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Rating:
As a student, I found myself in urgent need of money and sacrificed my vinyl LP collection, which had nearly reached 2,000 pieces.
I made Disco D'oro in Bologna happy (one of the first managements). I decided to choose 100 LPs "to save," to preserve a piece of life, I believe.
Among the first LPs I set aside, I immediately picked the two albums by the RUTS. "The Crack" has already been reviewed here and received excellent reviews and comments. There are three groups from those years that created three milestones and then dissolved for various reasons. Sex Pistols, Dexy's Midnight Runners (the second album is practically another band aside from Rowland), and the RUTS.
The Ruts invented Punk-Reggae from scratch, a softer version of the genre is by the Members (also just one album), which would be worth a mention separately. So why highlight "Grin and Bear it"? Because it's the collection of their singles that you won't find on The Crack, and it contains four live tracks that are almost better than the studio version.
"Babylon's Burning", for example, is better in this live version, in my opinion. There's "In A Rut", incredibly powerful with its Reggae contamination. And then, they use the sax, a fantastic instrument. One day I was in a car with the guitarist of a local band, and when he heard "West One" for the first time since I've known him, he asked, who are these?
In short, a timeless album, not dated, even today it hasn't lost an iota of its engaging power.
Not to be missed.
Six stars.
Alex
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Staring at the Rude Boys (03:10)
It's a very small world in the middle of a crowd
the room gets dark when the music gets loud
treble cuts thru' when the rythmn takes the bite
but there's no room to move 'cause the floor is packed tight
A voice shouts loud
'we'll never surrender'
A voice in the crowd
'Never surrender'
A hand in the crowds flying propaganda:
'Never surrender, we'll never surrender'
The skins in the corner are staring at the bar
the rude boys are dancing to some heavy heavy ska
it's getting so hot people are dripping with sweat
the punks in the corner are speeding like a jet
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys...
A bunch of peers march in on the DM's
with some standing there saluting the air
they wanna be pirates but the sea is not calm
tattooed crossbows on their arm
A voice shouts loud
'we'll never surrender'
A voice in the crowd
'Never surrender'
Another hand fly fly propaganda,
propaganda, propaganda
The lights come alive in a blinding flash
dance floor clears as the mutants clash
everyone leaves when the heavy's arrive
someone hits the floor, someone takes a dive
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys...
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys...
(fighting)
we'll never surrender x 8
08 S.U.S. (03:20)
Down in the street just waiting for a bus
This cop comes up, their giving me the SUS
They said ‘Hey sonny, I think you're in our file.
Well, you better come with us for a while'
We got you on SUS
You look to obvious
You better come with us
And don't make no fuss
We got you on SUS
So they shake me down
Try to make me look like a clown
I just stare at the ground
You better come with us
(We got you on SUS)
You look too obvious
(You better come with us)
And don't make no fuss
(Too obvious)
You better come with us
(Don't make no fuss)
We got you well,
We got you on SUS
Solo
You look too obvious
(We got you on SUS)
You better come with us
(You look too obvious)
And don't make no fuss
(You better come with us)
We got you on SUS
(You better come with us)
Don't make no fuss
(You better come with us)
We got you on SUS
(You better come with us)
We got you well
(You better come with us)
We got you well
We got you in SUS
09 Babylon's Burning (02:18)
Babylon's burning
You're burning the street
You're burning your houses
With anxiety
With anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
With anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
You're burning the street
You're burning the ghetto
With anxiety
With anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
With anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning, baby
Can't you see?
Babylon's burning
With anxiety
You'll burn as your work
You'll burn at your play
smouldering
With ignorance and hate
And with anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
With anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning, baby
Can't you see?
Babylon's burning
With anxiety
Babylon's burning
Babylon's burning
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