The Generation’s “Don’t Know About You” has been newly remastered and features a melodic, guitar-based sound that reflects the music scene in Washington, DC during the mid-1980s. The song is based on a driving guitar rhythm and places a strong focus on catchy phrases, fitting well within the genres of power pop, jangle rock, pop rock and indie/alternative rock. Although it has a punk pop style which gives it a clear and distinct character, its melodic nature ensures that the emphasis remains on memorable musical phrases.
Guitar melodies are at the heart of the song’s attractiveness, the song’s structure being based on a steady and driving rhythm. The fact that The Generation has described its music as “Wowwerpop” shows how the group combines the energy of punk with easy-to-follow pop songwriting. Instead of depending on one style, “Don’t Know About You” brings together a number of different types of guitar music, linking its power-pop and alternative-rock aspects through the use of catchy hooks and a melodic approach.
Recordings, made during the band’s original phase, were kept in a storage room in London for 33 years, from 1991 until they were found in 2024. The version it has now involves a new sound mix and remastering carried out at Abbey Road Studios in London by Geoff Pesche, the mixing being done by John Barrett. Tim Becker is responsible for the drums, Neil Sherman plays bass and Davey X provides additional parts. Production credits are shared by Becker and Neal Augenstein, which is what has brought the original recording to this current release.
“Don’t Know About You” is also included in a more extensive introduction of The Generation’s previously unreleased works. Detour Records is releasing the single together with “When I Tell You” and the album Songs From Our Upbringing, thus allowing listeners to hear music that had remained unreleased for decades. The single features a guitar-driven rhythm, melodic hooks and a punky pop base, reflecting the sound typical of the band’s original period yet benefiting from the current mix and Abbey Road mastering. The single’s release means that a long-overlooked section of The Generation’s musical history is now becoming available again.
