1993 - Behind The Counter
8 March: Single - Kimble
13 March: 16th John Peel Session - Ladybird (Green Grass), Strychnine, Service, Paranoia Man in Cheap Shot Room
5 April: Single - Why Are People Grudgeful?
26 April: Album - The Infotainment Scan
13 December: Single - Behind The Counter
I debated whether to include Kimble as this wasn't strictly an official release. It was issued on the Strange Fruit label (which distributed BBC recordings) and included that cover with other session tracks Gut of the Quantifier, Spoilt Victorian Child and the previously unreleased Words of Expectation. So, I've included it but as these have all been mentioned in previous posts let's move on.
This year's Peel session starts with the power-packed Ladybird (Green Grass) - the drum machine/drum opening is awesome on this version, and Strychnine, a cover of a 1965 American garage rockers The Sonics track. Service is more reserved before Paranoia Man has a classic Fall theme of Smith riffing over a great tune sound to it. The session as a whole is the sound of a group that means business again.
Why Are People Grudgeful was another reggae cover version single. Played at a faster pace than Kimble it's a bit of fun but not one to dwell too much on.
The Infotainment Scan also came out in April. Critically well received and arriving in the album charts at number nine dare I use the phrase 'return to form'? I don't like to as it suggests a group out of form - let's say there's an improvement from the recent efforts.
To be honest it's an album that might have stayed in the rack if it hadn't been for doing this and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact the first three tracks, Ladybird, a power-pop rendition of Sister Sledge's Lost in Music, and the magnificent stomper Glam Racket make a great opening to the record (one of the best first three tracks together? Discuss.)
It's a Curse and A Past Gone Mad are excellent and I can even forgive the cover of I'm Going to Spain. It's a bit of a shame that the album finishes with the messy Light/Fireworks. All the same, I might have to get a version of this I can listen to in the car.
Before the year ended we had one more single, the magnificent Behind The Counter. I'm running out of adjectives for Steve Hanley's bass - shall we try 'booming' on this one? Everything's in the right place, drums, keyboards, whistles - it's marvellous, how it only made 43 in the Festive Fifty that year is a travesty. B-side War, borrowing from The Ruts' Babylon's Burning, is worth seeking out too.
Before I sat down to write this I'd have guessed that Glam Racket would be the choice for this year. It's probably still top three but I'm left with a toss-up between Behind the Counter and Ladybird (Green Grass). Let's go with the former. I love Smith's deadpan delivery on this. "Chill it, boy."
13 March: 16th John Peel Session - Ladybird (Green Grass), Strychnine, Service, Paranoia Man in Cheap Shot Room
5 April: Single - Why Are People Grudgeful?
26 April: Album - The Infotainment Scan
13 December: Single - Behind The Counter
"The man who pretends he knows it all, is destined to a mighty fall"
I debated whether to include Kimble as this wasn't strictly an official release. It was issued on the Strange Fruit label (which distributed BBC recordings) and included that cover with other session tracks Gut of the Quantifier, Spoilt Victorian Child and the previously unreleased Words of Expectation. So, I've included it but as these have all been mentioned in previous posts let's move on.
This year's Peel session starts with the power-packed Ladybird (Green Grass) - the drum machine/drum opening is awesome on this version, and Strychnine, a cover of a 1965 American garage rockers The Sonics track. Service is more reserved before Paranoia Man has a classic Fall theme of Smith riffing over a great tune sound to it. The session as a whole is the sound of a group that means business again.
Why Are People Grudgeful was another reggae cover version single. Played at a faster pace than Kimble it's a bit of fun but not one to dwell too much on.
The Infotainment Scan also came out in April. Critically well received and arriving in the album charts at number nine dare I use the phrase 'return to form'? I don't like to as it suggests a group out of form - let's say there's an improvement from the recent efforts.
To be honest it's an album that might have stayed in the rack if it hadn't been for doing this and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact the first three tracks, Ladybird, a power-pop rendition of Sister Sledge's Lost in Music, and the magnificent stomper Glam Racket make a great opening to the record (one of the best first three tracks together? Discuss.)
It's a Curse and A Past Gone Mad are excellent and I can even forgive the cover of I'm Going to Spain. It's a bit of a shame that the album finishes with the messy Light/Fireworks. All the same, I might have to get a version of this I can listen to in the car.
Before the year ended we had one more single, the magnificent Behind The Counter. I'm running out of adjectives for Steve Hanley's bass - shall we try 'booming' on this one? Everything's in the right place, drums, keyboards, whistles - it's marvellous, how it only made 43 in the Festive Fifty that year is a travesty. B-side War, borrowing from The Ruts' Babylon's Burning, is worth seeking out too.
Before I sat down to write this I'd have guessed that Glam Racket would be the choice for this year. It's probably still top three but I'm left with a toss-up between Behind the Counter and Ladybird (Green Grass). Let's go with the former. I love Smith's deadpan delivery on this. "Chill it, boy."
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