ALBUM REVIEW: Various Artists – Oi! 40 Years Untamed (Pirates Press Records)
Forty years after Garry Bushell curated one of punk’s most famous compilations, Oi! The Album, he’s teamed up with leading US streetpunk label Pirates Press to celebrate its ruby anniversary.
Much in the same vein as the first three of what became a series of six albums (reviewed here), 40 Years Untamed is a hard-hitting collection which brings us some songs from the streets.
It features exclusive, unheard songs from some Oi! pioneers, and original tracks from younger, up-and coming bands – the difference now being that they’re from around the world, not just the UK.
Who better to kick things off than Cock Sparrer, from London’s East End, who were featured on the very first Oi! album, and most of those which followed.
They contribute a new song, Take It On The Chin, and, like Marching Onwards from the For Family and Flag Vol. 1 compilation (reviewed here), it’s a worthy addition to their canon, with trademark surging guitar and Colin McFaull’s instantly-recognisable voice, which has matured nicely over the years.
Fellow Eastenders the Cockney Rejects supposedly gave the whole movement its name with their song Oi, Oi, Oi, which was on the original album, so it’s fitting they’re represented here too, with Wish You Weren’t Here, from their 2007 album Unforgiven.
The Last Resort, formed in Kent in 1980, and named after the famous London skinhead shop, didn’t make it onto the first Oi! album, but were on volumes two and three. They contribute a new song, New Disease, which shows why they attract huge crowds every time they appear at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool.
Bushell’s own band, The Gonads, became staples of the original series, and they make an appearance, as do Prole, a studio band put together by the former Sounds scribe and Steve Kent from The Business.
Speaking of The Business, as one of the greatest Oi! bands of all time it’s only right they’re here too, with a new song, You Know My Name.
New and exclusive tracks by two of the best of the new breed of British oi! bands are among the standout tracks here, but maybe I’m biased, as they’re both from my native North East.
Crashed Out, from Jarrow, have been plying their brand of hard-edged punk ‘n’ roll for 25 years now, and contribute Against All Odds, while Gimp Fist, from Bishop Auckland, who have been kicking up a storm since 2005, weigh in with One Shot.
Both belong in the exalted company mentioned earlier, as they’ve long between among the best bands in the modern Oi! scene.
Where this collection differs from the original ones is the number of tracks by bands from outside the UK, with some of the top names in worldwide streetpunk featured.
Leading the way are The Old Firm Casuals, from the US, featuring Lars Frederiksen from Rancid, and their absolute stomper of a song, Noddy Holder (paying tribute to the Slade mainman), is among the best here.
Bishops Green from Canada and Lion’s Law from France deserve their place at the top table too, as do Stomper 98 from Germany, who sound exactly like their name suggests, even if singing in their native tongue means I don’t understand a word!
The original Oi! series was useful for finding new bands, and that goes for a couple of names here who might not be widely known – NO!SE from Seattle, and Doug & The Slugz from LA, who were one of the first Oi! bands in the US, and recently reformed.
My vote for best ‘new’ band goes to The Drowns, from Seattle, whose song One More Pint was among the highlights of their excellent second album Under Tension (reviewed here), which came out early this year.
For a scene which gets next to no media coverage, Oi!/streetpunk/real punk (or whatever you like to call it) is in better shape than ever, with great bands spreading the word of working class punk around the world, with few of the right-wing connotations of back in the day.
If you like your Oi!, this collection is an essential purchase. The only question is, when’s Vol. 2 coming out then, Gal? 9/10
Oi! 40 YEARS UNTAMED TRACK LISTING:
- Cock Sparrer – Take It On The Chin
- Crashed Out – Against All Odds
- Bishops Green – We Decide
- Stomper 98 – Bessere Zeiten
- Doug & The Slugz – Friday In Old Town
- Lion’s Law – Pathfinder
- The Old Firm Casuals – Noddy Holder (Bootboy Mix)
- The Drowns – One More Pint
- Cockney Rejects – Wish You Weren’t Here
- The Last Resort – New Disease
- The Gonads – Federales
- Prole – Sawdust Caesars
- Gimp Fist – One Shot
- The Business – You Know My Name
- NOi!SE – Life In The Shade
You can buy Oi! 40 Years Untamed on CD or five different 12in vinyl variations directly from Pirates Press Records HERE.
