The Album Review Club - *** Christmas Break Playlist (next album 7/1/26) ***

[BimboBob]

That's bollox that Bimbo because Kaz once said I was her favourite poster.

Anyway, not to derail the thread topic what's your opinion on Rattus Norvegicus?

Only to your face...a right slagging off behind your back...

I'm still listening to it, again. Going away until Monday in a mo so you won't get a low score out of me until Tuesday

 

[LGWIO]

Amazing what little nuggets of info this thread actually reveals. Had it on in car after collecting wife from work this morning. She just drops in, "Oh yes, I went to see the Stranglers". Thats us together for almost 30 years and I never knew that!
Had listened to the odd single of theirs previously but never a full album. despite often thinking that I should after hearing Stuart Pearce go on about them on TS

 

[bennyboy]

I think their 3rd album Black And White is better than No More Heroes but it's all about opinion...

There is one track on NMH that would not get anywhere near getting recorded today.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I liked some of their singles and think I had a compilation cd at one time. I like half the tracks on here and dislike half. A distinctive sound and vocals. I wasn’t joking about the Doors though, a band that was musically superior. Will give it another couple of listens.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I liked some of their singles and think I had a compilation cd at one time. I like half the tracks on here and dislike half. A distinctive sound and vocals. I wasn’t joking about the Doors though, a band that was musically superior. Will give it another couple of listens.

I think you're saying the Doors were musically superior because you're familiar with them and not The Strangers. I'm familiar with both bands and I really like the doors but I think The Stranglers are better. And Ray Manzarek was nowhere near the keyboard player Dave Greenfield was; )

 

[Saddleworth2]

I think you're saying the Doors were musically superior because you're familiar with them and not The Strangers. I'm familiar with both bands and I really like the doors but I think The Stranglers are better. And Ray Manzarek was nowhere near the keyboard player Dave Greenfield was; )

I'm pretty familiar with both groups thanks (although I'm not sure I have heard a great deal of the Strangers) and to me the Stranglers don't come close musically. That's putting aside the derivative nature of much of the Stranglers sound. Don't get me wrong though, I do like lots of what they have released and had a couple of years back then listening to their music a lot. I won't be giving them a 'it's shite' review though pal so cool your jets :-).

 

[Vienna_70]

So onto The Stranglers.

I have BMR to thank for the fact that I have several Stranglers cds. For a long time I only have a compilation but his persistent urging led me to invest in more of their catalogue.

I did in fact buy "Grip.." from this album as a single when it was originally released.

Rattus is naturally one of the albums I own and it is a good one.

I hadn't noticed before but I found shades of Blue Oyster Cult n the first and last tracks. The album is bookended by two of its best numbers.

Peaches of course was the hit single and it does bring back memories of Welsh beaches.

I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals but they are an integral part of the band's distinctive sound and a re perhaps what got them lumped in with the New Wave. The music although sometimes a little quirky is less so but there's plenty going on. JJB's bass is always interesting but the star is Dave Greenfield, whose influences are impeccable. I particularly like his interplay with Hugh Cornwell on "Hanging Around" and the mega solo in "Down in the Sewer".

My real score is 8/10.

I remember one of my classmates had his cassette of Rattus Norvegicus on his desk.

The teacher saw it, and said, "Rattus Norvegicus, what’s that?" Stupid old twat!

Hanging Around is my favourite track, though No More Heroes, followed by Golden Brown are, IMHO, their best songs.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I'm pretty familiar with both groups thanks (although I'm not sure I have heard a great deal of the Strangers) and to me the Stranglers don't come close musically. That's putting aside the derivative nature of much of the Stranglers sound. Don't get me wrong though, I do like lots of what they have released and had a couple of years back then listening to their music a lot. I won't be giving them a 'it's shite' review though pal so cool your jets :-).

Sorry mate but you can't really say that without hearing a lot more than you've heard. You may still prefer The Doors(fair enough) but The Stranglers are a much better band than many give them credit for. Do me a favour and listen to their albums in order like I said to @OB1 a while back. He now appreciates them a lot more than he first thought he would : )

 

[Vienna_70]

Always loved their keyboard sound.

Dave Greenfield was brilliant!

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Dave Greenfield was brilliant!

I think he's been the best keyboard player ever, even better than Rick Wakeman and that's saying something! But it's all about opinion.

Thanks to @RobMCFC for inviting me to nominate an album as this is excellent thread but not one I've kept up with. In future I'll review up and coming albums and I have a few more albums I'd like to nominate.

 

[Vienna_70]

I think he's been the best keyboard player ever, even better than Rick Wakeman, but it's all about opinion.

Thanks to @RobMCFC for inviting me to nominate an album as this is an excellent thread and not one I've kept up with. In future I'll review up and coming albums and I have a few more albums I'd like to nominate.

The Punk/New Wave era came along when I was turning 15, and really getting into music.

There was some brilliant music created in that era, and it is very underrated nowadays, IMHO.

 

[RobMCFC]

I think he's been the best keyboard player ever, even better than Rick Wakeman and that's saying something! But it's all about opinion.

Thanks to @RobMCFC for inviting me to nominate an album as this is excellent thread but not one I've kept up with. In future I'll review up and coming albums and I have a few more albums I'd like to nominate.

No worries. Once you've nominated, you are automatically in the list for the next round unless you request to leave.

 

[journolud]

No worries. Once you've nominated, you are automatically in the list for the next round unless you request to leave.

You can check out anytime you like but…

 

[journolud]

I think their 3rd album Black And White is better than No More Heroes but it's all about opinion...

There is one track on NMH that would not get anywhere near getting recorded today.

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to No More Heroes although I do know some of the tracks off it. I did have Black and White and saw them live when they were touring that.

So to fill the gaps I’ve been listening to NMH today in the car with half of it to go on my next journey. Despite the title track being a great song the album so far is a pretty poor relation and if I didn’t know better I’d think the level of offensiveness was them trying to prove they fitted in with punk.

Peaches and Ugly walked that line but in what seemed like a less aggressive way.

Anyway like I did with the Jam I’ll be going through all their albums in order this week to see what I missed. No need to listen to Rattys Norvegicus again to score it but I probably will anyway as it’s one of my favourite albums from that era.

Hard in a way to reconcile the band that produced Golden Brown (yeah I know it’s about drugs) and Duchess and Strange Little Girl with the one that gave us some of their less savoury efforts.

Nice’n’sleazy by the way is my favourite Stranglers song. And seeing as it’s got knocked out I think it’s OK to say I nominated Walk on By in the song cup. Substandard Doors rip offs or not I love the keyboards on that song.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Sorry mate but you can't really say that without hearing a lot more than you've heard. You may still prefer The Doors(fair enough) but The Stranglers are a much better band than many give them credit for. Do me a favour and listen to their albums in order like I said to @OB1 a while back. He now appreciates them a lot more than he first thought he would : )

I can say it mate and I have. You clearly disagree but that’s what this thread is about. I will form an opinion on the stranglers without playing their entire back catalogue too if that’s ok.

 

[hallsteve62]

Dave Greenfield was brilliant!

And his massive swelling organ ; )

 

[VOOMER]

I nominated an album to Rob several months ago and was invited to review the following album a while ago but was too busy at the time so here goes...

The Stranglers released their debut album Rattus Norvegicus in April 1977. They formed around 1975 as The Guilford Stranglers starting out as a pub rock band but soon dropped Guildford prefix. They soon started getting a following that grew and saw them playing bigger venues.

Hugh Cornwell was the main singer/lead guitarist, JJ Burnell was singer/base player, Jet black(Brian Duffy) was the drummer/ band founder and Dave Greenfield was on Keyboard and his wizardry gave the band a distinct sound.

I got into the Stranglers in 1978 as a 14 year old at a mate's house and we'd play Rattus Norvegicus for hours after school. I really liked Cornwell's angst in his singing and Burnell's heavy base playing, but Dave Greenfield was the bands unsung hero on keyboards, he developed a unique style having been influenced by Ray Manzarek-The Doors, Rick Wakeman-Yes and Jon Lord of Deep Purple.


Rattus Norvegicus contained 2 singles - Get a Grip On Yourself
Released: 28 January 1977, and Peaches - released: 21 May 1977.

A1Sometimes4:50
A2Goodbye Toulouse3:12
A3London Lady2:25
A4Princess Of The Streets4:34
A5Hanging Around4:25
B1Peaches4:03
B2(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Clark (3)
3:55
B3Ugly4:03
Down In The Sewer(7:30)
B4aFalling
B4bDown In The Sewer
B4cTrying To Get Out Again
B4dRats Rally

They also gave a free 7" single with the first 10000 albums
which contained the tracks - Peasant in the Big Shitty" (live)
and Choosey Susie on B side.



I don't think there's a duff track on the album and the keyboard crescendo of Down In The Sewer finishes off an excellent album, IMO of course and I therefore give it 9/10.

Have a listen and tell us what you think of it. Hope you enjoy and thanks for listening: )

I have every album have seen them 22 times, due to see them in Blackpool at the rebellion festival. They were and remain the band of my life, had the pleasure to sink a few with JJ Burnel, Jet Black RIP(Brian Duffy) and Dave Greenfield RIP. Saw them at the Melkweg in Amsterdam in 2019, and I will be back again in October.

 

[VOOMER]

It is very similar in mood and colour, to Given To The Wild. Just saying.

Which was made in January 2012. The Stranglers wrote Rattus in January 1977. In other words before they were ucking born.

 

[VOOMER]

Known of the band since whenever but don’t think I have ever heard them before and their lack of singles chart action would make that likely. I certainly wasn’t motivated by the rave review in Q to go out and buy this album; I can hear why a Deacon Blue fan would.

I think a few of the comments made about the album I just reviewed could apply to this Blue Nile album. There’s nothing here to offend and it evokes the sound of the 80’s without being very distinctive. I like the music more than the singing but there’s nothing offensive.

I’ve played it four times and it’s a pleasant but unmemorable listen. I’m sure it makes for good background noise for a dinner party but I don’t think the compositions are great. I could put Saturday Night on a playlist if I used Spotify for much more than Blue moon stuff but I wouldn’t buy the album, unless I found a really cheap in a second hand copy.

Someone mentioned cranking up the volume to get the best out of it but I found when I did that the production started to fall apart a bit and I noticed more of its faults e.g the “bass” is too high in the mix.

6/10

?

 

[VOOMER]

I'm pretty familiar with both groups thanks (although I'm not sure I have heard a great deal of the Strangers) and to me the Stranglers don't come close musically. That's putting aside the derivative nature of much of the Stranglers sound. Don't get me wrong though, I do like lots of what they have released and had a couple of years back then listening to their music a lot. I won't be giving them a 'it's shite' review though pal so cool your jets :-).

I would say its the other way round. The Doors were immense for their time and remain relevant but The Stranglers have made Rattus Norvegicus and a decade later made Dreamtime.