Key Markets

Key Markets is the eight album by Sleaford Mods. Wikipedia calls it post-punk, but I would label it UK rap. Maybe the vocals are not in a propper rap flow, their whole intent is hip hop, not rock. As every album of Sleaford Mods this album not work shocking, but proper fun and lots of it. “Highlights are No One's Bothered”, “Tarantula Deadly Cargo” and “Giddy on the Ciggies”.

It's alright innit?

I saw these guys at a festival a few years ago (was waiting for the following act) and I was entirely whelmed by them. Not my thing at all. Not bad, just not my thing. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No

Good ol' British Punk - the way it's supposed to be. Stand Outs: Live Tonight, Cunt Make It Up, Face to Faces 4/5

I like it. 4/5

They helped pave the way for the current wave of post-punk bands, like Idles, Fontaines DC, Viagra Boys, etc. They sound like PIL and the Fall and somehow they also remind me of the Streets, but I like them better than all those bands.

Absolute lad

I really liked this a lot even if by the end each track had felt a bit samey. Punky poetry the likes of John Cooper Clarke set to some slick hip hop/rock beats.

Oh dear I can't believe I actually liked this. Was I supposed to find it intriguing and funny at the same time? What are you supposed to do watching them live? Dance? Or stare? I've not heard as many swear words in one sentence since I was a kid.

If i wanted a drunk british guy to yell-sing at me I got it. I didn't hate though. 3

I’ve never heard of this artist or album before, but Sleaford Mods is kinda fun to say, so maybe this album will surprise me? I thought that Key Markets was alright. I enjoyed the minimalist approach that this album took, and I enjoyed the political commentary of the lyrics (also, super fun that this album referenced Rocket from the Crypt and Two Door Cinema Club). The bass playing and drum loops were pretty good, but the lack of variety on the musical side of this album kinda wore me down by the end of it. While this wasn’t completely my cup of tea, it was pretty enjoyable, and it was nice to experience something a bit different.

Post-punk. Ni fu ni fa.

It's honestly just okay. There's nothing pushing this higher or lower for me, a real middle-of-the-road record.

I know exactly one song featuring the Sleaford Mods- "Dirty Rat" by Orbital. If you can believe it, two Orbital albums were not enough for this anon Aside from perhaps out-uglying the lead vocals of the Fall's Mark E. Smith, I think the song is pretty neat. In fact that whole album is decent, if you can stomach Orbital in the year of our lord 2023. This album is also decent. I admire Williamson's way with words, even if I don't always love how this album sounds. Perhaps it will grow on me with time. HL: "Bronx In A Six", "In Quiet Streets" October 8, 2026 (evening)

I bet this is really fun to see in UK basement bar! It get by on the album but starts to blur together

Post-punk. Ni fu ni fa.

Pretty good, if not totally catchy on this single listen. Perhaps getting into the lyrics more would raise my opinion if I had some more time with it.

I mean, it's all right 3

At least the instrumentation was interesting at points

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Face to faces

Didn't do a whole lot for me, I knew exactly what this was going to be. Everything yawped out with the same delivery, same tone, over lackluster rock. It's not really protest if it doesn't follow up with anything like a solution.

A funky and rhythmic take on traditional punk. It turned my head slightly. But I can only tolerate the singer’s twang for one or two songs.

I know these guys are post-punk brits, but their music style just evokes images of "wooks" even though they're nothing remotely like EDM.

Very repetative. Did not fully enjoy this

Sleaford Mods are a band I’ve come across before, but I’ve never really warmed to them. I find them a bit too angry and moany, and the music can feel quite repetitive without ever really building to anything. This album didn’t win me over.

Not great

Anger without empathy or any trace of optimism makes for a tough listen

Exhausting listen – knew somewhat of this band, but had never listened. While the instrumentals are tight and toe-tapping, the snarling Cockney-drenched rants get old quickly. Feels like several of the instrumental tracks actually had to be subdued to give the vocal tirade more presence up front in the mix, and it’s a damn shame given how many of the backing grooves show incredibly promise on their own. Felt sad listening to ‘The Blob’ as the album wound down, as that track shows how the irreverent vocals could’ve worked so well with the instrumentals if they were toned down even a bit. Alas, most of the album just feels like one long drunken ramble instead. Barely a 2 for me, given the heavy Brit presence on the main 1001 I really don’t think we were lacking in more bratty English acts on the list.

Key Markets is like going into a pub and having to listen to a bunch of dickheads chat shit all afternoon, except someone's playing the bass in the background. And it's up north. Terrible, 1/5.

UK grime may be the worst genre to ever exist.

So hilariously and epically terrible only compounded by the Spinal Tap homage of 2 bass players and nothing else. You know how you sometimes hear lazy exaggerations about "anybody could play this" .... well.... good Lord man. 1/10 1 star IMO: Belonged in the book? Legitimate finalist for worst album of the ~1400 thus far. So, no.

Yeah sorry couldn’t get through this one either. This is one of those albums where you either love it or hate it and I am the latter. Intolerable voice.

https://tenor.com/view/british-guy-yelling-gif-1370904713937579658