Reviews (page 3 of 7)
I just don't think it should be legal to name your own band "Sensational." If this was "The Fair to Middling Alex Harvey Band" it would probably be three stars. As it is two stars for the influence on AC/DC.
Sähkökitaraa joka vinkuu mukavasti ja Blues brothers meininkiä. Menevää renkutusta
This album smells like stale cigarette smoke. It smells like cask ale left to sit in a pint glass for three days. It smells like 3 day old sweat. It smells like a car that hasn't been cleaned in months. It smells like drains. Blues Rock is not for me, especially when it's shuffly and sounds like this. The band is tight and they can play. That's fine. Good drumming. The vocals and the lyrics kill me. Rhyming couplets straight from primary school. Sorry to shite on a Scottish artist but SAHB gives off complete Rangers FC energy and I find that disgusting, quite frankly. To be serious though, it's uncomfortable listening to songs like Gang Bang in 2026. "It was a different time", sure, but if you're gonna write about sex, be smart and don't whack us over the head with it. The whole album has that dark 1970s veil over it - bad things happening behind curtains that shouldn't be happening. There's a reason so many of the 70s TV presenters in the UK ended up in the clink. Then there's the whole theatrical approach to this album, and the band in general. That'll appeal to some. Not to me. The cover of Brel's 'Next' sticks out like a sore thumb on this album. The closing track, 'The Last of the Teenage Idols' has one passage near the end that shows a nice bit of studio trickery and diversity but it's woefully short lived. I can't stand that harlequin-looking MF either. Aye, this album sucks. Makes me uneasy throughout and I am certainly no prude. A complete lack of subtlety which is a shame because musically, the band has, on occasion, some serious chops. Crazy that the longest review I've written is about an album I loathed. Still, that's the point of this exercise, right? At least I listened to the whole thing.
I don't like the lyrics.
Sounds pretty good. Lyrics are pretty lousy, but luckily for me I think the music is more important.
Die Sensational Alex Harvey Band, gegründet 1972 in Glasgow, nahm ihr zweites Album in den Londoner Audio International Studios sowie in den Apple Studios auf und veröffentlichte es im November 1973 über Vertigo. Next… vereint schottisches Arbeiterklasse-Pathos mit Varieté-Theatralik, Blues-Grobheit und einer musikalischen Bandbreite, die für Glam Rock dieser Ära ungewöhnlich weit greift. Harvey und Keyboarder Hugh McKenna zeichnen für den Großteil des Songmaterials verantwortlich; Pip Williams steuerte Arrangements bei. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das stilistisch kaum einzuordnen ist – und genau darin liegt sein Reiz. Die Eröffnung mit „Swampsnake" setzt sofort den Ton: ein lüsternes Blues-Rock-Ungetüm mit Karnevalsgestus. Das darauffolgende „The Faith Healer" – sieben Minuten hypnotisches Crescendo, unterfüttert von Hugh McKennas frühem Basssequenzer-Experiment – wurde zum Erkennungslied der Band und beeinflusste Künstler von Nick Cave bis The Cult. Auf der B-Seite überführt SAHB mit der Jacques-Brel-Coverversion „Next" den belgischen Chanson-Sarkasmus in hartes Rockformat, während das Rockabilly-Fossil „Giddy-Up-a-Ding-Dong" die Ironiedistanz der Band zum puren Unterhaltungsgeschäft demonstriert. „The Last of the Teenage Idols", das Album abschließende dreiteilige Epos, legt ein weiteres Mal offen, wie ernst Harvey die Ambition hinter der Maske nahm. Next… gehört zu jenen Alben, die sich eine Nische jenseits etablierter Schubladen erzwingen: zu roh für das Cabaret, zu verspielt für den harten Rock, zu theatralisch für den Blues. Es erreichte die britischen Top 40, wurde später mit Silber ausgezeichnet und landete in Robert Dimerys kanonischer Liste 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die – eine Anerkennung, die dem Werk weder zu viel noch zu wenig verspricht. Wer Alex Harvey einmal gehört hat, versteht sofort, warum er unvergessen blieb.
Strange and surprisingly shallow album. Glam rock has never been for me, but this album ranges from meandering and derivative at best, to aimlessly bizarre at worst. At least it wasn't too long
2.5/5 cool instruments but not my style
#908. This one is pretty terrible. Not sure how it got here. 2/5: nah
I liked this more than I thought I would. The songs were pretty catchy, but The Faith Healer kind of started to get boring.
Mediocre kategoriaan taas menee. Ihan mukavan kuulosta, mutta ei sieltä oikee mitään kovaa lekaa pomppaa korville
Vähän tällästä erilaista, mutta eniten ihmetyttää mitä tää tekee tällä listalla
Tää on tämmönen perus kolmosen levy, ihan mielellään kuuntelee, mutta ei juuri innosta lisäkuunteluun.
Joo kovaa meininkiä. Semmosta omaleimasta otetta aikalaisiinsa nähden ja jututkin tuntuu olevan kovaa panemista. Ihan ei kehtaa lähtee hulluttelemaan arvosanan kanssa, kun ei tää nyt varmaan maita mullista.
Oikein hauska ja jopa varsin hyvä levy! Bändi oli itselleni entuudestaan tuttu ainoastaan nimenä, en muista olenko koskaan aikaisemmin kuullut yhtään biisiä - en ainakaan tämän levyn ralleja. Paikkapaikoin vähän jopa AC/DC:n mieleen tuovaa bluesrock-veivausta, sitten jossain hetkissä mentiin ihan Rocky Horror Picture Show'n täysin övereissä meiningeissä, ennenkuin hypättiin sitten pornofunkkiin. Tykkäsin paljonkin!
This was fucking stupid. 1
weer isch er sött ich ihn kenne? mh en schott glamrock ok. aint nothing like a gangbang to blow my blues away okay ookay ähm i guess?? ich weiss nöd obs das heisst wos heisst? he finds easy langwilig afoch so rock n roll nüt speziells. er sing okay d band tönt okay hmm. chli entüschend. bi giddy up a ding dong singter etz afoch 3 minute de titel und s fühlt sich ah als wärs viel länger. bi next verzellter chli gschicht und me ghört meeeega sin akzent finds noice. glaub es 3 wirds scho anebringe. vambo marble eye no cool und nöd so basic rock n roll mit chli stimmig.
die stimm hetti nöd erwartet hahahah d drums sind insanolangwilig aber suscht isch swampsnakw na easy cool! ui gangbang isch chli heavy mitere höchere stimm und chli schneller gspielt (und es paar YEAHS) chönnts en schlechte aerosmith-song sii hahahaha OHHH de switch bi giddy up a ding dong isch na cool gsi suscht isches für mich ener lame leider, find s het nöd guet galteret next findi mal chli en spannendere song! au de text isch seehr speziell (gelinde ausgedrückt) die 2. hälfti hetmer jz besser gfalle, de schluss vom letschte song isch au cool gsi allgemein hani s theatralische, wo sie anschinend live v.a. überebracht hend, mega gseh und auno cool gfunde ABER naja
A very pkeasabt surprise - this is what Bowie wanted to be.
tirando "gang bang", que é um piada de extremo mau gosto, até que tem umas músicas com estruturas interessantes. poderia ser um 3 se não fosse essa música infeliz.
Jeg synes allerede det er rigeligt Frank Zappa på listen uden også at have den her fyr med
Kan godt høre at den her er britisk (fordi det vel er den eneste grund til at den er på listen?) Lyder lidt som uironisk Spinal Tap, hvilket jo ik nødvendigvis er en dårlig ting, men hele den der tjubidubi 50er-rock ting gør bare at det ikke virker for mig.
Who signed this 36 year asshat?
ungodly terrible. this is some of the most annoying and obnoxious rock i've ever heard in my entire life. never show me this shit ever again omg i hate it
not great but gets extra points for the title track and scotland forever
Silly
This was a day late for an April fool. 'Gabg Bang' was as bad as I anticipated after reading the tracklist.
Only played it once. Did nothing for me a pretty forgettable album.
Nothing incredible here
Might genuinely be the worst one on the list so far. Why is this even here?
Eh, it's alright. Dude is literally singing about nothing but sex and dumb shit. I know the 70's were crazy but even this feels heavy handed. The music is fine, the singing is fine, overall this is a band that time forgot I think. It doesn't stack up with albums of the time, but I don't think I'd judge someone for enjoying it. I'd give it a low 3 for sure.
No… ta płyta chociaż jest jakaś. Dziwaczna, niezbyt poważna, dość absurdalna, ale jakaś. I chyba tylko dlatego dam jej 6.5/10 równane w górę. Bo chociaż wokal jest manieryczny i teatralny to wyrwał mnie z marazmu, czego większości płyt tutaj nie udaje się osiągnąć.
The lyrics were mostly awful, and at times just icky and gross. Maybe I'm supposed to think it's funny, but I guess it doesn't appeal to my particular style of humor. The frontman was a bit over the top in his vocal stylings, too. It's a shame, because some of the music was actually fun and catchy, but literally everything else marred it.
Influential =/= essential.
Catchy
Sensational is probably overstating it, but quite an enjoyable blast.
This is prime your coworker has a favorite local band from back in their hometown core. The musical inclination is there but there are (so many) reasons you’ve never heard of them. Swamp snake comes across as a competent blues rock satire;nails the style with terrible lyrics. But then that 5 minute song describing how much he loves gang bangs really conveys this dudes ego but also solidifies this album as ass. Following up that annoying shit was never going to be easy but what if we had a one chord riff with slide whistle over it for 2 and a half minutes and then 5 minutes of the worst Black Sabbath rip off you’ve ever heard after it? It’s an awful, 0/10 song. Giddy up is like if someone tried to write jailhouse rock from memory after hearing it once 30 years ago. There are two key changes in this piece of shit song. What is happening. Next is the first glimpse into the glam rock of it all but in trying to be dramatic he adopts a faux-Jamaican, Sebastian from Little Mermaid accent when he’s trying to be British? I do like some of the over the top theatrics in it though. Marble whatever is ultimately forgettable but fine. The last of the teenage whatever’s is the best song on here but am I insane or did it just randomly hard pan left in the middle and then right and then slowly fade back to stereo. What was that. Idk, I want to give this a 1 but I think hearing this in 1973 may have been a cool counter culture moment. It’s the first album I’ve heard in a long time that makes me question its inclusion on the list, so it has to be a historial addition right?
I can tell they're having a lot of fun, but I just couldn't get behind this one.
Ok, sure. This album, this band was all just a big joke. Have fun, dress up in goofy shit, cut a bunch of simplistic, prepubescent melody’s that make the teen-set giggle, and take it live. The bio review compares this to early Punk and Iggy Pop. Not in your fucking dreams. More like Weird Al, if Weird Al was a pervert. I kinda think Weird Al is a pervert. Oh well… let’s go 2 stars for Vambo’s guitar riff… the rest is pure shite.
This is wild. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before! I can totally see how Nick Cave got his entire schtick from here. Really wish I could have seen them live.
This was certainly some kind of glam rock something.
Oh to be a rocker from the 70's where you can put out anything and get praised.
I think I was just raped by Alex Harvey
I liked it - may not be one I'd purchase though
Wild crazy out there. I kinda dug it.
Enjoyed this one a lot. Odd, but not uncommercial, and I can definitely see where Bon Scott was influenced by the vocals. I will definitely listen to this again.
I thought this was pretty decent hard rock or whatever. You can see how this fits in with other acts of the time, Zeppelin, etc. Was pretty good.
Of course Nick Cave thinks this is good.
So this sucked. Like it was just so meh in every way.
too edgy
This was wild to say the least. I'll be honest I wasn't sure what the next song was gonna sound like as they're all quite different from each other. "Swampsnake" is straight up rock, Gang Bang is super repetitive and shows off the weird and wild vocals this guy has got. "The Faith Healer" was a big surprise, that's a hell of a track and I absolutely loved the sort of proggy-ish trippiness of it. The title track is the strangest song I've heard in a long time, the weird vocals are off the chart - super dark and uncomfortable subject matter too, wasn't expecting this. I have to say I did really enjoy this for the most part, there's some great stuff musically and high energy songs. 4/5
This album was a lot of fun. Sleezy rock with sleezy lyrics. Doesn't take itself seriously, but it does rock pretty hard. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Probably won't listen again.
Complete ass
Just awful
Okay I didn't expect a literal gang bang song. A solid album! Wasn't expecting much, but was suprised and pleased with "the faith healer" — the composition of this song is really cool. "Next" was also an interesting theatrical piece. I like how the album is somehow an obvious glam-rock record but also clearly a root of progressive rock.
It's, ok. A very flashy frontman backed by a perfectly competent band. I would say the song themes and lyrics are not spectacular. But it's got some groove. Prior reviews have it rated pretty bad, but it's not the worst thing I've ever heard.
Really good SAHB album with songs that sound even better live. Faith Healer is a classic with Vambo and Last of The Teenage Idols setting a high mark too. Let down a bit by the honky tonk pop nonsense of Giddy Up a Ding Dong but then it was Glam '73.
I enjoyed this!
I feel bad about saying it, but I sort of liked this. Fun, big noise, ignore the lyrics.
I'm sorry, but no.
Bit dodgy in parts, a couple of ok tracks
Rubbish
"Sensational" is doing a lot of unjustified heavy lifting here. I mean, I like a good sleazy rock album as much as the next guy, and sure, a gang bang might just wash the Blues away, but this just doesn't do anything for me. I feel like I can get this same thing from a dozen better bands that don't have similar vocal affectations to Adam Sandler. 2* Gang Bang was my top track simply for the scuzz of it, but i dont know that i'd actively go about relistening to it.
Too much screaming, only a couple listenable one
I like the general sound of the album but the songs are too long for what they are and some of the lyrics are ridiculous, especially Gang Bang. I didn’t like the sound of Next at all.
I’ve heard of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and understand they’re influential, though maybe not on this side of the ocean, but I’ve never heard them before. Alex Harvey’s vocals remind me a lot of Bon Scott, but this pre-dates AC/DC, so influential indeed! Apparently also a big influence on Nick Cave and Robert Smith, so I understand why this would be on here. Musically, it’s glam/hard rock with a strong theatrical bent, very raunchy (in a way that likewise makes me think of Bon Scott-era AC/DC), and I think meant to be deliberately provocative and in bad taste. Not something you’d hear now. It’s fun, I imagine they would have been a great live act.
Sleezy, grimy, dirty, and perfectly exuding the undercarriage of 70s rock & roll culture. This band was for the rockers who lived out of trailers, who fist fought in parking lots drunk at 2AM when the bars closed, who woke up smelling like sex, hard liquor, and weed. This is a disgusting and awesome album, it fucking rocks. 8/10
This is the sort of album that makes one question why one is following this album list at all. -3 stars, rounded up to 1.
This did not age well, and perhaps wasn’t so great even when you were there the first time. Chalk it up to the list maker’s personal preference for obscure Scottish music that objectively doesn’t deserve a spot on any list of top albums. 1⭐️
3- Stars (7/15)
rock
The sound and musical vibes of this album aren’t terrible by any means - there are some strong glam rock elements that get your foot tapping - but there’s something utterly bizarre about the vocal delivery and lyrics. As far as I can tell he’s singing about his nob…? The album just ends up being a bit jarring, and not one I’ll remember for any good reason.
Very dynamic and interesting
Lyrics frightened me
I'll be honest, I pretty much hated this. Never heard of this band and I guess now I know why.
це ваще АХАХАХ омага оце текста
3/10
если бы кризис среднего возраста был альбомом.
I was preparing myself for something rough based on the global review scores here, but this was good. This definitely takes the subject matter to the extreme to the point of parody. The songs are fun and go interesting places the especially The Faith Healer and the three part The Last Of The Teenage Idols. A fun time overall. Favorites were Seampsnake, The Faith Healer, and Vambo Marble Eye
Listens: 3 Standout tracks: Gang Bang, Next, The Last Of The Teenage Idols Well that was certainly something. I don't think I've ever heard anyone sing about a gang bang before, especially in 1973. Talk about progressive. Sure, orgies and sex and probably concepts like free love have been around since the dawn of human civilization, but to sing about it on an album in 1973. :obama-not-bad-face: What exactly is a "swampsnake"? A metaphor for something or a literal snake found in the swamp (apparently there is a genus of snake found in the Southeastern US called a Black Swampsnake). Overall, it was a fun album, but one i don't think I will be listening to beyond the day.
The best I can say, they likely inspired some big names.
Too meh and raunchy Gang bang, really!??
Didn't zone out. Interesting album. Lyrics are questionable and makes you listen to it.
Not a huge fan of the first 3 songs, but really liked the second half of the album.
Täysin uusi tuttavuus mutta ehdottomasti viikon positiivinen yllätys. Hyvä, erilainen rocklevy peilattuina niin julkaisuhetkeen kuin nykypäiväänkin. Tiettyä Serj Tankian -henkeä. The Faith Healer -biisiä en vaan ymmärrä, pitkä junnaus mutta kai se taidetta sitten on. Hyvä rocklevy ihan tähänkin päivään, The Temptationsin jälkeen paras löytö tältä listalta tähän mennessä. 4/5
Descobri em decorrência desse site que eu gosto de glam rock. Mas não esse álbum. Provavelmente o álbum mais hétero que recebi até o momento (isso não é positivo).
Stupid
Idk wtf the lyrics are but the music is banger
At first I thought, man this guy is a fucking freak, but you know what? He’s right. There ain’t nothing like a gangbang.
Interesting...
Alex Harvey band- some cool organs on faith healer. Band sounded good but I didn’t like his vocals and couldn’t really get into any of this. I’m pretty burnt out on 70’s rock from this list recently. Did not enjoy this and don’t want to hear again.
Giddy up a ding dong?? Wtf is that lol. “Next” sounded like deranged musical theater. This started off as just mid tier 70s rock like everything else on this list but got progressively more unpleasant
I don’t know if this was supposed to be funny but it was to me. Would rather listen to this than most on this list
3.5/5 Never heard of this guy before but this was fun
Lyrically strange but surprisingly good, feels like they'd have been very good live.
Based purely off the music, I really quite enjoyed this. Somewhere between punk rock and boogie-woogie, but plenty going on. I'm not really listening to the lyrics while I'm listening at work, and based off what others are saying that's probably for the best. The same goes for the fact I listen on headphones in the office. Sheesh.
Nope.
I liked gang bang so giving a 4
Weirde combo van "oh dit klinkt wel fun" en "huh??". Wat de flip was die stereo in het laatste nummer ook
Dit doet me denken aan de bandjes die optraden tijdens de kermis in m’n dorp. Irriteerde me ontzettend aan de shaker in the faith healer. Beetje flauwe en cliché liedjes. Is allemaal wel grappig, maar niet echt interessant
How many men?
hmm ja ik ben best glam rock fan en dit is live vast een geweldige ervaring, maar het werd nu wat samey. ik zou het erg genieten van de singles als sleazy jaren 70 tiener denk ik. let me be your swamp snake ;))))
That was quite annoying
This album is goofy as fuck but I enjoyed it. Definitely a product of 70s, I liked the blues rock throughout this album. Unfortunately it does not reach the high bar that the track Swampsnake sets again
First time listen Didn't expect raunchy blues rock going off of the album art but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Pretty short with a decent variety, seems like the vocals might have been an inspiration for Geordie Greep. He probably shouldn't have said all of that on "Next" though. Favorite tracks: Swampsnake, Next Least fav: Gang bang 3.5/5
This is simply awesome idk what to say
Lots of bits make you think about other bands. If I walked into a bar and they were playing, I'd be delighted.
70’s era glam rock and i am here for it. very cool album.
meh
Felt like a very long 35 minutes.. didn't do it for me
The A side was unexpectedly great, while the B side felt a lot less interesting, especially Next. I still enjoyed it enough to place it in the low 4 range.
It's not a surprise they were a major influence to AC/DC. I can very much hear their influence, especially in the vocal style. New band to me. I like the blues rock/piano in Gang Bang, and the use of horns. Some was good, some not so much. Def not my taste. Low 3? Naw, I'm cranky.
the who if it was less interesting idk
I did not know what to expect from this album, but I really liked it. Fun. Irreverent. Groovy. Theatrical. Ticked a lot of boxes for me. Enjoyed quite a bit!
Felt very Rocky Horror
Weird outlandish lyrics
Stale 70s "classic rock" garbage. Rounding up because the production is actually pretty good.
I'm sure fans of Manfred Mann find this engaging. I do not.
I like Glam generally, but this sucked. The hooks aren't great. I find his voice annoying - listen to the last song and tell me it doesn't sound like Adam Sandler is singing in character. There's a part in Spinal Tap where Rob Reiner is reading reviews of Intravenous de Milo and it reads: they are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry. Exactly this!
Made it 1.5 songs in. I don't even dislike this style of music, but this is shite.
2/5 - I got vibes of T. Rex and Meatloaf with super ick-out lyrics. It was occasionally OK, without the Gang Bang and Ding Dong.
ADHD the album. Completely unfocused, chaotic, all over the place, and right in the middle of it all a Broadway musical number, which I actually enjoyed the most. Punk in spirit, what the fuck in execution. Doesn't surprise me that this was an inspiration for Nick Cave, but I can't stand Nick Cave.
Bawdy, raunchy, what's not to love? It was Rocky Horror-licious!
Sounded like they were realy having fun, ig. Very theatrical most of the songs. This is not a bad thing for me, but the whole album felt pretty uncoherent, each song was doing its own business, without much keeping them togheter.
first two songs were awful, the rest got weird but not in a bad way - title track was my fav. still overall an unpleasant listening experience why is a band from glasgow making country rock
this was 70s ppls experimental kpop. 3.5/5 I appreciate how weird and loud it was but I'm not sure if I'd listen again, a lot of the instrumentals felt too grating and repetitive. I liked next the most
I bet Alex Harvey is a totally chill guy who respects women
↓ There are multiple year-long gaps on this guy's page. Someone revived this project to drop the dreaded enward bomb, which obviously wasn't the guy who originally picked the project name. (This review is part of a highly autistic spergwar on the page of someone using a common word for their project name. If you are reading this on the album page dispose of this information NOW. YOU HAVE SEEN NOTHING.)
Groupe inconnu. Rock classique, assez entrainant, mais plutôt gâché par le chant. Certains morceaux sont un peu plus créatifs (les 2 plus longs), mais ce n'est pas suffisant pour une seconde écoute. =>2/5
Not bad, not great.
Está guay. Tampoco le presté demasiada atención. Va duro. Hard rock o algo. No sé si vi por ahí también algo de proto-punk o yo que sé. Sigo sin entender del todo lo que es el glam. Me gustó que fuese escocés. Poco que decir. Pero buenos temas.
I feel like "Sensational" is a bit of projection here. No disrespect to the band, this was definitely a sound that resonated in the late 70s. Alex Harvey himself sounds very animated and zany, and the instruments at times can be impressive, but even for a short album it's a little bit of a slog
This was a pretty cool album that I had been completely unaware of, especially considering how strong it is within the 70s glam rock scene. If you’re a fan of Bowie, Television, T. Rex, or Roxy Music, this one will be right up your alley. It’s got a lot of fun, catchy hooks that makes it easy to stay engaged from front to back.
So sensationell war das ja nun nicht gerade
They definitely get weird with it, especially with the vocals. There are some pretty good riffs to be found and overall it's a fun listen. Favorite track: The Last of the Teenage Idols
Sensational Nah actually it wasn't that bad, could even be a 3 but it's too punky for me
Every song would be skipped every single time they came on if they were in any of my playlists. Only exception would be if I were chained up in a dungeon and had all four limbs restrained, about to be murdered
musically it's ok, but not keen on the vocals.
Just can't get into them
I feel bad for every individual that was on an instrument for this album. They put their heart and soul into their music, just for Alex to start vocalizing about his penis and balls. Basically the instrumentation is great, but every song being an innuendo or just strait up (no pun intended) about his pentus kinda killed the vibe. Don't get me wrong I think it's funny, and I'd really enjoy it as a meme. But it's deadass on this list, and that's what is truly confusing.
Raucous, theatrical bursts built from chunky glam-rock riffs, swaggering bass, pounding drums, and over-the-top, character-driven vocals launch this hard rock album with punch and personality, but it moves like a stage show that opens with fireworks and quickly runs out of sparks—initially gripping, then noticeably tired as the spectacle repeats itself without fresh momentum.
The cure for those who think cock-rock is too high-brow. Magnificently vulgar, but what a sound! 4.5 stars
The music is good, but the lyrics are cringeworthy.
I'm glad albums like these are on this list, it's unique, it's obscure, and it swings for the fences. It's two epic 7 minute plus songs are fantastic, and I genuinely love the vocals and commitment to the artistic vision. Unfortunately that vision often leaves me feeling like I need a shower, most notably in the godawful second track which overstays it's welcome about 30 seconds into it's interminable 6 minutes.
Fun, eccentric, diverse and rocking. Another great discovery. Some songs are already played in my head after I finished listening to the album. Will listen more of their stuff
Best Song: Gang Bang. As dumb as it is lyrically, from a performance perspective this fucking rules. Worst Song: The Faith Healer. These songs work better in a tight (i.e., short) form. This just felt sprawling and messy. Overall: I really liked the raw, aggressive quality of Alex Harvey's voice. He is capable of the kind of aesthetic I want in punk and punk-adjacent music: a reveling in an ugly and unpolished manner of being. Sadly, he uses it too infrequently on this album for my liking.
Comes in so promising and then just turns into a self indulgent mess.
more short and sweet classic rock music today, with sorta the same energy with the last album i heard? this music is... slimy. if that's a good descriptor. the music, the voices, all of it sounds really slimy and sludgy. when you turn the radio on, it feels like suddenly you're naked and vulnerable in a trailer home that smells like cigarettes and butthole. a pretty nice if a bit nasty listen especially if you're really wanting more power rock to flip your hair, stick your tongue out like a demon and prance around like nosferatu on a sugar high.
Not for me
Musically, I enjoyed this a lot. But many of the lyrics are super sleazy and haven’t stood the test of time. The AC/DC lads must have given this a fair few listens. Or is it more like a proto- RHCP? Punk in places, vaudevillian in others, simple 70s hard rock elsewhere. It’s an odd mix and a bit disjointed overall but works in parts. Faith Healer and Teenage Idols are great tracks. 4 stars.
Alex Harvey just had a way of delivering songs that made them different to the usual 70's rock. Zal Cleminson just a great underrated guitarist. Vambo not as strong as the other material, but still a strong album. Faith healer is certainly a classic track.
This was a ridiculously fun album with a weird blend of styles. Intense and eclectic without being pretentious. The flow of this album is a weird mix of glam rock (“The Faith Healer” and “Vambo Marble Eye”), honky-tonk (“Swampsnake”), rock & roll swing (“Giddy Up A Ding Dong”), and theatrical cabaret (“Next”). And even combining styles as in “Last of the Teenage Idols “. This album is all over the place…..IN SUCH A GOOD WAY!!!!. The lyrics are catchy and intense. Some are raunchy and dirty without being obscene (as in “Gang Bang”). But it all comes together in a remarkable way. Never heard of this band but this turned out to be a wonderful surprise. I LOVE it.
Ballerock.
This really icked me for some reason. Not a fan at all.
Geordie Greep
On one hand it was terrible. On the other hand, at least it was short.
Not really my jam. Didn't hate it but didn't really like it. 2 stars.
Yeah, no clue how this was even included in the list. Just terrible.
This starts really strong and then descends into cabaret
Surprised with the amount of hate for this album. I didn't look at the tracklist so when Gang Bang came on that was hilarious. Rocky Horror Picture Show vibes at times and looks like this came out the same year as the play, so I think there has to be some sort of connection there. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
it's sensational due to the attack on the senses
Stupid. This just barely scrapes past being a 1/5.
A different genre for every song. I wouldn’t call it sensational though
The guitar player for this band is very good but I don't like the singer. Also, a couple of the songs involved questionable lyrics. I grew up in the '60s so not a lot offends me but did we really need a song about the dubious pleasures of a gang bang?
I must've been in the mood for this because I LOVED it. I didn't realize what a huge influence these guys were. 4 new songs on my faves. 5/5
I know I've listened to this album 2 separate times but my brain purged every memory of it. Thanks brain.
What in the Rocky Horror Picture Show is going on here then Pretty sensational, to be fair to the bloke 8 / 10 Best track/s: Gang Bang, The Last of the Teenage Idols, Giddy Up A Ding Dong
It's kind of glammy rock. I think seeing them was an important part of the experience, as much as hearing them. I'm not too into this genre, but the album is OK.
Individually, there are some songs that are likely 2s or 3s. But this album has so much of what I dislike about music broadly and about this list particularly that it would feel Iike a self betrayal to give it more than a 1.
Like if Rocky Horror was even more explicit and also not any good.
Lowkey love! The Faith Healer intro scratches my brain. Lots of diversity here.
sex! sex! sex! sexy sex sex! sex! jesus christ dude do you have literally anything else to do than to write generic hard rock songs that don't even pretend to be about something other than sex
Kind of a discount Frank Zappa. Listened to a little Hot Rats afterward. 2.8
2.5 Not the most subtle album we have listened to thats for sure. Didnt mind it, but thought the songs dragged on a bit. I would 100% go to an Alex Harvey concert in preferably a seedy venue.
In all fairness: If I was tasked to compile a list of 1001 albums you should listen before you die, there would be some utter garbage on as well.
this shit is banging
Wow… no!
I stopped listening at the song talking about how sick gang bang is.
Laid the groundwork for a lot of other artists. I hear the vision.
I think you needed to be there at the time.
I was not expecting a song about a literal gang bang. This dude is a total horn dog.
I would give this a 3.5 as a "for fans of the genre" and "good find for those that enjoy glam rock but have already heard all the more notable and influential releases." Even though I like it, personally, I don't see why it should belong on this list.
The music is listenable, the lyrics not so much.
I’d been aware of SAHB because the Japanese musician Rolly often talks about how much he loves them, but I’d never actually listened to their music before. This album does have some great glam rock moments — especially “The Faith Healer.” The instrumental performances are really strong, but listening to the album as a whole left me feeling a bit worn out.
The period where musicians started talking about sex openly is just nauseating. An entire decade of manchildren caterwauling about how much they love pussy. Really embarrassing.
⭐️ Är väl någon form glamrock med könsrocktema.Hur kan denna hamnat på en lista med de1001 album man ska höra innan man dör?
‘Sensational’ is either ironic or a massive stretch. I’m not really sure who needed to hear this middling, semi-serious glam rock before they die, but I’m quite satisfied to have played it through once and moved on. The last track was somewhat interesting as a sort of pseudo medley thing.
Rough diamond rock
A reference point for many on their music journey, but not one of mine. That said, I enjoyed the trip back to the early 70s.
Not sure the lyrics hold up today. Not that sensational. Next…
Confused. Bits I like (Bon Scott era ACDC owes a debt of gratitude), but bored as hell of the pub rock by the end. 2*.
definitely could have gone without hearing this before I die to be honest
what in the rocky horror picture show
Never heard of this one. Listened to enough to know it’s trash.
This is album 1001 for me. I think this is probably the sleeziest one I've heard yet, though there were definitely some contenders in the previous 1000 albums. There is something charmingly ridiculous about these guys. Their obsession with sex is comical, their stage presence over the top, and their music seems to take whatever instruments they can find or whatever notes they can play to make something exciting. If that's not punk, what is? I can certainly see the appeal that they would have had in 1973, and even now a little. Realistically though, there are better examples of everything they're trying to do. But you had to kind of admire how over the top it us.
Well this was fucking fun! I am embarrassed to admit I had never heard of this band… but based on the year and album cover art, I was pretty sure I’d like it. And it surpassed expectations by far! Definitely got some Rocky Horror Picture show vibes… it’s that fun intersection of rock and drama and performance and all that jazz. Loved the energy, mix of instrumentation and immediate catchiness of nearly all the songs. Super hard to pick just one… so I will allow two this time! Standout: Gang Bang and The Last of the Teenage Idols (although I think the latter is probably their popular song, I’d never heard it so I’m allowed to pick!) 01-14-2026
Täähän oli hyvä levy. Bändin tiesin nimeltä, mutta ei oo tullut aiemmin kuunneltua. Tutuin biisi oli "Giddy Up a Ding Dong", tosin Juice Leskinen Grand Slamin ”Hellurei ja Onni Gideon” versiona.
After reading some reviews, I was expecting this album to be terrible or very distinctive (maybe both). It turned out to be really normal and average. Early 70s rock 'n roll with a lot of looks back to the 60s. The lyrics are more overtly and consistently sex-focused than a lot of other records, but they're not at all extreme for rock music. Like some of the other reviews, I don't see how this made the 1001 list. It's fine, it's fun, but it's not remarkable. Alex Harvey was apparently an influence for punk and alternative, but I don't hear why on this record.
Raucous hard rock vibe with a bit of attitude. Pretty sleazy lyrical content, I guess this is what you call cock rock (maybe it's a product of its time). I like the lead guitar parts.
I did not think this one was very good.
My rating 2.3
Not bad, not really my thing but I appreciate the vocalists' energy and the instrumentation aint bad
Meh I get it, it’s cool but also just kinda average rock 3/5
Some of it I couldn't stand and had to skip, couldn't stand his voice. But a few were a bit more interesting.
it was okay, good bit of rock
It's a 3 but I did kinda dig things about it. I read Bon Scott was influenced by this band, and I think that's something that you can hear
This was surprisingly solid.
Ha estado guay, definitivamente no me esperaba eso para ser de los 70, lo volveria a escuchar mas veces la verdad
Decent rock tracks.
In the bin at a garage sale.
7/10 Favourite: The Faith Healer Least Favourite: Gang Bang
Sympa de ouf mais c’est pas se que je préf le plus ma moins touché Préf : vambo marble eyes
10/10 absolut Classic Chanson pref : The last of the teenage idols
A blend of blues and punk rock with cabaret elements. It gives out Rocky Horror Picture Show vibes.
Not so sensational rock band. 70’s band that never made it big. Nothing that set them apart from other rock bands.
This is really horny music. 15 year old school boy horniness with a bluesy backing track. But dont get too comfy, we'll throw horny vaudeville at you too...no problem.
Not for me.
What the actual fuck
Alright. I thought this album was pretty good, and I will not be taking any questions, comments, or concerns. The semi-rock elements in the songs along with the goofy lyrics/stories told in the songs made for a fun and interesting listen
Ewww, no. 👎
The Faith Healer is a good one, the rest is weird.
Honestly quiet excrutiating
Not terrible, I kind of enjoyed this album.
I came into this one completely cold. After the first few tunes, I wrote, “English glam rock, the musical.” I later learned that Harvey formed this band after being in the London cast of Hair, so I guess that makes sense. The blues-rock influences on the first couple of tunes sounded good, if not particularly memorable. The sophomoric lyrics on “Gang Bang” didn’t help. Things got a little more interesting with “Faith Healer”, although the overly long tune still had me wondering if I was supposed to take the band seriously. Again, nothing particularly special or interesting, even for the time it was produced. The second side opens with a not particularly interesting 1950s cover, followed by a more interesting, cabaret cover “Next” (Au Saivant). At least with the latter we see the band trying to be somewhat experimental. “Vambo Marble Eye” steps back into more familiar glam-rock territory and has some good guitar work, but it is otherwise nothing particularly memorable. The final track, “The Last of the Teenage Idols” was my favorite on the record, but not enough to make up for the rest of it. After listening a couple of times, I spent some time trying to figure out how in the hell the album made this list. The best I could figure out is that this band gained notoriety due to their performances, which obviously impossible to capture in a recording decades later. I guess you had to be there. Not for me.
Kinda like a weird AC/DC?
This band is the lovechild of Meatloaf, Queen and Frank Zappa cover bands. Who else would have songs about a faith healer, the death of the teenage idol and gang bangs on the same album? I will never listen to these guys again. But oh were they fun.
Really fun
wtf bonus point for being legitimately hilarious
This seems to be some kind of old white forerunner to Prince. It has all of the same horniness, some of the blues influence.. But this is distinctly white guy blues. Not rating this terribly because the playing is altogether competent and there are some nice moments of good musicians doing basically fun stuff. But I won't be returning to it personally - there is just too much slightly naff feeling stuff next to those moments.
What a nice hidden gem. Some funny dated stuff in there (“Gang Bang”) but I’m giving it a four in hopes more people find this interesting tidbit of 70s blues rock.
Entertaining but not particularly good
Nice easy listening 70s record…but to me not more than that. Sound reminds me of The Who, early Bowie and The Rocky Horror Picture Show…
I didn't really find this too enjoyable, but its not the worst thing ever.
Raunchy blues rock Adam and the Ants. Talented musicians back up Harvey's very unserious vocals for comedic and enjoyably raucous music. Much of it is dripping with glam rock over-indulgence to the point of sounding satirical (in a time before satirizing glam rock was fashionable), which brings about a theatrical rock opera vibe (think Rocky Horror Picture Show). Really enjoyed this album and feel that the Harvey must have been going for a specific sound and nailed it perfectly.
pretty weird in a good way, much to think about
I will say while this is not necessarily my cup of tea, I can see why it could be on this list. A very unique listen for sure; felt like I was listening to a Rocky Horror Picture Show spinoff album. This kind of showy, glam rock isn't my favorite, but I can still appreciate it. The musicianship was good and the lyrics were funny at times. Overall, not bad.
Felt like I was listening to the rocky picture horror show soundtrack. I've never seen the movie but I imagine that's what it would sound like.
Probably better live…..back then.
I don't know if I would go so far as to say sensational...
I kinda loathed a lot of this, but at least it was short?
detestable.
kinda ground gears with the vocal quality in this, which was irritating, but you will NOT catch me complaining about a 35min album. thought that the lyrics were "vampires coming to the rescue". 2.5
This was fun! Rare 1001 Albums aesthetic: ends before you're ready for it to be over. Apparently lots of bands I like, like this band, so I will try to check out more of their work.
I do not like the glam rock or vocals
Some genuinely good moments here, but I find that most of the album's inherent charm and wit is eclipsed by its messiness and generic production. Still, the highlights are there. I, for one, loved how ridiculous the song 'Gang Bang' was, and honestly was one of the better sounding songs here, just super funky and, unfortunately, had a super catchy chorus. And the lyrics are, well, the lyrics. The title track was easily the best song here; it's this theatrical, explosive story that seems to follow the extreme frustrations of some misunderstood protagonists. The song kind of has a proggy feel to it, and it has easily the best vocal performance here. I also really loved the final 2 minutes or so of the closer 'The Last Of The Teenage Idols', which does this '60s sugar pop kind of thing that works oddly well in the mix here. So some pretty neat moments here, and there's a lot of personality to go around, but I don't think I got too much out of this on first listen. Not really my thing.
If a middle schooler drew a dick on their notebook and that dick came to life and started a band, it would sound like this.
This album makes me want to change my other 1-star reviews, because this is so much worse. Just full of gross lyrics and uninteresting music. The only good thing I have to say about it is it's fairly short.
Another in the endless series of heroes of Gen X bands I like. Can hear QOTSA right off the bat in the Swampsnake riff. I dunno, like a lot of glam, it must’ve been something else at the time but now it’s just stale.
I have learnt that anyone who puts Sensational or Fabulous in their title is not. Look, it was not terrible, but I will not be listening to this ever again. It is like a bad musical soundtrack. 2 stars
This one wasn’t really for me, which sucks cause it seems like it should be up my ally. 2 stars. Was a fun/goofy and kind of unhinged album, very energetic but the drugs this guy was obviously on made him a bit too weirdly sexual. There was just not enough variance for me to want to listen again but was a good experience. Leaning more towards a 3
Seemed a bit forced. It was easy listening but didn’t inspire me at all
oh hell no. why is this on the list. so not required listening.
This makes me think of a nude beach. It's in your face, somewhat obscene, full of odd sounds, and a bit feral. This is not what you imagine a nude beach to be like, but what it's really like - full of older people. The kind of folks who are comfortable in their own skin and don't care who sees their gems. It's raw.
Tough to judge this band out of the context of time. Some moments are very cool. It merges rock, glam and vaudeville with some proggy moment (faith healer is a journey). It never rises to great. I think it's more meaningful historically than straight up listenable. Still better then Pretzel Logic.
☠️☠️
I didn’t like this album much at all. It sort of reminded me of Styx jn that it features a lead singer trying waaaaaay too hard and ultimately sounding to my ears like nothing more than a cornball showtune artist. But in this case mix in lyrics about gang rape and gonorrhea.
The closest I've come in the real world to a Spinal Tap album. Gang Bang, Giddy Up a Ding Dong, etc. You know what? I bet these concerts were fun as hell to go to. Almost got to 4 stars, but didn't quite make it.
This was interesting. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. I loved the proto glam sound, instrumentally it really rocks. Some of the longer songs make me wonder if Alex Cooper listened to this. The songwriting is a bit inconsistent but the album ends on a high with closing track Last of the Teenage Idols
Het lijkt wat lekker domme glamrock, glamrockers lijken over het algemeen toch niet door de natuur bedeeld met al te veel hersencellen. Maar dan blijkt het titelnummer ineens een Brel-vertaling (Au suivant). Dat maakt het allemaal weer een stuk interessanter. Sowieso is glamrock stiekem best een leuk genre.
Even switchen na Elliott Smith, want er volgen swingende jazzy pianoklanken. En direct daarna weer switchen, want meneer begint te 'zingen'. Oww...zonde... Toch raak ik er wel aangewend. En het gaat nog wat meer rocken, waardoor die zang beter matcht. Al schiet het redelijk wat kanten op. We krijgen bijvoorbeeld nog wat typisch Amerikaanse klanken en een letterlijk theatraal nummer. Ik ga dit niet vaker opzetten, maar het is wel een beleving. En ach...het duurt ook maar 35 minuten. en ach... het duurt ook maar 35 minuten.
Gekke mix van muziekstijlen, want we krijgen moddervette glam rock, punky muziek, bluesy Elvis, vleugje Ozzy. En dan plots een musicalesque toneelstuk. Eén ding dat het gemeen heeft, is dat het allemaal bombastisch is. En dat maakt het toch wel geinig om te luisteren. De maffe titletrack hadden ze mogen overslaan, maar verder vermaak ik me er toch prima mee. Ik gun dit wel een over the top 4 sterren.
Didn't like anything about this one
Some wild lyrics on this album haha. Some of the songs were hokey and others were good.
This album is WILD. I have no idea what it is, or what it's trying to be, or why I need to listen to it before I die, but it is definitely an experience. I like and respect experimental music, but sometimes it's kind of shit. Here's the thing: I never want to listen to it again. That's usually my standard of a 2 star review, but this one - absolute insanity aside - was actually a pretty decent listen. Halfway through the first song, I'm thinking, what the hell am I listening to? Then the second song starts playing, and he starts singing, "ain't nothing like a gang bang to blow away the blues," and I had to stop what I was doing to read the lyrics because, surely, "gang bang" must have meant something different in the 70s, no? Yeah, no. He's singing about a 27-guy gang bang. What the actual fuck, man? Boomers were listening to this shit, then yelling at us because our music had cuss words? There's a song called Giddy Up a Ding Dong. "I swear on the wet head of my first case of gonorrhoea" is a real lyric. What the fuck, man.
**In-depth review of “Next” by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1973)** *Lyrics – Music – Production – Themes – Influence – Pros & Cons* --- ### 🎭 **Album Overview** Released in late-1973, *Next* is the second studio album by **The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB)**. It is a **35-minute, 7-track explosion** of glam-rock, blues, cabaret and proto-punk theatricality, produced by **Phil Wainman** (also behind The Sweet) and recorded at Audio International Studios in London . The record captures Harvey’s **Glaswegian vaudeville persona** and the band’s razor-tight hard-rock muscle, serving as both **a glam manifesto and a sneering satire of 1950s nostalgia, military dehumanization and false prophets**. --- ### 🖋️ **Lyrics – Storytelling, Satire & Scottish Swagger** Alex Harvey writes like a **music-hall poet trapped in a proto-punk cabaret**: every song is a **character sketch drenched in irony, sexuality and urban grime**. | Track | Narrative & Key Lines | Sub-text | |---|---|---| | **Swampsnake** | “Let me be your swampsnake ’til the real one comes along” | A **surreal blues parable** of disposable lovers; the snake as **metaphor for transient comfort** in a harsh world . | | **The Faith Healer** | “Can I put my hands on you?” | A **seven-minute sermon** exposing **charismatic charlatans** who trade hollow salvation for devotion; **spoken-word incantations swell into hard-rock exorcism** . | | **Next** (Jacques Brel cover) | “Next – your turn in the chair” | **Shell-shocked soldier** queued through a **mobile army brothel**; venereal disease, **bureaucratic cruelty**, loss of innocence delivered with **music-hall sarcasm** . | | **Gang Bang** | “Ain’t nothing like a gang-bang to blow away your blues” | **Campy anthem for social misfits**; **orgiastic release as therapy** for “winged women” and “high-heeled boys” – **ridiculous yet inclusive** . | | **The Last of the Teenage Idols** | “You can hang me in the morning… call me the last of the big-time spenders” | **Auto-biographical three-act suite**: **teenage talent-show win ➜ faded stardom ➜ doo-wop resurrection**; Harvey’s own 1957 Tommy Steele coronation becomes **meditation on ageing and reinvention** . | **Harvey’s delivery** – half **sprechgesang**, half **full-throated belter** – **amps the theatricality**; he bends vowels in thick Glasgow accent, **cracks his voice on purpose**, and **never winks at the audience**, which makes the satire cut deeper . --- ### 🎸 **Music – Genre-bending & Virtuosity** SAHB **fuse opposite poles** without collapsing into parody. - **Hard-rock spine**: Zal Cleminson’s **swampy wah-wah riffs** (“Swampsnake”), **proto-metal chug** (“Vambo Marble Eye”) and **scything leads** throughout . - **Cabaret keys**: Hugh McKenna layers **baroque organ**, **moog squelches**, **honky-tonk piano** – hear the **hypnotic synth motif** that drives “The Faith Healer” . - **Rhythm engine**: Ted McKenna’s **crisp snare** and Chris Glen’s **melodic bass** keep the theatrics **danceable** rather than pretentious. - **Dynamic detours**: tempo shifts, hand-clap rockabilly (“Giddy Up a Ding Dong”), **doo-wop coda** (“Teenage Idols”), **tango breaks** in “Next” – all **sewn together with whip-crack edits** . **Result**: a **glam-rock revue** that can **drop into Sabbath-weight grooves** without losing **cabaret sparkle**. --- ### 🎛️ **Production – Phil Wainman’s Glam Gloss** Phil Wainman (**The Sweet, Bay City Rollers**) applies **glam-rock sheen** yet keeps **drums snappy, guitars razor-sharp and vocals upfront** – **no muddy 70s sludge**. Stereo separation **spotlights Cleminson’s guitar acrobatics** against McKenna’s **keyboards**, while **reverb on Harvey’s voice** evokes **music-hall stageboards** . At **under 36 minutes**, the album is **trim, punchy and sequenced like a stage show**: opener rouses, epic centerpiece, cover for color, novelty single, autobiographical closer – **no fat**. --- ### 🎨 **Themes** 1. **Urban alienation & communal escape** (“Gang Bang”) 2. **False redemption & spiritual snake-oil** (“The Faith Healer”) 3. **Militarised sexuality & bureaucratic cruelty** (“Next”) 4. **Show-business mythology & ageing** (“Teenage Idols”) 5. **1950s nostalgia vs 1970s sleaze** (recurrent rock-’n’-roll quotes) Harvey’s **Glaswegian music-hall upbringing** lets him **laugh at despair** – the album **never moralises**, yet **empathy leaks through the sarcasm**. --- ### 🚀 **Influence & Legacy** - **AC/DC**: Bon Scott **lifted Harvey’s vocal cadences** and **storytelling swagger**; *Next*’s **blues-boogie riffs** prefigure **“High Voltage”** . - **Nick Cave**: *“Next was the biggest influence on my first band – we covered SAHB songs exclusively”* ; Cave’s **murder-ballad narratives** and **baritone theatricality** echo Harvey’s spoken-word passages. - **Proto-punk / Goth**: The **sleazy cabaret** of *Next* **bridges glam and punk** – **New York Dolls** camp, **Cramps** psychobilly, **early Cult** gothic blues all **trace DNA here** . - **Meat Loaf / Jim Steinman**: The **epic multi-part song structure** and **sardonic operatic vocals** of *“The Faith Healer”* and *“Teenage Idols”* are **clear templates for Bat Out of Hell** . **Modern reappraisal**: featured in *“1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die”*; 2020s critics hail it as **“massively under-appreciated”** and **“the missing link between Roxy Music and the Sex Pistols”** . --- ### ✅ **Pros** - **Unique hybrid**: glam, blues, cabaret, proto-punk in **cohesive cocktail**. - **Harvey’s charisma**: **actor’s timing, singer’s power** – impossible to replicate. - **Sharp narratives**: every track a **mini-play** – quotable, visual, still relevant. - **Musical chops**: **riffs, tempo shifts, solos** – band can **jam and jerk tears**. - **Concise runtime**: **no filler**, replay-friendly. - **Influence**: **tangible lineage** to AC/DC, Cave, Meat Loaf, punk. --- ### ❌ **Cons** - **Polarising voice**: **deliberate cracks, exaggerated vibrato** – **grates on some ears** . - **Problematic titles**: **“Gang Bang”** and **lyrical vulgarity** can feel **pandering or dated**; **modern listeners may bounce off the camp sleaze** . - **Cover dependency**: two of seven tracks are **covers / re-workings** – **slight dilution of original statement** (though re-imagined radically). - **Production gloss**: Wainman’s **sheen** occasionally **softens guitar edges** for listeners craving **proto-metal rawness**. --- ### 🏁 **Verdict** *Next* is **a 35-minute shot of theatrical adrenaline** that **still crackles** half a century on. It **never plays it straight**, yet **never slips into parody** – the **jokes are serious, the riffs are real**, and the **stories linger like bar-room myths**. For the **open-eared**, it’s **essential glam-era cartilage** linking **’50s rock-’n’-roll innocence** to **’70s urban cynicism** – and **a blueprint for every snarling storyteller** who followed. Sensational by name, sensational by nature… just don’t expect polite company.*
classic rock, bluesy de hit van het album is een kakanummer niet goed, nooit meer luisteren
Feels very ahead of its time, yet still simmilar to what was made at the time, just like better
This was a pretty cool album that I had been completely unaware of, especially considering how strong it is within the 70s glam rock scene. If you’re a fan of Bowie, Television, T. Rex, or Roxy Music, this one will be right up your alley. It’s got a lot of fun, catchy hooks that makes it easy to stay engaged from front to back.
Best Track - "Giddy Up A Ding Dong"
A weird surprise.
If you like songs about gangbangs and gonnorrhea, go for it. I was ready to just give it 1* and move on but the last song The Last of the Teenage Idols is pretty good
This album sounded like everyone involved had a good time making it. The lyrics are a little cheesy and cringe but, they got a chuckle out of me. The album is pretty good. Just don’t take it seriously.
This was a really fun surprise. It's a blues rock album from a Scottish band, and it kicks off to a great start and keeps the energy up the whole way through, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. A rocking good time
Fun rock
Cool Album. Didn't know about this guy. Don't know if it's really that good that it needs to be in this list, but there are a lot of albums that are much less understandable for this list :D
Rätt irriterande
Sensationellt, som utlovat!
Ingen stark åsikt om detta.
I don’t mean to be rude. But this was quite shite. Similar to some other albums I’ve reviewed thus far. Musically it was probably okay. But lyrically it was pox. To reiterate the sentiment of one of the top reviews for this album “I guess you had to be there”. 2/5 for mine.
n esperava quase nada, e me diverti, bom album
Docking this album 1 star for the track, "Gang Bang." What the hell kind of song is that?
This is my first run in with the Alex Harvey Band but i can see why it is talked about as an original punk founder. Some moments such as Gang Bang were a bit too crude for ME! In the big '25!! I very much liked the song that the album gets its title from, Next. Short. Seems like a lot of these older albums are on the shorter side.
It's all over the place but not in a bad way. The influence this had on Nick Cave is palpable and that alone makes this noteworthy.
Didn't listen.
Very good, thoroughly enjoyable. Next!
Wasn't sure about this one at first but overall it wasn't too half bad.
I am ranking this as a 3 as a matter of personal taste. It was a blast listening to this once, and I would be happy to know that albums like this will keep showing up all the time now and in the future. Just would not listen to this one too many times in a roll.
Giddy Up a Ding Dong is a great song, as is The Last of the Teenage Idols. Gang bangs seem a strange subject matter to base a song around...
No. 1.
This album seems ahead of its time. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Has some positives but I would rather just listen to T. Rex. 3/ 5
"Ain't nothing like a gang bang"? :D Ok. Aika perinteikkään kuuloista rokkia ja glamia, mutta sit Next oli taas ihme erikoinen musikaali pläjäys. Mut ihan hauska sellainen. Biiseissä kuulee paljon blues ja rock n roll vaikutteita. Kivan monipuolinen levy. Parhaat: Vambo Marble Eye, The Last Of The Teenage Idols
I usually love glam rock, but this isn't hitting for me. Just a bit off-putting.
Interesting
When someone calls themselves Sensational, they probably aren't.
It's fine.
Beginning your band's name with the word "Sensational" doesn't necessarily make it true. The band should have been called "The Glam Alex Harvey Band" because this is T. Rex combined with some weird blues hybrid of saxophone and harmonica. Bon Scott described Alex Harvey as an influence and I absolutely can see that. This is especially true on Swampsnake. There is some similarity to their singing style. There are also a lot more background vocals than I was expecting to hear. The rest of the Glam Alex Harvey Band all seem to chip in with vocals that at times sound like they are directly from the late 50's. All of the talk on here about Alex Harvey's penis is not from the late 50's music scene though. The Beatles didn't eventually sing "I Want You to Hold My Cock" or "Screw Me Do," so there is a bit more of an edge to this last of the teenage idols. There is a song called Gang Bang, so obviously the Glam Alex Harvey Band had no issue with being on the AC/DC side of teen idols. This is a funny album, because I don't know if I would ever listen to it again but I would possibly put this album on a playlist if I'm looking to hear a bit of T. Rex and Mott the Hoople with Buddy Holly backgrounds mixed in. The album quality drifts off a bit in the end but overall this was a fun one. My favorite songs were: Swampsnake Gang Bang (it's a catchy song and the horns are cool) Giddy Up a Ding Dong Vambo Marble Eye Last of the Teenage Idols
Loved revisiting this, stands the times well
This shit is lame.
Is this a joke? Please tell me this is a fucking joke.