Customer Reviews

Bops Babes Booze & Bovver

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just picked up this record, the only Nips music available to the general public, and I thought maybe the case was wrong and that someone slipped some early Clash into this sleeve. The spitfire delivery of Joe Strummer or Johnny Rotten leaps out over three chords and a bassline straight from the Ramones first record. Shane MacGowan barely sounds like the Shane we would all come to love as the frontman of the Pogues and yet this record is undeniably pure Shane. If you want the Irish stuff, don't look here. If you wanna throw your fist in the air and pogo like it's 1977, spend the ten bucks.

I highly suggest this album as a fascinating insight into the musical development of Shane MacGowan. Great music? Not really, but it is pretty good, with a few of the tracks being extremely good-- All The Time and Gabrielle especially. There is definitely a Kinks-vibe to the Nips' sound, and it's not anywhere near pure "punk" as I expected. But, as always, anything featuring Shane is worth your time and money.

This recording is much more than documentation of Shane MacGowan's art at an early stage of development. It is a damn fine record. A fusion of punk, rockabilly, and genius.Rake at the Gates of Hell: Shane MacGowan in Context

looking for fun music to jam out to?

look no further!

all 10 songs on this set are punk rockabilly at its finest.

everything's tuneful, a real treat for the ears!

from the beautiful lyrics, to the enchanting vocals and instruments

my only complaint is that they didn't add more to this.

would be nice if they someday decide to release a "complete set" of the nips.

The Nipple Erectors and then (presumably under record company pressure and delusions of respectability) the Nips, were Shane MacGowan's first group and this is a cracking little collection of ultra-rare cuts which initially appeared as singles and lp tracks way back in the late 70's.

It's a colourful, angry, Stonesy sound with irresistibly twangy rockabilly guitar, and it'll come as a surprise to those familiar with MacGowan's slurry (and VASTLY over-rated!) later work, to hear him here - alert and alive, coming on like a junior Adam Faith with clarity and direction.

As was de rigeur at the time, this is a caveman music, bold and true. Some of MacGowan's lyrics are sure to raise an eyebrow in these killjoy PC times;
"Just shut up and lay on the bed,
When I'm finished with you I'm gonna break his head.."

Long-lost singles 'Gabrielle' and 'All the Time in the World' are high-points, but there's a rough and tuneful quality to most of 'Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver'.

It's a bit short, but makes up for that with consistency and passion, and there's a brill picture of the band in Teddy-boy gear (just on their way to slash some cinema seats no doubt - and Gordon in the Government thinks knife crime is a new thing..), MacGowan looking not a day over 12 but still sewer-fungus ugly, is worth the (ridiculously cheap) price alone.

Looking at the seconds-from-death-shambles he is now, it's nice to see him bouncy and agile, launching himself and his crazy harmonica into this ultra-cool and pumped-up selection.

As yer man says: (without the merest hint of an Irish accent...!)
"Just lie back and think of England,
Gonna put my hands on you.."
You can treat his brilliantly cavalier cd in the same disrespectful fashion.

This CD is worth every penny. Im glad I bought it. Its stripped down rock 'n' roll at its best. Like Shane? Buy It!

It might be pre-punk, but it's fast, it's crude, and it's enormously catchy rock & roll. It's angsty in the best way, that is, the words ring true but they come off with a sense of rebellious fun. If you like British Invasion bands and appreciated the punk movement, or if you liked the Pogues as well as more traditionally-styled rock, you'll really enjoy this.

this is an awesome CD. very old 70's punk sounding. if you like bands like the clash and the ramones, you'll love this CD.