Punk now and then

Press, 16 September 1982, Page 14

Punk now and then

VARIOUS ARTISTS "Punk And Disorderly” (Music World MUFPS2B) This was- a surprise, considering that Music World's last “punk” offering was heh, heh, “Punk Nursery Rhymes.” But credit to the company for getting the licence for this English record, which will contain everything for the aspiring boot-boy. I’m getting old, I have to admit, because there are only two tracks that I really like on this album, and I like punk: The best thing about the original era was that it led you to other fields of music. With “Punk And Disorderly,” you’re back at square one, but plenty of hard teenagers are right there with Demob, The Insane, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, and so on. To the music then. Vice Squad are a bit, more experienced than most of the bands here, with the exception of Ireland’s Outcasts. Their singer, Beki Bondage, has a very good voice and her other features have been well exploited by the media. “Last Rockers” was their first single, from the very start of 1980. It’s perhaps the best cut on the album: t The Outcasts started back in 1978 with the excellent Good Vibrations label, which started many:.good bands such as the Undertones. From their early pop-punk (Self Conscious Over You"), they have progressed towards what is affectionately known as “hard core.” Thus, “Mania” is not too endearing. I did like “straitjacket” by The Adicts (1980) however, which showed a better con-

struction than most of the other songs. The Adicts would appear to be fighting the limits of the style. .. . Otherwise, not much impressed. Peter and his babies were better than expected with “Banned From - The Pubs”;'full marks Ho Red Alert for the great chorus in “In Britain”; The Dead Kennedys’ “Kill The Poor” also beats the thousand-mile-an-hour format. But Chaos U.K., Blitz, and Disorder, for instance! are nothing better than horrible, distorted, heavy metal. I’d rather recommend anything by the Sex Pistols, Saints, Buzzcocks (very early), Clash, Generation X, and that ilk, than this record. But anyone who has bought or is going to buy “Punk And Disorderly” couldn't care. Fair enough.

The punk pink cover, incidentally, is excellent. NO TAG EP (Propellor REV 21) I would love to hear a new punk band that is really original. Honestly. This would mean no songs ending with feedback, no “Police Oppression” titles, no “neyaaahh ...” sounds.at the end of sentences, no band names with the “A’s" circled, and so on. Because they have all been well arid truly done to death, and I’m bored with them (“so what?” — Anti -, Nowhere League). c No ,Tag, of course, don’t worry about moaners like me, because they’ve called their EP “OiOiOi.” which’ will appeal exactly to you know who. It’s probably more of a smart marketing move, proved .by its debut in . the Top 20. Auckland’s leading boot’

band. No Tag. have actually compiled a creditable debut. The A. side is called "No Tag,” a tune which probably sends them wild at the hall dances. The guitar and bass here are very good, and it thumps along at a fairly, er, anarchaic pace. Too good to throw awav.

The B sides are not as distinguished, “Legalised Dogs" (yes. right again) and "Mistaken Identity.” However the EP possesses a sight more flair than most of the tracks on “Punk and Disorderly." The key. ever since The Damned's “New Rose,” has teen tunefulness.

THE DAMNED “Damned Damned Damned” (Stiff Records re-release) This could be a marker for the new bands. If anyone has put out a single that is faster, harder, and as exciting as “New Rose” or “Neat Neat Neat,” let me know. This was originally released in late 1976 in England and a few months later here, although both original pressings are now deleted (of course) and rare. It beat “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols” ,by almost a year. . Before they wound up in almost self-parody, The Damned were damned good. Beat this grenade. MAGAZINE “After The Fact”* (Virgin VMI) The complete ' ABC collection, everything -by the Human. League, yet’ you still don’t own a Magazine record? Make it this one then. What is the comparison? Well, all three have made or are making great music, and you should want the best. Magazine split last year, after their excellent final

long player, “Mhgic, Murder, And The (Veat her.’’What the band’s mentor, Howard Devote (he who formed .Buzzcocks) is doing now I don’t know.

They were a critical rather than a sales success during their four years. But nothing as good as “Shot By Both Sides," "A Song From Under The Floorboards” or "Back To Nature" deserves to be forgotten. “Shot By Both Sides” defines .their punky earliest material, but there was a big jump, from that to the lush, dramatic tones of the second .album. "Secondhand Daylight.” Producer Colin Thurston has never been quite forgiven, for the album by some English critics, but why? “Permafrost," that cool threat, does not appear here, but “Back To Nature" puts you in the picture. “The Light Pours Out Of Me" and “Rhythm Of Cruelty" also represent middle period Magazine, which evolved into the armour-piercing strength of "The Correct Use Of Soap.” • “I’m as ugly as sin,” warns Devote on “.. .Floorboards." The record was hard too. and perhaps their best. A groan on this album is that the excellent “Philadelphia" is not included.

The dying days were also fruitful. Sensibly, Virgin Records explored the “Magic” offering and found the best two tracks. “About The Weather” and “This Poison” (there is nothing rnore annoying than a shallow throw-this-one-on compilation) for “After The Fact’.” The Tamla Motown stomp of the former is still fresh, while those keyboards on “This Poisph” never seem to leave. This is worth your money. DAVID SWIFT.