Decca Years, The - Cock Sparrer

Advantages: Very varied collection from an often underrated act
Disadvantages: The occasional sub-standard track

...Having chafed at their lack of creative freedom, Marmalade signed to Decca at the end of 1969, insisting on full musical control, and promptly netted themselves a transatlantic Top 10 hit with the introspective "Reflections Of My Life". (According to the NME and MM charts, #1 - Guinness Hit Singles, only #3). It was no flash in the pan; follow-ups like the folksy "Rainbow", the irresistible singalong summer tune "Cousin Norman" (in my opinion, the best Marmalade single ever), and the more rocking, Status Quo-esque "Radancer", saw them regularly on Top Of The Pops over the next couple of years. Guitarist Junior Campbell left in 1971 to be replaced by the equally talented Hughie Nicholson, and in fact this 2-CD set divides neatly into tracks featuring both the aforementioned. Their touch never faltered; they could rock with the best... Read review

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Advantages: Two great bands one CD
Disadvantages: Only around 30 minutes, Anti-Flag tracks can drag

...prefer the older punk buy it as you've got Your Buzzcocks and Cock Sparrer covers and Anti-Flag add that old spirit of how naughty are governments are. Other BYO Split Series CD's: Rancid/NOFX Swingin' Utters/Youth Brigade Leatherface/Hot Water Music Other Bouncing Souls albums: Anchors Aweigh How I Spent My Summer Vacation Hopeless Romantic Other Anti-Flag albums: The Terror State Underground Network For Blood and Empire Bouncing Souls: Started playing over 15 years ago in New Jersey, they played shows in their basements when they couldn't get booked, and when no one would release there records they made there own label Chunksaah. Through years, years, of blood sweat and tears (often covered in there songs) they have got to where they are today. Despite all the years on the road together there still going strong... Read review

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Advantages: Rocks the Ass Of Everything Else
Disadvantages: Painfull Listening for 99% of People

...Industrial metal gods Ministry have returned with their side project Revolting Cocks first album in 10 years, and the first album to be released on their own Label 13th Planet Records. The reason for this hiatus was as front man Al Jorgensen put it they had ran out of beer at the party. The Revolting Cocks are infamous for perverse lyrics bordering upon the puerile, forget that statement, the lyrics in the past have been downright puerile and at times vile. This has caused the expected moral backlash Douglas Hurd tried to stop them performing in the UK by refusing the band work permits, and the PMRC put the song "No Devotion" on their blacklist, for a lot of folk antics like this by moral crusaders just heightens our interest. So after 10 years the question is can the cocks still don their Stetsons and do it? Can they produce albums... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful