Never Give Up Hope

After a 6-year hiatus, Sunderland, U.K.’s favorite band, Leatherface, return with a brand new full-length, The Stormy Petrel, that mixes all of frontman Frankie Stubb’s favorite styles of punk, hardcore and folk music into one delicious package. And while the new album, the first to be released on the band’s own Big Ugly Fish Recordings label, will probably be seen as more of a down-tempo effort than 2000’s incredible Horsebox, there are a lot more hooks and melodies present than there were on 2004’s rather disappointing Dog Disco; an album that overall came off as flat. With The Stormy Petrel, the bite and slashing guitar parts are still present as well as Frankie’s guttural impassioned vocals and the production on this album is both crystal clear and absolutely amazing.

If anything, I suppose one could call The Stormy Petrel a more inviting and almost soothing melodic punk rock album; qualities that really haven’t been present in any Leatherface album before. Where previous albums have immediately pummeled the listener over the head from the get-go, this time around there’s almost more of a balance in place in which the band are aware that it’s been 18 years since the release of Mush (one of the greatest punk albums of all time) and that things sometimes have to change in order for both the artist and listener to gain a new perspective on the music. If anything, comforting is probably the best word to use when describing The Stormy Petrel.

With new releases from both Leatherface and Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, whose new album arrives today, March 2010 is gonna be a good month for late 70s U.K. inspired styles of punk. If only more bands would release music like this. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Leatherface - "Never Say Goodbye" (mp3)

Leatherface – “Belly Dancing Stoat” (mp3)

(from the Big Ugly Fish Recordings CD, The Stormy Petrel, 2010)

I'm In Heaven Again...

The cover of the Lizard Train’s 1987 mini-LP, Thirteen Hour Daydream, as well as a cursory spin of the first track, "Seventh Heaven," would suggest a nice collection of flower-pop type tracks contained within. Not so. Many distinctive styles come into play throughout the span of this record, ranging from introspective, melodic pop to downright, almost violent, catharsis; most evident by guitarist and lead vocalist Chris Willard whose style goes from sweet to snarling in a heartbeat.

And while the band did fit in nicely with the then crop of seemingly endless Australian rock acts of the time who channeled The MC5 and Stooges via Radio Birdman and the Saints (e.g., Died Pretty, feedtime, Exploding White Mice), the Lizard Train were able to adequately carve out a niche of their own which sustained them through several EPs and a couple of LPs. A stunner of a record that's well worth tracking down.

The Lizard Train – “Seventh Heaven” (mp3)

(from the Greasy Pop mini-LP, Thirteen Hour Daydream, 1987)

Looking Back: The Saints "A Little Madness to Be Free"

While I’ll always adore the Saints’ debut album, (I’m) Stranded, and in particular the title track it spawned (one of the top 25 singles of all time), it was the band’s 1978 follow-up, Eternally Yours, which proved to be the Saints’ true masterpiece. Adopting a more R&B approach to the music which incorporated elements of jazz by way of an infused brass section, Chris Bailey would further utilize and hone this approach on subsequent Saints’ records following the departure of founding members Ed Kuepper (guitar) and Ivor Hay (drums), culminating with the band’s 1984 album, A Little Madness to Be Free.

Anyone who had been following the career trajectory of the Saints with each of their releases since Eternally Yours would probably view A Little Madness to Be Free as the obvious conclusion for Bailey’s vision up to that time. It’s a perfect melodic pop record that harkens back to the days of Abbey Road and Let It Bleed; for a time when pop records didn’t entirely consists of bleeps and bloops that, arguably, lack real fire and any type of emotion. A Little Madness to Be Free permeates feelings and requires devout attention.

You can tell that Bailey had some money to spend on this record as many of the songs contain carefully constructed layers of string and brass arrangements as well as tasteful hints of Caribbean steel drums; all of which sound huge and absolutely gorgeous. That being said, nothing on this album would work if it weren’t for Bailey’s voice, one of the best ever in rock, and the incredible performance he gives. While the punk band that was is nowhere to be seen on this album, the same energy and power the music displays is just as evident as it was on those first two albums.

The Saints – Ghost Ships (mp3)

The Saints - Wrapped Up & Blue (b-side to Ghost Ships) (mp3)

(from the Cadiz 4-CD Box set, A Little Madness to Be Free (Disc 3), 2006)

Looking Back (in brief): The Chills "Submarine Bells"

Go here on eMusic to read an article from one of our favorite music writers regarding our absolute favorite album of the 90s and then, while you happen to be over there, go here to download it.

Twenty years and it still sounds as good as ever.