U.K. Subs
Time and the erosion of punk's influence on pop,
haven't been kind to the U.K. Subs. But these four
LPs, re-issued en masse, represent their entire Gem
Records career when they were hectically and harmlessly
fun.
Another Kind Of Blues, Brand New Age, Crash Course, Diminished Responsibility
September 1995
Q Magazine
Led by former hairdresser, Charlie Harper, the Subs
were the basic model, smash and grab punks, whose gruffly
executed, misfit singalongs captured the commercial end of
the late '70s post-Pistols upsurge.
All credit then, to Dojo
for repackaging these albums with the addition of non-album
singles - including the rare debut C.I.D. - which were really
the group's forte.
The quickfire Another Kind Of Blues and
Brand New Age have the best, berserk, go-nutty songs and
nicely shouted hooklines.
Harper sounds like he's been
drinking Harpic and guitarist Nick Garratt - who used to
occasionally play live, hanging upside down from the rafters
- is simply intent on annoying the neighbours.
Diminished Responsibility sounds
sluggish in comparison, save Party In Paris.
But remember, on a sliding scale,
there is nothing worse in life than a U.K. Subs live album.
Reviewed by Steve Lamacq