Wammers Album Club - Tues 25th June 2013 - New Model Army - Thunder & Consolation

[unclepuncle]

New Model Army hail from Bradford, Yorkshire and are named after the English Civil War army led by Oliver Cromwell. It is now nearly 30 years since their first album was released. In that time they have been one of the most consistent bands around, developing a strong and devoted fan base. Their music has been described as "folk rock", but they defy any genre definition, and the lyrics are a very important element. They are known for having left wing tendencies but, like another well known lefty, Billy Bragg, their best moments are when they move away from directly political subjects and concentrate on more personal messages.

Released in 1989 this was the fourth New Model Army album and imo their best. Justin Sullivans writing has always been excellent but the band as a whole found a new maturity here and the whole album feels very polished. 225, Green and Grey and Family Life are the standout tracks for me.

The original album contained 10 songs (the cassette version added an extra track '125mph') and I suggest you judge the album on those 10 (or 11 tracks) as the extra 4 tracks on the end of the re-released version that are on Spotify/Grooveshark rather dilute the impact.

Spotify+ Grooveshark Links

New Model Army – Thunder And Consolation

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Thunder+And+Consolation/2389950

 

[notaclue]

You're a bit early, aren't you?

New Model Army? A blast from the past... Oh dear. I once had a large dislike for them and read the Daily Mirror as a (very minor) 'protest' during a Slade the Leveller poetry evening. :nup: Wonder what I'll make of them now...

 

[Leonard Smalls]

I've always had a hatred for them after getting "in the mood" for an evening of dubwise at the Cosmo Club in Roundhay, Leeds, in 1982ish, and it turned out the band weren't reggae at all, but some Bradford noisy buggers in clogs.

 

[enbee23]

Ha! I bought this in about 1990, haven't listened to it in an age. Will give it a whirl later :^

 

[unclepuncle]

I've always had a hatred for them after getting "in the mood" for an evening of dubwise at the Cosmo Club in Roundhay, Leeds, in 1982ish, and it turned out the band weren't reggae at all, but some Bradford noisy buggers in clogs.

I saw them at Leeds Uni around 1990 - definitely a large amount of the great unwashed we're in attendance.

 

[batman]

Absolutely loved this when it was first released , had it on cassette and would play it constantly on my long bus journeys to college " green and grey " is a classic , well done puncle and I was expecting some " whimsical " female singer songwriter ...

 

[unclepuncle]

well done puncle and I was expecting some " whimsical " female singer songwriter ...

I'm always happy when I subvert peoples expectations. ;-)

 

[AdamK]

Folk Rock, Clog Rock......who cares, just excellent songwriting from Justin Sullivan and Co.

Saw them live in 1984 at Hatfield Poly touring the first album.

Good choice Paul.

 

[unclepuncle]

Thanks Adamk & batman. :^

I'd been thinking for weeks what album to put up (yes I'm that sad) and wanted something that most people (at least judging from the 'What are you listening to thread') wouldn't be familiar with. Hopefully it might pleasantly surprise those people who have never heard NMA and even convert those whose preconceived image of NMA = clog rock, crusties, skinheads, etc.

 

[batman]

Gave this a spin this evening and remembered how much I loved " vagabonds " as well

 

[MJ.]

First spin, for me, of NMA ever and I am really enjoying it.

Sort of a Marc Almond / Soft Cell and Carter USM cross vibe going on; very tuneful but also a bit of grunt when demanded. Decent lyrics, quite varied.

Yep, a big thumbs up from me.

Cheers for pointing me at them Uncle P.

 

[unclepuncle]

Glad you're enjoying it Mike. :^

I had a feeling that many people who had never tried NMA may have had the completely wrong idea about what they sound like - this album in particular is pretty mainstream albeit with a definite political slant.

Given it was recorded nearly 25 years ago it's amazing how apt and topical the lyrics on songs like Stupid Questions and especially 225 seem today given the recent spying / snooping scandal:

This golden age of communication

Means everyone talks at the same time

And liberty just means the freedom to exploit

Any weakness that you can find

Turn off the TV just for a while

Let us whisper to each other instead

And we'll hope that the Corporate ears do not listen

Lest we find ourselves committing some kind of treason

And filed in the tapes without rhyme, without reason

While they tell us that it's all for our own protection,

I swear we never asked for any of this

 

[notaclue]

It's a lot sharper and more tuneful than I would have recalled without listening to this again. Some decent songs, especially 'Family'. 'Stupid Questions' good too. Like them

But stuff like 'Green and grey' is all a bit turgid and po faced.

To be honest, I mostly objected to the sort of idea that if you like NMA, then you get fans that think "hey, maybe I'll wear clogs". :doh: Would even One Direction fans do that?

 

[Leonard Smalls]

Just giving it a listen, and I quite like it...

That's possibly because it has a very Leeds-in-the-80s Goth feel about it.

It's all very earnest, not enormously musically interesting and could do with:

a) some knob gags

b) some fart gags

c) Bootsy on bass

d) Buckethead on guitar

e) more eyeliner

 

[rockmeister]

if he mentions bootsy and buckethead one more time, I swear I'll

have to go find out who they are. :nup:

 

[Leonard Smalls]

if he mentions bootsy and buckethead one more time, I swear I'llhave to go find out who they are. :nup:

Bootsy:

Buckethead:

They'd add a bit of fun, at the very least!

 

[notaclue]

I must admit to enjoying listening to this at the moment. Lovely, very goth solo/middle 8 at 2.26. New Model Army weren't too bad after all.

[video=youtube;53IAhyQSKmQ]

 

[Bazzer]

Well this was a surprise I always thought NMA were a Thrash Metal outfit :? , the second surprise is that I have just heard a great album which I really enjoyed and will be buying.

Nice one Paul

 

[unclepuncle]

Well this was a surprise.....I have just heard a great album which I really enjoyed and will be buying.Nice one Paul

Great news Barney. :^