Here comes the winter.
'My Perfect Cousin.'
'Here Comes The Summer.'
'Wednesday Week.'
All fantastic songs but due to a patronage by a certain much-missed radio DJ, all get forgotten about when compared with 'Teenage Kicks', which is a shame as The Undertones were responsible for a healthy amount of pop hits. A few years back, The CCA in Glasgow was showing the documentary about the band and it was apparent that the band had a lot going for them, not just in the music but in their awareness and attitudes regarding life back in Ireland during a massively troubled era. Heck, even Fergal Sharkey came out of it in a good light and if you told this reviewers younger self that the man who sang 'A Good Heart' was a decent guy, he'd never have believed you. So The Undertones certainly had it and a brief set before a Champions League match in recent times indicated that the band can still knock out their past glories but can the bands new material live with their past glories?
From the off, and we mean immediately from the off, there is no mistaking that this is The Undertones and even if that song is the only number you've heard from the boys, then you'll recognise the spirit and energy. It may not be original but 'Dig Yourself Deep' is exactly what fans of the band will want to hear.
'Fight My Corner' is definitely not what you'd expect from the punk heroes though but its all the better for it. There is an air of 80s indie in the jaggy guitar and whispering and menacing vocals but if you know the history of some of the act after The Undertones first split, it makes sense that the players are influenced by their times in bands around that era as well.
Expected service is resumed with 'Tomorrows Tears', a blend of punk and pop that wouldn't have been out of place at any time in the last 30 years but remains as equally now, which is just as well considering it#s meant to be the mark of a band still flexing their muscles. And for all that, on initial impression, The Undertones are proving themselves to be not just about the nostalgia, of course gig goers will be wanting to hear the hits but there shouldn't be too much disappointment when its time to fit in some new material
Trying to second guess the album when the reviewer is only given three tracks, it makes them a bit wary about giving thumbs up to the whole package. Who knows, these could be the only three good songs on the record, and as enjoyable as they are, they wouldn't be enough to justify the whole album of being worthy of purchase. Then again, in the digital age of download, who cares, get yourself these three songs and find out about the rest of your own accord, we can't do everything for you. It's a great place to start but the rest is up to you.