The Dead 60s ‎– The Dead 60s CD

Judging from the material here, this urban Scouse quartet have been listening to the Clash and the Ruts, the Specials and Skatalites, Lee Perry and King Tubby, the bassline on Fall obscurity A Mess of My Age and, along with every third band this year, early-80s white funk groups. You wouldn't want the 60s wardrobe (Sta-prest trousers, Fred Perry T-shirts and, no doubt, button-down underpants); you may well harbour homicidal thoughts about acquiring their record collection. The tricky bit is bringing these things together to sound fresh. To this end, the Dead 60s have acquired state-of-the-art production, pop melodies designed to get on the radio and - in a personal touch - some bonkers sound effects possibly liberated from a submarine at the Albert Dock.
Thankfully, they have avoided the ska-punk tradition of politically hamfisted slogans in favour of lyrics that aim to "follow the tick-tick-tick at the heart of the nation". Alas, in practice, this amounts less to a ticking bomb than a purring wristwatch as Joe Strummer-y singer Matt McManamon struggles to get worked up about the tabloids, CCTV and puddles. Red Light manages some tabloid indignation about kerb crawlers "sickened by lust", but lines such as "I'm pretty bored with the present day" give away McManamon's biggest annoyance: the fact that he couldn't have been fronting a band when all this was new.

Label: Deltasonic Records

Country: UK

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)