Various Artists: "Zip Up Your Boots For The Showbands"
Kneejerk Records JERK 001 (77 mins)
Dial-a-track, code: 1421
Dublin ain't dead any more, and here's the living proof. Zip Up Your Boots ... is the definitive Dubcore collection, a grab bag of lo fi musings and hi vol blowouts featuring the likes, of Jubilee Allstars, Wormhole, Pet Lamb, Mexican Pets, Pincher Martin, Female Hercules, Luggage and The Idiots. No sign of Big Tom, Declan Nemey or Gina, Dale Haze & The Champions among this glorious post grunge detritus. Although ostensibly a compilation of Irish alternative rock, bands from the capital dominate the record, and the album comes across as, a gritty slice of real urban rock'n'roll, a tantalising glimpse into Dublin's musical underworld. On the one hand you've got the mad, bad and highly distorted rock, of Pet Lamb's Don't Phase Me, Mexican Pets Sunny Day, and The Idiots' Rekollector; on the other hand you've got the subdued, sedated basement blues of Wormhole's Out Of Place, Backwater's In These Last Days (I See Her Smile) and Sewing Room's Borderline Vice. And somewhere in between you've got weird, wanton and whacked out stuff like Tunic's If D Was S and Amusement's Songs. This album will definitely send them home sweat in like Joe Dolan at Mosney.
A House: "No More Apologies" Setanta SETCD 28 (49 mins)
Dial-a-track code: 1531
A House are still standing despite their continued lack of mainstream success, and they've returned to their spiritual home of Setanta after another short flirtation with the major labels. No More Apologies finds the band in a relaxed and resigned mood, settling into some soft, semi acoustic tunes like Into The Light and My Sweet Life, accepting their fate and lack of fortune with a philosophical air. Not that singer Dave Couse isn't able to shoot the odd barbed word or two, as in Twist & Squeeze ("You're only happy in begrudgery/you're only happy in jealousy") or in the title track: I'm sick and tired of making apologies/Making excuses for me".
The album is gilt wrapped in Couse's crinkly, wayward vocals, with Susan Kavanagh's harmonies helping to get the melodies off the ground, and Fergal Bunbury's guitars adding subtle touches to the sound.
The Wilde Oscars: "Fish"
Keyenote Records KEYCD 01 (67 mins)
Dial-a-track code: 1641
Led by the mercurial Leslie Keye, The Wilde Oscars veer between folksy, pastoral pop and full on guitar driven rock'n'roll, stopping off at Seventies progressive and Eighties indie along the way. Leslie used to busk with yours truly on Grafton Street, but we won't hold that against him, and Fish offers quite a variety of original song species, some good, some bad, and some truly inspired. The album also boasts the backing vocals of Naimee Coleman and Miriam Ingram, both of whom are now, solo artists in their own right; but Les is the real star here, and he takes us through his ever changing moods, from the reflective Moments Of Value to the rough'n'tumble of Here It Comes Again. Sometimes the mood gets a bit mawkish, as in Love Song, but then it's redeemed by the subtle poignancy of Falling Down, a CSNY steeped stroll along the West Coast. Other songs like Strange Days and Walk With You have an endearing pop potential, but Isolation sounds too much like Gary Numan's Are Friends Electric? to really take very seriously. An inconsistent but interesting kettle of fish altogether.
Indian: "Show Me That Chihuahua Again"
Sound Records SUNCD 25 (60 mins) Dial a track code: 1751
Not to be confused with The Indians showband, Indian are a six piece band from Sligo with a penchant for bright shirts, small dogs and synthsteeped Eighties pop'n'roll. The album's title comes from a music business joke which is too long to relate here, and while songs like Elvis N Spider's, Flying Solo and So Cold are OK if a little dated, songs like Trampled On The World and Jam Tarts And Sunbeams sound uncomfortably like Lloyd Cole doing Chris De Burgh.
