SPAZ reviews SPEAR OF DESTINY's new 2CD Singles Collection!

SPEAR OF DESTINY

THE SINGLES: 1983-88 (2CD)

Available NOW!

     "While he hasn't quite achieved the fame and fortune of his contemporaries, British post-punk icon Kirk Brandon has remained one of the genre's most beloved artists. From his late-‘70s recordings with the Pack to his groundbreaking work with Theatre of Hate between 1980 and 1983, Brandon's unique musical vision gained him an enormous amount of respect from critics and adulation from fans. When he suddenly split up TOH in 1983 and formed Spear of Destiny, it came as a complete shock to those who had followed them from their early singles to their album Do You Believe in the Westworld (produced by the Clash's Mick Jones). But Brandon's musical vision had changed and he needed a new vehicle in order to showcase the next musical step in his career. While not entirely dissimilar to TOH, Spear of Destiny allowed Brandon to both expand and streamline his sound. While not exactly the most commercial of bands during their most successful period in the mid- to late ‘80s, SOD were one of the most unique bands of the era.

     While SOD may not technically be a punk band, or even a post-punk band for that matter, Brandon was still a punk at heart and didn't bother ironing out the rough spots for the sake of commercial consumption. On the other hand, his music was much more accessible than TOH's, introducing him to a larger audience. Although many of his punk fans followed this new venture, many of Spear of Destiny's new fans were either unaware or uninterested in what had come before, which gave Brandon's unique vision a new lease on life.

     The Singles: 1983-1988 is the best SOD collection on the market, and is a must-have for fans and newcomers alike. Disc One focuses on the single versions of every A-side they released during this period, from their Gaelic-tinted debut single "Flying Scotsman" to the slickly produced "Radio Radio" five years later with the addition of a dub version of "Liberator." Covering both their Burning Rome (Sony) and Ten Records (Virgin) output, this is the most complete overview of their singles so far. Some of the recordings sound dated (as ‘80s releases usually do) and slightly over-produced, but the passion behind them is undeniable. "The Wheel," "Come Back," and "Never Take Me Alive" are standouts, but there are no duds here

     If that wasn't enough, Disc Two offers up 12" remixes of most of the tracks on Disc One (including an excellent dub mix of "Come Back," which brings its reggae vibe to the fore) plus an extended mix of "Land of Shame" (from the Outland album). Though some may not have considered SOD a band worthy of many 12" mixes, this second disc is a true revelation.

     Some 30 years after SOD first stepped on-stage, it is a total mystery as to why they are not as fondly remembered as they should be. Perhaps it is because of their ever-changing lineup? Maybe some folks don't care for Kirk Brandon's emotional howling on some of the tracks? Whatever the reason, it's never too late to give them the credit they deserve!"-Stephen SPAZ Schnee/ALL MUSIC GUIDE



THE CORTINAS/Punk Rock Anthology: Available NOW

THE CORTINAS

PUNK ROCK ANTHOLOGY

AVAILABLE NOW

     "While The Cortinas had released a handful of fiery Punk singles, my first introduction to them was on the low-priced compilation album Permanent Wave alongside bands such as The Only Ones, After The Fire, Masterswitch and The Spikes.  The song in question, “Heartache”, was a delicious slice of Rock ‘n’ Roll with New Wave attitude but worlds away from the Punk tag that had been thrown at them just a year or so before.  It wasn’t until later that I went back and found the “Fascist Dictator” single and realized that the band had changed considerably from their indie Punk singles and their 1978 major label debut album, True Romances (from which “Heartache” was taken).

     While their early fans were thrown off by the band’s cleaner, ‘wimpier’ sound on True Romances, those who heard the album first were less impressed by the vaguely melodic and rough early singles.  Then again, there are those of us who enthusiastically embraced both sides of the band. For whatever reason, The Cortinas refused to remain a one dimensional Punk band and lost fans in the process of becoming a major label New Wave act.  In the end, it didn’t matter because the band split up around the time of the album’s release.

     In hindsight, the band’s early Punk outings were perfect little slices of aggression, but they already seemed confined by Punk’s limitations.  The True Romances album expanded the band’s sound and allowed more space for the band to create little slices of sharp British Pop. Not exactly Power Pop, the album is filled with memorable tracks that may not have changed the world, but they certainly deserved much more attention than they actually got.

     The Punk Rock Anthology tells The Cortinas’ whole musical story, beginning with their Punk singles, adding some Peel Sessions recordings and then concluding with the entire True Romances album (and a single edit of “Heartache”). It’s a fascinating and fun journey in the very short life of a young British band that came, saw and almost conquered."-Stephen SPAZ Schnee/All Music Guide