Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Some great music with a drunk uncle mumbling over the top such a shame.
This guy really wants you to know he fucks.
Honestly not sure. I don’t mind it. It’s very … Laarrrrrrrndan. But it’s also irritating. But in an almost fun way that I almost like. I don’t know. 2.5 rounded down.
This sounds like some guy doing a bad Austin Powers impression.
Right off the bat we have a bad start with the horrible album title. Is this what passes for "must hear" music over in Britain? This is one export they can keep. There was nothing here that would compel me to ever want to come back to this album.
Maybe I should've cherished Bob Dylan a little more while I had him.
Essex crap
It shouldn’t be so hard to figure out if this is bad punk or a bad parody of good punk. Maybe it’s brilliant punk portraying itself as a bad parody? The time I’ve spent writing this is way more time than I’ve wanted to spend thinking about this album.
Proof that people’s inner 12 year old can lead to sales and the success of an album - I’m sure they were all ashamed then and now. Would this be a must listen if not for the British accent?
The only way I can sum up this album is by saying the vocal delivery & lyricism kill it for me. There are some decent instrumental moments and grooves, but the way Dury sings is extremely jarring and some of the songs feel like I'm listening to a creepy bloke sing inappropriately at a circus. The lyrics are shit too. All in all a very odd album.
Weird
The music is pretty good, lots of different styles going on. The vocals though, even for punk, are just not that good bordering on dreadful. Most of the time it doesn't even sound like singing, more talking or that suggest-a-note thing people do in musical theater when they can't really sing, talk-singing I guess. In 1977 London this must have tapped into the zeitgeist of the moment, but this is a "You Had to Be There" album that just doesn't hold up at all.
Liked the music, really didn't care for the lyrics and singing. With less affected singing / content this could have been a 3 star. The tone of it was a bit too aggressive for me, from the album's title all the way down.
DNF, no thanks.
Ok so the first song is fine when it’s instrumentals. And then the vocals start. They are painfully British and painfully bad. He sounds like somebody’s grandpa being forced into doing karaoke. And the lyrics are worse. I’m not even gonna talk about the lyrics dear god. I’m not opposed to immature, sexual lyrics. Hell, I love The Pixies and Violent Femmes. But those are visceral. This sounds like it’s trying to be sexy, and unfortunately for all of us, they are deeply unsexy. Sweet Gene Vincent is a pretty good song—a soft waltz that uses his vocals in a way that’s actually good…and then there’s a sudden switch. The vocals are better, but they keep getting lost in the mix and he does sound vaguely out of breath. I do like the energy. Instrumentally, this guy seems like a solid songwriter. But in terms of lyrics…not so much. I’m still scarred from the opening track. And vocally he’s very weak. I don’t mind bad vocals—my favorite genre is literally punk—but he doesn’t have the energy to make up for it. I’m Partial to Your Abracadabra traumatized me once more. I think the first song on here that I listened to and thought “hey, this is good” was Blockheads. Which is the name of Ian Dury’s band, so that is kinda interesting I guess. Blockheads to the end of the album is pretty good. I’ve heard Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll before. I wasn’t a big fan when I first heard it and I’m not a big fan now, but it is a punk classic. I can definitely see how this guy was importantly to early new wave, but I think that there are far better albums out there in that genre and time period, like literally any late-seventies new wave. He seems like a solid songwriter, but the vocals, lack of energy and horrible lyrics make it unbearable whenever he opens his mouth. A star for the last few songs being pretty okay, as well as the songwriting and punk spirit though.
kinda of disco and rock...interesting....but not something I enjoy
Better than Slade
meh.
Yeah, maybe not. It’s mostly the vocals and lyrics that ruins it though. Stand-outs: - Clever Trevor
this album broke me
GOING IN: Not fussed really LISTENED WHILE: supermarket shopping FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Warmed up nicely ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Better than expected BODY'S VERDICT: Toe tapping situation FAVOURITE TRACK: My Rating: 2.5
Not my bag. I tried but after a few songs, I was done
The title grosses me out. The songs on the album seemed too samie for me.
who is this
★★½
this was not for me and wouldn’t want to listen again. I felt more positive at the start but it really grated on me and it took a lot to resist the urge to skip billericay dickie
Personally didn't like it but in a musical point of view it's a pretty good album!
I recognize "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll," which easily the best song of the album. The rest suffers from being too separated from my both culturally and temporally. Maybe it kills in late-70s England, but it just feels a bit flabby and dopey now.
Starting off with a disco track about wanting your girlfriend to wake up so you can shag - because it's better when she's conscious - is a hell of a way to start. That the vocals sound amateur at best is also pretty ballsy. But even if I could see this as cheeky, throwing-shit-at-the-walls fun (funk! punk! disco!), it's just not very good. Especially Billericay Dickie - that track was like Yellow Submarine crossed with a shitty carny ride sung by the guy who gets booed at karaoke.
I have no idea how to rate this. So many versions of the album as well! It's a whole album of wink wink nudge nudge. It's great to his accent shine through. But some times it grates and some times it has a charm.
Too much novelty music for me. Annoying, sorry
Strong singles, but a succession of novelty songs grates.
So I didn’t hate all of this, some of it is quite fun/funky, but I hated enough of it that is has to be a 2…
Whenever I see a double album list on Spotify I immediately go to wikipedia and see how many songs were on the original release and limit my listen to that list. I would not want to listen to two hours of this.
A cool listen, could feel the art school - felt pieces of the Clash, pieces of Lou Reed but a little more pop. Might need a few listens to grow on me. The type of music I love from my peers but is a little harder to get into when its a few generations older than me.
This is a right old knees-up, innit. I had no time for this at all when I was getting really into punk, but I can see what he is trying to do here. Still not really my thing, and not an album I would play out of choice, but I kind of get it now, at least. And he loved Gene Vincent, so that's a plus.
I had never heard of this album
Overall: 4/10 Not really feeling the super heavy accent this man has when singing. On top of that, the songs just don't have enough punch for the most part. Fav Song: Blockheads
More of an italicized innnnnteresting than enjoyable. The Blockheads was fine, but Ian Dury’s talk-singing shtick wears thin fast.
Decent early new-wave, parts of it even reminded me of the band Wire, especially in the vocals and sort of bizarre fusions and odd British wittiness that sometimes eluded me. It's a clearly very intentionally cheeky album, given the title of the album and many of the songs here (namely 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll', which, ironically, was one of the more tolerable tracks here). I did find the concepts of some of these songs pretty ridiculous, especially 'If I was with a Woman' and 'Billericay Dickie', which was just a fun song to listen to. But the songs themselves didn't do much for me at all; none really stick out, and the album itself was way too all over the place for my liking (probably at least partially the point). And the over-the-top and edgy character played on many of the songs got kind of annoying near the end, especially on the song 'Plaistow Patricia'. There are some decent moments; I actually really enjoyed the harder, Clash-style punk of 'Blockheads.' But not much else here appealed to me, definitely not a record for me. This really feels like super niche music for a super specific point in time.
1st song had me real nervous, but 7 out of 11 tracks being good for a very experimental album from me is very high praise. I've never heard of Ian Dury before this so it was really cool being able to just jump right into this. The drummer and the bassist were in the pocket on every single track. a very nice record. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll had to be the best track. overall, a 6.9/10.
Enough with the fucking british albums
Weird-ass sexual predator shit. A couple good grooves
This is the music equivalent of The British putting beans all over their food
Kinda fun, sex & drugs & rock n’ roll and all, but otherwise, not for me.
Gimmicky.
Just another quirky UK artist who might be fun in a limited set in a pub one night, but not for a full show, or even full album for that matter.
This is not a family friendly listen for Thanksgiving, that's for sure.
I don't think I realized how little vocal talent it took to write an album worthy of inclusion on this list until I listened to this thing. I'm only not giving it a 1-star because the instrumentation on it isn't as bad as Ian Dury's singing.
Early british punk.
For a ‘’sex, drugs and rock n’ roll’ record I thought this was pretty tame
Hat mir beim ersten Hören besser gefallen
It gets better towards the end with tracks like 'Blockheads' but I was really not enjoying the first few tracks except for 'My Old Man'.
kinda dry
This was cool 70’s British music. Didn’t really click for me.
Weird just plain weird
The godawful (repurposed as a 90s Spray and Wipe jingle) 'Billericay Dickie' aside, I thought the music itself was pretty good. The bad lyrics, one-note, constant horniness and low-effort cockney vocals on the other hand...really hard to get through.
This feels like a fake album from an Alan Partridge show
I didn't like this album. I'm not sure why I didn't like it, I just didn't.
Et par hakk for britisk for meg, ass
An interesting listen. It's got spadefuls of character and edge. But gets tiring the more you listen. Enjoy the highs of Ian Dury (esp. hit me with your rhythm stick). But don't think there's a strong album here. 2.5/5
Not that pleasant. Especially as a 2 hour process.
Mishmash of genres with nearly spoken word over top. Album should have been more interesting, but comes off as immature and boring. 2/5 Won't listen again
Not as good as I was expecting. Maybe speaks to a moment. Maybe I should register. Maybe.
This cannot be an actual album released by actual humans.
All over the place!
First song made me think it's not going to be as bad as I thought And it wasn't, but it wasn't good either Oh fuck nevermind it gets worse with every song Not 1 because I'm immune to rage bait
Kinda pissed me off a bit
Not bad, but really nothing groundbreaking.
Ian Dury has maybe one good song.
Weird one. It is ALL OVER THE PLACE as far as sound. It's not entirely bad, but completely comes off as a desperate novelty. I wish more of it sounded like Plaistow Patricia. Holy shit, I vividly remember Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll from early childhood, hearing it on Dr. Demento!
This is the single most British thing I've ever heard (derogatory)
Wake Up And Make Love With Me //
have you ever wanted to listen to the bloke at the end of the bar sing-rap over some 70s pub rock? yeah, me neither.
01) Wake Up and Make Love with Me - 7,0 02) Sweet Gene Vincent - 5,0 03) I'm Partial to Your Abracadabra - 6,0 04) My Old Man - 5,5 05) Billericay Dickie - 4,0 06) Clevor Trever - 6,5 07) If I Was with a Woman - 5,0 08) Blockheads - 5,0 09) Plaistow Patricia - 5,0 10) Blackmail Man - 5,0 TOTAL: 5,40 (54/100) Current ranking: 594/675 Really?
Weird, goofy, dirty for 1977 but fun. Maybe the Benny Hill of music!
this guy needs to jack off before recording next time
I liked his accent and that’s it.
This would be a solid 3 except that “panties” is one of my aversive words and there’s a sound effect in ‘Blockhead’ that is just like a juicy fart, so 2.5 and rounding down because I never plan to listen to album again.
Is this who Bill Nighy's character in Love Actually was based on?
Weird album. Not my jam.
After the jump scare of the link taking me to a 2-hour deluxe album, I reluctantly waded into an album I was convinced is hate after the first track But I thought it was actually pretty good? It's weird; it's brash; and lyrically it can be downright annoying at times. But it's fun, funky, and interesting. That being said, even though I enjoyed about half of the tracks, I totally get the negative reviews, and I'm convinced that Ian Dury's debut album's inclusion on this list is just, as the British say, taking the piss out" of us with making us listen to it. Favorite tracks: My Old Man, Clevor Trever
This sounded a bit like shitty British Lou Reed with instrumentals that were more Bowie/Roxy Music meets punk rock (so glam punk i guess?). I found my enjoyment of a track was connected to A) how much effort he put into the vocals and B) how much I could understand what he was saying. The lower the effort, the less I liked a song. So when he's doing his lazy shit Lou Reed thing, he's pure trash and I don't see the appeal. Buttt when he goes into his punk shouting style, I actually kinda like his vocals, like on the track Blockheads. I think I prefer his punk vocal to Johnny Rotten (who I hate for the most part). If only he was shouting better lyrics. Which leads me to B)... so on the tracks where you can't pick out his lyrics, things are alright, even good at points. Buttt when you can pick out his lyrics, you realize they are shitty, pervy, racist and sexist. He really ruins a lot of tracks with the words that come out of his mouth (see the opening track... and many other tracks). I actually like the instrumentals on this record overall. I like this weird punk glam thing. I really wish someone else had written the lyrics and he'd given up on this Lou Reed impersonation. Coulda completely changed my feelings on this album. Note on the lyrics: There's a real art to writing a dirty song that doesn't suck. So far a lot of people who have tried it in this 1001 albums challenge has failed. Ian Dury fails brutally. I don't know what the trick is... is it being vague? Is it some sort of confidence that makes a dirty song work? I dunno. But there has to be a reason some work and most fall flat. Anyways, it's hard to balance the lyrics vs the instrumentals. Wake me up and make love with me is so terrible, i wanted to give the whole thing a 1. Butt The instrumentals are pretty great and the punk tracks in the back kinda work for me. I guess it's a reluctant 2?
This guy is pretty hilarious. “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll” is the standout highlight; honestly, you don’t really need to hear the rest of the album because it kinda drags. Wouldn’t revisit.
Didn't connect with me. I wasn't super in the mood for the kind of unique goofy punk the record was going for
Listened in the truck via YouTube music. English guy that wanted to be Iggy. Definitely see where The Streets got their influence.
Ok'ish rock.
I appreciate that this exists but I don't ever want to hear it again.
Not sure this is really one I needed to hear before I died. It's fine, I guess. I don't hate it, but I feel like a couple of songs was sufficient to get the sound/vibe and I really didn't need 40 minutes of this. I don't mind goofy music, but this didn't feel particularly clever. I will grant that "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" kinda slapped.
Listen in awe to this drunken karaoke night at the local Manchester pub.
I think I had tired to listen to this before and bailed out after a few songs. I did listen all the way through this time. Even Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll could not earn this one a third star. Too many repetitive rhymes in a blue collar English accent for me.
Nope this is not it
Rock and roll. I couldn’t tell but the album felt slightly comedic in a tongue in cheek way. It was entertaining at first but got annoying fast.
Starts with cool piano and bass beat
What if Bowie sucked, the album. Why is this here.
This is dumb… but at the same time there are a few okay-ish songs on here
most british brit
5/10 Was this any good? No. Did I enjoy it? Yeah, sort of, maybe. Highlight: Blockheads
Fine at best, novelty at worst.
Songs are good other than dude singing
A generous 2. It’s so hit and miss for me. The opener ‘Wake Up and Make Love With Me’ was absolutely banging. But then it descends into Chas and Dave level crap in places.
The instrumentals ranged from fine to good, but I cannot stand this guy's voice.
Not horrible, but nothing I'd want to hear again.
-this is really one of those albums that just makes me… seriously wonder why they’re having me listen to this. utterly no comment tbh -it was. kind of funny at times? and i did like some of the attempts at a harder rock sound but other than that. idk just not something i would ever listen to in my own time -Favorite is Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Artiste inconnu. En fait non, j'avais déjà entendu 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll'. Rien de bien intéressant dans cet album qui mélange plusieurs styles sans rien amener d'original. J'ai quand même apprécié 'My Old Man' (+1) pour sa basse et son chorus de sax. Mais ce n'est pas suffisant pour une seconde écoute. =>2/5
This is a good example of music I dislike
I've never been a fan of Ian Dury but there's no denying his massive influence. Listened to the album. Onwards.
Great album, already in my regular rotation
Not really my thing, I liked a few songs atleast, like Sweet Gene Vincent, If I was with a woman, Blockheads, Sex & Drugs & Rock n roll. Probably won't listen to this again.
2 - Ooosh I found this a bit hard to listen to.
This was delightful for a few minutes, but it kinda becomes too much and just drags after a while. Glad I heard it, but not something I'd really come back to.
Major ick with that first song. And several other songs, really.
I don't quite get all of the circus comments in the reviews on this. It's just fairly generic 70's rock, IMO. It's no more circusy than some of McCartney's late Beatles compositions. Not terrible, not great either.
If you engineer your music to sound annoying for artistic effect, it doesn't make it any less grating to listen to
# 504 : New Boots And Panties. surprisingly catchy, yes,... weird yes,... interesting, yes,... but... Would be embarrassing to get caught listening to this hahaha. Fav Song: Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Listened: 17/06/2025
< the Beatles Why does this album sound like it should be performed at a circus?
Grappige opbouw, erg Brits naar mijn smaak en net iets te veel rijm. Klonk bijna als comedy of satire
I actually didn't mind some of the more punk adjacent tracks, but then some of them were absolutely unbearable.
Rambling, almost spoken-word, not great
Tja
TF are these lyrics? Is this written by a horny teenager? Nope, definately written by someone bored out of their skull, and just spewing some sort of stream of conciousnes. I mean, it's not bad, just... IDK. "If I Was with a Woman" is kinda disturbing. I take it back. The lyrics are not great, and the music isn't melodic. Really not my jam. 2/5
Come on. This isn't good. I have to believe if anything, this was one of those records that's "so bad it's good", right? I mean, if not for the foul language and risque' themes, this sounds like children's music. It's that the appeal?
Why is this on the list.
Not sure about this one, lol. Some songs sound fun, but the album as a whole is a big: WTF? Also, too many songs.
I did not enjoy this. My parents loved punk and I wanted to like it, as Ian Dury is a legend etc etc. And I like his irreverence. But this kind of crude, cockney/Essex nonsense is just not for me. Two stars because it isn't horrible musically and I don't think it's totally lacking lyrically either. It's easy to forget how uptight the UK was a few decades ago, and how scandalous this music was to a lot of people. So it deserves some credit for offending so many people with a stick up their arse.
sybau
While I appreciate that different types of music exist, I didn't particularly appreciate this. It feels way too juvenile and childish for my taste. I mean... the first song is downright creepy with "Rise on this occasion, halfway up your back. Sliding down your body, touching your behind". I get that being raunchy is the identity of the album, but when it comes from Mr. Dury's mouth it just feels creepy and almost predatory to some extent. What saves this album for a 1 is that there are some half-decent funky beats in there on the instrumental side. But it's a small comfort honestly, so in the end this will have to be a weak 2.
I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. Maybe I don't have the right sense of humor. Maybe I don't care.
There are some albums that I praise as having the right level of weird. This one has the wrong level of weird for me. Stylistically it's all over the place. I'd say it lands somewhere between circus music, jazz, and Irish rock if you can picture that. While I don't have a lot of love for this album I can absolutely see why it made this list. This is the type of album that you will never find naturally. And there is likely a pocket of people who will find Dury's work brilliant.
B movie soundtrack performed by a creeper.
A bit silly
Has some fun elements, but overall too weird for me
this is quite odd
Nothing very specific to hold onto. Probably will never listen to again. But not bad.
Dangerously close to Ska
Bawdy barroom rock in the English pub tradition. Not really for me.
Some interesting keyboard work in this British new wave, the vocals are so lacking though it’s hard to listen to, even though the accent is kind of charming and the lyrics are cheeky as all hell.
It wasn't horrible but it wasn't good either. I can live without it fr. 2.5/5
This is bad, I mean the lyrics are sub sophomoric. The playing saves it slightly but my god why is this on the list. Shit.
Maybe just accent, but sounds weirdly like Damon Albarn
It irked me how he'd have great instrumentals going and then would do something to make it weird. Unfortunately his accent was too much for me as well. Overall just too whimsical for me to enjoy.
Not bad but I wouldn't listen to it again. The 2nd half was hard to get through.
Meh
Just not an enjoyable listen. Whilst Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick is an excellent song (not on this album), otherwise Ian Dury just feels untextured and uninspiring. The lyrics were bland and not enough to compensate for the lack of rhythm in most of these songs. Disappointing.
Sounds like somebody’s weird uncle knew a guy that worked at the recording studio, and was dared to made an album for a laugh. This was not good, and shows a UK bias on choosing albums for the book.. why is this part of the project?! 2/5
I always felt like the “hits” Ian Dury had were novelty songs. Not sure that this is really a punk album despite its timing, record label and reputation. Can’t tell if he really has such an exaggerated accent or is just doing it for effect. Overall this is not worth listening to again.
This was another slot on this list wasted by a mediocre British musician.
puuh, ich dachte da käm was spannendes, unentdecktes, aber nur das SEx&Drugs&RockNRoll kann überzeugen, der Rest ist eher fragwürdig
Not interesting and annoying album. A strange mix of sounds that didn’t join to make a solid project. Still, a couple moments of enjoyment, but nothing I’d return to.
Alright.. this one is bizarre. Now, I usually like somewhat out-there music, but this one is a bit much for me. The voice is a bit odd, and I can't tell what genre he is going for. It's not weird enough to be fun in a Ween or Syd Barrett way, but it isn't good enough to be good in a mainstream way. It just doesn't fit anywhere for me. I'm judging the album harshly, and then I get to "Plaistow Patricia", which is a great proto-punk song that foreshadows the genre well... this album perplexes me.
Unique, just not necessarily in a good way. I kind of see the vision though.
Zeitverschwendung
British men will say the most incomprehensible things
It is really hard to take this guy seriously. His adolescent take on the rock and roll lifestyle borders on parody. He's like a gutter UK version of Randy Newman with a one-note refrain. I suppose the album is on the list because of the funky groove of some of the songs, but the music stands out mostly because Ian's lazy singing (if you can call it that). Honestly, it doesn't do much for me. His few turns of phrase that catch your ear feel lucky rather than clever. Not impressed.
This isn’t so much singing as it is talking at me.
The only positive points this album has are the punky songs at the end, which helped me to stay awake during this snooze fest.
what the hell even was this. I had to stop and start this album too many times. also, 2 hours, cripes. Musically in most of it its pretty good and funky in the right places, but the vocals and lyrics are absolute trash garbage. It just seems like a throw everything at the wall and see what sticks kind of album.
I mean… how do you even review an album like this? The music is competent but everything else is just junk. This is music your weird, non British uncle who’s waaaay to into Fawlty Towers and Monty Python listens to unironically. This is music for creepy dudes who ask women in bars if they want a little “slap and tickle”. This is music for people who emulate Austin Powers’s mannerisms sincerely. Seriously… try any Austin Powers pickup line in a non British accent and see how far it takes you. The song about his old man was decent enough and I laughed at the opening lines of Plaistow Patricia but that’s about it. This album sucked
Why exactly?
Lyrically, this album is quite funny. I actually lol'd several times throughout "If I Were With a Woman." Musically, however, it's dated and not good at all. I would rather this were sold as a collection of dirty limericks in a book. 2 stars.
Rating: 3.5/10 Awful voice, has some good production and decent instrumentation at least.
That is a heavy heavy English accent. I’ve understood that Ian Dury helped bring some lower class problems to light via song. I appreciate what was done and the influence for things later but I just wasn’t a fan of the musical experience.
Never heard of this. But this is why I love this album generator…sometimes “gold” sometimes not so much. Wasn’t terrible but won’t be back to Ian Drury anytime soon.
This album is for a particular type of person. I'm not that type of person. Outside of men who have lost a few too many brain cells downing pints in an English pub, I doubt this would have much appeal. His voice swings between novelty act and annoying. There were some of tracks that were musically decent on the b side of the album and keep this from being a one star, but otherwise this was complete garbage.
British (derogatory) 3/10
**An ok album, too much screaming and banging for me
This didn't start too bad, but quickly went downhill and became extremely annoying. Some of those lyrics were atrocious and that guy's vocals made my ears bleed. If I wanted to listen to an album with some quirky "britishness", this is definitely not the record I'd pick up. 2 stars
Delightfully weird, but a bit much at points.
Okay listen.
3/10
First it started on a groovy note. And I was into it, but then vocals brought complete opposite vibes, after that music and vocals kinda did match and it was not a groovy spectacular
Pretty dumb.
I really don't know what to think of this album. It was just kinda....there? The good parts musically were overpowered with weird vocals, and when the vocal were good the music was underwhelming. Just so meh.
boy his voice is trash. must be an acquired taste,
Like a weird monty python album
Really wasnt impressed with this album. It was an odd mix of tone and styles- kind of punk rock meets pop meets early new wave? At lot of songs seemed to be going the humorous route but fell flat for me. A lot of songs had a lot of repetition that got stale. Overall- not for me. I can see how some artists might have found it influential. 1.5 / 5
The lyrics to some of the songs sound like they were taken straight out of This Is Spinal Tap
Like if the laughing gnome by David Bowie was a full album but worse
2.5
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll saved this from being complete garbage.
This feels like one of those albums where you had to be there at the right time and in the right place to fully appreciate it. For me, though, this was way before my time, and I just happen to be in a completely different place. The witty and quirky humor? It feels like it didn’t quite survive the test of time. And the music behind it? That only seemed to weigh the album down even further.
Novelty music that isn't even clever. I love Stiff Records stuff, but Ian Dury has always been garbage.
I hate this guy’s voice, and the music’s not that good, anyway. And I mean his voice really really sucks.
I neither benefited from hearing this nor suffered from it. It is the aural equivalent of puffed rice.
Unremarkable
Meah i would say! Maybe not my thing
I honestly hated this album. Only got two stars for some funky guitar licks but overall not my jam
What if Michael Caine had to recreate Sgt. Peppers from memory with nothing but the Muppets band? It’s weird and I’m not sure there’s any real depth to it but it’s kind of fun. It’s kind of groovy and the highlight so far me has been Clever Trevor but even then it’s like wtf are you talking about dude is this even a real person or are you just rhyming something with a name and calling it a song. He’s got a dope flow at the beginning of the song though. I think I’d like this whole album a lot more if it had some direction. Feels like they got close to a hit song with Wake up and Make Love to me and knew that there was something shiny in their sound but kept swinging and missing trying to find it. And I think that’s because none of it is serious or real. Pretty sure that was a fart noise in Blockheads. Some of the slurs in Blackmail man are not on the same level as the others lol. Plaistow Patricia should've been the song they built an album around and not the outlier.
this album was... fine. nothing really major for me coming out of it. it almost reminded me of a comedy album, where you just want to say the raunchiest things to get a rise out of folks. probably wouldn't ever listen to it again. that being said it wasn't horrible, or un-enjoyable to listen to. solid 2 stars
The only reason I’m giving this a two is because I’d actually be willing to listen to it again if it were an entirely instrumental album. The talk-singing with incredibly crass lyrics just doesn’t do it for me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a song with fart sounds that I’m going to go learn every word to.
I like all the parts where he isn't singing. Can I get an instrumental version of this album?
I was pretty certain by the album title alone that I was going to be in for an experience. And sure enough, the first track, "Wake Up and Make Love With Me" confirmed that right off the bat. Further confirmation came when I saw that this album title is actually stylized as "New Boots and Panties!!" -- two exclamation marks included. There were aspects of this that were funky and interesting, but the singing and the lyrics were annoying throughout nearly the entire album and detracted from what was enjoyable. This was an odd one, and not in the most offensive way, but it still just didn't quite hit home for me.
Thought I'd like it but lots of it is the ravings of a dirty old man.
1.54
Sort of nearly occasionally good, but ultimately a novelty album and deeply irritating. Also just a bit gross and crude in a way that may have been funny in the 70s but is just very tired.
this was so odd idk how to feel ab it
Epäkiinnostava ja epätasainen. Varmaan se on ollut pointtinakin että on monenlaista mutta mulle tää jäi kyl tylsäksi. Kirppareilla tätä näkee usein. 2/5
Aika epätasainen teos. Joistain jutuista tykkäsin mut kokonaisuus ontuu.
Occasional good parts but overall hard to listen to Standout songs: Clevor Trever Blackmail man
This feels like a joke, but ok.
Tell me why industrial music was easier to listen to than this. All very *interesting* songs, but only a few I actively enjoyed without cringing the whole time.
There are two kinds of people in this world - people who say “I can’t hear accents in music”’and people who have listened to Ian Dury. This albums feels like what would happen if Arthur Dent was a musician.
2.8
Some parts are very good early British Punk, but others are just odd bits that recall Syd Barrett at his most affected, dosed, and weird.
Ian Dury definitely has some fun songs. Clever Trevor or Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll are OK to hear every once in a while, but an intire album of his shtick gets tiresome. 2.5 stars
Holy shit could you be any more fucking obnoxious like lets take the most annoying things from each of these genres and put into any album and if anyone questions it just say you were trying to be funny like fuck off.
Not for me
Wake up and Make Love with Me is funny and kind of sweet. "I don't want to make you/ I'll let the fancy take you" I like hearing british singers use their regional accents instead of a fake US/blues drawl "If I was with a women I'd make her believe I loved her, all the time I would not like her much" Gimmicky but cute
Kinda funny. Still no Seger
What, and I can’t emphasize this enough, the actual fuck.
interesting but not really for me
What did I just listen to? Some songs are pretty good, and others are just kind of goofy. Most of the vocals are bad and the lyrics somewhat crass, just a very odd experience overall.
Nah, how can I purge this from my Spotify history? I'm afraid its altered my algorithm is a sinister way.
wake up, sweet gene
Punky rock singer songwriter med underliga rim och helt roliga melodier
This was certainly an album. No faves here. Gets a bonus star for sounding like something from "Don't Hug Me I'm Scared"
And the John Cleese Award for most British sounding thing I've heard all year goes to New Boots And Panties by Ian Dury! It was a real tough competition but Ian really pulled through with his stellar accent and general British wackiness.
Guys , I don’t know about this.
Eh 2 stars.
Нет.
ummmm
I know some people enjoy the quirkiness and the ironic take on rock n roll, but this is just borderline strange.
2.25
Not bad but a bit forgettable.
After a couple songs, I was going to give it a 1. However, I realized as the album went on, I wasn't skipping the songs. So, I guess I'll give it a 2 for keeping me interested.
Today's album sounds like a poor man's interpretation of what punk would sound like if they had never heard it before, all while providing the soundtrack to an unreleased David Lynch film. That was fucking weird, not necessarily enjoyable. And while I could have died a peaceful death without ever hearing this album, I was definitely grateful when it was over.
2 Yeah, I don’t what the fuck this was. In some ways, it kind of reminded me of a British version of the Chuck E. Cheese house band (if they even have those - they probably have some dumb name like Oliver Cheesewell’s or something over there), but also, if all the fun, furry mascots were giant perverts. Keep your kids away from that place. I digress, no idea what this was, but I didn’t find it very listenable. I guess some consider it to be a punk album given the time and place it was made (London, 1977) and due to some of its “colorful” lyrics, but I don’t really hear that, musically or spiritually. It doesn’t really seem to stand for or against anything in particular, but then again, I really have no idea what genre I would refer to this as instead. There are few heavier tracks towards the end I think one could argue as bordering on punk territory, but regardless, while they’re definitely better than everything before them, they’re more tolerable than they are enjoyable. The best song here far and away is Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, but I guess it’s a bonus track that was included on reissues, so I can’t really count it. It also kind of reminds me of another song I can’t quite pinpoint - maybe Fame by David Bowie? Ultimately, calling this one was a miss for me - no idea how or why it made this list. Rating leniently for being mostly inoffensive and short, but would rather listen to Ian Rubbish and the Bizzaros instead.
Horny bugger
Ooof
I don't like it not my favorite. I want to die.
When the instruments started I was enjoying it. Then, the lyrics and speaking began. I was certainly expecting more subtle lyrics than that. I laughed more than during any other album so far, the lyrics somehow got me. The instrumentals and production is good, its just the lyrics and delivery threw me off. Highlights: Clevor Trever
The instrumental portion was fine, even good in places, but man, Ian's accent really gets tired after a little while. It was hard to finish this album. Two stars.
2.4/5 listened 1x
This was actually pretty fucking annoying.
Some great seventies rock composition, but I don’t really connect with Ian’s voice.
This is an odd one, huh? It's extremely crass, vulgar, and immature, but I'd say it is all done with so much goofy disinterest in the world that it often comes off as charming even at its weirdest and creepiest. I wouldn't label this as punk, per se, but in some aspects it sticks a middle finger up against all those surrounding, no matter how "against the man" they truly are. Ian Dury will win in a pissing contest against you, every time. The issue, however, is that the music just isn't good. Dury's voice is flat, and not in a charming, foreboding way like many late 70s acts, but in a "you never should've been a singer" sort of way. The instrumentation is solid, but extremely predictable, to the point where even the actual punk closer wasn't a surprise. Lyrically, as I've mentioned, it can be off-putting. It is something you can laugh along with, but I can see many going in and instantly being turned off by the first track's implications. It has cute moments that I enjoy, feel the need to show to others even, but never because the song is good. Actually, it reminds me of the Streets in an over the top, so bad it's good, British sort of way. Except this actually feels like I'm laughing with it, not at it. For that I'll give it credit. However, this album is not good musically, and I do not view it as a positive listening experience, nor do I really want to go through it again. At least, not alone. Perhaps in a road trip with a few mates would this be more of a cracker. Innit?
Day204 - if bert from mary poppins got a record deal. i don’t hate it and it was kinda silly to listen to
I thought it would be way dumber, based on the album name. Still pretty obnoxious though.
Wake Up and Make Love with Me with Sinéad O'Connor had me hoping, but the rest of the album I didn't enjoy.
Musically there's not much wrong here, but I'm not big on the songwriting.
nother bri ish lad
This is a really weird album. and I'm not sure I like his signing. But I did find a version of this album with different singers on each track. Paul McCartney and Billy Brag both cover a song and it made the album much better. if I was scoring that version, I probably would have given it a four. However, the original is not as good sorry Ian
Por que canta mal y es un estilo?
Lots of these songs are fairly catchy, instrumentally. But the lyrics are obviously goofy. I don't mind a silly song, but a whole album gets grating. Then again, 1 goofy song on a sincere album lessens the whole. Silly songs need to be divorced from album context. Anyways... this album is too tongue in cheek for me to ever listen to again. I wish the solid music had been used for something else.
An ok album that didn't make any sort of impression on me. A little slow and a bit too misogynistic, not uncommon for the time unfortunately. Best: Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Worst: Plaistow Patricia
Na
Has not aged well
I hate this less than others seem to. But that doesn’t mean I like it. It’s stupid. Somehow it infuriates me less than Elvis Costello.
we really shouldnt be leaving the british to their own devices
Music good, lyrics wild
British silly music, some nice guitar in spots, not something I would listen to again
Apparently if you're not a British man of a certain social class from a certain time period this doesn't make much sense. I agree with that take.
Clearly loved getting his end away. Suppose they say to write about what you know about (in which case my songs would be less about bucking and more about my bad back, or maybe the downfall of the third reich). The biggest disappointment about this isnt that it’s largely a bit of a let down, but it doesnt have hit me with your rythm stick on it. I’m left wondering how he has such a cult following. It’s alright at times but nothing amazing. I guess we would never have ‘Parklife’ without Ian Dury, so we should be thankful for that. The songs that are ok, are just that. The songs that are rubbish are just pure cheese/novelty. Not sure what the fuck made him think to commmit Billericay Dickey to record. Maybe he was a ‘blooming thickie’ for that. Jesus, that was an actual lyric. Fair enough, he obviously enjoyed himself. Not for me though.
What on earth was all that about then?! At least it was distinctive. Entertaining at first, grating by the end, Billericay Dickie and Wake Up and Make Love with Me are the standouts. Not again though, thanks.
Always thought hit me with your rhythm stick was more of a novelty track than anything else, so wasn't sure what to expect from this. I actually quite enjoyed some of it, quite punky. However, some of the rest of it was very down the novelty route. Reminded me of a carry on film or something. Blockheads and sex and drugs were the best 2.5
What did I just listen to? I have to Hope that most of this was meant to be ironic? Sung from characters’ points of view? So many misogynistic lyrics. I can’t say the music is great. The lyrics seem meant to shock. It would be easy to give this only one star. But I think this was all intentional? Which would make it clever? Oh boy. Still… mostly not fun to listen to… Certainly a conversation topic so I’m glad to know this exists and be able to discuss it with anybody else who had the patience to stick with it through to the end. After a night to think about it I guys I’ll give it 2 starts as a nod to its originality?
This is off to a completely unhinged start. because Wake Up and Make Love With Me is filthy and delivered by someone who sounds like a british plumber. Wow this is real bad. Blockheads features the sound of a 8-bit shit.
För spretigt
Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: anachronistische Aufnahme in undefinierbarem Rahmen Mix: etwas zu scharf (insb. Hi-Hats), teils nette Räumlichkeit Percussions, Vocals allenfalls okay Musik: vielleicht teils überraschend funky und eingängig - letztlich hätte ich das aber auch nie hören müssen 🤷♂️ Wertung: 🌭🌭/5
Not for me.
Começa com punk de leve e com swing, mas acaba ficando chato, aí rola o hit no final.
Cool 🆒
todo me gusta menos la voz, no mg nada
So so
Meh, could’ve died without listening to this.
Some of the Music ✅ a lot of the lyrics 👎
Maybe a 3
Not my cup of tea
This is sooooo British. Like almost comical. Like a caricature. Feels like I’m in a pub deep into a few pints. Not a fan. The backing band was solid, however. Was digging the more funky backing tracks.
I couldn't really get into this album for whatever reason. Couldn't decide whether its the length of 31 tracks and almost 2 hours, or themes and the lyrics which are not the best to hear.
The highest compliment I can give it is to say I didn't completely hate it, and even enjoyed it at first. But my word, this thing goes off the rails hard to the point of annoying.
Some interesting stuff on here. Wasn't really into the sad British boy songs, but liked the punk/NY dolls-ish songs 2.5.
The lyrics feel like parodies - but the beat is funky
A late friend of mine absolutely *loved* Ian Dury and the Blockheads. He described himself as a punk rocker -- although his life was in constant pursuit of stock options in Silicon Valley. He died waiting for a kidney transplant. Anyway, hearing this makes me a little wistful. Not my cup of tea, really. Unexpected bangers: Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, I guess.
This challenge is making me hate the English
This was not very good at all. I'm sure that for a certain subsection of English people like this music, but it's a pain to listen to for everyone else. I'm feeling a light 2 on this.
Such a weird album. It actually started well, I enjoyed the first song in a funny way, but other than that there is very little to like here musically. I will definitely give props though for the extremely humourous lyrics, really clever wordplay, and creative storytelling. But still, these don't make these songs pleasant to listen to. A strong and stable 2.
Was pretty meh. Sounded like a british randy newman. Never heard an accent come through so much in an artist. The last song was awesome though. Also sounds a lot like the singer from red hot chili peppers and it was super distracting
I bet he is a very important British singer-songwriter, but am I obligated to like it? I don't think so
If I didn't understand English, I might've enjoyed this album a teeny bit better. The instrumentals are pretty good for the most part but what's up with those lyrics? There's a big difference between sexy and creepy, and Ian Dury falls into the creepy uncle category here. I don't need to hear about your sexual fantasies, thank you very much.
one of the albums of all time for sure.
Very punk and also funny in parts. At the end it was a bit exhausting and became annoying.
2.4/5 Best Track: Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Jaahas tämä on vähän liian vitsi mulle. Tai siis huumori on aliarvostettua, mutta tässä se oli vähän yksipuolista. Ehkä myös liikaa genrejä yhessä levyssä - vaikka oli taiten tehty kaikki pastissit. Vai olivatko oikeastaan edes pastisseja. Jäi vähän sekavat mietteet kuten näkyy.
Not my favorite sound. Kind of annoying 3/10
if i tune the voice out its almost decent lyrics are sometimes funny but mostly gross
It's not too long. And it's mixed well. I guess. But this sucks. It's weird out of no where on occasion. A fat sound turned out to be a synth. Some out of place cursing. But it still sucks.
New Boots and Panties! is a strange old album. I didn't like Ian Dury and The Blockheads, new wave etc isn't for me, and this album certainly isn't that so it's immediately more accessible, but it's just wildly different from track to track and indulgent rather than esoteric. Some of it is good (Sweet Gene Vincent, Blockheads), some of it is really bad (seriously, Billericay Dickie ffs :D ends up being a shit Chas and Dave wannabe with some of the worst lyrics I've heard) and lots of it is just passable but to call it pub rock is a bit of a misnomer too, it's mostly undefinable. If you contrast it with Billy Bragg from a coupla weeks ago, it shows the different in quality, subtlety and nuance, Bragg streets ahead by comparison. Not sure I can give this more than a 2.
This is just a bit rubbish, isn't it? Not as clever as it thinks it is, the music's fine but isn't anything more than a backdrop to his voice and he can't really sing. Not particularly impressed, entertained briefly at the beginning but it really started to drag. 2/5.
Punk Vocals with Blues Music. Too bad I don't like punk vocals. Instrumentals are solid though
This album had so many peaks and valleys that at times it was hard to listen to. You'd get into a groove and then you get hit with some bullshit.
Carnival rock. Show tunes. But it has some high moments.
Ok
Did not like. The lyrics were terrible and this dude is incredibly horny. The only reason this isn't a 1 is because of the instruments they sounded quite nice. Did not like.
This whole album feels like a punking of Damon Albarn
An okay album but no songs really stuck out to me.
If this album had been an EP and just had the songs from Blockheads onward it would be pretty good. As it is, the first 2/3 of this album are hard to listen to. The musicians aren’t bad but the music is cheesy. And I did not care for Ian’s songwriting and his voice, while solid for the faster songs at the end, did not work with his slower pop songs and ballads.
Lyrics are insane but bops nonetheless. Category: Sexy music you could never have sex to. British Weird Al.
I’m three albums behind. Two of them are British. Not particularly looking forward to that after this overly British show.
Definitely on the weirder side. Not someone I had ever heard of before. I had much higher hope based on the premise but it ultimately fell flat with me. 2/5