ALBUM REVIEW: Various Artists : Rebel Rousers – The Best Of Rebels Volume One (Raving Pop Blast! Records)
Rebel Rousers is a fundraising record which has been lovingly compiled by Bristol indie label Raving Pop Blast! with the classic ’70s Nuggets and ’80s Pebbles garage-rock/psych albums in mind.
It collects contributions from 15 different bands, who all share a healthy DIY approach, and embrace the true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll music.
From garage-punk to surf-rock, and indie scuzz to psych-rock and freakbeat, most kinds of underground pop that you can imagine are here.
I confess that I hadn’t heard of any of the bands featured, but I’ll be adding a few to my ‘must hear more’ list.
Some – such as The Thanes, from Edinburgh – have been around 40 years, while others are of much more recent vintage and have just one or two releases to their name.
I guess your favourites will depend on what genre/s of music you like. I particularly enjoyed The Bad Losers, whose Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong? is underpinned by a badass bassline and has a great harmonica solo, The Voo-dooms‘ gothy Another Teenage Dance Craze, and Oldfield Youth Club‘s Pixies-like The Last Straw.
Then there’s covers like The Wildebeests‘ spirited take on Lemmy & co’s Motorhead, and garage veterans The Masonics‘ version of Little Willie John’s R&B stomper Leave My Kitten Alone.
With bands such as The No-Things, Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience, The Embrooks, and The Total Rejection featured, this album is sure to find a place in many garage-rock collectors’ affections.
All profits raised from its sale will go to Clic Sargent – Young Lives Vs Cancer, so if you like your rock served with attitude, need some new tunes to help you through lockdown, and want to help a great cause, you know what to do.
The album is available on CD, as a transparent lime green vinyl LP, and to download. It will be sold in selected shops, but can be bought direct from Raving Pop Blast! here (with more profit reaching the charity).
