Search - Tenpole Tudor :: Swords of a Thousand Men

Underrated genius

saracen | 03/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't provide song samples for the this double-CD set so, unless you're familiar with Tenpole Tudor, you're buying blind. Their sound can best be described as Fred Schneider of The B-52s ("What You Doing In Bombay") meets Adam & The Ants ("Let The Four Winds Blow") with a dash of Big Audio Dynamite ("Conga Tribe" & "Tenpole 45") and George Thoroughgood & the Destroyers ("It's Easy To See") thrown in for good measure. Which is one reason TT never hit it big - from the anthemic rock of "Swords Of A Thousand Men" and "It's Easy To See" to the incredibly infectious "What You Doing In Bombay" (which would be right at home on any B-52s album) to the country-tinged "Love And Food" to the total inanity of "Wunderbar," this band is all over the musical map. Although TT is usually regarded as a punk band, there's none of the disaffected rage of the Sex Pistols or The Clash. As the upbeat TT didn't take their band's image at all seriously, this is a group that would have found its true calling as England's punk-rock version of The Monkees (complete with TV show). Their musicianship is another matter entirely - it's virtually flawless. If your music collection contains any Adam and the Ants, Wreckless Eric, Bow Wow Wow, Plastic Bertrand, or Big Audio Dynamite, then this double-CD set (containing almost their entire catalogue) deserves a place of honor in your CD carousel."

You Need This CD...if you like to grin while you sing.

Kari Danforth | NYC, US | 10/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was actually searching for a compilation that included Tenpole Tudor's version of Rock Around The Clock and came across this release. My album only has about half of these songs, but I also have 2 of their 45's. I love this group and their lyrics are hilarious and clever(favorite cut "Love And Food")...I highly recommend this and will have to buy it on CD now! Now if I could only find that compilation-"We Did 'Em Our Way"."

The most cheerful Rock Album ever

harleymania | 01/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Good Rock, great band, great lyrics, these guys are just having fun and you can hear it. If you like good, driving British Rock, you must own this!Alan"