Over the Counter Culture - The Ordinary Boys Album Review

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Album Review

It is easy to forget how long ago it was because the refreshing and poignant nature of the remark lingers like the smell of a Sunday roast long after it has been devoured. I am referring of course Joe Strummer's bold swipe and cutting comment about modern music and fads "Phoney Beatle-mania has bitten the dust" in London Calling. Would such heartfelt candidness and alluring cockiness ever be repeated? 'The List Goes On', a quaint and quirky track featuring guitar led instrumentals and Billy Bragg performing a duo with Morrissey vocals of front man Preston, may well in time find provide an affirmative answer to the aforementioned question;

"Well I have heard it all done before, a hundred years ago boy.
Originality is so passé. Forgotten genres yet rehashed;
Create the craze, create the cash".

The irreverence continues in tracks such as 'Week In Week Out' and 'Little Bitch' whereby ambition, those who try hard and manipulator's are lacerated by the Ordinary Boys wit, as they add a touch of Weller and in the later case a sprightly Madness style is incorporated. Of course, there is a hint of The Manics like self contradiction with The Ordinary Boys, as at times the encapsulate what they criticize rehashing the mod genre and sounding a little too like Morrissey as well. However, this is an exciting and cutting debut from Worthing's wide boys that will make people start listening and respond to some good old fashioned honesty.

David Adair