Review - The Undertones 'An Anthology'

Okay. Let's be sensible about this. The claim 'Derry's Finest' cuts little ice really. I mean, I challenge you to think of another really famous act from Northern Ireland that doesn't include The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers or Van Morrison. In fact, scratch that. I'm not that interested. My point still stands - Derry, as much as it's a lovely place an' all, ain't New Orleans or Chicago. The only other person I can think of from Derry in the pop world is Dana.

Instead of sniggering, this only adds to the charm of The Undertones. I mean, Derry's been a troubled place over the years and is more famous for it's Bogside Mural Artists, writers and political activists than creating a thriving music scene. However, is there more to The Undertones that 'Teenage Kicks', 'Jimmy Jimmy', 'My Perfect Cousin' and 'Here Comes The Summer'?

This 2CD anthology looks to readdress the balance to dolts like me who think that The Undertones were lucky with a few singles and then gave birth to the seriously dodgy pop career of Fergal Sharkey (although it's worth pointing out that Sharkey was instrumental in a change of pub licensing laws so that young unsigned bands could play etc). It's pretty common knowledge that most punk bands went crap after a couple of years doing the rounds. The Buzzcocks had a good stab at staying relevant, The Fall will always be popular thanks to being wilfully awkward and The Clash managed to stay in the affections of many.

Even though The Undertones created John Peel's Favourite Record Ever Made and, quite possibly, the greatest punk record ever made (I'm talking about the same record here), they've never been seen as Punk Royalty. On the strength of this compilation, it seems that this might be because of their fondness for a tune. Since when did a melody go against you? Since time began buddy. Fact is, if you give the impression that you're enjoying yourself, then you'll alienate a load of blokes in heavy overcoats who think that you're not taking things as seriously as you should. Of course, this liking for choruses and catchy riffs makes them a hit with the gals, which again, makes the po-faced critics baulk despite the fact that those reasons are the very point of 'Teenage Kicks'. Girls even like 'Girls Don't Like It'.

Fact is, girls feature heavy in The Undertones songs. Aside from the aforementioned, you get 'Girls That Don't Talk', 'I Know A Girl', 'More Songs About Chocolate and Girls' and a cracking cover of the Chocolate Watch Band's 'Let's Talk About Girls'. Let's not forget that 'Teenage Kicks' is a tribute to the cooler sex.

So anyway, this anthology... whassit like? Well, CD1 gives you a whopping 29 tracks and barely a duffer in 'em. All the hits sound as fresh as ever and the rest is enough to make you wanna pogo like a loon around your living room. 'Listening In', 'Billy's Third' and the gonzo tribute to confectionery, 'Mars Bars' are dy-no-mite! Elsewhere (ie, The Tracks That Don't Really Sound Like Teenage Kicks) are surprisingly good too. There's touches of psych about 'When Saturday Comes' and 'Julie Ocean'. Basically, it's pretty much all great and varied enough to warrant you spending your cash.

CD2, Previously Unreleased Live, Demos, Rehearsals and Rough Mixes continues the punk-pop kicks, with shoddy versions of what you've just heard. Now, don't take shoddy as a bad thing. It's fuggin' great to hear wilder, more unhinged versions of the tracks. It sees The Undertones going from studio-sheen to Garage Band. 'Nine Times Out of Ten' sounds ace and the 'Do The Fast' sounds like something from mind of Hasil Adkins. It's also nice to hear 'Teenage Kicks' (that again!) in demo form. It's more wiry and 'recorded in the basement'. Of course, it's nowhere near as good as the proper release, but these things never are... they're more interesting as documents to chart the life of a song. The second CD does this with real verve.

So, to sum up, this release, on the face of it, looks a bit lame. I mean, a long hard look at The Undertones? Gimmeabreak! However, the proof of this pudding is in the listening... and when you've got it blaring out of the speakers or on the 'phones, it feels like the most vital release you ever did hear. Surely that's the point? Throw away what you thought you knew... The Undertones are the closest thing is Limeys are gonna get to The Ramones. You need this album to kick you in the balls with a ray of spiked sunshine. You'll surprise yourself with how much of it you like... and it won't surprise Derry's folk... they always knew they were good anyway. Buy it. Buy it now.

[mof]

Comments

[David Walker]

Weren't D-Ream ('Things Can Only Get Better') from Derry?

I'll get me coat...