that is apparent in so many 'heavy' songs of this current day and age.
Beth Alexander

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