26×26 – U is for The Undertones
This isn’t about safety pins, spitting, anarchy in the UK, glue sniffing and the sound of the suburbs.
It’s fizzy orange pop, thieving Mars bars from the corner shop, snorkel parkas, zits, exchanging football cards, Doc Martens, a quick snog round the back of the bike sheds, and the joy and angst of being a hormone-stuffed delinquent teenager.
A sugar-rush debut, including John Peel’s favourite song ever. Feargal’s wobbly wail, the O’Neill brothers’ buzzsaw attack, plus Michael Bradley and Billy Doherty solid at the back.
Sixteen tracks, two minutes or so each, five guys, three chords, one whole lot of fun. It might just be perfect.
P.S. I could have just as easily written about: U2 and the album Achtung Baby which is remarkable for one reason – it’s the only U2 album I like. But I decided to write about another bunch of Irishmen instead.
Wonder what V will be?
Top o’ the evening to you, Captain! Good call. Am also a fan of the unpopular “Achtung Baby”, would have been equally interesting in hearing your thoughts on that.
Re video clip – “Jimmy Jimmy” was never one of my favourite Undertones songs but how good does it sound there! Two and a half minutes of punk-pop class.
Agonised over this one, really I did. Achtung Baby is great. More experimental, less pretentious, the best thing they’ve ever done.
This is a brilliant Undertones clip.. what I love about it is that they start off bouncing around the stage, really edgy, but when they’ve settled in, the realisation comes over them “Hey, this is the Whistle Test and we’re rocking it” and the smiles and nods to each other start coming. Great band. I spit on your Green Day – ptui! This is where it’s at.
NIce choice! I also like Achtung, but Undertones was a better choice i think.