Good punk album, but with bits of post-punk (some bass lines could be from a Joy Division record) and nice variations -- not just basic upfront punk. Am I the only one to hear Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun riff at some point? Anyways, that was good.
What do you do if you’re a bored teenager in the 1970s, living in a small village in the arse end of nowhere (or Devon as it’s properly known)? You grab a guitar, learn one chord and start a punk band! The Adverts certainly nail the Ramones sound, and they’re a lot more talented than their one chord reputation might suggest. Front man TV Smith has an authentic punk sneer and his songs are spiky and literate, and he’s well supported by Gaye Advert’s amazing bass playing that underpins some enthusiastic guitar and drums to complete the lineup. The highlight is the (controversial at the time) Gary Gilmore’s Eyes that picks up a macabre death row request from the titular spree killer to donate his corneas to medical science before facing a firing squad. Probably the catchiest song about a murderous eye transplant to hit the top 20! Eye-tastic!