The Punk Single Collection is a nice introduction to Northern Irish Punk Rock, featuring the music released on the legendary Good Vibrations label, by Terri Hooley, who began releasing singles of local acts so they would gain the recognition they were deserving of. Maybe they are best known as the label that introduced those Derry Destroyers, The Undertones to the world. But judging by this anthology, it was clear that there was a lot more going on in Northern Ireland at the time. This year Hooley's autobiography came out, entitled Hooleygan: Music,Mayhem, Good Vibrations. Haven't read it yet, but I imagine it will be an enlightening book.
Overall Good Vibrations PSC is a good to great collection, with a few songs a little pedestrian and undistinguished. The Undertones are represented here with Smarter Than U, which is a b-side from their Teenage Kicks ep. The Undertones are simply a fantastic group, certainly no secret to fans of classic punk, so while I'm glad they are here, the other bands are more interesting to me. I certainly would like to here more of them. Some of these bands may have only had a handful of songs of quality, but there are a few groups here that are flat out exciting.
The collection begins with Rudi's awesomely energetic Big Time. They have 2 more fine songs here, I Spy and Overcome By Fumes. I know that a compilation came out about 15 years ago of these guys, but it seems to be impossible to get a copy now. Probably the best known band here are The Outcasts, who recorded a couple full length albums back in the day. They are well represented on this anthology, with four songs here. My favorite numbers are Love You For Never and the cheeky pop of Self Conscious Over You.
There are so many bands here I'd never heard before, and half of them I hadn't heard of. Bands like The Bankrobbers who play some engaging new wavey pop on On My Mind. How about The Lids, who play a bass driven Ruts-like brand of pop on I Don't Want You. And then you have Decisions by the Pistolly sounding Bears. I wonder if there are more recordings someplace by those guys? The punk-pop of the Tearjerkers song Love Affair is terrific in a more commercial radio-ready way. The same can be said of The Moondogs Ya Don't Do Ya, the guitar sounding a little like a revved up Clean.
Additionally you have a great raucous scorcher by Victim, A Strange Thing At Night. You also get two songs by Protex who are one of the more accomplished acts here, who play an engaging style of punky pop.
Additionally you get to hear the X Dreamysts' Dance Away Lover, a good song, but the singer seems to have a Phil Lynott thing going on here. Not really a bad thing. Ruefrex's Cross The Line is one of my favorites on this collection, with guitar reminiscent of Pink Flag era Wire. They actually do have an anthology out that is readily available.
All in all, a Punk Rock delight for all your St Patrick's Day needs and more. It beats listening to The Cranberries or some other nonsense on March 17th. It just leaves me wanting to here more. I hope that more collections highlighting this scene come out because it's clear that there was a lot of great music created that most fans today are simply unaware of. The album ends where it all began, with label founder Terri Hooley himself performing a charismatically sloppy version of Sonny Bono's old chestnut Laugh At Me. Happy St Pat's to all.
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