Rattus Norvegicus

I saw The Stranglers in 1977 and it was terrifying. Respectable looking men went into the toilets in suits to get changed and came out covered in lipstick and safety pins, unrecognisably different. JJ Burnel jumped into the crowd in the middle of a song and beat up someone, no idea why, but the band ignored it and kept on playing. He got back up on stage, plugged back in and resumed playing as if nothing had happened. The music was tremendously exciting, though I didn't like punk until 30 years later.

More than anything, the fucking organ slaps. This is great new wave/punk/with a pub Horror vibe to it.

Wow, something from the British punk wave that doesn't immediately suck ass. I actually liked this from start to finish and it has really memorable songs. The sound may be of its time but the performance, especially the vocals, are really tight on this one.

Really surprised by this one, kept it fresh and interesting

Women are objects and Jews are not people in the world of The Stranglers. I still have some reflection to do about why I'm okay with excusing this type of bigotry in other artists, but for now, I'll say that this shit put me in a bad mood today. Being a dick doesn't make you punk. Best track: Goodbye Toulouse

Stuart Pearce has seen this mob live over 1000 times. Psycho clearly has impeccable taste 👌

Punk rock polka. The lyrics may have been “ok” in 1977 but definitely didn’t age well. The Stranglers don’t stand out for me.

Well, hello. Please come in. The Stranglers are one of the few bands I haven't heard that I hold no prejudices about, so this was as welcome as some alone time in the shower. I can't say it defied my expectations, because I didn't have any, but I can say it was a total thrill. Lively, tumbledown, and so assured. The drummer ain't afraid to lash out, the guitar's got that shark bite quality, and the vocals are, um, strangled. Meaty stuff. An eight-minute medley in ninth place is ambitious by usual standards, but these lads are bold as brass, sticking extended instrumentals that pack a whallop into the two opening tracks. Having listened to 2021's Bright Green Field recently, the maladroit funk and dorky vocals on 'Peaches' sounds like a clear reference point for Squid. Same lyrical brand of disaffected nonsense, too. So far up my alley the street lights are a mere pinprick.

Rattus Norvegicus is cock rock done right. I've always loved it because, in a time where every punk took itself seriously, these guys made an album that pokes at those who thought being a punk was akin to being the second coming of Christ. And it's not like these guys were all bark but no bite. These guys could back up anything they say with an artistique brand of swagger whose backbone is the rhythm section, which is coincidentally (or not) in the forefront of the cover. They give songs like Peaches, Hanging Around, and Get A Grip On Yourself something highly memorable, an infectious beat to thump my restless legs to. Vocally, Hugh Cromwell's growl and sneer perfectly fit the M.O., and his way of expression is something many tried to emulate. But just as they could poke fun at the punks by being vulgar, codeless, and sexual, they could also poke by incorporating musical styles that punks swore to hang publicly, blues on Princess of the Streets, and even prog in Down in the Sewer. It's a favorite of mine in the punk genre, mainly because the mocking emulation of punk done by these 30-something year olds is done better than some youngsters who are "fed up" with society and "punk at heart". ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mix of punk and classic rock. Lots of organ, reasonably accessible and melodic but all very average. Nothing stands out other than the low organ jam in Down The Sewer. As the kids would say, it’s very mid. 5.2/10

Possibly the most enjoyably fun punk album. This or Ian Dury. Sparky, snotty and cynical, with possibly the best drummer and tons of Hammond organ to piss off the purists. The run from Hanging Around to Ugly is some of the most fun you can have with your trousers on.

I quite like the Classic Albums documentaries that review the recording of classic albums (like it says on the tin). I find, however that, like Dimery's 1001 albums, there is a tendency to focus on big budget mainstream records. The most boring episode ever was on Steely Dan's Aja; "we just hired the best session players and went into the studio and did a million takes until we got the perfect result". Personally, I'm more interested in bands that can bang it out in a quick yet compelling way. Steve Albini was the patron saint of recording in a rough and ready but super exciting way. Don't let too much time and money tempt you into polishing off what is exciting about your band. Which is my roundabout way of saying that I really enjoyed Rattus Norvegicus by the Stranglers. It is the type of album I often find more compelling; recorded in a week in a cheap studio, basically reflecting their live set. You can tell that the Stranglers were a well-honed live act. They are tight and powerful. they know exactly what they are doing, but are still having fun with it. Martin Rushent records them really well; he leaves enough rough edges on to make it feel exciting and a bit dangerous, which suits their material really well. Were they really a punk band? Personally, I don't care that much about semiotic hair-splitting, but I really dig their performances. The rhythm, section is tight and muscular (I especially like the beefy bass tone), and Dave Greenfield's keyboards always add excitement and charm. Normally I would find keyboard solos (as in Down in the Sewer) insufferable (I'm looking at you Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, et al.), but I don't feel like Greenfield ever loses sight of the fact that you should be able to dance to their songs. The vocals lean towards that particularly British speak-singing intonation (although not as bad as Mark E. Smith thank god). There are a bunch of terrific tunes on here (Peaches, Get a Grip On Yourself, Hanging Around), and even the album tracks are energetic and bracing. Maybe Princess of the Streets is below par, but the record overall is a rip-roaring 40 minutes of high-octane rock and roll. Would buy. 3.5 stars, rounding up for not testing my patience.

I can’t believe a band called “The Stranglers” would have lyrics that didn’t age well.

"Bigots," "The lyrics didn't age well" "Troublesome mysogynistic" Dear me, it really seems people find it hard to recognize the playful irony and satire present in most of the songs on this album. Converations lifted straight from the gutters and pubs and put on record for all to hear. Absolutely abrasive and pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable—that was the point! The remainder of the album includes all the essential elements: tracks that explore mundane lives, disillusionment, feelings of isolation, and the collapse of political and social systems, all infused with sharp observations on these themes, which was characteristic of the period. It also incorporates influences from earlier psychedelic rock, echoing the sound of The Doors, featuring a Manzarek-style organ that plays its tunes in a slightly hazy fashion. The strength of *Rattus Norvegicus* is its capacity to both challenge and satisfy. The band’s take on the rise of the punk movement would also define their unique style in later albums, distinguishing them from the formulaic one-dimensional groups that were emerging during that time. 4,5 *

My favourite album of all time. I’ve probably listened to this record more than any other. It’s filled with fantastic songs end to end. I’m biased I know but definitely deserves its place on the list

Another band where a greatest hits would give you a much better idea of their range. Peaches is great. Really great. The stranglers were seen as the first of the new wave bands. In 1977. They are that far ahead. Golden brown and duchess were to come. I give this five not because of its inherent worth but because the band is awesome.

Absolutely elctricifying album. Loved the driving bass and viscerally sneering vocals.

Very cool, very early punk album. I liked it a lot.

best album EVER..

(Fuck Yeah) This Album Is Incredible [I love you Dave Greenfield R.I.P] 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑

Gritty, grimy, gross, gorgeous? Maybe I'm forgetting another G word to describe the tone of this straight up classic UK punk album. The tracks here keep you guessing right up until the end, and nothing feels like it belongs in a box.

The musical equivalent of a city rat, slick with slime, crawling from the gutter to leer at passing suits.

The Stranglers have humorous energy, no doubt!

This album really straddles the line between punk, hard rock, while incorporating elements of art rock and psychedelia into a palatable and exciting package. There’s a sense of danger and sneer to this music which is appealing. These songs are interesting enough musically but accessible enough to be at home in a pub or a college dorm room.

These guys are fun. I like these songs. They are silly, angry, rude, and catchy. 5 stars.

Would definitely listen to this album again. Great english punk sound.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. It's listed as 'punk', but it's like some early 80s new wave. It is too 'polite' to be punk. I don't hate it; I could like it. The energy is very "f*ck off, wanker!" -- even this vanilla, suburb boy can see that. However, it is not all that bad. Whoever is on the organ/keyboards is absolutely killing it. There's a polished grimmy-ness (I know that's some weird, Zen koan shit...) to it that is appealing. I could come back to this, but I have a busy day. (3/5) On the hopes that more listens will have this grow on me.

A hangover from a bad run of albums (and the misappropriated word "punk" as a descriptor) had my hackles up initially, but this one turned out better than I expected. Definitely heard more shades of The Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf, and Deep Purple than The Ramones or the Sex Pistols, and in the best way possible (though Spinal Tap DEFINITELY found some inspiration in this one). Some of the synth/keyboard on here was fantastic. Had the sound of a debut album (trying out different sounds to see what works; some of it doesn't), but definitely made me want to explore some of their later stuff. A 3.5/5 that I'm reluctant to round up.

This was exactly the type of album I look forward to on this project. A completely new to me experience that is good enough to think on for a bit. I didn’t bounce off of this at all, but at the same time it never really captured me. I liked songs on this album, but the overall experience failed to fully achieve lift off. Perhaps that is due to the slower paced methodical delivery of the vocals. The thick bluesy bass mixed together with that delivery of coarse lyrics gave the album a feel of walking through a dank and grimy apartment. Come for the superb guitar riffs, avoid standing under the water stain on the ceiling. I can see why The Stranglers accumulated such a reputation. And seriously, at nearly fifty years later, I’m not interested in debating punk or not punk. We are so far removed from that time and place that all of the distinctions have been too far smoothed over to tell. At least I think for anyone that didn’t live through it and I didn’t. To me they are a 1970s punk-ish British band. I might check some more of their stuff out. The Track Highlights Hanging Around (Get A) Grip [on Yourself] Ugly

311/1089 - Sorta decent psychedelic punk. Not a fan of talk-singing.

Si cet album avait une couleur, ce serait transparent

Punk rock polka. The lyrics may have been “ok” in 1977 but definitely didn’t age well. The Stranglers don’t stand out for me. 2⭐️

Punk: complete with that annoying nasal/throat singing style that I’ve come to know and hate. It wasn’t as bad some of the other wankery tripe in this style that I’ve been served on here… but that doesn’t mean it’s good.

Distinctive, raw, exciting, a great listen, exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for on this list

- 1977 ...... -

This is pretty epic. The mix of genres in combination with the lyrics is fantastic.

Every song the Stranglers make just seems to be enjoyable. I find it hard to really call them Punk, but they are a sort of proto New Wave / Art rock band with some Punk elements to it. They just make really nice songs, not too long or too short. They all sound different from one another while still being somewhat similar.

These guys are awesome.

Very cool stuff! :) :)

This surprised me, definitely a 5. Great music, will be revisiting this band.

Certified banger. First listen to wny of these songs and it’s been on repeat for 24 hours +

Amazing! I would definitely listen more of them. I Will. Fav song: Princess of The Streets

Strange. Down in the Sewer had really good instrumentals, specifically the intro. The bass lines throughout were very good. Didn’t know these people sang the Golden Brown song

This simultaneously sounds like old school punk, The Doors and Ghostbusters' theme song. All of which are fucking awesome.

Ihan timanttista keyboardismia. Menevä meno koko levyn ajan. Tätä oli mukava kuunnella.

Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

What a nice surprise this was. Knew golden brown from another album but didn't realize they were way more early punk sounding

Hell yeah

Always been a favourite and my usual nomination for best ever debut. Ugly is the only track I would drop for Something Better Change (which they release before No More Heroes), but that does not mean it is anything other than 5*. I always read and heard their violence and misogyny as irony and a joke, so I hear and read indignation and bitterness here with a grin, especially when applied to a 50 year old album.

> the Beatles

Why don't I have this record? It's great. This has lots of fun extended instrumental bits like in "Goodbye Toulouse," and of course I was delighted to hear "Get a Grip on Yourself" for the first time in quite a long time. Check out the keyboards on this record! Ha, it's nice hearing this stuff on something better than crappy 1970s car radio speakers. (ok yes, "Peaches" is stupid, but it's funny-stupid so that's ok) Five stars

Once again I am finding that I just absolutely love these early punk / proto-punk bands. This album was a great time! It's kind of funny, my summary has punk listed as my favourite genre from the generator and yet, I don't think I've really gotten a single true punk or hardcore record. Several proto-punk and post-punk records, but no Ramones, Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Minor Threat, etc.

Favourite song: London Lady

One of the foundational records of Punk Rock but they were always better musicians than that implies. Really, it's brilliant.

Great guitar sound, complex layered music, sarcastic lyrics, fun and silly and raw and dark

I have a new favorite album.

1970s Punk Rock with keyboards. The album opens with "Sometimes", and includes the punk "London Lady", the sultry "Princess of the Streets", the hits "Hanging Around", "Peaches", and "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)", and closes with the "Down in the Sewer". A great album then, and still a great album now.

Among the British punk rock bands stand out as one of the few to use keyboards. This gives them a very distinct sound when compared to their guitar based peers. Still very much a punk album with some great tracks.

I didn't understand The Stranglers when I was a child. The weird off-kilter organ and peculiar dynamics threw me off. Decades later, the thick bass and daring-to-be-different is just fabulous to me and I can't get enough.

That’s some damn good Stranglers.

This album slinks in like a sewer rat wearing a leather jacket — mean, smart, and weirdly elegant about it. It’s punk for people who think too much and still end up punching a wall. The Stranglers don’t snarl; they smirk, and that makes it ten times more dangerous. Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Arrogant, grimy brilliance. Punk rock with manners — and a knife behind its back. Favorite Track: “Peaches” — sleazy bassline, zero shame, pure swagger. You can smell the sunburn and cheap beer.

Picked this up in a junk store a couple of years ago for about $3. It's a little scratched, but that's just adds to the ambience... This is a kick ass record and deserves to be in every collection

I dug the hell out of this.

Substantial punk rock

Awesome

I really liked this. I'm not even sure what it is, but it just made me happy. I was originally going to go with a high 4, but why be stingy.

If all punk had organ, I'd love punk as a genre

You want to hear one of the best albums of British rock music? You are annoyed by punk that is just people who are not talented but have big mouths? Well, look no further and listen to this wonderful Stranglers album that has it all! Lots of humour, fun, absurdism and great instrumental talent. They don't care for anyone or anything and were punk in the best way with that. Famously, Hugh Cornwell explained that apparently keyboards weren't "allowed" in punk - so the thing they did is to hire a keyboard player. This guy, Dave Greenfield, was always essential to what they did. Here you can hear why. Yes, the best track is obviously "Peaches". Machos who can laugh about machoism will always work better than preachy stuff.

i really liked this. a lot.

Another eureka moment (maybe second only to discovering Elvis Costello) on my anxious journey from cloistered schoolboy to wide eyed student. Sensational distinctive sound, glorious basslines, menacing themes, how could I resist? Nearly docked a point for the ugly Ugly (although, y'know) but managed to hold it together by relistening to the timeless Hanging Around.

Fantastic album. Takes me back to Floyd on food!

5 out of 5. Banger album from some of the best years of punk.

A classic.

This was so much fun

This is the kind of album I’m here for. I knew of The Stranglers, but I’d never listened to the whole album before. It was punk, and dark, and I loved it.

Impressive

I don't care what you say. This is not a jam band disguised as punk. It straight up awesome

One of my favourite Stranglers albums. Hanging Around, Peaches, Grip, Go Buddy Go, all stand out tracks.

My god, but this is a fun album to listen to. The Stranglers is another band that I never had much time for back in the day. Now I'm wondering what the hell was wrong with me. I would give this five stars solely on the basis of the incredibly tight playing by the whole band, even if I didn't like the sound. Fortunately I do, but unfortunately five stars is the most I can give.

Enjoyable alternative-pop record. Cool interesting compositions.

Loved every bit of this. Amazing really how quickly punk changed.

Nice bop!

Not familiar with the Stranglers but really enjoyed this one, even more on my second listen. Only one song I don't care for. Definitely has its own feel compared to the other punk albums of the time, probably due to the organ. Rating: 4.6

He’s got that deep hollow voice like David Bowie. It’s a kind of Bowie-slow punk mash-up. Interesting.

Peachy

This rocks. I knew the song Peaches, but never checked out more of their stuff. Really good.

fuck it five stars i love the stranglers

What if The Doors played punk rock?

Yes!

Used to listen to ‘Peaches’ (presumably a radio edit?) on some crap cd compilation as a kid - always seemed a strange theme for a song to be playing around the otherwise very kid-friendly house - weird and satisfying to hear it in the context of its album. Peaches.

Known fan of 70s rock enjoys 70s rock album. In other news fork found in kitchen. I just think this album is endlessly listenable, no skips, interesting variations between songs but still cohesive

Groovin bass

This was a really smooth album to listen to, enjoyed it a lot.

OK, OK, album 501. One tick over the hump. Let's see what the Randomizer decided to grace my group with today... To begin with: is this punk, in every true sense of the word? Doesn't matter to me, honestly. I've made a deal out of genre before, but let's be real: it's not **that** big of a deal. I mean, if there's any word I wanna attach to this, it's not even a genre: it's "pub." This is some pub-ass music, y'know? And **British** music at that, so you know it's the real shit. Then: are there some parts of this album that haven't aged all too well? Lyrically, yeah, but let's not act like some of the conceits on here were OK to begin with. Though, like with genre, and speaking of this thing musically as well, I can't say it matters to me all **that** much. I mean, I doubt I'm supposed to take any of these songs at face value, and that they're unironically baring their souls here. Goodness, they slapped a "IV" on the cover of this thing, their first album, just to mess with people. I'm not gonna tell anyone who takes issue with these lyrics that they're wrong, but to my eyes... Like, there's shit that came out this year that's more worth getting upset about. Finally: let me actually address what I like about the album, instead of the points I vaguely remember some people making in their 2/5 reviews. And, like, gawd: it **all** comes down to that organ and bass. The singing, the drumming, the guitaring... They're all fine and good. But holy shit, the bass and organ are on another level. The bass is just so, like... Thonky and meaty. Normally I don't even pay too close attention to the bass, but here, it's absolutely one of the stars — outshone, of course, by that **organ**. Like, is this a Doors album? Is this some Brit pub Doors album? 'Coz seriously, if there's any reason I can see myself coming back to this album, it's for that organ. Hon-est-ly now! On their own, they're enough to make me overlook any flaws this thing has. And seriously, no disrespect to the other instruments: this is a tight ensemble. Really, the worst thing I can say about this album is that it, like, can kinda drag a bit in the first half? There were spots where I was wondering when the next song was gonna happen. But from "Peaches" straight to the end — yeah, no. This is the good shit. Props to you, Strangers. Rat on, I suppose.

That’s a pretty damn easy 5. This was originally released as “The Stranglers IV”, which is really, really funny for a debut album. With a sense of humor like that, thank goodness these guys have the songwriting chops & musical brains to match it. This is 40 minutes that very nicely bridges the gap between the incoming heavy synth work of 80s new wave, and the post-punk sensibilities of the first 3 Talking Heads albums, made all the more impressive by the fact that this is from 1977, when Talking Heads made their debut. In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m talking about the organ. That organ is the star of the show here, and a great anchor that separates them from some of the contemporaries of their time. The way it’s used here is immediately reminiscent of arcade games & a hint of a “futuristic” vibe, but it doesn’t overwhelm the soundscape at any point, acting less like a Kraftwerk instrument and just as a substitute for another electric guitar. There are moments where it bears down on these tracks and sets itself as the dominant instrument, but the mixing leaves all the room in the world for the guitars, drums, and vocals to shine. Speaking of the vocals, they’re really good here; not because of some overwhelming ability to sing, but in how perfectly they just melt into the instrumentation. The fact that he sounds really nice, with just a bit of a blend between David Byrne & Michael Stipe (at least to my ears) helps a lot. Lyrically, I think this album finds a really nice balance between being earnest and being funny, which is a big positive, as this album never takes itself too seriously, but it does treat each song with a gravitas that keeps everything honest. It helps the instrumental breaks on a lot of these tracks fly by faster, because it’s already set the tone of a “just have fun and vibe out” track almost every time. I just really enjoyed this one; it’s a super breezy 40 minutes that never once gets boring or stale, at least for my tastes. Sometimes, it just has to sound that damn good, and this one did. Hence, a really easy 5, and a big recommendation.

Super versatile amd creative. Ska, punk, rock-steady and pure 70s rock. Absurdly great album

Excellent!

Old school punk is so fucking cool man

Jävlar vad gött. Det är som en blandning av soft boys, Roxy music och typ clash. Det är punkigt men sofistikerat och spännande. Bäst är nog goodbye Toulouse och peaches.

Seeding the seedy.