The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

The Album Review Club – Week #114

The Screaming Blue Messiahs -- Gun-Shy (1986)

Selected by FogBlueInSanFran


ScreamingBlueMessiahs_-_Gun-Shy.jpg



My record is The Screaming Blue Messiahs’ debut “Gun-Shy”, released in 1986. David Bowie once called them his favo(u)rite band of the moment and “my pet project”, though he said shit like that about a ton of bands. But nearly every person who hasn’t heard this record before when I played it for them has been impressed, if not wowed. Many – including my future wife and future sister-in-law and a few dozen friends – subsequently bought it, despite not necessarily cottoning to other records in a similar vein.

They were the loudest and most exciting band I ever saw live. Sadly, after an all-too-short three-LP career, the members basically disappeared into day jobs.

Their second record (“Bikini Red” in 1987 -- also great, by the way) had “I Want To Be A Flintstone” on it. This became a hit, complete with exactly the video you’d expect a song like this to have. But it was the worst thing that could have happened, because it basically (and bizarrely) pegged them as a novelty act, which couldn’t be farther from what they were – a hyper-energetic punk blues outfit who could play at pace and howl at sacred cows with the best of their peers.

The SBMs were from London, and there’s a lot of Clash in here, no doubt, and a very heavy, schlocky dose of Americana. It’s definitely post-punk genre-wise, but there’s plenty of rockabilly too, and even country (they cover Hank Williams’ “You’re Gonna Change” on this album). Bill Carter is a unique guitarist – he played hard, with blood spattered on his instrument, and in this strange staccato fashion with these unique effects that made him sound unlike anyone else I’ve heard.

I should note that I picked this 1) because I thought Rob would like it and 2) because there’s a lot of consistency song-to-song, as @OB1 pointed out about Aerosmith’s “Rocks”.

I don’t think there’s a single weak tune here. Picking my favo(u)rite is hard; the opener “Wild Blue Yonder” is probably the best known, but I dearly love “Holiday Head”, “Talking Doll”, “Just For Fun” and “Clear View” among others because they’re fast. I think the stroke of genius is “Let’s Go Down To The Woods”, which even borders on pop. Most of the way through, the drums are the freight train carrying things along with the bass, but the odd combination of jangle, feedback and crunch in the guitar and Bill Carter’s yowling, snarling vocals (with their often sardonic and sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics) are the statue on top of the rhythm pedestal.

This record reminds me of a big tree in a hurricane – getting blown around furiously, but always remaining solidly grounded because its roots run so deep. The respect they show to their punk, rock, blues and country forebears that brought them to this point is evident throughout, at least to me. I wish they’d hung around – I bet they had a lot more great music in them.

Happy listening!
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
The Album Review Club – Week #114

The Screaming Blue Messiahs -- Gun-Shy (1986)

Selected by FogBlueInSanFran


ScreamingBlueMessiahs_-_Gun-Shy.jpg



My record is The Screaming Blue Messiahs’ debut “Gun-Shy”, released in 1986. David Bowie once called them his favo(u)rite band of the moment and “my pet project”, though he said shit like that about a ton of bands. But nearly every person who hasn’t heard this record before when I played it for them has been impressed, if not wowed. Many – including my future wife and future sister-in-law and a few dozen friends – subsequently bought it, despite not necessarily cottoning to other records in a similar vein.

They were the loudest and most exciting band I ever saw live. Sadly, after an all-too-short three-LP career, the members basically disappeared into day jobs.

Their second record (“Bikini Red” in 1987 -- also great, by the way) had “I Want To Be A Flintstone” on it. This became a hit, complete with exactly the video you’d expect a song like this to have. But it was the worst thing that could have happened, because it basically (and bizarrely) pegged them as a novelty act, which couldn’t be farther from what they were – a hyper-energetic punk blues outfit who could play at pace and howl at sacred cows with the best of their peers.

The SBMs were from London, and there’s a lot of Clash in here, no doubt, and a very heavy, schlocky dose of Americana. It’s definitely post-punk genre-wise, but there’s plenty of rockabilly too, and even country (they cover Hank Williams’ “You’re Gonna Change” on this album). Bill Carter is a unique guitarist – he played hard, with blood spattered on his instrument, and in this strange staccato fashion with these unique effects that made him sound unlike anyone else I’ve heard.

I should note that I picked this 1) because I thought Rob would like it and 2) because there’s a lot of consistency song-to-song, as @OB1 pointed out about Aerosmith’s “Rocks”.

I don’t think there’s a single weak tune here. Picking my favo(u)rite is hard; the opener “Wild Blue Yonder” is probably the best known, but I dearly love “Holiday Head”, “Talking Doll”, “Just For Fun” and “Clear View” among others because they’re fast. I think the stroke of genius is “Let’s Go Down To The Woods”, which even borders on pop. Most of the way through, the drums are the freight train carrying things along with the bass, but the odd combination of jangle, feedback and crunch in the guitar and Bill Carter’s yowling, snarling vocals (with their often sardonic and sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics) are the statue on top of the rhythm pedestal.

This record reminds me of a big tree in a hurricane – getting blown around furiously, but always remaining solidly grounded because its roots run so deep. The respect they show to their punk, rock, blues and country forebears that brought them to this point is evident throughout, at least to me. I wish they’d hung around – I bet they had a lot more great music in them.

Happy listening!
Click to expand...
Nice pick. Bought Bikini Red when it came out but for one reason or another never listened to anything else. Strange really because I always thought it was a good album
 
Coatigan said:
Well done
Click to expand...
When you said "I'll have a go", I just looked at my watch and nodded and smiled.

If it wasn't for Noel's quote, this was going to take a while... looking forward to hearing a band I wasn't familiar with until minutes ago.

www.goal.com

Noel Gallagher: Pep Guardiola is a f***ing Messiah! | Goal.com

Former Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher has lavished praise on Pep Guardiola, who he believes to be the best-dressed man in football
www.goal.com
 
GornikDaze said:
Nice pick. Bought Bikini Red when it came out but for one reason or another never listened to anything else. Strange really because I always thought it was a good album
Click to expand...
As much as I love Gun Shy as a record, “Sweet Water Pools” is my favo(u)rite of their songs. I thought about picking Bikini Red (I also love “Jesus Chrysler Drives A Dodge”) but fell in love with them on the debut. Also — “Red” — wrong audience here, eh? :)
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
As much as I love Gun Shy as a record, “Sweet Water Pools” is my favo(u)rite of their songs. I thought about picking Bikini Red (I also love “Jesus Chrysler Drives A Dodge”) but fell in love with them on the debut. Also — “Red” — wrong audience here, eh? :)
Click to expand...
The Virgin Mary’s in a Travel Lodge - great lyrics!
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
When you said "I'll have a go", I just looked at my watch and nodded and smiled.

If it wasn't for Noel's quote, this was going to take a while... looking forward to hearing a band I wasn't familiar with until minutes ago.

www.goal.com

Noel Gallagher: Pep Guardiola is a f***ing Messiah! | Goal.com

Former Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher has lavished praise on Pep Guardiola, who he believes to be the best-dressed man in football
www.goal.com
Click to expand...
Yeah my google totally failed me. Noel says too much stuff. Spotify couldn't find the flintstone song (I looked) And the reverse order threw me too.

Good clues tho, all the more fun.

And now I get to try other bands too, which I often do when the names of failed attempte intrigue me. Actually found 3 or 4 bands I like as a consequence of that side little quirk of the clue game.

Most recent is a band called The Clockworks, from Hammer's clues about midnight.
 
Coatigan said:
And was Rob Clarkieing us on the playlist thread?
Click to expand...
No. I said I love it, and I do - listened twice through already.

And I think that most on here will like it.

And I think this will be in the top 10 come this time next week. Our top 10 table that is, not the charts, obviously.
 
RobMCFC said:
No. I said I love it, and I do - listened twice through already.

And I think that most on here will like it.

And I think this will be in the top 10 come this time next week. Our top 10 table that is, not the charts, obviously.
Click to expand...
Wow, what an absolute hex that is — especially as I can’t give it a 9 or perhaps a 10, which I would.
 
RobMCFC said:
No. I said I love it, and I do - listened twice through already.

And I think that most on here will like it.

And I think this will be in the top 10 come this time next week. Our top 10 table that is, not the charts, obviously.
Click to expand...

How did you get on today bud?
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
Wow, what an absolute hex that is — especially as I can’t give it a 9 or perhaps a 10, which I would.
Click to expand...
There is the danger of me over-hyping it. Apologies in advance if I've raised expectations and people are subsequently disappointed. But part of this thread is considered opinion and talking it though, whilst another part is the sheer joy and exuberance of discovering a hidden gem, or in this case somebody pointing you towards one.

Still, it's my reputation on the line here because I've stuck my neck out and predicted a top 10 finish - I wouldn't do that if I thought that it was something I loved and not many others would "get". I'm sure it will be fun finding out.

As you missed it, I also said this on the playlist thread:-

"In my humble opinion, JJ Cale may be looking over his shoulder as Foggy storms around the last 100m, but what do I know, eh?"

Coatigan said:
How did you get on today bud?
Click to expand...
Thanks for asking. It was OK. The confined spaces of an MRI scanner don't bother me, but the thought of spending 50 minutes in a metal tube being told I couldn't move a muscle bothered me a lot - especially as I hurt my back at the weekend (unrelated to the scan) and lying on my back was absolute agony. Thankfully ibuprofen and paracetamol did their job and I was OK.

I was relieved that despite my constant fidgeting, the radiographer said that the images from the scan were good.

Obviously today told me nothing about what I'm facing, but it's another step done and dusted.
 
Ha, I'm 95% sure I've seen them live but I have no recollection where! In fairness it was an era when I was going to about 3 gigs a week including some proper random stuff. They weren't the headline act but apart from that I've got nothing :-) Peel used to like them I seem to remember. Unless I'm getting them confused, beyond a bit of a psychobilly following I don't remember them being that country? I'll probably have a listen and then realise I'm thinking of someone completely different, age is a terrible thing.
 
RobMCFC said:
There is the danger of me over-hyping it. Apologies in advance if I've raised expectations and people are subsequently disappointed. But part of this thread is considered opinion and talking it though, whilst another part is the sheer joy and exuberance of discovering a hidden gem, or in this case somebody pointing you towards one.

Still, it's my reputation on the line here because I've stuck my neck out and predicted a top 10 finish - I wouldn't do that if I thought that it was something I loved and not many others would "get". I'm sure it will be fun finding out.

As you missed it, I also said this on the playlist thread:-

"In my humble opinion, JJ Cale may be looking over his shoulder as Foggy storms around the last 100m, but what do I know, eh?"


Thanks for asking. It was OK. The confined spaces of an MRI scanner don't bother me, but the thought of spending 50 minutes in a metal tube being told I couldn't move a muscle bothered me a lot - especially as I hurt my back at the weekend (unrelated to the scan) and lying on my back was absolute agony. Thankfully ibuprofen and paracetamol did their job and I was OK.

I was relieved that despite my constant fidgeting, the radiographer said that the images from the scan were good.

Obviously today told me nothing about what I'm facing, but it's another step done and dusted.
Click to expand...
I always fall asleep in the tube.
 
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