Customer Reviews

Handsome

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To start with, this is not an Ian Dury and the Blockheads CD - it is from Ian Dury's previous band, Kilburn & The High-Roads, a brief pub rock sensation from the U.K. that burned out almost as soon as they arrived, releasing only this one album. Unless you were hanging out by the jukebox in a smokey British pub in the early 70s, chances are you never heard of these guys.

But through the magic of the Internet, my friends, you now have another chance. Don't pass it up.

This CD is quite simply a blast - a crazy, unhinged treasure that should be blaring through the doorways of pubs and parties to this day. By "unhinged" I mean it has a let's-throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks manifesto behind it. It's part campy and overblown 1950s musical, part ska/reggae, part "Rocky Horror Picture Show." Played by a bunch of supremely talented guys who sound like a drunker, sleazier E- Street Band (as with Bruce's band, the saxophone player is the real star).

Sound good? Well, add to that a young Ian Dury - who I never saw live, but can just imagine prowling the stage in front of this band dressed in an old trenchcoat and hat, clutching a cigarette and pint of Guinness, singing off-key into the mic and not giving a damn. A droll and dirty old man who's signed up to be singer so he can get up on stage and check out the chicks.

In other words, brilliant musical theater. Elvis Costello covered one of their songs. Need I say more?

Sure, I know there are Ian Dury fans out there who might slam me for this review. I know nothing about his history, the Blockheads or this band. Go over to allmusic.com and learn all you want about these guys. But this is the impression this criminally overlooked CD gave me. Impress your friends and pick this up for yourself. Perhaps it's better they disappeared, for they'd have a hard time topping this smashing debut.