Customer Reviews

Horsebox

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In many ways Leatherface is the type of band referred to as "influential", but that never receives the attention they deserve until they're long gone. Well, since reforming after a five year hiatus, they've certainly made up for lost time. Last year's split Lp and tour with Hot Water Music brought their old fans out of the woodwork, and has created legions of new ones.

The first part of their career - from about 1989 up to 1994, was just the beginning of the legend, with this new album Leatherface is quickly cementing it's hold as the premiere punk rock band going these days. Having already created what has been heralded as the best pop-punk album of all time (1991's Mush), this new record doesn't cover new territory as much as it expands on the patented sound and feel of their past efforts.

Despite some lineup changes, everything is here; the dual guitar attack, raging drums, tons of melody and Frankie N.W. Stubbs' unique voice (think Bob Mould meets Lemmy from Motorhead, seriously!). Founding members Stubbs and Andrew Laing stay true to the song writing structure and style which drew the band's previous cult status. The new members (guitarist Leighton Evans and bassist David Burdon) mesh well with the original members and even contribute songs of their own to the record which fit right into place.

The record starts off with "Sour Grapes", a shameless pop song Husker Du would have loved to have written. From there the album blazes through to a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" which, much like their cover of "Message in a Bottle" on Mush, puts the original to shame. "Lorrydriver's Son" continues with a poppy intro, followed by a heavy hook line that will be stuck in your head for days. "Ship Song", a Nick Cave cover, throws some piano into the mix, and highlights Frankie Stubbs' vocal talents while adding plenty of punch to the original. A couple songs ("Watching You Sleep" and "Soundbites") get lost in the mix - a little muddled and out of place, but the others more than make up for their inadequacies. It's the last third of the album that really shines, though - highlighted by "Kill DJ's" ("They hate the music they play... polishing turds in the name of records... I'll have to kill you"). The final song, "Box Jellyfish" wraps things up neatly with their perfect blend of "modernist pop with punk attitude".

Horsebox is an album which will please a great many people - die hard Leatherface fans and new coverts alike. This new record certainly has the feel of a conquering hero returning, and it lives up to the promise which was left unrealized after their 1994 break up.

Leatherface are one of the most talented punk bands in existence. I have been consistently amazed by their work on every album. Everything hits hard in their songs, but each contain such subtle, intricate musicality that makes one wonder why they stopped playing for such a long time.

About 5 years ago, I had a friend who said that Leatherface was her favorite band. I hadn't heard of them, and I couldn't find their stuff anywhere then. As soon as I found out they were together again I bought whatever I could and was totally...totally blown away by their records. Their talent is unbelieveable. What is even more unbelieveable is that every time they play the states, they almost always play first in the lineup. I would never want to play after leatherface, since their shows are the only thing better than their albums. I suggest to anyone wanting to understand what punk is about to buy anything you can from Leatherface, especially horsebox, mush, the split lp, and the soon to be re-released Last on BYO.

the fact of the matter is that mush is incontrovertibly leatherface's finest hour, featuring inventive chords, biting melodies, and an irestible energy that propels the album all the way from beginning to end. horsebox is kind of a maturation of leatherface's sound (and little wonder with the intervening years), and while some of the straight-ahead energy seems to have been drained from the band, they make up for it with more outrightly melodic songs that still manage to meld together a vaguely metallic guitar with propulsive percussion. there's more of a concern for variety in these songs than their earlier work, and the dynamics of the album are certainly more extreme than others, but there's an overall cohesiveness that makes this a very staisfying piece of work. i don't find myself humming these songs in the same way i do the tracks off of mush, but the best moments - especially the ripping opener "sour grapes" - make you sit up and take notice, especially as the tracks veer between quiet moments and raging slabs of sound. frankly if you're at all a fan of this band you really should own this record, but don't buy it expecting another mush. still, it's only mush's inescapable shadow that keeps this from being their best effort.

finally, the comparison between this and new day rising seems especially apt, what with husker du's own dueling masterpieces.

Leatherface storms back with a record filled with bracing, menacing, sincere, and heartfelt rock and roll. These guys should have been in everybody's cd player a long time ago. Mush is one of the best punk albums in the history of humans [I'm not jesting, but good luck finding it]and Horsebox similarly meshes words and music that forces you to think as you tap your feet and move your head. Leatherface is one of those bands that could only be Leatherface. Meaning they do not sound like anyone/everyone else and they seem to make music as if that is all they know. Horsebox is one of those rare albums that makes you forget about all the schlock you've had shoved down your throats over the years by corporations masquerading as music companies. Do not miss out on this! Remember when you first heard MC5, Husker Du, Swervdriver, Wedding Present, Clean, Stooges, and any other music that changed the way you viewed all other music? Leatherface are one of those bands that will endure whether the masses except them or not. If you hear them you will forever be searching for other bands that match their truly awesome power and poetic vision.

For those unfamilliar with their works, Sunderland, England's Leatherface are easily the most original, least nostalgic punk/post-punk band of the last fifteen years. In particular, their 1991 album "Mush" (their third overall) is hearlded as a benchmark recording in a genre that is too often stale and self-derivative. After two more fine albums ("Minx" and "The Last"), as well as a slew of singles and EP's, the band split in December, 1993.

This, then, is their first new full-length album in nearly seven years, and it lives up to every expectation. Far more than a mere re-hash of "Mush" or any other previous works, "Horsebox" actually manages to find Leatherface at just about the point they would have reached had they not split. Fans of their older, punkier work will find plenty to sink their teeth into in the likes of "Eddy Bumble", "Soundbites", and especially the white-hot "Watching You Sleep." At the same time, however, the band is equally at home with the more reflective, mid-tempo work that gravel-voiced singer/songwriter Frankie Stubbs did with the two bands (Pope and Jesse) that he led during Leatherface's hiatus, as typified by the breathtaking "Lorrydriver's Son" and the catchy "Closing Time."

As is always the case with Leatherface, the band (particularly explosive drummer Andrew Laing) is tight and imaginative in its arrangements, and Stubbs' lyrics are absolutely second-to-none, at once poetic, incisive and clear-headed.

In short, if you believe that punk rock can be something more substantial than a silly, Blink-182/Green Day style nostalgia trip for twelve-year-olds, then you owe it to yourself to order this disc immediately. And if you don't believe that it can, then you need to order this disc even sooner, because it will change your mind.

One reviewer below summed it up perfectly. Late Husker Du meets Motorhead! British punk is so underrated its a crime. This is realy a first class CD and you need to do yourself a favour and pick it up. Great melodic tunes played with pace and energy.

If you like this check out Snuff, Visions of Change and Heresy.

"Mush" is hailed as the definitive Leatherface album, the one they couldn't top. It's a great album, and many bands couldn't top it. With "Horsebox", Leatherface ups the ante. It is raw enough to please even the most hardcore of punk fans and melodic enough to steal the hearts of Beatles fans. It is the "New Day Rising" of its time. These songs are hard enough to create a circle pit and melodic enough to fall asleep to. Good luck listening to anything else for awhile after you get your hands on this gem.

If you ain't heard this band then you have bypassed the greatest punk band to come out of Britain. This album like all of theirs is awesome. I pity you poor yanks cos 'Mush' ain't available. If you see 'Mush' anywhere then sell your house to get it. It is the diamond in the crown and you will never hear anything better!!

Cripes!! This album blew my mind on the first listening. Guess what?! Gets better each time.. I've listen to quite a few ablums in my time and boy rarely have a heard a punk band play with such passion. Punk by any other name could only hope to sound as sweet with vocals somewhere between a Tom Waits and a Mike Ness. Driving Guitars and the whole deal. I say do whatever it takes to get this album. The passion the filth the fury you owe it to yourself...

These guys are not new to this game and this cd is full of great tunes. I highly recommend buying this cd if you are sick of all the crappy bands on MTV (Blink 182, etc.). This cd is really really great, and you should try to see them live if you get the chance; they are better live than on the cds.