Fall Heads Roll

Mark E. Smith-ah and his new-ish incarnation of this nearly 30-year old band crank out what I think of as middle-aged punk. It’s not the thrashing hardcore you’d get from a bunch of teens but on the other hand, it’s so much more vital and vibrant than any number of “mature” rockers’ “product”. Sure, MES’ concerns run more to external insults and provocations than to matters of the heart and goodness knows, in these times that would tend to produce an angry brand of art in any sentient being, but even with that factored in, his music and lyrics leave no doubt that the man is incredibly pissed off. No FCCs that I caught – that’s not really his M.O. His sarcasm cuts much more deeply than mere profanities can express.

1. Cowpoke/reggae rhythm propping up a more-warbly-than-usual MES vocal
2. Nasty, simple, staccato synth riff eventually picked up by guitar mini-army
3. Massive and noisy three-chorder; MES in good voice and form; lads chant/ shout along
4. Almost a pretty melody and a mellow vocal
5. And the preceding mellowness is almost immediately wiped away by a brutal beat, a mocking, nee-nah guitar line, MES spitting out venom, and finally, punishing power-chording
6. Quick reprise of track 4 and similar to it
7. Rubbery bassline, as if the instrument were detuned, and an equally elastic, swinging, drum figure; ultra-cheesy synth; MES sounding increasingly desperate
8. Uptempo with gang-chorus, a pretty drop-out section, some surf-guitar touches
9. Another uptempo pounder, this time with a bit of a galloping Western flavor
10. Turning up the tempo, the volume, the energy … youwanner!!!
11. I want to skip down the street with this playing at top volume; an enthusiastic ode to a great show
12. A slow acoustic shuffle
13. Another John Peel favorite, the Undertones, would have been proud of this ultrapoppy song; tuneful, upbeat, snotty teen lyrics, spot-on singing
14. Atonal guitar over bass carrying the melodic duties; very catchy