"cognitive dissidents"
Year: 2023
Country: UK
City: London
Label: Cadiz
Format: LP
Tracks: 8
Time: 25 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
Year: 2001
Label: CPO
Format: CD
Tracks: 23
Time: 46 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
This large written work is a review courtesy of Jack Rabid from UK... THE NEW NEUROTICS, an underated British punk-rock band with a socialist lyrical bent whose classic first album “Beggars Can be Choosers” in 1983 was stylistically indebted to the Ramones, but with outraged lyrics more akin to political punkers The Clash or The Ruts. The band formed in suburban Newtown Harlow Essex outside London, but eventually dropped the “Newtown” from its name and broadened their approach, including slower tempos and horn arrangements. Members included lead singer and guitarist Steve Drewett, and bassist Colin Dredd, who came down with pleurisy, and the band in turn called it quits in October 1988 with a farewell show at at the Fulham Greyhound.
Considering that this trio split up over a decade ago, it's nice that each year brings another retrospective, and another opportunity to praise one of the most valiant, affecting, provoking, and downright great bands ever to be even remotely affiliated with the word "punk." In fact, if all so-called punk bands had this group's wit, intelligence, humor, mod/soul influences, and -- most of all - burning passion and commitment, no one would ever associate the genre with anything but these valorous qualities. Bandleader Steve Drewett remains the sort of singer/songwriter who makes one want to get off one's sofa and start challenging things and making a difference in this world. One of the most profound anti-apathy people to ever pick up a guitar, this socialist/humanist painted realistic portraits of working-class Britain alongside fiery thunderings on the country's Jurassic laws that shut all the pubs at 11 p.m. all week ("Licensing Hours") and compassionate looks at romantic frustrations and raising a family on little money ("The Mind of Valerie"). Occasionally, rock & roll has stood for getting involved and doing something, the most important positive things, instead of brainless hedonism and rampant egotism. The Neurotics' three LPs were one of those times, and it's here in vivid color, in A- and B-sides. Note: This release is slightly redundant. The concept, track listing, and playing order are virtually identical to 45 Revolutions Per Minute: Complete Singles Collection '79-'88, released by England's Jungle Records a mere three years prior. Differences: This misses the rare tracks "I Get on Your Nerves," "I Need You," and the totally inspiring "Andy Is a Corporatist," but adds three tracks from the Blitzkrieg Bop single and the seven superb live versions that formed the B-sides of the group's final two singles. Strictly musical the band played during almost 80s decade but its sound was never influenced by hardcore or "crossover" like his contemporaneous but a classic mid-tempo punk 1977 with clear voices like the irish band Stiff Little Fingers or The Clash. THE NEWTON NEUROTICS reformed for a few reunion shows in London & Brighton leading up to Blackpool’s 2006 Wasted and 2008 Rebellion punk festivals, their biggest British audiences to date.
