ALBUM REVIEW: UK Subs: 2006-16 The Jet Age (Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records)
Formed in 1976, UK Subs are stalwarts of the punk scene, and their singer Charlie Harper a true legend in a world which uses the term far too lightly.
Now 79, he’s been ever-present as the band emerged, enjoyed chart success, disappeared back underground, but never stopped playing gigs around the world to their legion of fans.
The UK Subs are believed to be the only band to release an album beginning with every letter of the alphabet, and a few more besides – more than 60 in total.
The first four – Another Kind Of Blues, Brand New Age, Crash Course and Diminished Responsibility – are bona fide classics of the genre.
And although some of the releases inbetween have been a bit hit and miss, they finished the alphabet strongly too with the letters W-Z, and it’s those which are gathered here in this 5CD boxset.
It includes all the releases featuring guitarist Jet Taniguchi, alongside Harper on vocals, Alvin Gibbs on bass and Jamie Oliver on drums, and that’s where it gets its name The Jet Age.
Fresh ideas
Jet is one of more than 30 different musicians who’ve been in the UK Subs over the years, and maybe that’s the secret of their longevity, with new members giving the band fresh impetus and ideas.
That was certainly the case on 2010’s Work In Progress, their first album in nine years – the longest they’d ever gone without one. It was a big return to form, featuring songs of the calibre of Creation, Tokyo Rose, The Axe, All Blurs Into One and Strychnine.
It comes with the bonus of the long-deleted 666Yeah single and all five tracks from the Warhead 2008 mini LP, including new versions of the classic title track and I Live In A Car from their first single.
The second disc is 2013’s XXIV album, another strong set which showcases the band’s skill at tackling different styles on songs as varied as the punky blues (Coalition Government Blues) and seething hardcore (Rabid).
Standouts include the Harper/Taniguchi co-writes Monkeys and Las Vegas Wedding, and for completists it includes studio out-take Workers Beer Company, appearing here on CD for the first time.
2015’s Yellow Leader is on disc three, and like all the other albums in this set, it features songs written by all four members of the band.
The Gibbs-penned opener Sick Velveteen and the Harper/Taniguchi compositions Big Bug, Suicidal Girl and Cry Wolf are among the highlights, though Charlie and Alvin must have had a crystal ball when they wrote Virus, about an “unstoppable pandemic”, a whole five years before you-know-what.
It’s probably the weakest of the closing quartet, which speaks volumes for the quality of the others.
The fourth disc is 2016’s Ziezo album, which saw the band finally achieve their aim of releasing an album for every letter of the alphabet.
The thundering Evil Vs Evil is classic Subs, full of big riffs, with the rhythm section sounding beefier than ever, and there’s plenty more to enjoy as Charlie and co. finish the A-Z odyssey in style.
The mid-album run of World War III, Dope Fiend, I Don’t Care and Master Race is as good as anything in their lengthy back catalogue, while City Of The Dead even gives us a song to skank to, a la Rancid.
Disc five is Acoustic XXIV, featuring acoustic tracks previously only available with the limited CD pressing of the XXIV album.
It includes a fine version of Mott The Hoople’s Angel Of Eighth Avenue and one other cover, Four Strong Winds, by ’60s Canadian folk duo Ian and Sylvia, otherwise it’s all originals penned by the band.
There’s 13 tracks in all, including the previously non-CD bonus track Hard Times Café, but in truth adds little to an already enjoyable boxset (and real Subs fanatics will probably already have it!).
The booklet accompanying The Jet Age contains detailed liner notes written by the band’s Time & Matter website editor Mark Chadderton and includes lots of rare photos.
The current line-up of the band are touring the UK in September for what’s billed as The Final Tour, though I wouldn’t expect many of the songs here to get an airing. 8/10.
