| THE BRIEFS 'Platinum Rats' (Damaged Good Records) CD April 2019 Did anyone recall the rat on the cover of the Briefs farewell dvd release 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' back in 2007, coz its miraculously reappeared here in a slightly larger form. Not sure if thats an ominous sign or what? That dvd was probably the icing on the cake of the Briefs career and a fond but tantalising farewell, coz the band then went on a major hiatus. After some teasing minor success with Stevie E. Nix and Kicks offshoot the Cute Lepars, we fast forward another 12 years and the Briefs have reformed Yeeee Haaaaaa! Yep, they're touring and back in the shades, drainpipes and peroxide flair, which got the punk grapevine salivating last year, but what was an even more exciting prospect was they're promoting a new album! So there must be a god up there? And it was unleashed on Good Friday so praise da lord there is a God! This was a real second coming for poor and weird jerks like meself, who could barely contain ourselves to rush out and buy the fucker! They had left us with an OK album 'Steal Yer Heart' with two standout tracks back in 2005. So excitedly I was anticipating a rallying comeback set. A record we could all brag about to the younger punks and reinforce why the Briefs were the best punk outfit on the planet back in the early noughties. This brand spanking new album called 'Platinum Rats' even sounded good on paper. So as I slot it in the Cd player and contemplate all the positive reports in the punk grapevine, where even zines like Fear And Loathing done a big piece with the band and promised they were back to their very best! I have now played the album numerous times over a week anticipating it would suddenly grow on me like a lotta of their classic tracks done in the past.... but I'm agrieved to say no, it just don't live up to the hype or leave me in awe. In fact its one big anti climax! What you do get is 12 very average tracks compared to the Briefs usual high standards. And i mean not one standout track out the bunch does it. To be generous 'Shes The Rat' comes closest with its off kilter guitar solo and the 'Kids Laugh At You' off the single had its moments which explains why they were 45 tasters, but even these were a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, you still get the Briefs in all their pumped up zany quirky glory, but its just a very average Briefs release. We get no major hooks, no snot drenched anthems, no killer tunes to speak of. In fact I'm looking very hard for excuses! They have all been out on different continents doing their own stuff since we last heard them in a recording studio. So maybe thats one reason this don't quite gel? Or maybe they're missing the input of Lance Romance? I dunno? I think even Damaged Goods must be a little disappointed with the overall outcome. You'd have put money on the band producing one classic after so long away, but this albums probably their poorest to date! Even the album cover looks a little rushed, no lyrics just one live black n white shot and a American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association (AFRMA) sticker, so maybe its just a promo for their latest chosen cause? Perhaps we will just have to settle for the bands live set, which will undoubtedly be salvaged by their hits presence, because I'm afraid none of these tracks will be called out for on future tours or encores, and to be frank 'Platinum Rats' don't do a Briefs comeback justice! AVERAGE! THE BRIEFS |
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| HEADSTICKS 'Kept In The Dark' (STP Records) CD March 1st 2019 First I'd heard of the Headsticks who hail from the Potteries. They have been around since 2012. My ignorance maybe due to their 'folk punk roots revolution' tag. Which usually sends alarm bells ringing on my audio Richter scale and for all the wrong reasons. I was half expecting acoustic dope soaked bollox or even hallucinogenic meandering, a fear brought on by the magic mushroom sleeve artwork. But no, not one ounce of baccy in sight or even a dog on a rope pissing on our creepers. What they do offer us on this stylish looking (STP records) presented platter, (including a 32 page lyric booklet) is a heavy dose of nifty tunes rattled off from these highly gifted troubadours (beards included). You can't pin down their sound, as we are treated to a whole gamut of rhythms and styles on this 16 track release. But not enough variation that you to loose your focus for too long. The Headsticks sure know a good tune when they create one, and present it with subtle ingenuity and a decent production. Another bonus is their very English sound, which I personally like a lot. Not a sniff of Americana or even a one dimensional grunt or growl that most punk vocalists go for these days. Vocalist Andrew Tranter gives us a 21st century croon, with an almost balladeer soar, thats armed with enough punk grit to keep you interested. He peddles out some interesting asides, on life, war, love and the environment amongst other topics. In a strange kinda way his delivery reminds me of big Al from Cult Maniax infamy, but in a sort of campy thespian way. It must be a folk thing he's learnt to deliver and to project vocally. Which really puts over the meaning without just pure raw amplification angst. You can actually hear what the fuckers singing about. The band ain't no slouches either, they can strum, power chord and riff their way through a variety of styles which sets the tone and the atmosphere for Headsticks compassionate experience. Kicking off with 'When?' which is a heads down romper attacking the star system where they proclaim "they're fucking you and sucking you like a parasite or a leech". We then get our first skanking track called 'I Love You'. Which on paper sounds a little naff, but this unrequited love affair might have you all nodding in agreement as the penultimate line goes..."I love you, I love you, but I'll never understand you". Its followed by 'Peace Or War' which is one of the most addictive numbers on the album, and comes with a rather neat guitar solo that we "dig it deep" here at Punk Rocker. Things slow down for 'Cynical' an acoustic led tune you could almost imagine them belting out across the camp fires at Glastonbury, never mind Rebellion. It owns a neat Spanish guitar solo. We finally get to the 'Mushrooms' with a skanky romp of..."We're all like mushrooms that's the size of it, were kept in the dark and we're all fed shit'. 'I'm Alright jack' comes with a quirky video promo on the bands website, which to be truthful somewhat spoils the mystique of the band. When you've clocked 'em you'll know why. During 'My Own War' our narrator fights the insomnia demons in his mind. 'Its A Matter Of Time' conjures up a working class Steeleye Span (dare i say it). It boasts the kind of protest and delivery you'd hear on the picket lines of the late 60s. It's got that unionist vibe about being screwed by the gaffers and turning to drink for fortitude. More importantly it's really very catchy indeed after a few plays. They do however lose momentum somewhat with 'Smoke And Mirrors' and 'What If They're Right' that has noble sentiments, but was a bit of a dirgy rock slog to be effective and keep our attention span. 'Out Of Fashion' is a poem with the Headsticks 21st century mantra nicked right off Joe strummers old '76 boiler suit..."compassion is outta fashion". 'Family Tree' aims it spiel against the political elite and has some neat sentiments while the guitars remind me of the Subhumans (UK version) as they speed up towards the end. 'All Of The Trees' has melodic hippy punk written all over it. But listen closely and it bares some nuances that makes you really think about the way the human race has damaged our surroundings put in a more down to earth way. We head back into folk lore territory with the uber folk 'Song For Songs Sake', which is, despite initial fears, yet another standout tune. Simple but addictive, and i'd predict it would be a crowd fave live. 'When The Sun Turns Black' is an ecological rocker with a warning! We are then lead onto a totally different tangent via the final 16 minutes track, the hilarious reggaefied 'Baboon Shepherd', a South African football star, which is a spoken word diatribe, rant, rap about the love of football and its most unlikely star. Featuring a quasi Sham 69 circa Thats Life 'Reggae Pick Up' backing track, that works real well. I must be getting old and my tastes mellowing but 'Kept In The Dark' is another folk tinged punk album thats definitely... WORTH A LISTEN! HEADSTICKS |
| LOUISE DISTRAS 'Street Revolution' (Street Revolution Records) CDEP 2019 I'm not into 'street revolutions' by any stretch of the imagination, but gimme a 45 revolution any day of the week. And this is definitely one! After all punk is the soundtrack to our lives. I've not once felt a need or wanted to be part of the revolutionary arm of punk, it was too bleeding organised, too considered, too god damn safe for my unkempt views. But after 40 years down the line I gotta say hearing 'Street Revolution' by Louise Distras I found myself 4 months later singing along to the lyrics when she played it in front of me on the last date of her headline British tour. Blushingly the older I get the more i seem to sing along with certain rare tracks that send shivers down the back of my neck, but it is on a very rare occurrence that new bands or should I say contemporary artists get me so enthralled to sing along to as this song does. I'd heard the name of Louise Distras quite a few years ago, but never followed up on her sounds much to my dismay. I remember seeing her name on numerous punk bills in minor supporting roles and merely brushed her off as another acoustic patronage. So how wrong was I to pass up on this girl from Wakefield, who with hindsight could emit such a powerful vocal with a great pair of lungs not heard since Poly Styrene...yeah shes that good! But that ain't all, her whole performance that night in Wolves sealed the deal for me. I had to satisfy my curiosity that she was truly genuine. I can safely say she's 100 percent authentic and she has real star quality too. A rare gift in todays punk scene indeed. I've yet to hear a full album worth of Louise Distras but if your curious like I was, I suggest you check out this single now, coz you will not be disappointed. 'Street Revolution' on its own is a must hear and its got 3 other soul bearing bonus tracks to keep us interested, but with not quite as much pull or punch as the title track. 'New World In Our Heart' starts with a spoken word intro before kicking off in full as Louise forms an international army to fight for freedom, which is really big in her book. 'How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live?' shines a heavy spotlight on her warm strong vocals which are her major pull. 'Solidarity' has some great lyrics about what people want in life, which is basically warmth, food and happiness, almost everything else will come with those. But we don't always get what we want. But we do need artists like Louise Distras to keep asking those questions and when its done this good maybe someone one day will listen? UK CONTENDER! LOUISE DISTRAS |
| AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS 'Amyl And The Sniffers' (Rough Trade) CD May 24th 2019 Well I spose it had to happen, after a meteoric rise within a few years of forming, playing local Melbourne bars to a handful of mates, the St Kilda demos on band camp, touring as support, then headlining venues in their own right. Amyl And the Sniffers have been seducing American, European and Aussie audiences without really even trying. Fer sure their rampant gigging ethic has paid off. And their fresh unassuming sounds have had us smitten since day one. So what have Amyl And The Sniffers got for their troubles? They landed a Levis sponsorship, Gucci endorsements and Rough Trade records snapped them up before you could even say "rack off!". Even the fucking Guardian and Mojo mags have featured them and I doubt even Rancid got that much exposure so early on. But you know what, they fuckin' deserve every moment coz they are one of the most exciting punk bands on the planet today. Maybe they can even pay the rent money now? So then why on earth did they end up in grimy old Sheffield of all places, recording their debut full length album with some geezer who produced the Arctic Monkeys, who were never punk anyway? Rough Trade are either not gambling on forking out on the band (have you seen the state of the cover?) or are trying too hard to present them in full on punk mode but missing the point completely? Either way they should show 'em way more respect. It also begs the question will the band change or compromise or heaven forbid get even better!? This album don't answer that query out right, its a two sided affair. We all know by now the bands biggest selling factor is singer Amy Taylor. She has become over night, the girl next door from Mullumbimby, a beacon of fun, a hint of madness and a street sex symbol all rolled into one. Just check out her mesmerising delivery and star quality performances both live and on record. Especially during tracks like the highly commercial '70's Street Munchies' video, which courted world wide imagination. And the band in the process have garnered a new mullet fixation whilst creating fucking addictive DIY punk choons without so much of a stage dive by Amy. But when I first heard the 'Monsoon Rock' 45 (a precursor to the album) I thought, oh shit they're going into the inevitable rock direction. But thankfully after buying a copy of the album to quell my fears I can confirm half the 12 tracks on show are good! They even throw in a new cult classic in the addictive "buy me a drink and my eyes glaze over i..." 'Got You' to shout out about. However its also an album that features half a dozen mediocre tracks too. The intro number 'Starfire 500' fer instance went on way too long musically. It's great in a live show before Amy our peroxide Aussie chanteuse makes her entrance, but on record sounds like a bland band workout. Maybe it was to add a few more minutes to the album which comes in under 30 minutes anyway. And why did they redo 'Cup Of Destiny' (off the 'Mutt' 45), when the original recording and its entrancing video is way more grittier and far more superior in Punk Rockers eyes! But we didn't have to wait long for the straight down your throat hardcore punk of 'Gacked On Anger', which gives it us in spades as they spit at us the misgivings of being skint or "on tick" as they say in Oz. Aussie slang makes a definite comeback with this band. Forget Chopper Reid or Prisoner Cell Block H Amyl And The Sniffers should score a sum off the Australian tourist board big time for being 2019 flag bearers. 'GFY' is also pure snot, it reminds me of Poly Styrenes 'Oh Bondage Up Yours' vocal vibe but in a 21st century Antipodes setting. The line "I don't want nothing to do with it, i think your a fucking lunatic" is a brilliant take and boasts the best ultra neat beefy guitar licks on the album. They slow things down for the heart breaker 'Angel' where Amy pours her broken heart out on some lucky fucker who didn't appreciate her natural charms. Its a track that will make you wanna join the long queue of suitors who definitely won't make the cut! My least favourite track is the predictable plodder 'Monsoon Rock' which as i said earlier has all the hallmarks of Sunday afternoon rock bars and the bands that frequent them. But they did finish off with the impressive 'Some Mutts Can't Be Muzzled' 45 which still sounds a progressive move forwards with its pounding rampaging major riff that fills you with docile anticipation. The CD comes in the bands cheapest looking sleeve to date! Featuring a photo stated cover only rescued with a xeroxed shot of Amy wide mouthed and ready to rock. We do at long last get to read her lyrics and they don't disappoint they merely add to the confusion.. 'Starlite 500' anyone? 'Amyl And The Sniffers' ain't the punk classic we were all expecting or rather hoping for, but its a step into a more refined powered direction. Is their ammo running out? We'll just have to wait and see! WORTH A LISTEN! AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS |
| STEVE IGNORANT'S SLICE OF LIFE 'Don't Turn Away' (Overground Records) CD 23rd August 2019 Fuck me this does look a really rather depressing album, I'm almost scared to slot the fucker in the CD player, especially after reading the promo sheet with 'poignant' and 'emotional' references. The dread certainly was rising. Steve Ignorant's Slice Of Life in case you didn't already know features Steve Ignorant ex Crass/ Swarzenegga/ Stratford Mercenaries on vocals and is backed by some younger musos on piano, guitar and bass. Its called 'Don't Turn Away' and these 11 new tracks are apparently their second album, but definitely my first slice of the band. Its presented in a really slick black and white fold out sleeve with an accompanying lyric booklet and some film noir shots giving it an elegance we rarely see in punk circles. I really liked the shot of Steve's pet Bull terrier carrying a baseball bat in his mouth. Last time I heard Mr Ignorant on record was in 2016 with the Paranoid Visions and he wasn't at his most vitriolic then. On here where he's laid open and bare. It's really quite shocking how much he's aged aurally and lost that compulsive rabid demonic delivery he conjured up in his Crass heyday. He even looks like the Gene Hackman's 'Popeye Doyle' character from out the French Connection film, in his ill fitting hat and braces. An unusual look, but if he could deliver the goods on these 11 newbies we'd forgive him all over again. However Steve Ignorant in 2019 just don't sound good at all. "You can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear" the old saying goes. And thats what this album feels like. The only bits I liked was the whistling on 'Whistle Down The Wind' and the piano interludes by Carol Hodge, Which was really calling out for a more powerful delivery. When your doing the meaningful, arty or the emotional route, you really do need to convey a spot on vocal that conjures up something atmospheric or makes you wanna absorb yourself in the message. But vocally its really pretty shaky and poor. You would've thought some cunt in the studio would've said "hey Steve would you mind laying down another vocal track, that last one was a bit iffy!" Buit I spose when your working with an Anarcho legend its hard to pull em up. I bet Sir Penny Rimbaud wouldn't have let him off the hook so easily. Even the lyrical observations don't really draw you in like say Ian Dury's did. It makes me think that cunt off East Enders Mick Carter could've done these songs more justice in his oration skills. TV Smith made the transition acoustically from a really good punk front man and vocalist to an acoustic troubadour with his unique delivery still in tact some of the time. But Steve's vocal was shuffling at times and sounds totally shot these days. Maybe he needs a more intense anger back in his life, a message or even a mantra to succeed? Coz on here it failed miserably. The warning signs were already in sight. I recall seeing him doing Crass songs in Brum back on the 'Last Supper' tour in 2010. I could tell then his diction was completely off. And even lyrically these days he don't own it or give the listener anything to grasp onto something that will remain in your head. Overground Records have really put some effort into this release visually, but there are better more exciting hungry bands around (just check out bandcamp as one example) who could justify your commitment. Nahhh I can't buy into this album at all and I did try. It's a shame really, coz Steve Ignorant was without a doubt in my humble opinion the best punk singer to come in the wake of Johnny Rotten back in the late 70's, But we all know how Rotten's vocals have diminished with age. On this platter it sounds like Ignorant's caught the same bus, If I was Steve I'd stick to Crass amplified rehashes, coz anyone who tells you this is good, is lying to ya mate! NO FUTURE! STEVE IGNORANT'S SLICE OF LIFE OVERGROUND RECORDS |
| HOOLIGAN 'Dublin City Rockers' (Advance Records) 45 EP October 2019 Hooligan return to the fray with 4 more classy tracks of punk rock in a day and age where the quality of DIY punk just gets better for the privileged few with talent, even with back to front labels lol. Featuring 4 tracks this time round and one cover by early Irish rock band Skid Row (not the yank hair mob). The three originals however sound great. Especially with a massive early Clash influence, notably on the opening and closing tracks of this EP. Which comes on black vinyl and is wrapped with a neat Pagan front cover design. 'Punk Rock N' Roll' may be an over used song title but gets things going to a great start. You know what, these Dublin city rockers create a sound and vibe like hearing the Clash for the first time with Mickey Foote engineering and Guy Stevens swinging from the mixing booth. It definitely conjures up that whole 77 vibe especially with it's guitar signal shooting off (reminiscent of 'Complete Control') and features a really neat solo. Hooligan are a band who don't bore us to death with guitar solo's, but what they give you is just enough to make a track standout without really trying. It's how you deliver them thats the key. They have a knack for creating that ambiance to perfection. This is a band who if they just played straight forward Clash covers for the rest of their lives, we'd be more than happy. But these are punk connoisseurs who wanna create their own anthems, The Skid Row cover of 'Dublin City Girls' which just had to be done by these Dubliners despite being the weakest number. But it most certainly gets hooliganized to max effect, and is probably great live in the bars round Dublin. But its their own tunes that really do impress. 'A Gang Like Us' features another solid solo from David Linehan on this raw heads down Linehan creation with guitars up front and blasting. Last track and probably the best of the bunch is 'Saturday's Heroes' which blows the Business song of the same name out the water and thats where the similarities end. This original features ultra warm atmospheric deep notes a certain Mick Jones would've been proud of, and is probably my favourite track with its closing chant of "Everybody hates us...we don't care". You have to take yer hat off to this Dublin (now London based) outfit sounding like the West way without even trying. They really do need to put an album out to put us all out our misery, but with EP's hitting the streets of this calibre means only one thing you need to consider... you really do need to hear it fer yerself. WORTH A LISTEN! HOOLIGAN ADVANCED RECORDS |
| THE OUTCASTS 'Stay Young' (Violated Records) CDEP 2019 Gawd the Outcasts really do look old and jaded on the cover of this one, If I was them I'd leave the front covers to a design/logo instead of the band shot coz you'll scare off any of the potential kids who might buy this platter? Otherwise it will be just old gits like me. However being as image is but an after thought in todays punk scene judging by most of the dreadful looking bands out there under the punk umbrella. We have to consider the most important thing is the sound! And you gotta give it to the Outcasts they might look like shit but still sound pretty fucking good in 2019. Lead singer Greg Cowan still has that brilliant soaring out from amongst the rabid streets of Belfast vocal. An almost pop croon amongst the barbed wire and studs. But why sing about being young when you look like the old cunts the kids would dismiss? It ain't the 80's no more when they really did look the part, but it takes the edge off the sounds so just close your eyes when you listen to this one. The Outcasts were always a great punk band, but is it me or do they sound more like Rudi these days? Maybe it has somert to do with the hairy but multi talented Petesy Burns who co produced it, played bass and guitar and was also in Belfast super group Shame Academy with Rudi's Brian Young along with Greg. And just to underline that fact, they do a real good take on Rudi's 'Pressures On' which is pop punk at its purest. 'Rebel Rock Radio' written by Gregs brother Martin and Petesy is semi acoustic and doesn't have half as much impact as the previous tracks and shimmy's over well trodden r'n'r ground, When has radio been so important in this day 'n' age? '78' sounds like it was written in '77 and is a poor reflection of times gone by compared to say songs like SLF's ferocious '78 RPM'. They do end on a high with a version of the classic Outcasts track 'Your A Disease' which Martin also penned all those years ago and still has it. This track really does show off the bands commercial ability once more. So no new punk anthems to get excited about, but half decent tunes like 'Stay Young' will do them no harm at all, and leads us to believe they still have a potential new anthem in their artillery before they finally call it quits. The accompanying promo video sees the band joined by a bunch of kids on a Donegal beach which looks like it was fun!. Fair play to Violated records for releasing this coz its a label done by real fans of punk rock! AVERAGE! THE OUTCASTS VIOLATED RECORDS |
