VIvisectVI is definitely their greatest. Some would disagree (many find it too abrasive) and probably go with Too Dark Park, which seems to be a favourite among hardcore fans.
Don’t get Last Rites or The Process. The former will send you to sleep with its lack of cohesion and directionless meandering. The Process is way too uneven - doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be or where it should go.
Anyway best Skinny Puppy:
VIVIsectVI
Bites/Remission
Mind:The Perpetual Intercourse
Rabies
GWOTR
Earlier Human League stuff was a little different.
Yeah, I like all of those old songs. Thanks for the video links…I don’t think I’ve ever seen these videos before (I love all the shots of the old analog gear). Songs such as “Empire State Human” make me wonder if this material was an influence for SP during the Bites & Remission era.
1002
Probably a good bit of the old Sheffield stuff from the late 70s and very early 80s–Human League (pre split), Cabaret Voltaire (pre-funk), and Throbbing Gristle (pre-1980) inspired SP. I also think there’s some Nurse With Wound influence there in some of the ambient tracks on Bites. I think SP’s timing was perfect-early enough to not be considered one of the late 80s/early 90s “me too” acts but having been around long enough (and on the other side of the Atlantic!) to soak up all of the influences from the previous decade in Europe.
Back on to Human League for a bit: You might want to check out the remastered rereleases that came out a couple of years ago. The sound quality and bonus tracks are very nice. There was also a nice collection of rarities from the Future and very early League stuff called “The Golden Hour of the Future” that shouldn’t be missed if you are a die hard completionist. As science-fictiony and Dr. Who inspired as anything from that era this side of Tubeway Army. I never really cared for all of the League’s chart topping material that was just Phil & the girls but damn, their most recent album (Secrets, '01) is an extremely well produced piece of techno pop that was totally slept on. It has some groovy instrumental tracks on it too.
IMO, the HL’s drastic stylistic departure from the first two albums was more distressing than Al changing gears from WS to Twitch. The HL early/mid 80s output isn’t bad pop fodder until you listen to Travelogue & Reproduction and realize how relevant they still sound, especially in comparison to the poppier stuff!