Search - Adverts :: Crossing the Red Sea

One of the defining statements of the punk era.

Chet L. Young | 01/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you own the debut albums of the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and The Clash, then you should have "Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts", as well. Punk doesn't get any more sincere and passionate than this. You can read about the Adverts in Jon Savage's *very* detailed "England's Dreaming"."

ONE CHORD WONDERS

Klaudio | 02/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this first effort of the band is good (not all tracks) and is part of the punk history. I have to say TV Smith is an excellent singer and frontman, without him this album just deserve 2 stars.
this edition shows the complete "crossing the red sea with the Adverts" + some singles of the era and a live performance. the live tracks aren't so good because the sound is poor, sounds too far! however, it's for free! the best tracks: gary gilmore's eyes, great british mistake, safety in numbers, new chuch (the best), quickstep. some songs are too dark for my likes but the album still good.
just buy it, is part of the classic punk history."

An Early Punk Classic

Mike B. | 05/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Adverts released one perfect punk album, and another that wasn't very good. Then they broke up.



"Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts" has always been one of my favorite albums of early British punk, and comes very close to matching the classic debuts of the Pistols, Clash, and Stranglers. It's that good. This is the remastered "ultimate edition", with bonus singles and "live" tracks.



All their best singles are accounted for here: "One Chord Wonders", "Bored Teenagers", "Gary Gilmore's Eyes", and "No Time To Be 21". As much as I love these, my favorites are the less heralded album tracks "Bombsite Boy" and "Great British Mistake". Every song is good, but these 2 are stand-outs.



So I was confused when their follow-up album "Cast Of Thousands" didn't even have one good song. I had to buy Thousands again recently because it comes with a great bonus disc of all their "live" appearances on John Peel's radio show. This bonus CD is the same sought-after collectable previously called "The Wonders Don't Care".



They were an energetic and intelligent foursome - T.V. Smith was a good frontman and guitarist, and bassist Gaye Advert (later his wife) was one of the first girls to establish a punk "look". They toured a lot and opened for groups like the Damned and Generation X, but didn't achieve their level of acclaim. After disbanding, T.V. (Tim) Smith formed the Explorers, and still makes solo appearances. I stopped keeping up with him, so I don't know if he's good.



But I know at one time he was terrific, and "Crossing The Red Sea" proves it.

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