The
Stranglers - Norfolk Coast
Twenty five years after Sid Vicious's death we have the once threatening
John Lydon camping it up in an Australian jungle and the release
of two quality albums from two of new wave's originals.
The Stranglers finally lay the ghost of Hugh Cornwell with Norfolk
Coast, their first major label outing in 14 years.
It's a real return to form because they've gone back to everything
that epitomised the Stranglers sound.
They were always different from the rest because, apart from being
ancient back in '77, they had the pounding bass of JJ Burnel and
the swirling keyboard of Dave Greenfield.
Twenty seconds into the title track it's as if they'd just released
Go Buddy Go.
The fact that Big Thing Coming has been a hit in the singles chart
surely proves you're never too old to rock.
Norfolk Coast brings together the sound of early Stranglers and
the more commercial Always the Sun era.
The Meininblack rise again and appear at Rock City in Nottingham
on Sunday March 14th, 2004.
Norfolk Coast is released on EMI/Liberty
4/5
Ian
Dury and the Blockheads - Song By Song
Song By Song isn't your standard CD release. Actually it's the CD
that accompanies the book of the same name.
Author Jim Drury takes us through the career of Ian Dury and you
get the lyrics to more than 60 of his songs.
It's a great read and you can sing-a-long to many of your favourites
thanks to the live CD.
There's no Ian, this is the Blockheads continuing to carry the torch
without their leader.
Naturally there's a lot missing without Dury's delivery but Chaz
Jankel and the lads do a stirling job. Even if the boss isn't around,
it's more evidence to what a tight ship the Blockheads were/are.
Hits are mixed with later offerings from Ten More Turnips from the
Tip and Wreckless Eric turns up to help out on vocal duties.
The Blockheads have their own album out soon and it's to be hoped
the magic of their master will continue to rub off on them.
