The Undertones

The Undertones: The UndertonesThe Undertones (1978)
Sanctuary Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: BSDBSD
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Published on November 4th 2003When one thinks of late seventies Northern Ireland, images of random violence, battling guerillas, the innocents caught in the middle, or generally anything from a Discharge song may come to mind. The soundtrack might be U2, SLF, or the Radiators, all important bands from that region. You probably w.

When one thinks of late seventies Northern Ireland, images of random violence, battling guerillas, the innocents caught in the middle, or generally anything from a Discharge song may come to mind. The soundtrack might be U2, SLF, or the Radiators, all important bands from that region. You probably won't think of songs about candy bars and girls.

Nonetheless, that's what the best band from Northern Ireland at that time did, and the Undertones' combination of 60s pop music with the raw edge of punk was certainly controversial among the ranks of the punk scene. It didn't help that they were all just kids.

Their first offering, "the Undertones", shows them at their rawest. Double guitars, simple beats supported by a bass, and a singer with a quavery, high pitched voice. Throughout this distorted frenzy, though, the Undertones manage to compose some very catchy riffs, remniscent of the Ramones at times, the Beach Boys at others, and never too complicated. They also employ gang vocals in their choruses quite succesfully, and on their blatantly Ramones-influenced "Male Model" have a guitar riff that sounds like it could have been an Oi! song.

The lyrics are excellent for what they are trying for, story-songs exposing the tension underneath the innocent surface of teenage life, most succesfully on their hit "Teenage Kicks". You won't find anything like "Suspect Device" on here, though, and that is why they were shunned. These kids saw rock music as an escape, and I can more than see how. The most anger exhibited by the singer here is on a song called "Mars Bars", as he spites Twix eaters in defence of his favorite candy.

This reissue adds 10 bonus tracks to the albums original 16, making for an hours worth of great music... For anyone who is a fan of punk, or rock in general and doesn't think lyrics have to be "socially aware" 100% of the time, order this or whatever.

Note: Blah blah blah score doesn't matter, whatever.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (April 17, 2004)

Is this a ska band?

-c22

Anonymous (December 18, 2003)

To a few comments down tht Undertones are from London Derry in Northern Ireland, U2 are from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland- knowledge is power- this album isn't bad but they were the Good Charlotte of their day, i dont think this band can be put in the same league as Stiff Little Fingers or the Clash but Teenage Kicks is a great wee song.

BSD (November 5, 2003)

The liner notes to "Clash on Broadway" are F'ing great indeed. It gives a more human side to the songs of the Clash. Great stuff.

-BSD

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Get a room!!!

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Adam-
No.
-Janelle
Were those the liner notes that Joe penned under a fictitious name or was that in Story Of The Clash Vol. 1?

adam (November 5, 2003)

Janelle: I'll have to check that out then. Have you seen the liner notes to the Clash on Broadway boxed set? (the original long box, not the compact one without the big book) it sounds quite similar.

-adam

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Adam-
Yes, I've read "A Riot Of Our Own" - I liked the other two better myself, as they're more informative, but still this book is nice because it's full of some funny stories and written in an "everyman"'s tone - and being it's written by oddball Johnny Green, it's no wonder...
About "The Clash", I believe I ordered that one through Barnes and Noble. Yes, indeed I did. And even though "Last Gang" is exceptional (you've probably read it), I really like "The Clash" because it's just this great little handbook almost, packed with some useful information on their recordings (among a brief history of the band, etc.). I liken it to my copy of 'The Communist Manifesto' - compact and handy to have around.
-Janelle

adam (November 5, 2003)

Janelle is that "The Clash" book readily available somewhere? I looked breifly on amazon and I didnt have time to look through the 30011 search results.

Have you read "A Riot Of Our Own" ?

-adam

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

"janelle: so you read books... do you want a medal? wisest is she who knows that she is not wise. do not proclaim yourself to be smart. it's ugly."

All right all right...see someone had to think that I'm "showing off" or what have you. NO THAT'S NOT IT. I just want to make a point that I'm not bullshitting or whatever or "name-dropping" = god that really gets me. Rather, to show that I'm truly interested in the origins of punk and want to expand my knowledge, by yes, reading literature on the subject.

adam (November 5, 2003)

Janelle, BSD: Thanks for contributing reviews / comments etc of some of the more classic material. While a lot of the teen commenters don't appreciate it, I can assure you that the staff and our readers (the majority that don't post comments) do.

-adam