Search - Stranglers :: Norfolk Coast

Back to Their Best!?!

Warren BONES | Sydney | 12/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Seeing the Stranglers live in 1979, in Sydney, is an event that changed my life. At the height of their powers, they tore the place apart. That single experience kindled a love of music that I had not previously had. Over the years, the Stranglers and I both moved on and by the time they released Aural Sculpture I had completely lost interest. I missed them when they toured again in the mid-80's and wasn't at all disappointed.



After around 20 years, the Stranglers returned to our shores in 2004. I had no preconceptions about what I might see but there was no way I was going to miss this, assuming that it would be a greatest hits show. I knew that Hugh had departed years earlier but I had no idea what his replacements would bring to the band. The show was awesome - they played most of the songs I wanted to hear and a good swag of tracks from Norfolk Coast. To my surprise, the new material shone amongst some of my all-time favourite songs. By the time they had finished the third "track off our new album" I was heading to the merchandise table to buy myself a copy.



The CD stayed in my deck for about 6 weeks, I just couldn't get enough. Norfolk Coast is a glorious amalgam of the Stranglers' punk energy and the strong song-writing that characterised their later work. It is the best rock 'n' roll album I have heard in a long, long time - chock-full of catchy riffs and hooks that stay in your head for weeks. As an old punk, my favourite tracks are the faster, energetic songs and I feel that a couple of the slower tracks struggle in the company of the finer songs. It opens with the title track which is propelled along by one of JJ's classic churning bass riffs and has an anthemix chorus that will have you singing along at the top of your lungs [or maybe that's just me]. Big Thing Coming is even more infectious with loads of light and shade to keep you hooked. Long Black Veil will be packing dance-floors at Goth clubs for years, with a mood reminiscent of the Cure's darker moments. After the power of I've Been Wild, Dutch Moon provides a break, and is one of those songs that sounds more like a B-side in this company, before Lost Control and Into the Fire ratchet up the power once again. Tucker's Grave is an excellent ballad, much stronger than the other slow tracks, and holds its own well. I Don't Agree is stuck between two slow tracks, the latter being Sanfte Kiss, the weakest track and the most out-of-place. The closer, Mine All Mine, is another highlight with tons of energy and another unforgettable chorus.



This is a great album for Stranglers fans and laymen alike. If you loved their early days and felt that singles like "Skin Deep" and "Always the Sun" showed promise of a return to form, this is the album you have been waiting all these years for. You won't even care that it isn't Hugh singing."

Fresh and Green

Luis Telmo | Leça da Palmeira, Portugal | 04/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, it's been a long wait. But after you'll listen this album, certainly you'll stand yourself more powerful. Without pretensions of any kind, Stranglers finally effect us with a rude and tenderness sound that reveals a green field of modern punk. "Big Thing Coming" is an alternate take which is our learn to ignore the sleeping and boring pop/rock songs in these days."

This CD Kicks A!

Rude Boy 1979 | Today I'm in Ybor City | 08/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Heres my background to The Stranglers. I started listening to them with a greatest hits I bought about 3 years ago, I just bought their whole 15 releases I liked the music so much. I like some of the very early stuff like Hanging Around and Heroes and than really get into Feline and that sound from them. This cd I know has a different lead singer and probably turned off a lot of their fans but man I gotta say, I can listen straight through this and get into every song! It really rocks out and since I'm about these guys age, a little younger

(I'm 42); I'm kinda going into mid life crisis mode and I am just playing this thing real loud now, a great purchase!"