Tuesday, September 25, 2012

#601 Radio Birdman - Radios Appear (1995 Remaster)

Decidedly solid, shouty punk with great propulsive pacing and the occasional serious guitar chops, sounding like a faster, richer, more melodically-inclined Clash. The album pulls off a nearly-impossible punk move: sounding fun, smacking of effort, while still remaining completely credible as dontgiveafuck scuzzbuckets, working in hints of rockabily, surf, and more with a sneering smile.

Key detail, though: this album was recorded before The Clash had released a thing, so give em credit for that, arriving at a similarly legendary sound all on their own and pulling it off at least as well (sometimes better!) Not that this was altogether original (is anything in rock?): there are shades of KISS-esque fist-pumping rock, and the band doesn't hide its inspiration by similarly-talented near-punks like The 13th Floor Elevators and Iggy Pop, ending the album with a cover of each*, but this is not derivative stuff, full of inspiration and energy 4/5

* though only one of each of these appeared on the album's initial Australian and international respective releases.

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