Teenage Kicks Vol.2 (Going Underground) - Various Artists

Having listened to the original Teenage Kicks album, I didn't think that a sequal could possibly be a patch on it. Boy how wrong was I.

All 40 tracks on the double album originate from the early 1980s and cover all types of music which were developing via the underground - from punk with the Sex Pistols, the Mod sound of The Jam, the Ska sound of The Beat, and the Two Tone sound of the Specials to name but a few. The album is interspersed ...
...of you who enjoyed your teenage years in the 80s, this is a must have album. For those of you who are too young, this album brilliantly demonstrates the varying influences and cultures which have stood the test of time. Many of the tracks have become anthems in their own rights, and the majority are familiar to most.

Beg, borrow or steal this album - you will not be disappointed.

Whilst the album cover is somewhat tame, ... more

Having listened to the original Teenage Kicks album, I didn't think that a sequal could possibly be a patch on it. Boy how wrong was I.

All 40 tracks on the double album originate from the early 1980s and cover all types of music which were developing via the underground - from punk with the Sex Pistols, the Mod sound of The Jam, the Ska sound of The Beat, and the Two Tone sound of the Specials to name but a few. The album is interspersed with groups which were senonomous with this era including The Police, Madness, Blondie, Thin Lizzy, but also those whose hits weren't as numerous but were memourable nonetheless including the excellent Department S, Tenpole Tudor, XTC and the unforgettable X Ray Spex.

For those of you who enjoyed your teenage years in the 80s, this is a must have album. For those of you who are too young, this album brilliantly demonstrates the varying influences and cultures which have stood the test of time. Many of the tracks have become anthems in their own rights, and the majority are familiar to most.

Beg, borrow or steal this album - you will not be disappointed.

Whilst the album cover is somewhat tame, being a virtual copy of the origanal's album cover, the boys staring at the wall have been updated to include a boy sitting on a Chopper Bike. The album itself is a Double CD, and the first of these discs is coloured blue, the second red. This certainly helps when trying to see which disc you actually have. The lack of originality of the album cover is more than made up for with the information provided with the inlay, providing a detail of the history surrounding many of the tracks.

Each of the CDs lasts in excess of an hour, and can be readily bought from most High Street stores for around £12 which is as cheap as most 10 track albums. It's an absolute bargain.

CD1 (Blue)

1. Going Underground (The Jam) 2mins 52 secs
2. Message in a Bottle (The Police) 4 mins 50
3. My Girl (Madness) 2 mins 44
4. Cool for Cats (Squeeze) 3 mins 07
5. Papa's got a brand new Pigbag (Pigbag) 3 mins 33
6. Denis (Denee) (Blondie) 2 mins 15
7. The Boys are back in Town (Thin Lizzy) 4 mins 22
8. Boys Keep Swinging (David Bowie) 3 mins 14
9. The Cutter (Echo & The Bunnymen) 3 mins 51
10. The Love Cats (The Cure) 3 mins 38
11. Money (The Flying Lizards) 2 mins 30
12. Rat Trap (The Boomtown Rats) 4 mins 53
13. Swords of a Thousand Men (Tenpole Tudor) 2 mins 54
14. Jimmy Jimmy (The Undertones) 2 mins 40
15. Walls Come Tumbling Down (The Style Council) 3 mins 22
16. Tears of a Clown (The Beat) 2 mins 36
17. Three Minute Hero (The Selector) 2 mins 59
18. Identity (X Ray Spex) 2 mins 22
19. Hurry Up Harry (Sham 69) 3 mins 23
20. Egyptian Reggae (Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers) 2 mins 36

CD 2 (Red)

1. Ghost Town (The Specials) 3 mins 38 secs
2. Golden Brown (The Stranglers) 3 mins 25
3. I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) 2 mins 05
4. Is She Really Going Out with Him? (Joe Jackson) 3 mins 33
5. Jackie Wilson Said (Dexy's Midnight Runners) 2 mins 36
6. Reasons to Be Cheerful Pt 3 (Ian Dury & The Blockheads) 4 mins 43
7. 2-4-6-8 Motorway (Tom Robinson Band) 3 mins 14
8. 68 Guns (The Alarm) 3 mins 15
9. Baby I Love you (The Ramones) 3 mins 44
10. Senses Working Overtime (XTC) 4 mins 33
11. Is Vic There? (Department S) 3 mins 05
12. Promises (Buzzcocks) 2 mins 34
13. It's Going to Happen (The Undertones) 3 mins 35
14. Back of My Hand (The Jags) 3 mins 19
15. Da-A-A-Ance (The Lambrettas) 2 mins 17
16. Love Song (The Damned) 2 mins 02
17. Borstal Breakout (Sham 69) 2 mins 08
18. Milk & Alcohol (Dr Feelgood) 2 mins 46
19. God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) 3 mins 37
20. Ace of Spades (MotorHead) 2 mins 47

Typically most compilation albums have a number of strong tracks, littered with many of a mediocre nature. However, this one bucks the trend. I couldn't find a single mediocre track on this album. 

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