Like many who hit their teenage years in the 90s, I grew up on a diet of John Peel. Unable to afford much in the way of new music, and without the convenience of the internet, the late DJ introduced me to many new bands, but there was one classic act he played almost without fail – The Undertones. A unique band, formed in Derry in 1974, The Undertones crafted a sound that, while rooted in the punk rock of the time, proved to be strangely timeless. Teenage Kicks, the single that was more or less glued to Peel’s record deck, had (and has) that rare ability to transport the listener back to their youth, and you have to wonder how many generations have now claimed it as their own, such is its potency. Sadly, the band’s popularity was also its undoing and, as with so many artists before and since, The Undertones collapsed under the pressure of major label expectation in 1983 – long gone before they ever blasted forth from my stereo.
It would be years before The Undertones felt able to reform, the various members heading off to other projects. However, in 1999, the band reunited (albeit without frontman Fergal Sharkey), releasing two albums (2003’s Get What You Need and 2007’s Dig Yourself Deep) and one non-album single to general acclaim. It is to this period that Dig What You Need addresses itself and, to draw in fans, the compilation has been impressively remixed by Paul Tipler (Elastica, Idlewild, Placebo). The resultant compilation, released on CD and Vinyl, offers the perfect opportunity for fans old and new to reacquaint themselves with an excellent pair of albums and, thanks to the remix work, the compilation gels perfectly.
The album kicks off with Thrill Me and the clarity of the production hits you square between the eyes from the outset. Sharp and powerful, Paul Tipler has really brought the best out of a strong song, and it surely does not sound like the work of a band who had, at that time, been treading the boards for some thirty years. No mere exercise in nostalgia, it’s easy to see why the band led off their first reformation album with this gem, and from the wiry riffs to Paul McLoone’s soaring vocal, it was a hell of a statement of intent, that has lost none of its power in the intervening years. The frantic Enough follows on, the band adding a touch of glam magic to a punk rock framework, underscoring an influence that touched everyone from Suede to Placebo. Despite its gloomy title, Here Comes The Rain is a near perfect slice of power pop. One of those tracks that, had it been released just a few years previously, would have burned up the airwaves, the band tempers the blazing riff with just a hint of melancholy, burning out in just two minutes and plunging headlong into the equally memorable She’s So Sweet. With its backing vocals and driving rhythm, She’s So Sweet is another track that condenses The Undertones’ remit to a quite remarkable degree and, where other bands might have been tempted to milk the moment, it doesn’t even come close to threatening the three-minute mark. It’s followed by something very different. The rattling indie-blues of Fight My Corner, features a restrained vocal and the hypnotic pulse of Michael Bradley’s prowling bass. Such subtlety helps to highlight the secret of the band’s longevity, showcasing a musical diversity for which the band do not receive nearly enough credit. In contrast, You Can’t Say That sounds like a long-lost gem from the sixties, with a ramshackle production to match. Closer in feel to the Stones than the Sex Pistols, there’s a psychedelic edge (further enhanced by the judicious use of brass) that recalls the rockier excursions of Spiritualized. Rounding out the first side, We All Talked About You returns to a more propulsive punk sound, with deftly layered vocals nestled in the dense web of John O’Neil Damian O’Neil’s guitars.
Kicking off side two, Oh Please (boasting a playfully barbed lyric) is the closest thing to Teenage Kicks, Paul McLoone allowing a Sharkey-esque vibrato to creep into his vocals as the band lay down a clattering backdrop. In a similar realm, the nimble riffing of Dig Yourself Deep is brightened immeasurably by the swooning backing vocals, but it’s Winter Sun that really surprises, the band picking out Beatles-esque harmonies and adding in leftfield samples with great effect. It’s pop, Jim, but not as we know it, and it’s another wonderfully atypical number from a band who seem to delight in toying with the unusual. With the listener lulled by the dreamscape of Winter Sun, I Need Your Love The Way It Used To Be positively explodes from the speakers, The Undertones exhibiting the sort of effervescence you expect from a band on their debut. Reversing the formula to open with its instantly (and insanely) catchy chorus, Joyland is a sure-fire singalong before the album spins to a close with I’m Recommending Me. A blistering punk finale complete with hand claps and snotty vocal, it sees The Undertones peeling away the years to deliver one last fiery blast that sets the adrenaline flying through the veins.
Whether you missed The Undertones’ reunion albums the first time round, or if you just need reminding of how bloody great the songs on those records actually were, Dig What You Need is a fantastic prompt. Moreover, thanks to Paul Tipler’s pristine remix work, the songs sound fresh, vibrant and coherent. While the band’s ability to craft short anthemic blasts remains unparalleled, what really shines through here is just how diverse The Undertones can be, with songs like Winter Sun and Fight My Corner standing out from the crowd. With thirteen tracks dispensed in just over thirty minutes, Dig What You Need is a perfectly plotted blast that ticks all the boxes and transports the listener back to their youth with startling ease. It was a joy to review and I can see it coming out for regular spins for years to come. 9.5/10
Live Shows 2022
March
10 – Sheffield, Leadmill, England – Special guest Neville Staple Band-Tickets
11 – Northampton, Roadmender, England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
12 – London, Electric Ballroom, England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
17 – Brighton ,Chalk ,England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
18 – Frome, Cheese & Grain, England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
19 – Cardiff, Cardiff SU Great Hall, Wales – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
31- Newcastle, Boiler Shop, England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
April
01 – Manchester, Academy, England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
02 – Liverpool O2 Academy, England – Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric-Tickets
08 – Leipzig, Werk 2, Germany – Tickets
09 – Munich, Feierwerk, Germany – Tickets
10 – Weinheim, Cafe Central, Germany – Tickets
22 – Dublin, The Academy, Ireland – Tickets
May
13 – Bremen – Kulturzentrum Lagerhaus, Germany – Tickets
14 – Düsseldorf, Zakk, Germany – Tickets
15 – Hamburg – Markethalle, Germany – Tickets
17 – Malmo, Plan B, Sweden – Tickets
18 – Oslo, Vulkan Arena, Norway- Tickets
20 – Göteborg, Pustervik, Sweden – Tickets
21 – Stockholm, Slaktkykan, Sweden – Tickets
22 – Copenhagen, Pumpenhuset, Denmark – Tickets
June
03 – Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham Racecourse – Tickets
17 – Derry Millennium Forum (rearranged show) – Tickets
24 – Glastonbury Festival – Acoustic Stage
26 – Retro C Trop Festival, Tilloloy, France – Tickets
July
01 – Lincoln, The Engine Shed, England – Tickets (Replaces the original show 29th October 2021 – Tickets still valid)
02 – Hertfordshire, Sign of the Times Festival South, England – Tickets
15 – Sunderland – Tickets
16 – Naas, Ireland – Forever Young Festival – Tickets
23 – Soria, Motorbeach Festival, Spain – Tickets
August
05 – Blackpool, Rebellion Festival – Tickets
06 – Hampshire, Wickham Festival – Tickets
September
29 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2, England – Tickets
30 – Castleton, The Devils Arse at Peak Cavern, England – Tickets
October
01- Holmfirth, Picturedrome, England – Tickets
06 – Southampton, 1865, England – Tickets
07 – Oxford, Academy,England – Tickets
08 – Lytham, The Lowther Pavilion, England – Tickets
20 – Norwich, Waterfront, England – Tickets
21 – Bury St Edmunds, Apex ,England- Tickets
22 – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion, England – Tickets
29 – Old Army Airport, Sint Truiden, Belgium –Tickets
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