The Housemartins: London 0 Hull 4 (Deluxe Edition)
The Housemartins' London 0 Hull 4 is released as a Deluxe Edition
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Friday, 19, Jun 2009 09:01
Universal, out June 22nd.
In a nutshell...
Happy. Retro. Passionate. Fun. Reliable.
What's it all about?
The Housemartins. Remember them? They're milking their best album for all it's worth and who can blame them? Adding a sprinkling of live sessions and previously-unreleased tracks, they're giving fans and anyone else the chance to own one of the best albums to come out of Britain. Again.
Who's it by?
One started the Beautiful South, another is a BBC script writer and the third is now Mr Fatboy Slim. Oh, and there's another who attacked his business partner with an axe and was sent down for a few years. Despite their varied fates, these gentlemen were one of the greatest British acts of the 80s. Counter-culture and slating attacks on society managed to sound so happy with them - a very refreshing change, considering the Smiths were a major rival.
As an example...
"It's happy hour again/I think I might be happy if I wasn't out with them/And they're happy it's a lovely place to be/Happy that the fire is real, the barman is a she." - Happy Hour
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
A bit late, methinks.
What the others say
"This approach winds up proving an even larger point - that dissent doesn't have to be angry. Sometimes it can even be joyous." - Jim Farber, Rolling Stone
"A fantastic document of a stunningly original band reaching their creative peak." - Matt Fancy, allgigs.co.uk
So is it any good?
It's safe to say this one's been covered hundreds of times before. For those who haven't bought it yet, you need to question exactly why you don't own it. Go into the corner of the darkest room in your home and give your head a shake. No, seriously.
It's not often that a band breaks through into the public spotlight like the Housemartins. The legendary John Peel and his talent-spotting goggles found the Hull band in 1986 and recorded Happy Hour, their most famous hit, in the BBC Radio studios and made them an instant hit. Cap doffed.
Anyway, this release includes all of the hits from the original release from 1986 as well as a bonus disc including a handful of previously unreleased tracks and live sessions including three with Janice Long, two performances on Saturday Live and a pair of classics with John Peel. What's not to love?
Whether you don't subscribe to the Marxist ethics of lead singer Paul Heaton or the similar sound to many of their songs, one thing's clear: the talent on show here is genuinely about their love for music and their interpretation of the world around them.
Happy Hour, the opening track, manages to excite and disgust at the same time, with the tune bouncing off the sharpest of surfaces while the lyrics cut like a knife into the business culture, slating the sexism and hypocritical traits of them all. It's infectious and stays in your head for days, whether you like it or not.
Other notable tracks on the first disc - ie, the original offering - include Flag Day, Over There, Sitting On A Fence, Get Up Off Our Knees and Sheep. While they're all solid songs and quite samey, there's the odd curveball provided by the likes of Lean on Me and Think For A Minute, which seem more introspective and relaxed. Every one of them is accessible and easily listened to.
Alongside the other recordings, disc two is also home to some strange tracks, with the brilliantly infectious Rap Around The Clock being one of the funniest things you'll hear in ages.
It's nothing short of hilarious. Imagine a barbershop quartet from 1950s middle England trying to do Run DMC-style hip-hop. Sounds balls, doesn't it? Weirdly, it's absolutely fantastic. When you hear the lyrics "I said Norman Cook/Plays the bass/He's strumming those strings/All over the place", you somehow feel complete inside. Don't ask me why or how. The solid drum beat and occasional cowbell only add to this.
It also does well in illustrating just what this band were all about - having fun, entertaining their audience and being cynical enough to not simply complain about what they hate. It's a musical social commentary, essentially.
The Housemartins represent another time, another place and another culture. To ignore them would be ignorant; to dismiss their lyrics would be stupid; to let this album pass you by is little more than a tragedy.
It's not perfect but it's not far off. The extra helpings on the second disc add genuine value to the purchase. Don't waiver or question your motives for investing in it, just get it.
9.5/10
Matt Gardner