A few weeks ago my package arrived from Deranged records in Vancouver. Yes, finally the #1s have released their debut album. Highly anticipated in some circles--guilty as charged am I. So let me jump on this bandwagon, if one in fact exists.
I've already done a post extolling the virtues of this Dublin 4-piece. If you like The Undertones, The Clean, The Records, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this today! Sure there is nothing terribly new here, but what they do here, they do well.
Look at the cover quickly and you would think they were posing for the cover of Tiger Beat magazine. Like 4 dapper young Danny Bonaduces. The things you have to do for world domination.
This a pretty great debut, compiling a lot of the great singles they have made, some of which are probably impossible to get. Most of the songs are pretty energetic and gritty. Though rough around the edges they have a keen pop sense, like early Teenage Fanclub somewhat, though I detect a little Dinosaur Jr influence in the terrific song Sharon Shouldn't (see prior post).
They don't sound much like U2 or Cranberries, so they probably won't be appearing on any Irish music documentaries on public television anytime soon.
I'll just post one song here, the brashly melodic Heartsmash! I think the song is about unrequited romantic infatuation, but it could also be about Professional Wrestling.
Great stuff here.
Eddie Kenrick on vocs, Sean Goucher on guitar,
Cian Nugent bass, and Conor Lumsden, drums. Buy the album, buy the t-shirts and beer coozies. The album is available from Deranged Records and Static Shock Records in Europe. Well done. 10 songs in 20 minutes--tight editing here.
Cian Nugent appears to have a few albums out himself, he of Cian Nugent & the Cosmos. I'm listening to a few of his songs right now. The music is quite different from #1s. It sounds like contemplative instrumental folk music. Not bad at all, really, but what I've heard seems pretty laid back.
The Undertones had John Peel in their corner. Since such influential giants like Peel no longer walk the earth (sadly), the little guys like me have to pull their weight. So check these guys out. You'll be glad you did!
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