U.K. Subs Albums (21)
'Complete Riot'
Release Date 1/10/2006
Tracks 31
Label New Red Archives
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Although they formed around the same time as such renowned first wave U.K. punk acts as the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Damned, the U.K. Subs usually get lost in the shuffle. This can be attributed mainly to the fact that their debut album, 1979's Another Kind of Blues, was not issued until three years after their inception (and many would agree, after U.K. punk had peaked). But the group, led by singer Charlie Harper, was a high-energy live act, and as evidenced by 2004's Before You Were Punk, they also delivered the goods in the studio -- with a sound that touched equally upon punk and rowdy pub rock. All of the group's classics from the late '70s and early '80s are featured here, including the U.K. hit singles "Stranglehold," "Tomorrow's Girls," "Warhead," and "Teenage" (the latter of which includes an opening riff taken straight from the Stooges "No Fun"). You'll also find the track "Down on the Farm" -- which although not exactly a hit back home -- is one of the group's best-known tracks, since Guns N' Roses covered it for their Spaghetti Incident? covers set. If you have no U.K. Subs in your collection, the smartly assembled Before You Were Punk is a must buy. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
By the time of Japan Today, the U.K. Subs were attempting to forge a new style, mixing their classic R&B-punk sound with the sleek roar of '80s hard rock. The result was a hodgepodge. Sometimes, as on "Japan Inc." and "Comin' Back," the mix works perfectly. Other times, such as on "Skateboard Billy" and "Sex Object," the band attempt to return to the snickering wit of their earlier records, but the ham-fisted music smothers the humor. On some tracks, the band even sound in danger of becoming a rather generic hard rock outfit. ("Angel" sounds like a lesser AC/DC song). Musically, the band expands their sound into realms never even considered. "Thunderbird," an ode to cheap wine, mixes Irish fiddles with their trademark pummeling guitars, and "Surf Bastard" is patterned after Jan & Dean. The tracks are charming enough, but lack the sting of earlier Subs classics. What's more, the attempts at humor seem more out of place here. On earlier Subs albums, the jokes served to balance the band's occasionally strident politics, but here the humor serves as no counterpoint, since the hard rock tracks are saddled with nondescript lyrics. Japan Today isn't really a bad album -- it's superbly played, well-written guitar rock -- but compared to earlier Subs classics, it's something of a letdown. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide
'Sub Mission: The Best of U.K. Subs 1982-1998'
Release Date 3/14/2000
Tracks 38
Label Fallout
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Whenever the first wave of U.K. punk is mentioned, such usual suspects as the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Damned immediately and automatically come to mind. But there were obviously countless other acts that flew the punk flag during the late '70s, such as the U.K. Subs. While many of their pals from the era ultimately fell by the wayside, the Subs continued to plow on, as evidenced by the 2000 double-disc set Sub Mission: The Best of U.K. Subs 1982-1998. Although the group's glory days are pinpointed to such releases as 1979's Another Kind of Blues and 1980's Brand New Age by many fans, the Subs did manage to release quite a few subsequent strong tracks. The albums they were featured on were not always up to snuff, so that's where a compilation such as this comes in handy -- to put a spotlight on worthy tracks that would normally slip through the cracks. Quite a few punk acts of the late '70s softened their sound during this era, but the Subs admirably stick close to the original game plan on such standouts as "Police State," "Self Destruct," and "Another Typical City." And to entice longtime fans into purchasing the set, the second disc is comprised of a concert CD, recorded live at Bristol in 1991. Long considered one of punk's high-energy live acts (check out the DVD Punk Can Take It for the proof), the Subs still deliver at this latter stage of their career, especially on "You Don't Belong" and "Emotional Blackmail." Sub Mission combined with the Subs' aforementioned 1979 and 1980 albums will do a solid job of showcasing the highlights of one of punk's more underrated acts. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'Strangle Hold'
Release Date 2/22/2000
Tracks 12
Label Dressed To Kill
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
In honor of the U.K. Subs' 20th anniversary, Nicky Garratt returned to the fold for Riot and Quintessentials, which were recorded simultaneously at San Francisco's Wally Sound. And he brought along 1981-1983 bassist Alvin Gibbs (from the band's two best LPs, Diminished Responsibility and Endangered Species) for the ride. Garratt and Gibbs had returned once before -- but it was a false start -- on the OK but flawed and inconsistent 1988 LP Killing Time. This time the reunited trio get it right, using Samiam drummer Dave Ayer in place of Steve Roberts. Like Quintessentials, Riot approaches the meaty, huge-sounding production of the final two Garratt/Gibbs LPs. The mix may not be quite as big on either, but Riot's "House of Cards," "Cyberjunk," and especially the title track are brimming with all the qualities that made the Subs one of the leaders of U.K. punk's second wave, along with the post-Brian James Damned, Ruts, Undertones, Angelic Upstarts, and Stiff Little Fingers. Fifteen straight songs may smack you in the face, but as in the best of all "original spark" punk, the playing level is so escalated it belies the apparent simplicity of the written chords. Garratt's right hand chops at the strings with style as well as authority, spitting fire at all the key junctures, blasting into choruses such as "Guilty Man" out of power-riffs so nasty and glorious, you understand how 10,000 punk bands in his absence never came close to matching this! And with such a formidable band to back him at last, the always-committed Harper gains stature and probity for his gutsy stands, such as when he spits "where's the human rights?" Riot is a real case of a band recovering all that was theirs, a near-impossible feat. ~ Jack Rabid, All Music Guide
