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Rating: Let me start by saying I hate compilations, and I have very few in my discography.
For purely informative purposes, I'm writing to do justice to one of the most important bands
of the '80s and beyond. A band capable of works like "Dragnet," "Hex Enduction Hour," down to "Grotesque." A band that the late John Peel described as his favorite because it managed
to confound the listener with each release. A band revered here in England (although it's a niche cult), but unknown beyond the borders of Albion.
We are talking about The Fall, the creation of the irritable, gruff, brilliant Mark E. Smith.
The same, only common member to the thousands of line-ups and ruthless and enlightened dictator, described their music as "Country & Northern," to differentiate from the myriad of "Arty" bands that populated the scene at the time, some very valid, such as "Wire," but the majority undoubtedly pathetic. The Northern connotation also aimed to indicate the group's origin, foggy Manchester, also home to Joy Division (it is said that Ian Curtis used to pass by the shop where Mark worked every day..).
Country in part, but also Rockabilly, Punk, Funk, all contaminated by a simple Electronica and
devoted to the cause of repetition, the real creed of the band. The music of The Fall was in fact obsessive, repetitive if not in style, then in cadence, creating a sort of extremely neurotic and epileptic sound labyrinth. This was also due to the band's habits, which notoriously abused amphetamines and stimulants.
"A-Sides" is excellent in presenting an incredible series of masterpieces to the unfortunately numerous uninitiated.
Without doubt, as an A-Sides, we are presented with a product that analyzes the musically
more accessible part of the band, consisting of often catchy and danceable singles, but precisely for this reason, it is more likely to be loved at first taste.
The songs are, as mentioned, all very valid; among them, it's essential to remember at least a few, including the initial "Oh Brother," a kind of sonic manifesto of the band. The leading drum creates a psychotic atmosphere along with the relentless pulsating bass, while haughty and nasal Mark E. Smith sings "Oh brother, we are in a mess!". The celestial or infernal voices, your choice, combined with an almost toy keyboard and a series of unidentified noises create the first masterpiece. "Couldn't Get Ahead," among the following, is even more repetitive, to the edge of institutionalization. The pace becomes faster, with various cacophonies and Beat choirs punctuating a bass groove seemingly created specifically for Smith's voice, who this time, exhausted, screams that he just can't carry on any longer. It follows with a Rock'n'Roll destroyed and drowned in Prozac like "Cruisers Creek," where you can either dance or simply stagger.
"Hit the North" is one of the few (commercial) successes of the group and really enjoyable; here Smith reaches such levels of irritation to rival Steve Albini in antipathy. But for the anthem, the killer-track, one can only cite the famous "Mr. Pharmacist," a true ode to amphetamine. The pharmacist is nothing more than a dealer, to whom Smith asks "Give me some energy". After this request, the rhythm becomes even more incisive and neurotic, almost simulating the substance intake. The track closes with the initial rhythm and with one last gem from Mark, this time, serene: "Mr Pharmacist, I'll be back...". Brilliant.
A Dark atmosphere but a Rockabilly cadence drive "There's A Ghost In My House," later covered by Marc Almond, one of the most danceable pieces of the lot.
"Victoria" manages to create a memorable melody, with echoes of the American frontier, and which, as usual,
the annoying rhythm and mad singing manage to save from being a sure chart-killer.
In closing, I recall the album's cut "Dead Beat Descendant," also very Rock in its vibe, but damaged by the relentless repetition of instruments, really representing an emotional state comparable to that of a madman on the verge of a lobotomy.
I emphasize that all tracks are worthy of note.
The Fall is really worth rediscovering, for Smith's truly unique lyrics, as well as his truly irritating yet fabulous way of delivering them, for quality music, uncompromising yet pleasant to listen to, at least on the surface. Indeed, it often happens to me to become much more irritable after listening to the Mancunians, and I am sure that their goal was this, to annoy.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Oh! Brother (04:02)
[Mecass, the mass, decline, domain, relan, drazan, my heart's blocked, rout]
Oh! little brother
We are in a mess
Don't look at me that way
Don't put me to the test
When I first saw you
People said:
"He scrutinised a little monster"
And disappeared through red door [or dawn?]
Now everyone is disinformation
Disinformation
Disinformation
He says:
"Won't you give me one more chance?"
"I'm not a communist"
Disinformation x 3
[Mecass, the mass, decline, domain, relan, drazan, my heart's blocked, rout]
Oh! little brother
We are in a mess
Don't look at me that way
Your reject is a mess
There's always
Someone beside you
And there's always
Someone in your arms
Oh! little brother
If only I had known
Then I might not
Be alone X4
02 C.R.E.E.P. (02:56)
He reads books; of the list book club
And after two months--his stance a familiar hunch
It's that same slouch - you had the last time he came around
His oppression abounds, his type is doing the rounds
He is a scum-egg; a horrid trendy wretch
C.R.E.E.P. CR E.E.P.
BLACK saucers at the back of your neck
Interruptions, from the side when you talk
in the presence, of this ugly gawk,
is offending, make sure you're not absorbed
(With hideous luck - he'll absorb all your talk)
CR E.E.P. C.R.E.E.P. (3 times)
FROM the bright sun, he came one fine morn
"Populist" - as well in his class at least
But then came REAL AGE, and for that we all must pay
(and for that we all do pay)
c.r.e.EP. C.R.E.E.P.
C.R. EEP C.R.E.E.P
CR E.E.P. - cr E.E.P. CR E.E.P. - CR E.EP (2 times)
And he wants world peace! (and for that we all must pay)
He likes ABC! (C.R.EE.P.)
C.R.EE.P. CR.E.E.P. (2 times)
CREEP!
05 Couldn't Get Ahead (02:37)
Couldn't get ahead
I just couldn't get ahead
Come out of pub, the shop is closed
Come out of pub, Harry wants to know
When the next bus is
I said five or ten minutes
I had my change in my hands
The bus flashes past.
My hands are caught
Couldn't get ahead. I just couldn't get ahead.
In a week, earned money for month
Got all my jobs done
My eyelids were sick of it
Gist was I could sleep for a day?
But bad bills have no respect for a decent man's rest
Flopping on the doorstep
Outlined in color red
Couldn't get ahead. Just couldn't get ahead.
On an Asiatic plane with wings not of the grain
Toilet queue was endless
Couldn't get a beer
The hostesses were muslims
When I get in toilet,
Light flashes: "Return to seat."
I feared withdrawal
And I feared beer was making sludge of my head.
Couldn't get ahead. Just couldn't get ahead.
Now my problems are solved
It's a remedy of old
I pretend I'm blind you see
Put on some Armani clothes
And act like ET
Where I'm at is a cabbage patch,
no longer strewn with weeds
Have a Ghandi at me
Colour mags wish me well
No more, no get ahead.
Couldn't get ahead. Just couldn't get ahead.
06 Cruiser's Creek (04:17)
Bill Grundy's intro:
I have never seen five thousand yobbos in my life
I promise you I'm only going to speak to you now
For a few seconds
But a bit later I'm going to tell you
About how I made the fortune of punk rock
Since I think that music starts with Johann Sebastian Bach
And ends with Franz Schubert
You're going to have to listen a bit later
About my interview on television
The first they'd ever had
Bad language
See you later
Enjoy yourselves
07 L.A. (04:11)
Odeon
Sky
Uncanny
Bushes are in disagreement with the heat
L.A.
Uncanny
Person
They have filled boulevards with white snow, scum-ball
L.A.
This is my happening and it freaks me out
10 Mr. Pharmacist (02:20)
Mr Pharmacist
Can you help me out today
In your usual lovely way
Oh Mr Pharmacist I insist
That you give me some of that vitamin C
Mr Pharmacist
Dear Pharmacist won't you please
Give me some energy
Mr Pharmacist
Hey Mr Pharmacist
I'll recommend you to my friends
They'll be happy in the end
Mr Pharmacist can you help
Send me on a 'delic kick
Mr Pharmacist
Dear Pharmacist use your mind
You better stock me up for the wintertime
Mr Pharmacist
Hey Mr Pharmacist
Words cannot express
Feeling I suggest
Oh Mr Pharmacist I can plead
Gimme some of that powder I need
Mr Pharmacist
Dear Pharmacist I'll be back
With a handful of empty sack
Mr Pharmacist
13 Victoria (02:45)
It was bad, called obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Golden lawns, village green
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
I was born, lucky me
In the land that I love
Though I'm poor, I am free
When I go I shall fight
For this land I willl die
Let her sun never set on
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
16 Jerusalem (03:51)
And did those feet in ancient times,
Walk upon mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth on clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem
AIn the dark Satanic Mills?*
Jerusalem
It was the fault of the government
I was walking down the street
When I tripped up on a discarded banana skin
And on my way down I caught the side of my head
On a protruding brick chip
It was the government's fault
It was the fault of the government
I was very let down
From the budget I was expecting a one million quid handout
I was very disappointed
It was the government's fault
It was the fault of the government
I beecame semi-autistic type person
And I didn't have a pen
And I didn't heve a condom
It was the fault of the government
I think I'll emigrate to Sweden or Poland
And get looked after properly by government
Jerusalem
Bring Bow of burning gold:
Bring Arrows of desire:
Bring me Spear: O clouds unfold!
And though I rest from Mental Fight,
And though sword sleeps in hand
I will not rest til Jerusalem is built
In Englands green and pleasant Land
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