Customer Reviews

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

 

 

After seeing The Undertones, one of my favourite bands, make a welcome return to Brighton in July, I couldn't wait to buy this album. Minus the ubiquitous Feargal Sharkey, the band put on a show that left as all as high as kites, while we drank nothing stronger than mineral water. Feargal's boots are now filled by Paul McLoone, and he is more than capable of the job. The album is full of songs that fit in seamlessly with their early back catalogue. The first single off the album "Thrill Me", had me singing along on the second hearing, and I was soon joining in with "Everything but You", and "I Need your Love the Way it Used to Be". While these guys have matured beyond writing about "Teenage Kicks", they clearly enjoy writing and performing their music. Harmonies abound, and from the 3 bar blues of "Ride the Rough Escalator" to the Johnny Kidd-esque "Touch", this album reflects the influences of great musicians who can still cut it. To Derry's finest - Respect.

Twenty years after their last album, the O'Neill brothers decided to give their seminal punk-pop band another shot at glory. Miraculously, they hit their target. Distinctive vocalist Feargal Sharkey didn't re-enlist, which, in theory at least, should have scuttled the project right from the getgo, but new singer Paul McLoone (uncredited in the liner notes) does a fairly mean Feargal impression when it's needed. Opening song "Thrill Me" sounds like it came straight off a remastered "Hypnotized", "Winter Sun" flirts with the psychedelic R&B of "The Sin of Pride", and the rest almost manages to reconcile the band's relentless adventurousness with their power pop roots. I just hope they don't make us wait another 20 years for the next one.

I suspected this to be a bit bland coming 20 years after their last classic album (all their original albums, 1979-1983 are ABSOLUTE CLASSICS), but to quote the Undertones followup band, That Petrol Emotion, this is a MANIC POP THRILL. The first track alone is worth the price!! The rest are loads of fun, as well. It's not as classic as their first 4 albums, but I still give it 5 stars because it beats just about any other pop/punk being recorded lately. The Undertones are STILL awesome! Feargal is no longer aboard, but the singer they have is FANTASTIC!

It's almost unthinkable, really, that Derry's fabled good time teen punks of yesteryear would record and continue without frontman Feargal Sharkey let alone that their output would be anything less than embarrassing. Yes, reform without Feargal is what they've done and the results are nowhere near embarrassing. John O'Neill still kicks arse as a songwriter of tight, focused greasy little ditties where girls and more girls are the predestined and predominant order of the day. With Paul Mcloone in the vocal slot and the rest of the 'Tones kicking out the jams at ten, combined hooky, infectious melodies, fifth gear tempos chock full of lovely bridges and refrains, and the O'Neill Brothers as inspired as ever. Virtually everything here is solid, but "Thrill me," "I Need Your Love The Way It Used To Be," and "Everything But You"-the first three tracks-are so good you might never get past them. Other knockouts are the rave up "You Can't Say That," the anthemic "Enough," and "Oh Please," by Michael Bradley and the heavier than god garage rock of "Shut Down," are enough to make a punter wet himself.

OK...... coming back with a new lead singer? No Feargal? Such a distinctive voice to replace. And the verdict? Pretty damn good I might say! I have been a Undertones fan since 1980 (I'm 39) and was tickled pink to learn that one of my favorite bands had reformed and were recording again. The first three songs on this disc had bouncing around my living room like I was a teenager back in the day. Keep in mind this is no nostalgia trip here. The Undertones have updated their sound and also have built upon their formula of old. Standout tracks for me were: "Thrill Me", "I Need Your Love...", "Everything But You", "Enough", "Joyland". The O'Neil brothers continue to display such great guitar work and the songwriting is up to par with their older stuff. BUY THIS!!!!!!!

20 years after their last (original) release, the greatest band in the history of the world bar none are back with the best album of the 21st century so far. With Derryman Paul McCloone taking over vocal duties seamlessly from Feargal Sharkey, this is the third album they should have made (as John O'Neill said to me last year after a cracking show in Rotterdam). It doesn't disappoint. Highlights are recent single "Thrill Me", "She Wants Everything But You" and "I Need Your Love The Way It Used To Be", all three rocking humdingers in the style of the eponymous first album and second "Hypnotised" with none of the verve and energy lost in the creeping years of middle age. Indeed, this album rocks like a rampant teenager. If you don't buy it, you must be mad.

20 years after their last (original) release, the greatest band in the history of the world bar none are back with the best album of the 21st century so far. With Derryman Paul McCloone taking over vocal duties seamlessly from Feargal Sharkey, this is the third album they should have made (as John O'Neill said to me last year after a cracking show in Rotterdam). It doesn't disappoint. Highlights are recent single "Thrill Me", "She Wants Everything But You" and "I Need Your Love The Way It Used To Be", all three rocking humdingers in the style of the eponymous first album and second "Hypnotised" with none of the verve and energy lost in the creeping years of middle age. Indeed, this album rocks like a rampant teenager. If you don't buy it, you must be mad.

I read one of the review on Amazon UK that quotes John O'Neill saying that this was the third album that the Undertones should have made. If this is true and his intent was to undo the work that he and the band did on Positive Touch and Sin of Pride, then they have succeeded brilliantly.

However, I am one of the many undertones fans who liked the creative growth of the band that occurred throughout their too brief career. Yeah, there a lot of songs about love and girls on this CD, but is that enough for a bunch of guys edging fifty to be singing about? The album is okay, but nothing up to the level of Wednesday Week or Its Going to Happen.

My other disappointment is with Paul McLoone as the new vocalist. Much has been written recently about how he, being a Derryman, fits seamlessly into the band. But I have to disagree; he is mercenary at best. I would even go as far as to say that Steve Mack sound more like he belongs in the Undertones than Paul McLoone. Listening to this CD makes me really miss Feargal Sharkey.

Overall, I don't see the inspired effort on this release that I was so hoping would be there. Perhaps in time, they will once again release some truly inspired music: but for right now, I see these guys just becoming yet another oldies band.