2013....What's been released this year
and going round and round on my CD player. Well....In no particular
order we have.... JOHNNY THUNDERS with Hurt Me, this album showed his
tender side; stripped naked with just a guitar, a brittle and
beautiful listen NIKKI SUDDEN, The Boy From Nowhere Who Fell Out Of
The Sky is a six CD box set. A lovingly crafted and compiled
collection of Nikki’s work. Both these were reissued by the
wonderful Easy Action Records. Sweet Revenge by the criminally
ignored Punk'n'Rollers the LIGHTNING RAIDERS, was not so much a
re-issue, because back in the day it was never released. Knox may
not be touring with THE VIBRATORS but On The Guest List shows he's
still part of the band, with a collection of songs that rank amongst
the best he's written, and all supported by a cast of special
guests. The UK SUBS, they just keep going, and going and getting
better as they go, maturing with age disgracefully. CHARLIE HARPER
and CAPTAIN SENSIBLE, this was a real surprise Too Much
Reality....took Punk to a new Psychedelic underworld of neon grey.
GLM, released three blinding Rocky yet slightly poppy download only
tracks from their website. DEADCUTS, do just that....they cut you
dead! A switch-blade to the throat of all the taste-makers and
trend-setters. Deadcuts are out there and have got something special
going on. BABYSHAMBLES Sequel To The Prequel, a brilliant album,
Pete Doherty has been the only real Great British Rock'n'Roller for
the last....fuck knows how long. THE MOB returned with a single Rise
Up! an anthemic call to arms. THE FITS, reformed legends of the UK82
Punk scene, returned with some Punk Rockin' action with their Lead On
EP. NEW MODEL ARMY, released a dark and moody master piece, and
JAMES KING AND THE LONE WOLVES crawled out of the wreckage with some
sublime swamp rock blues. Finally a couple of Punk'n'Roll
supergroups cut through the crap this year. THE CRUNCH with their
album Busy Making Noise which is a blast of pure Power Pop Punk,
their line up includes former members of the Cockney Rejects, Lords
of New Church/Sham 69 The Clash and Diamond Dogs. THE INTERNATIONAL
PLAYBOYS, include a Twenty Flight Rocker (Gary Twinn) Sex Pistol
(Glen Matlock) a Gen X/Chelsea (James Stevenson) Blondie (Clem
Burke.) released three stompin' tracks via their web page. Hopefully
an album will be released in 2014. Finally PRIMAL SCREAM's 2013 was
a real return to form, a musical and lyrical statement of intent.
Well there you have it a year in my Rock'n'Roll world....Here's to
the next one!
