The Clean
The Clean are an influential indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. The Clean soon forged a distinctive and quirky sound, inspired by punk filtered through to the relatively isolated New Zealand. Although they released several chart-topping singles in their native country, The Clean are a little-known cult band outside of New Zealand, although their influence is surprisingly far-reaching. They became a staple of college radio in the 1980s; Stephen Malkmus of Pavement cites them as a major influence Read Full BioThe Clean are an influential indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. The Clean soon forged a distinctive and quirky sound, inspired by punk filtered through to the relatively isolated New Zealand. Although they released several chart-topping singles in their native country, The Clean are a little-known cult band outside of New Zealand, although their influence is surprisingly far-reaching. They became a staple of college radio in the 1980s; Stephen Malkmus of Pavement cites them as a major influence, and the band's droney 80s output is a direct forerunner of bands such as Yo La Tengo and Camper Van Beethoven.
In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
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Anything Could Happen
The Clean Lyrics
Went to a doctor, said I look so hard
And with a smile on his face pointed to a junkyard
Look for an answer in empty doorways
Talk to a dancer, said it's out on the highways
Well come on doctor, won't you gimme a shot
I'm feeling cold boy, feeling hot
Doctor said no boy you gotta learn
First I'll shoot up and then it's your turn
Well anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
To make it worthwhile
Anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
So make it worthwhile
Make the cancellation and I got numb
I've got no motivation to get myself a gun
Look for an answer in empty doorways
Talk to a dancer, said it's out on the highway
Well here I am in the big city
I got no heart and I got no pity
Can't you see I'm on the run
Can't you see I'm not having any fun
Anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
To make it worthwhile
Anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
So make it worthwhile
Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Zach TBD
RIP Hamish Kilgour. Your music will always be a part of this world. Thank you for making it.
Noise Pollution
@stãīñ and I'm allowing you to sit there and go oh I can't be bothered with that
Noise Pollution
@stãīñ it was man's purpose to go for a perfect reality a weightless existence of true strength performing impossible feats that would lead us to another planet where we wouldn't age. Real divinity. Hamish was the pinnacle of this everybody knows it intuitively
Noise Pollution
@stãīñ here's something new I reckon flying nun interfered with our lives hamish killed himself over it they're acting like it's nothing y'know maybe tim finn who works there now or somebody should be asking questions. If you ask me you're all guilty I'm open for discussion. Nobody wants to make an effort anymore because we might be arrested it's been like that for ages too
stãīñ
@Noise Pollution Ngl I'm ignorant to a lot of stuff regarding the clean outside of just listening to the music. What's wrong with Hamish? I'm seeing a lot of comments just dragging him through the mud. What's up?
Noise Pollution
I don't trust hamish
Nils Sveinsson
Rest In Power Hamish
This song is timeless.
Noise Pollution
it was the first album to successfully use the catch them before it starts philosophy 👍and nobody will ever do it better if you ask me 😊
iscout61 kenney
relentless
Peter Vincent
RIP Hamish, thanks for the memories... The Clean were magical and this is just timeless.