STRANGLERS RATTUS NORVEGICUS RARE DJ PROMO LP

STRANGLERS, THE RATTUS NORVEGICUS LPCategory / Style / Moods: Rock * New Wave * Punk * British Punk * Pop/Rock * Dance-Rock Moods * Fiery * Acerbic * Literate * Cynical/ Sarcastic * Plaintive * Confident * Gutsy * Sophisticated * Stylish * Brash * Volatile * Confrontational9.17 / 2007-12-11 S asocc1977 A&M US LPTITLE: RATTUS NORVEGICUSARTIST: STRANGLERS, THECONDITIONCOVER: VG+ BBVINYL: VG++ TO NEAR MINTClick here for info on grading and abbreviationsRARE PROMO WITH WARNING STICKER COMPLETE WITH INNER SLEEVEClick the pix for a better view TRACKS: Disc: 11.SometimesStranglers 2.Goodbye ToulouseBlack, Burnel, Cornwell ... 3.London LadyStranglers 4.Princess of the StreetsBlack, Burnel, Cornwell ... 5.Hanging AroundBlack, Burnel, Cornwell ... 6.PeachesBlack, Burnel, Cornwell ... 7.(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)Stranglers 8.UglyStranglers 9.Down in the SewerBlack, Burnel, Cornwell ... Review by David Cleary Like the Vibrators, the Stranglers were an older band which managed to gain visibility and success through association with Britain's punk movement. Musically, the group is much more polished than some of their rawer brethren such as the Adverts and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Stranglers' early work is most properly described as stripped-down pop played with a hardcore sensibility; fairly lengthy songs with frequent solo breaks, prominent keyboard usage, and occasional employment of vocal harmony sets them apart from their peers. But snarling lead singing that puts forth macho/critical/distasteful lyrics predominates here, clearly showing the group's punk affinity. Most of the songs on this album fit the description of hardcore pop to a tee, but there are a few deviations from this model. "Princess of the Streets" is a slow-tempo selection with blueslike echoes. The ambitious "Down in the Sewer" crosses the concept of episodic numbers like the Who's "A Quick One" with early-'60s instrumentals. And the energetic "London Lady" is almost a true punk song -- or at least as close as the band gets to one. While not the equal of their best album, No More Heroes, this release is solid and worthwhile, a rewarding listen. Biography by Dave Thompson The Stranglers formed as the Guildford Stranglers in the southern England village of Chiddington (near Guildford) in 1974, plowing a heavily Doors-influenced furrow through the local pub rock scene -- such as it was. Of the four founding members, only Hugh Cornwell had any kind of recognizable historical pedigree, having played alongside Richard Thompson in the schoolboy band Emil & the Detectives. According to Thompson, their repertoire stretched from "Smokestack Lightning" and the blues, through to "old Kiki Dee B-sides," while their gigging was largely confined to the Hornsey School of Art, where Thompson's sister was Social Secretary. The Guildford Stranglers were confined to a similar circuit. It was 1975 before they ventured into even the London suburbs, although once there -- and having shortened their name to the less parochial Stranglers -- things began moving quickly. The established pub rock scene was dying and promoters were willing to give any unknown band a break, simply to try and establish a new hierarchy. Thus it was that as the first stirrings of punk began to make their own presence felt on the same circuit, the Stranglers were on board the bandwagon from the beginning. Their early songs, too, radiated the same ugly alienation that was the proto-punk movement's strongest calling card. Material like "Peasant in the Big Shitty," "I Feel Like a Wog," "Down in the Sewer," and "Ugly" itself were harsh, uncompromising, and grotesque, a muddy blurge of sound cut through with Dave Greenfield's hypnotically Doors-like keyboards that was possessed of as much attitude as it was detectable musical competence. One uses the word guardedly, but "highlights" of this period were included on the 1994 archive release Live, Rare & Unreleased 1974-1976. This exquisite piece of retro music history is a vinyl sound recording (not a CD). Please visit the A Sound Deal store for similar items and information on grading and shipping. Add me to your favorites for red hot sales bulletins and sneak previews of upcoming products. Combine Items to Save $$$! Click here to check the store for more!©A Sound Deal