Customer Reviews

Neither Washington Nor Moscow

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Musically, the Redskins developed a mix of punk and R&B soul. The lyrics are basically extended slogans and leftist rants--good for therapy when you're sick of your boss. Neither Washinton Nor Moscow is a classic of politically oriented pop, and the fact that the cd comes with some of the singles makes it all the more attractive.

I saw Billy Bragg doing a version of Lean on Me, from the back of a flatbed truck on the Brixton High Road in 1994, and it reminded me of just how good this record is. Lots of soulfull singing, infectious bass hooks, and plenty of brass fill out powerful tunes and lyrics about the importance of overthrowing capitalism. This is an essential 1980's recording. This band really could have been as big as the Beatles if they hadn't been full-time Socialist Workers Party revolutionaries. You think the Clash were hardcore? You think Dexy's Midnight Runners were as soulful as whiteboys get? Buy this; it'll knock your ears off.

If your a fan of the Clash and the Jam, then buy this. Very left wing message with a consistency of great tunes rarely matched-it is clearly one of the best albums ever and criminally ignored.

this album's been out of print for years. it's finally available, and the import price is basically worth it. the redskins dramatize the tension between great propaganda and great pop music. it is as much a product of the left as billy bragg and the clash. this album is as indicative of the times it was written as bruce springsteen's "nebraska" or anything ever written by phil ochs. the musical power of this album might be diluted by recent inferior soundalikes (third-wave ska and rocket from the crypt), but nothing in 1986 came close, including the clash! their most powerful single ("unionize!") is not included on this re-issue, but there's plenty of later, more soulful material that sounds like a harder rocking housemartins or even the communards.

This is pure magic! A wonderful blend of brass, guitar strumming, and clashing drums all topped off wonderfully by Chris Dean's oh so sultry and angry voice. Sounds a lot like early Dexy's, and The Clash, with one of the bonus tracks 16 Tons sounding very much like The Stray Cats way back when.

Songs that stand out include The Power Is Yours, It Can Be Done!, Take No Heroes!, Keep On Keepin' On! and of course Bring It Down! This is a must for anyone who needs uplifting. All the tunes are catchy and just so full of energy, and it makes a change to listen to songs with a real message, rather than just fluff.

This is quite simply a great piece of work. Listen and enjoy!

A great album by the band that wanted to the band that wanted to sing like The Supremes and walk like The Clash. But for some reason Universal missed off 1 track that was on the original vinyl release. The Redskins sound like a mix of The Clash and Searching For The Young Soul Rebels era Dexys Midnight Runners.

Also worth buying is the Redskins tribute album 'Reds Strike The Blues'.

The Clash meets the Four Tops is how I would describe this album. Keep on Keepin On captures the miners struggle by allowing the listener to understand and relate to what was happening in Britain in the early 80's. Lean on Me, Bring it Down and Take No Heroes show that the Redskins can also compare with the likes of The Jam when they put their mind to it, but the stand out track is surely It Can Be Done, with its brassy introduction into what should surely have been a UK no 1, if not for the bands anti establishment stance. This album can be summed up by saying that it is one of the few which posseses the power to cross over Northern Soul and post Punk styles and carries it off superbly.

These guys really had a deep understanding and obvious love for for soul music, combined with good songwriting skills and tight punk energy... and great skinhead style.

Great music here as the band themselves put it "Sing like the supremes and walk like the Clash" This has got to be one of the most overlooked bands around. Maybe because of their political outlook and the whole Oi! Skinhead left wing/right wing thing who knows?

Anyways, this is realy good music. Songs that stand out are 'Kick over the statues' and 'Lean on me'. Imagine the Clash with some brass added, throw in a little ruts and a fair bit of soul and you have the Redskins.

Yeh maybe you are not too big on heavy political music but if you dont get this one you are realy missing out.

This album is dangerous because kids might hear it and become socialists. Anything outside mainstream US values is evil (see reviews of Billy Bragg's 'Talking with the Taxman About Poetry').