| SNOTTYNESS... Punk Rock Classic - World Contender - Worth A Listen - Average - Plastic - No Future |
| X-RAY SPEX 'The Anthology' 2XCD (CMDDD369) 2001 Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard, but I think X- Ray Spex should be compulsory audio. Lead singer Poly Styrene in case you didn't already know has the strongest female vocal to erupt from the punk scene since it first kicked up a fuss in the late 70's. Her aural power could literally strip paint, shudder yer speakers from their moorings and rip Consumer Society to shreds in an after thought. X-Ray Spex are a classic illustration oh how diverse punk rock can be with creative songs that were so modern lyrically speaking when they were first penned in '77, it now seems almost prophetic when heard 25 years later. They are all performed on top of a wailing sax that vied for your attention just as much as those chunky rip roaring power chords churned out by Jak Airport did. It all comes together so vividly as they rampaged through their Day-Glo landscape for the next couple of years. What makes Poly even more of an appealing commodity than say Siouxsie or Arri, is the warmth and wit of her composing and singing. Powerful, vulnerable and downright fucking rockin! She wasn't a blueprint ice queen or a screeching vamp; she was an unworldly, futuristic innocence abroad in a wicked world but armed with an equally wicked imagination. Who needs acid tabs when you're living in an Art-I- Ficial universe? Opening with the band's 1977-79 studio output, from the brilliant 'Oh Bondage! Up Yours' single which first introduced us to their synthetic world in '77, onto the essential 'Germ Free Adolescents' album that left them gleaming on the brink of stardom in late 1978, before finally imploding with exhaustion and mental fatigue as their final 45 'Highly Inflammable' burnt out unnoticed and signalled their demise from pop culture at the arse end of '79. But lets concentrate on the 16 tracks that make up their late 70's catalogue which kicks off with their most punkiest chewn of their set the immortal 'Oh Bondage Up Yours'. A 2.46 min. bawl which screamed a defiant yell not heard since Rotten roared on 'Anarchy In The UK' the previous winter. This unruly anthem is set alight by some ingenious sax work of Laura Logic which adds panache to the pounding rhythms and those defiant vocals sealing its fate in punk folklore forever. Hotly pursued by 'Im A Cliche' which is spat out at an even more frenzied pace as Poly hollers "yama yama yama, boredom boredom" to the dog collared Roxy patrons. You knew when you heard it that these kids were x-tra special. And it wasn't long before bidding wars by record companies wanting their scalps was in progress. By the time of the chugging monster 'Day The World Turned Day-Glo' was unleashed X-Ray Spex were on a major label (EMI) and at the peak of their creative prowess. The fluorescent world that lived in Poly Styrene's head was a strange world to behold, as we are driven on a futuristic travelogue of urban guitars and the eccentric saxophone now given to us by Rudi Thomson and providing the band with a truly dynamic signature. Who'd have thought sitting on a Hastings shingle beach could inspire such a new world view. It's almost eclipsed by the brilliant 'Im A Poseur' that really sums up the late 70's exhibitionist punk culture with total suss. 'Identity' however signals the second top 3 hit for the band and its released came about the same time Poly had her nervous breakdown which screamed alarm bells in the X-Ray camp. The song came with some harrowingly appropriate lyrics "Identity is a crisis, can't you see" and a crisis was what Poly was actually living in. One of my fave Spex tracks is the dirty low level grunge of 'Lets Submerge' performed and logged with a resound resignation of the weird and wacky scene that dwelt in subterranean clubs and cellars that this new breed of punks frequented. "If you've got the urge c'mon lets submerge" she lured us with a raunchy kind of self satisfaction. 'Germ Free Adolescents' their 4th single slows things down dramatically as they play out this throbbing waltzer of a track that shimmers with a high tension guitar, pulsating keyboards, moody bass and a poignant sax in the background. It actually sounds like it could've come from the soundtrack of the Barbarella movie, as Poly takes us on the antiseptic mating ritual of young love with all its clinical pitfalls and that encompassing yet crucial compassionate vocal. 'Obsessed With You' greets us with a sax attack reminiscent of sonic dolphin sounds from the deep, and some crunching riffage that can only make all these tracks worth your time. 'Art-I-Ficial' has a really great vocal, spot lighting Poly's phenomenal power in all its bawdy glory. There just seems to be one track after another of roaring punk rock on this album so its gotta be heard. From the anti apathy of 'Plastic Bag' to the defiant skanky rhythms of 'Warrior In Woolworths' it just don't get much better than this! What you also get on this two disc 37 track package is some demo outtakes and instrumentals that features 'Prefabricated Icon' a yet unreleased track, which are all worth hearing. But sadly none of the original Spex demos appear which could only have given us that raw and rare comparison with the by now well produced classics we know and love. On disc two there's a live set from the Roxy club which is a brutally shambolic affair that captures the band at a prototype stage in their career. Plus 3 tracks from Poly's X-Ray Spex reformation album 'Conscientious Consumer' which was released in '95. However by now the band lacks the drive of their original momentum, both vocally and in execution it has to be said. There's a fitting biography in the Day-Glo booklet, plus the lyrics reproduced from the album. So hear Disc 2 just to realise that within 6 months of this live set, they would turn into a contingent of visionaries and a potent force within the punk rock scene forever. PUNK ROCK CLASSIC £7.99 HMV X-RAY SPEX |
| VARIOUS 'Direct Action Animal Rights' (?) CD Autumn 2001 JJ has done himself proud here collecting a massive 21 bands from all over the shop. 'Direct Action Animal Rights' gives us a broad selection and interesting mix to drive this Animal Rights benefit CD home. Veteran ranters Riot/Clone kick off the proceedings in true Anarcho tradition with their by now familiar rants, that are given an extra edge with duel vocals. A band alright in small doses. Kismet HC are getting better each time I hear em! They've really improved on this track 'A Storm In Paradise' which is protest with tunes. Something that's always gonna further the cause, great duel vocals too. JJ plays guitar in the next outfit Active Slaughter. They're the newest North London protest band (about 4 months old) and they hold their own with the Conflict inspired foot n mouth rant 'My Foot In Your Mouth'. Should hear a lot more from these soon! Thank god this ain't all Anarcho by death polemics coz there is some comic input by Cabbage core pioneers Chineapple Punks. They steam in with a cheeky riffy track made good with a clever whistling 'Streets of London' pastiche. Big guns Conflict make their presence felt next with their eagerly awaited 21st century 45 'Now You Put Your Foot In Your Mouth'. They've still got that well thought out trashy guitar riff with a piss taking sneer by Colin applied with lots of clever editing and completed with a choir. Colin's vocals are still angry but not quite so convincing these days, still pretty good though. Crucified Venus have an early 80's feel done from an American perspective on 'Blood Pervert', and comes with a suprisingly good guitar solo. Brilliant Sins come from a totally different angle to any band on this compilation. They literally blew me away here in Wolfenstein. They're without a shadow of doubt the best band on here with their laid back, r'n'b standout track 'Fur Is Dead'. Instead of taking the angry approach that the majority of bands on here have, they come at the animal rights question via a very clever addictive way. They use some very, very smart lyrics all topped off by a singer and guitarist who can really give em a potentially wide screen audience. It's bands like this that could really reach the straight world and charts with their message. Back to reality with a bump, Somebody And The Somethings have a great name but an atrocious out of tune singer on their tinny effort. Great to hear Vice Squad again if only to satisfy my curiosity about their new rock sound. Well all the rumours are true but I gotta admit this is a lot better than I expected. Although Beki's screechy strangled rock vocals ain't half as captivating as her earlier style, she still gives good head as far as animals are concerned. Their track 'Breeders' has a sinister riff and is another highlight. Chester seem fucking lost without their rolly poly ex-singer and come over really fucking wank in comparison. Red Flag 77 seem in strange company on this album but diversity is punks biggest factor, or it should be. Well they give us a good effort on the questioning 'Why Do You Do It'. Dunno?...better ask...Dog On A Rope who sound a lot more lively on 'Let's Get Ronnie' as our favorite child molester gets strung up by his yellow boot laces and kicked in the goolies no doubt! Feedback is one of my punk rock turn on's, so when it ushers in Stress I was all gooey eyed and cooing. But that soon stopped coz all I got was stressed out as that strangled horrible vocal kicked in. No wonder the cunts "screaming bloody murder" coz I'd be committing murder if I had to sit through an album of Stress. Sons Of Liberty come out the traps with the angriest vocals on here, done with an Irish brogue to give it extra panache. However it was all to no avail coz this track suffers from an inferior low-fi production. More Paddies on the tray next, this time from Brum. Dogshit Sandwich' who ain't half as exciting on record as they are on stage go for the jugular on 'Unfit For Human consumption'. Ruidoactivo all the way from the exotic sounding Miranda De Ebro in sunny Spain, give us a manic paced hardcore attack with hilarious duel vocals one of whom reminds me of Speedy Gonzalez "ribaa ribaa!". A Collectiv own a great distorted guitar sound pity the plodding rhythm section ain't too together coz a tighter sound and a less drunk vocal would've give em a lot more impact. Old Scarborough recluses Active Minds introduce us to a promising textbook anarchist intro. I was just about to refrain from some putdown when they go and spoil it all with a late 90's muddy thrashout...get back in ya fucking penthouse scum! Mundomatadero are more Spaniards, all the way from the Basque country (wolf whistle). They are called in from the mountains by a chiming bell as dinner is served on their scary but atmospheric 'Slaughterhouse World' track. However the stylish intro is soon lost as they burst into a basic street punk run-around broadcast with Latino female vocals. 17 Stitches from London sound a lot better in a studio than in a live setting, but still a band who've never really lived up to the name. They do give us well played powerful hardcore with a big American influence on their anti-Blair song 'Thorn In Your Side'. And finally bringing up the rear on this monster collection is Ostracized from South London who spare us any death throes with a 20 second blast of 'McMurder King' tee hee. 'Direct Action Animal Rights' comes with some impressive artwork by Laura Norder and Jake from Active Slaughter plus a sheet telling you some valid reasons why animal testing is bang outta order. The only 2 things missing from this collection was Bug Central and a lyric sheet to really soak up the hate. Still definitely WORTH A LISTEN and your attention! ACTIVE SLAUGHTER |
| BURST 'Conquest: Writhe' (prank045) CD 2001 Now here's a band on the verge of rock theatre. I can imagine Burst who come from...yeah you guessed it Sweden playing in torch lit dungeons, armed in leather and chain mail tunics with long haired bearded conquistadors sword fighting to this soundtrack. Burst are a million miles away from the punk I was dragged up on and they belong in a metal mag like Kerrang! To really justify this 10 tracker I need to grow me hair, discover air guitar, flog my punk and get me Iron Maiden's back catalogue! Coz to me this just ain't punk and is outta place for sure on my grimy phlegm covered old fashioned PUNK ROCK site. I'm sure Ken Prank would've sussed this when he sent it for review, but oh well you can't blame the geezer for trying to open my blinkered double vision. I've read the reviews of 'punk' in metal mags and they nearly always get it wrong so I'll see what damage I can do here. I like the powerful guitars but hate the acoustic dabblings. And that lead vocalist HUH! He even roars when he's supposed to be whispering in that 'heard it all before' manner. So that's basically what this album is all about from my ignorant (but to be frank I'm very glad I am!) perspective. If the roars were adapted to a more snarly, snottier attack then this could be a lot better, but for now this is metal pirouetting on a grand fucking scale and is pretty fuckin 'grim' listening to my tattooed ear. You gotta give Ken Prank his due though, coz he's gone for different genres on his releases but I need something a lot more real to get me jumping around the room. PLASTIC PRANK RECORDS |
| VOICE OF A GENERATION 'Oddville Preservers' (053-2) CD November 2001 Voice Of A Generation from Sweden, are named after Blitz, the early 80's UK mobs debut album, but sadly this eclectic collection of covers, counter covers, perversions and schitzophrenia ain't nothing like Blitz. First of the 7 tracks is the Antiseen cover of 'People Like You' giving a nod to the record label. I liked it's laid-back, sleazy sounding swagger, with the oddly alluring gruff vocal that conjures up visions of a Jim Henderson puppet doing life, and was about the best track of the bunch.. They then change tempo and sound completely, with a couple of high energy Dropkick Murphy's inspired rockers, but without the tunes. 'Baseball bat' was well in your face. The Discharge cover of 'State Violence/State Control' was pretty pointless as the vocals are never gonna get close to the original with a Jack Russell in the recording booth instead of Stoke's number one personification of dread, and the amplification on a low setting is always a no no. How come no-one ever covers 'De-control' by far their best song and a more tempting offer for us all? 'Twentyfourseven' was more like it, but again those strangled vocals and dumbo gang choruses don't really fill me with glee. 'Get Some More' was probably the best original track with lots of raw energy, but with yet another style to contend with, I got bored very easily. I think this band needs to see a shrink and sort out it's personality crisis coz I was REALLY lost and confused by the time Johnny Cash came on? AVERAGE I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records |
