You can't count on very much in life, but you can count on the Mekons, who celebrate 25 years of shambling, oft-brilliant agit-punk with OOOH! (Out of Our Heads). This spirited release serves up everything from drunken sin... more »g-along anthems to slice-of-life songs. Their originals have always mixed brazen politics with unsentimental humor, making them far more effective and longer-lasting than a dozen Exploited. (Their first single, 1977's "Never Been in a Riot," was a direct, sarcastic response to the Clash's "White Riot.") Originally art punks, band members recharged themselves with country in the mid-'80s, dabbled briefly with dance and dub, and now make a career-encompassing joyous noise. Highlights here include the circular, snaking guitars and insistent rhythms of "Thee Olde Trip to Jerusalem," which sounds like Richard Thompson sitting in with the Ex, and the beautiful, weary "Lone Pilgrim," which brings to mind the Pogues. --Mike McGonigal« less
You can't count on very much in life, but you can count on the Mekons, who celebrate 25 years of shambling, oft-brilliant agit-punk with OOOH! (Out of Our Heads). This spirited release serves up everything from drunken sing-along anthems to slice-of-life songs. Their originals have always mixed brazen politics with unsentimental humor, making them far more effective and longer-lasting than a dozen Exploited. (Their first single, 1977's "Never Been in a Riot," was a direct, sarcastic response to the Clash's "White Riot.") Originally art punks, band members recharged themselves with country in the mid-'80s, dabbled briefly with dance and dub, and now make a career-encompassing joyous noise. Highlights here include the circular, snaking guitars and insistent rhythms of "Thee Olde Trip to Jerusalem," which sounds like Richard Thompson sitting in with the Ex, and the beautiful, weary "Lone Pilgrim," which brings to mind the Pogues. --Mike McGonigal
CD Reviews
Another brilliant album
Andrew L. Folpe | Atlanta, GA USA | 08/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Typical Mekons- brilliant, and nothing like the previous one. Standout tracks so far include "Thee Old Trip" and "Only you and your ghost", but they're all very strong. I'm not sure I hear the Celtic influences the Amazon reviewer found, in the sense of Irish/Scottish etc. The influence that comes through the strongest to me is actually white American late 19th century spiritual (shapenote, that kind of stuff). You can hear it in the harmonies and the melodies, as well as some of the lyrics. I suppose that music was Celtic influenced. (Of course the band would probably laugh at all this analysis). Anyway, buy this album (and Original Sin and New York and, oh all of them!!)"
Soothing cowpunk for hard times
Jennifer Barger | Falls Church, VA USA | 12/12/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album-a pastiche of art rock, country and gospel-is the best thing the Leeds-Chicago band has done in years. WIth its dreamy, fiddle-backed songs of zombies, coming through fire and the general toughness of modern life, it seems like a response to September 11- though interviews with the Mekons reveal it was in the can before then. Overall, their folksiest album, and amazingly fresh for a band that's been touring for 25 years."
Another great one, good as Journey to the End of the Night
R. Hutchinson | a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds | 09/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am so happy the Mekons are in this world! We have survived the millennium, "robber barons still roam the land," and the Mekons don't like it any more than they used to -- "They'll be building up the temple on the backs of the people -- sign of the profit" they sing in the opening number. OUT OF OUR HEADS is roughly similar to JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE NIGHT, but the first two tracks set a more aggressive, optimistic and skewed tone for the rest. JOURNEY is a phenomenal album (see my review), but it is the Mekons' most earnest work. OOOH! reverts to a slightly more typical irreverence, sounding perhaps like JOURNEY with a shot of MEKONS ROCK'N'ROLL. OOOH! is great throughout, so there is no point in mentioning stand-out tracks. Just another ordinary night -- everybody sing along: "I am the King, you are the Queen, we rule nothing.""
Best album I bought in 2002...
Jennifer Barger | 09/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"and I wish I would of heard of these guys sooner!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1