This is a definite departure from the early singles, and it’s not a complaint. It seems like they started with a survey of the late ‘70s with Wire and Gang of Four and are now exploring the early ‘80s with XTC with a Style Council feel in the mix. The paces are slower, more mellowly melodic, but, fuck it, dude, they can write great songs, and there’s not enough of that in the world. Is there a Jesus and Mary Chain tribute album coming out that I’m unaware about? This is second cover I’ve heard by a punk band in the last two months (Dan Padilla, too), and it’s interesting to hear that stuff again without that wash of zzzzzzzzzzz that the JandMC put all the way through albums that had a tendency (although a fine band) to smoosh a lot of their songs together for me.
–todd (Seeing Eye)