Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > Psychobilly Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > 1980 to 1989 > Cadiz/Pinnacle > 5 GBP to 10 GBP

Advantages: It's fun, frenetic and takes you back to brighter days
Disadvantages: If you weren't around then, maybe you won't understand

These were the days...psychobilly gigs were sell outs everywhere and possibly the finest purveyors were King Kurt. With their now infamous drinking competitions starting the shows it was purely about entertainment and having a good time. Okay so maybe the live action feel can never truly be encapsulated on record (and now CD) but there has to be some way of listening to such fantastic, fun and frenetic music at home, in the car or, even better, ...
...too seriously there are some serious party belters here. Okay so maybe this doesn't include early classics such as Destination Zululand or Zulu Beat but try keeping your feet still to Alcoholic Rat, Road to Rack and Ruin and Billy. It's just not possible! King Kurt played Rock City the other week. I'm not sure how many of the original members feature but if they pop round my way again, I'll be there! It's made me wish I had enough hair to form ... Read review

Advantages: Some decent topics discussed, very experimental
Disadvantages: Not fun or cheerful

...band. The band's 3rd album Penis Envy which helped mould the band's more serious, political and less matcho style which differed from their first 2 albums was released in 1981 on the band's own label Crass Records. The band features Eve Libertine (originally the band's first fan) and Joy De Vivre on vocals, the main issue I have with this is that I simply don't like their voices. Harsh, high and militant they certainly get their message across but ...
...sure that's what the band were looking for but there are plenty of bands who have succeeded in getting political messages across (U.K. Subs, Bob Marley and even Carcass without sounding as unattached from sing-song than these two girls) The messages in the songs are at times interesting, often involving quite indepth stuff either in psychology or politics but at the end of the day, it's just no fun and the constant experimenting with different sounds ... Read review

Advantages: Plenty of classic tunes
Disadvantages: Could have added a few more tracks from This Dirty Town

...that period. This album Last Will and Testament is a compilation of just about all their greatest hits and therefore I definitely recommend buying it! One downside of the album is that misses out probably the band's heaviest number in "Heroin, It's All Over" but you do get a taste of the original bonus tracks "New Guitar in Town" and the rock n roll punk track "Little Ole Wine Drinker Me" and like any other Best of Albums, it has all the anthems: ...
...cover of Bo Diddley's "Pills" that is only matched by the New York Dolls version of the track. The album has easily collected the best recordings and sounds pretty polished throughout. A must have! 1. I'm On Heat 2:32 2. Cyanide 2:05 3. Pills 2:26 4. Shadow (single Version) 2:40 5. Little Ol' Wine Drinker Me 2:38 6. Out In The Dark 3:35 7. Freak Show 2:21 8. Jenny 2:24 9. Self Destruct 1:47 10. Ain't Got A Clue 2:11 11. Take Me Back To ... Read review

Advantages: Quite different
Disadvantages: Overly camp and under entertaining

The Dickies were a punk band from LA, a few of the band members are dead now after drug overdoses and as I wasn't around when they came out - I can't say I'd heard of them until a few years ago. I got a copy of their Punk Singles Collection which as you may have guessed, is a compilation of their best tunes. Currently described as camp and humorous, I'd agree with one of the two - I've never found American's campness particularly humourous but still ...
...and Graham Norton in a punk rock way. The reality was somewhat more bland, a rather straight band really when it comes down to it and anyone who says they are better than their LA rivals The Germs, is clearly not all there. Whilst Banana Splits may have been a popular hit in the UK once, it looks incredibly soft today, perhaps the best things are the fast and enjoyable covers of tracks like "Paranoid". Two bearable songs are "You Drive Me Ape" and ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent
Disadvantages: None

Another Kind of Blues was the debut album by legendary punk band the UK Subs, initially released by GEM in 1979 and featured songs the band had made over the previous 3 years, vocalist Charlie Parker was already in his 30s at the time of the band's berth having been a succesful R&B singer before that. There are very few who sum up punk rock like him though. Nicky Garrett the guitarist on this album is also insanely under-rated and is easily the best ...
...but also creating some very intricate stuff as well. The album today (released by Captain Oi!) features 26 tracks but a fair few of them are single versions, so you've got a few songs twice (Stranglehold and CID come to mind). This album roars through fast, catchy punk rock which will have you singing out the chorus from the roof. "Stranglehold", "I Live in a Car", "Tommorow's Girls", "Criminals" and "Rockers" are prime examples of this. Later ... Read review