school disco kings return sans comic back-up
Heard of The Wonder Stuff? No? Surprising then that they’ve apparently had seventeen singles in the UK top 20 (including a number one), four UK top 20 albums and enjoyed the privilege of a 5-night run at the Brixton Academy – just one shy of The Clash’s still unbeaten record. Now whilst I may not own a radio, and therefore the charts have little impact on my musical intake, I would’ve thought that such a supposedly successful band wouldn't have passed me by entirely. They even headlined the Reading festival back in 1992, and we’re not talking about one of the smaller tents either, but the main stage. Now I'm really getting worried.
After some investigation, it turns out that The Wonder Stuff are responsible for recording one of the all-time classic school disco tunes – 'Dizzy'. You know – the song featuring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, that was guaranteed to instantly turn a hall full of sugared-up school kids into dangerously out of control spinning tops, more often than not resulting in banged heads and a trip to the nurse's office. Now before you can shout "one hit wonder" it's worth pointing out that this album is of a much more restrained and mature nature, and there isn't an off-the-wall comic duo in sight.
'Escape From Rubbish Island' is The Wonder Stuff’s first release in three and a half years, and according to the band is as much a thank-you to their fans continued support as anything else, as vocalist Miles Hunt explains. "I think if we'd carried on wheeling ourselves out every Christmas, like the Gary Glitter Gang Show, with no new releases, then we'd be taking the piss". Well that hasn't stopped Status Quo, but it's a noble sentiment nonetheless.
For a band with such an enviable commercial record, the music is unsurprisingly inoffensive. 'Escape From Rubbish Island' is in the same vein as present day U2 and The Goo Goo Dolls; simple radio-friendly rock, that whilst isn't the most exciting of propositions is of a high enough quality to prevent it from being bland.
There are bands that do this kind of thing better, Crowded House for example, and it does come across a bit 'middle-aged', but for those of you who are after something to satisfy your gentle melodic cravings, and aren't concerned about the possibility of your parents liking it, then this should do the trick quite nicely.