Tuesday 21 February 2012

What's in a Name?

While Evan Dando was disregarding his punk weeds; dressing himself up in his best bib and tucker; preparing to flirt with the mainstream; a three-piece band from Hendon, North London, laid down some extremely well executed punk songs, proving that it wasn't over: there was life in the old beast yet.

The other thing Snuff proved is that the Brits do this kind of thing so much better.

When Snuff played a crazy cover - 'Purple Haze' in this case, or The Shondells' 'I think We're Alone Now' (probably brought to mind if you think of Tiffany [fuck, remember her?], as I'm sure Snuff did) - they actually revitalised it, put something into it; rather than just adding it to an album as a kind of hip post-modern joke.

('Purple Haze' here at 240bpm not only sounds kind of wonderful, it also sounds totally liberated!)

But then that punk thing was really very British.
Yeah, yeah, I know, New York Dolls, Ramones and the whole CBGB's thing; but really it's obvious, there were always subdivisions in the overarching generic term, and British punk is distinctly different.

Never heard Snuff?
Give this a listen, make the comparison.
But I'm sure you'll agree: this is one of the best punk rock albums made in the post-post-punk era.

And like Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the title of this album is pretty damn tricky to pronounce.

Snuff - Snuffsaidbutgorblimeyguvstonemeifhedidn'tthrowawobblerchachachachachachachachachayou'regoinghomeinacosmicambience (1989)

Words of Wisdom
Some - How
Now You Don't Remember
Not Listening
I See/H.M. Trout
Too Late
Another Girl
I Think We're Alone Now
Win Some, Lose Some
Pass Me By
Keep the Beat
Night of the Li's
Purple Haze

Decent vinyl rip @320kbs
'ave a sniff o' Snuff here

P.S.
In the same way Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is abbreviated down to Llanfair PG, the Snuff album is more often referred to as Snuff Said.
Shame.

3 comments:

OLDNIK said...

You are seriously giving me some blasts from the past!!
Another great album,
You should put up the Flibbidydibbidydob ep as well, another classic that captures the good time feel, as well as the great song choices they make

roy rocket said...

Hey, you're not paying attention:

http://rocketremnants.blogspot.com/2009/03/thrash-me-darling.html

;) roy

OLDNIK said...

I stand corrected!