Having criminally fallen off the critical radar, the Skids haven't received the reappraisal they deserve in the wake of the successes of current media darlings like Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys.
Featuring the Celtic charm, acerbic wit and talismanic vocals of Richard Jobson alongside Stuart Adamson's often-copied frenetic riffing, it remains an electrifying debut from one of punk's more learned acts.
It's difficult to get off to a better start than the seminal 'Into the Valley', a song which Graham Coxon's solo career is largely in debt to, but the qualitymore… rarely falls below its level. 'Charles', Adamson's fantastical tale of a factory worker who becomes part of the machinery he is employed to operate, 'The Saints are Coming', 'Of One Skin' and 'Melancholy Soldiers' provide
the highlights, and are all equal to anything on the Clash’s debut.
Captain Oi has fleshed out the album with various EP tracks and b-sides, the most notable being the live favourite 'TV Stars', which sees Jobson namecheck a host of celebrities before the audience joins in with him shouting ‘Albert Tatlock!’Inside the 16-page booklet is a (much needed!) lyric sheet, sleeve art from releases relevant to the album, and a brief essay.
The sound quality is improved from previous issues, although the album is showing its age and the remastering isn't as solid as I’m sure it could be in the right hands, but it is the best currently available and is unlikely to be bettered anytime soon. Some of the bonus tracks also appear to be sourced from vinyl rather than the master tapes, but this remains the best version available of a classic, forgotten gem.
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