UK Subs: Acoustic XXIV – Album review

UK Subs – Acoustic XXIV (Captain Oi)

LP

Out Now

A UK Subs acoustic album previously available as a bonus CD with 2013’s XXIV makes its vinyl debut on limited purple.  As you’d expect there is a touch of the blues and the roar of pirates as well as some softer moments.

Back in 2013, twelve of this collection of thirteen songs featured as a bonus CD with the XXIV album, hence the title. This is the first time they have been released on vinyl. The final song Hard Times Cafe is previously unreleased.

When choosing to go acoustic, some punk rockers opt for an acoustic version of the full electric deal. See TV Smith for how it is possible to still electrify a room when you’re unplugged. Others use the opportunity to experiment with a softer approach. Charlie and co’s song writing style is clearly at play and you could easily imagine plenty of the songs to be delivered at full tilt through their usual backline. However, they appear to have embraced the range of styles frequently adopted in acoustic delivery.

There are a few studio effects at work here and there, a touch of bass, a sneaky electric guitar, the odd bit of percussion, but for the most part this record is really about the acoustic guitar and the human voice.

It comes on coloured vinyl, of course! This time round, it’s purple in keeping with the robes of the gun toting Our Lady of Guadalupe on the cover. The day UK Subs put something out on black is surely the end of days.  The gatefold sleeve features lyrics to the eleven songs which are Subs’ originals.

The album starts with the Mott The Hoople song Angel Of Eight Avenue and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, both sung by Alvin Gibbs (if I’m not mistaken). Metamorphosis follows and is either a celebration of a daughter coming of age or a pervy old man letching over a girl who he’s been keeping an eye on. I’ve gotta say it made me feel a little uncomfortable.

Charlie’s harp (presumably) is at play on Souls From Hell and this is a strong contender for the stand out track. His voice softens almost to a whisper, showing some thought has gone into how best to work with the songs.  I’m sure the Subs and producer Pat Collyer bounced the ideas around a bit before giving them a try.

Stop Global War is the opposite and also in the running for best song. A raw rough vocal from Mr Harper and a shoutalong chorus puts this in the boisterous drunken rabble vein of acoustic performances. Less Dylan and more MacGowan. A beautifully terse rockabilly solo (I’m guessing from Jet, and not strictly acoustic) livens up the middle section.

The A side closes on the unofficial anthem of Alberta, Four Strong Winds, which has been sung by hordes of Canadians and, possibly most famously, by Neil Young.. again Charlie’s harp does the biz.

Higher Tide opens up the B side and has at its base shades of Johnny Cash with Charlie’s vocal and harmonica, but the pirate crew vocals on the chorus lift it into a more rabble rousing place.  The Outsider has perhaps a little too much chorus on the guitar but the backing melodies are a redeeming feature. The title is a give away for this celebration of difference.

Thunders In The Rain is a nice tribute to Johnny Thunders, presumably voiced by Alvin Gibbs. It drops Thunders related song titles throughout, while also serving as a warning of the dangers of “that brown poison”. The vocal delivery at times spits so many words, almost regardless of the tune, that I am reminded of Mark E Smith. There’s a few cheeky bluegrass style acoustic accents that remind us that rock’n’roll was an amalgamation of so many different styles.

Stormy Day is another song that casts it net out to sea. This short little shanty has all the key ingredients for an old sea dog: ropes, sails, storms and a bottle of rum.

Little Black Crow draws on the blues, bluegrass and the folksy story telling of Woody Guthrie. It’s in Charlie’s harp, a certain dirtiness in the guitar and the lyrical journey. This is probably the stand out track on the album. It comes as no surprise that Charlie chose this as the title for his second solo acoustic LP.

Hard Times Cafe is more rock’n’rolling in an ambling, almost Johnny Moped, fashion. Not strictly acoustic but I think we can give the Subs leeway on that count.

As this LP is limited to 1000 copies I can predict it becoming a much sought after item for the UK Subs completists.

Available from Cherry Red imprint Captain Oi.

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All words by Nathan Brown. You can read more from Nathan on his Louder Than War archive over here.

Source: louderthanwar.com