Punk - The Ginger Quiff

Dead Sheeran Vs TV Smith (album reviews)

December 11, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Two COVID related albums caught my attention in recent weeks.

One of them brimming with bristling brio, the other packed with very personal reflections. Both of them, despite their different music styles, bursting with energy and anger and overflowing with punk attitude.

One of these albums is the debut from the remarkable Dead Sheeran. Draw a Venn diagram of John Cooper Clarke, Sleaford Mods and IDLES and you’ve pretty much got the picture. The other is from the grandaddy of punk, the punk rock warlord himself, TV Smith. When so called icons of the first wave of punk, like the washed up MAGA loving controversial-for-the-sake-of-it muppet Lydon are playing to the gallery, Smith has quietly unleashed a monster.… Read the rest

The Cundeez – Teckle & Hide – album review

October 16, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve been immersing myself in some Dundonian culture lately thanks to Teckle & Hide the latest, and strongest, album from The Cundeez

An Intoxicating Heady Brew

100% proof claims the album cover, and its claims are not wrong. The sixteen tracks served up are an intoxicating heady brew. The Cundeez cementing themselves as a North East Scotland powerhouse. One minute offering an ultimate good time party anthem, guaranteed to have any party jumping as they provide the raw unfiltered craic, once again promised on the album cover. I’m not going to lie though, the party might get messy, there are no guarantees how things might end up.… Read the rest

IDLES – Ultra Mono

September 27, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m not sure if you’d call this a review. Its more me trying to rationalise why I’m finding it so hard to love the new album from IDLES…

I’ve swithered about writing anything at all about this album. It is a total conundrum for me. I’m having a strange relationship with this one. The first time I listened, I was underwhelmed. The second time I began to appreciate some of the tracks. Appreciate – wow even that sounds like damning praise. The next time again, I found myself picking holes. Time and again I changed my impression on various tracks.… Read the rest

New York Junk – Dreaming – mini album review

July 24, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

New York Junk are one of those quintessential NYC bands. As soon as you listen to the songs you know where their origins lie, not just because the style of their music rests well with the icons of the New York City alternative an punk scene of the 60s/70s but also because the subject matter of their lyrics often reflects topics relating to the Big Apple or tackles the issues the city faces.

It seems only right then that the band release their new record, Dreaming, on Astoria, NY based label, Tarbeach Records. The record follows hot on the heels of another ex B-Girl Cynthia Ross related release, last year’s glorious ElectraJets Transatlantic Tales album, one of my albums of the year for 2019.… Read the rest

Reaction – The La Chunky Sessions EP Volume 1 – review

July 21, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

There are dozens of independent record labels that are a cause for celebration. The one’s that, when you hear they have a new release coming, it is almost guaranteed you will love it. I’m not going to start listing those. Suffice to say that Tarbeach Records based in New York but with roots still attached to the heart of the West of Scotland is one that holds a special place in my music collection. I own all the releases to date. So far there is not one I don’t like. So, it gives me great pleasure to be reviewing the first of three tree-mendous releases (the pun is intentional) coming your way now.… Read the rest

Shot Balowski – Eton’s Burning EP review

June 24, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Shot Balowski, the purveyors of one of the Ginger Quiff top ten album of last year, released a three track EP last week. If you are of the “keep politics out of music” brigade, look away now. Eton’s Burning is the lead lockdown anthem taking a swipe at the old boys’ club.

Kicking off with Debbie’s sonorous bass throb, the dynamic thrusting guitars crunch into life with Simon’s distorted vocal spitting venom backed by Tef’s thundering drums. The track ends on a plea. “Don’t dial 999”, in a squall of Manic Street Preacher style guitars. Class.

England’s (not) Dreaming

As a former Morrissey devotee, you may be forgiven for thinking I may be offended by track two.… Read the rest

Bob Vylan – We Live Here – album review

June 8, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I have been angry, truly angry. But ultimately, I know my heart is full of love.

In the last week or so my mental health has taken a dip. While I thought I was dealing well with the current situation, it would appear otherwise. I can’t put my finger on one particular trigger, the low point I reached was the culmination of several factors.

Anger (is an energy?)

I was an incredibly angry version of myself last weekend. So much so that I received a very scathing and personal direct message – accusing me of having “a lot of anger” and having “no love in me”.… Read the rest

Smalltown Tigers – Five Things album review

May 7, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

In a time when all the reports and news coming out of the beautiful country of Italy (I’ve spent two of my best ever holidays there) is negative and tinged with sadness, I’m delighted to have something positive to report. That news is, Valli (Bass, Vocals), Monty (Guitar, Vocals) & Castel (Drums, Vocals), collectively known as Smalltown Tigers have released a mini album, Five Things. A release, in more ways than one, that is brimming with bold defiance.

Take the legacy that Currie, Jett, Ford, Fox & West started back in the mid seventies (there is perhaps a nod to them here on a track called Runaway Girl), add a bit Joey Ramone’s swagger, and a slice of sneering Lydon attitude and you’re part of the way there.… Read the rest

The Cravats – Hoorahland album review

May 5, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

If you want a crazy twisted fucked up soundtrack for the crazy fucked up twisted times we are living in you could do a lot worse than the Cravats latest offering Hoorahland. 43 years after the bands inception, they remain addictively bizarre, their jazz funk fusion combined with off the wall mind-bending lyrics.

Sinisterly unsettling is another phrase I would use to describe the tunes on this album. Hoorahland is the theme park you wouldn’t want to take your kids to. Like a Disney resort on acid to play on your kids’ deepest fears and darkest nightmares.

The Shend has a voice, and an image, that cannot be ignored.… Read the rest

Red or Dead – Anarchy is Liberty album review

April 6, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

The new album, Anarchy is Liberty, from North Wales’ acoustic punks Red or Dead is a timely comment on the current state of the planet. It proves you don’t have to scream and shout and thrash on loud electric guitars to make a point as 21^st Century anarcho punks.

I believe I made this comparison before, but the band fills the ground somewhere between Wigan folk punks The Tansads and the now legendary Levellers, with a host of ideals and influences shared with original anarcho punks, Crass and taking influence from the music of Joe Strummer and The Clash.

Zombieland

Take the first track for example, Zombieland, with Rob’s vocal delivery paying tribute to The Clash’ Magnificent Seven complete.… Read the rest