This is one of the best CDs I’ve heard in recent months. St. Albans based The Scratch have been around since 2003, and this is their third long player. What I like about this one is that it references a lot of second generation punk/new wave bands circa 1978, yet still manages to sound fresh and original.
The album kicks off with ‘You Want the World’, with an Undertones style guitar riff, and snotty vocals, this had me smiling happily within the first few seconds, but this was soon surpassed by ‘Independent unrepentant’, which although slower, was a track of classic riffing indie pop, with cleverly observed lyrics detailing the usual adolescent highs and lows
“Today was like any other day, I had to get my fix,So I went to the local superstore, to feed my teenage kicks.”
This is the sort of track that had it been released as a single between September 1978 and April 1979 would have scored a high chart placing.
‘Freakshow’, which follows is pretty much more of the same, detailing fashions and lifestyles, “At least when somebody stares, somebody cares” and “Come and see what’s meant to be, The freakshow of the Century”, again, with cleverly crafted lyrics and good guitar melodies, this is another strong track.
The next track ‘Against the Grain’ has a classic new wave guitar line that builds, and made me think that this wouldn’t sound too out of place on ‘Real Life’, Magazine’s first album.
‘Destroyed by the Look of Love’ starts off all spiky guitar and throbbing bass, with some good Buzzcocks style vocal harmonies, detailing relationship problems.
“Tonight I don’t wanna come home, coz I love you, Don’t want you to see me feeling this way” and hoping for the future,And we’ll return to the joys of yesterday”.
‘Girl’s World’ is again very reminiscent of classic Buzzcocks tunes, with Pete Shelley style rhyming couplets:
“I miss you in the middle of the night, Is that right? As you were so bright, I miss you in the middle of the day, What can I say?” This could quite happily stand alongside most of the tracks on Buzzcocks’ ‘Love Bites’ album.
|
‘Flicker’ which follows is again lifted by clever, witty lyrics, and although a slower paced track, is highly melodic. Again the lyrics look back, however, this time the nostalgia is tinged with cynicism.
“A faint flicker of a bright past, You nailed your colours to the Tories mast”.
‘Whatever Happened to Friday Night’ is another strong track, detailing the excesses of a night out and the inevitable hangover and remorse.
“I wish we hadn’t done it last night, But I can’t resist the shine of the bright lights,My mind’s on fire, my chest is tight,
Whatever happened to Friday night”.
By this time, I was seriously expecting the run of good tracks to dry up, and initially when I heard the start of ‘Freaks of the Daylight’, I thought it had. A slow, soft and gentle track (up until the end) which bemoans the general public, there are some clever observations by Andy Scratch,
“How can I kick out the Jams, With all the millions of prams”.
‘Teen Idol’, which is the latest single off the album is great. Boasting a guitar riff that more than just references the Buzzcocks’ ‘Boredom’, this muses on the price of fame “I am a product, One to be noticed”. This was a good choice for a single, and hopefully should get the band noticed.
The album closes on ‘Too Busy Thinking About Me’, which leaves the listener on a high, and sound a bit like The Vapors, circa ‘News at Ten.’
Overall, whilst this is an album that delivers nothing that is earth-shatteringly new, it is a perfect antidote to all the prefabricated mass-produced pop that clogs the airwaves, and this sits nicely on my record shelf alongside Buzzcocks, Magazine, and Stiff Little Fingers. More please!
|
