The Stranglers recorded this around the time labels like punk and New Wave were being bandied about. They don't really fit into either as they had a style all their own with a sound distinguished by Jean Jaques Burnel's bass riffs being brought to the front as a main instrument. Jet Black is a good drummer and Dave Greenfield has a distinctive melodic style that is also part of the Stranglers sound as the main solo instrument. Hugh Cornwell's guitar does a lot of the rhythm work and blends in cleverly with the sound. Then there's the lyrics. I don't know if they deliberately set out to be offensive, sexist, racist, etc. (probably), but the lyrics are so over the top at times that they are humourous and can't be taken seriously. Hopefully they have the opposite effect and improve awareness of these undesirable traits.

Album Tracks

Sometimes

Aggressive rock/lyrics with heavy bass and melodic keyboard work.

Goodbye Toulouse

Stilted beat/bass, not a bad song with ok lyrics

London Lady

Fast paced, new wave feel, guitar driven rocker.with aggressive lyrics

Princess of the Streets

Slow, plodding bass, good guitar, Burnel's deep voice droning out lyrics "She's real good lookin', What a piece of meat". So over the top it's comical.

Hanging Around

Simple guitar riff, resounding bass, great keyboards. One of the best.

Peaches

"Walkin' on the beaches, looking at the peaches". A wonderful bass riff coupled with a good beat drive this single along, again with amusing lyrics that are over the top.

(Get a) Grip (On Yourself)

A wonderful title, typical humour from the Stranglers. Another single that did fairly well. A great beat with a superb bass/keyboard rhythm over the top. Add to this great lyrics like:

Stranger from another planet
Welcome to our Hole
Just strap on your guitar
And we'll play some rock and roll

and this is one of the best on the album. The end goes on a bit long. Thanks to those who helped - The opening line "Didn't have the money round to buy a Morry Thou" refers to the Morris 1000 car

Ugly

The title says it all. Best skipped over. A failed attempt at horror? Sulphuric acid, laced coffee is just not funny. The opening line "I could have read a poem called Ozymandias to her..." Thanks to those who told me this is a short poem by Shelly

Down in the Sewer

a four part song that is mainly instrumental. Has some wonderful moments that highlight the talents of the group.

The remastered CD comes with a bonus CD that has 3 tracks, Choosy Susie, Go Buddy Go (well worth a listen) and a live version of Peasant In The Big Shitty. All with JJ Burnel singing.

---

Other Albums

"No More Heroes"

the follow up, nearly as good as the first. Worth having for "Bitching" (which doesn't get onto any best of). This is a great song to listen too when you're having a bad day. "Why don't you all go get screwed?" "Something Better Change" is classic Stranglers also. The rest are ok, but again with some quite offensive lyrics that hopefully can't be taken seriously.

"Black and White"

"Nice 'n' Sleazy" the only one worth having, get it on the singles collection".

"The Raven"

A great cover if you got the 3D cover version, but a pretty ordinary album. "Shah Shah a Go Go" probably the best. "Dutchess" is ok as well, get it on the singles CD.

"La Folie"

Good title track and has the hit single waltz "Golden Brown", both on the singles CD.

"Dreamtime"

"Always the Sun", a good single plus a quite a few other listenable tracks.

"The Collection 1977-1982/The Singles UA Years"

Either is worth having because they have the best of the singles, plus a superb version of "Walk On By". "Walzin' Black" is also a great instrumental.

back