I think a lyric sheet helps. There are some great turns of phrase. And the style shifts as metaphor for teenage mood shifts is I think really spot on. The mix of deeply-felt songs vs throwaways (who covers “Black Diamond”???) is also a lot of fun.
Admittedly I am not sure I think this particular record was as influential as the band ended up being over its life — but this record gave hope to garage bands in an era of white arena rock and keyboard new wave from whence many other post-punk innovators sprung.
Foggy, I’m definitely not trying to piss on your chips and I will listen to it and try to digest the lyrics more, as I do love a good turn of phrase. An image conveyed in one or two lines that a thousand words could do justice to, is right up my alley.
But that partly was the problem. I know it’s post punk but I thought the production on it was poor. I had to fiddle around on the playback option with the graphic equaliser to find acceptable levels of acoustic and bass and treble, so I could make out the singing and get any appreciation of the instruments. Maybe that’s down to my speaker but other stuff sounds fine.
I also get what you’re saying regarding American white arena rock etc in this era. I just couldn’t have anything to do with any of that genre at the time and haven’t mellowed to it nostalgically either.
For all the slagging I give Morrissey in here I was delighted with the likes of the Smiths and other such British bands changing the influence in music on this side of the Atlantic. I was getting into the likes of Talking Heads from your side of the water.
However, musically I heard everything from Lou Reed/Velvet Underground to Stiff Little Fingers to the New York Dolls and others in here, all done before and sounding better. That’s what I was getting at regarding innovation.
Now that is where I am being totally subjective while trying to sound objective, I suppose.
Anyway, I love a good lyric and will give it a proper second listen, but initially don’t get any comparison with Quadrophenia either, which I love.