"Rolling Stone called them The Clash mixed with Creedence? I would say more like The Clash mixed with XTC. Both TPE and XTC appeared on Fast and Bulbous: A Tribute to Captain Beefheart, and in their own music, they both used similarly strange tunings and atonal (pantonal?) riffs to give an edge to what might otherwise be sugary pop.It was the politics, though, that appealed to me back when The Clash and Midnight Oil were among my favorite bands. These guys were angry and smart, and a very good live band. "Belly Bugs" is one of my favorites off this album. I think it's time to replace my cassette..."
A Neglected Eighties Classic
Jeff Scherer | 02/23/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best album by a brilliant Eighties band who nobody ever seems to have heard of. Great lyrics, great guitars and some really great tunes."
This got it started for me...
John C Washburne | St. Louis, Missouri USA | 01/15/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...my infatuation with TPE, that is. This record kicks ... from start to finish. I saw the video for 'Big Decision' on 120 Minutes and ran out and bought it the next day. I've never regretted that decision, to say the least. Usually, I wonder why bands this great never got the recognition they deserved, but it was the 80's, and alternative music meant ALTERNATIVE music. Classic twin guitar fueled rock anthems with wonderful grooves (check out Creeping To The Cross, Belly Bugs, Swamp, etc.). This record has a very dark feel to it to me. Buy everything from this band! If you prefer a little more mainstream, "pop" sound (boy has that word been highjacked in the last few years), try Chemicrazy."
Hidden Treasure
Scott | MI | 01/06/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is one of the forgotten classics. Every song is a winner and the album flows beautifully from one song to another until it reaches a climax with the irreverant "Creeping To The Cross". A brillinat closer. Don't be put off by the politics remarks. The politics on this album are smart and personally stated so everyone can relate to them. The music rocks out all the way through with an underlying beauty that will keep you coming back for more. Not to be missed by any true music fan."
Articulate Sophomore
Michael S. Mahoney | Louisville, KY United States | 05/06/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"That Petrol Emotion rose from the meltdown of delightful twerps The Undertones, Derry's own Ramones. Their second and hard to find second album "Babble" runs roughshod over the sophomore checkpoint in the road. The first two songs still pound and swirl with guitars in a high wind - the break in "Spin Cycle" truly excites. "Big Decision", as close as this overlooked group ever got to a "popular" hit, is a fine jump-around the joint tune, all despite its fairly serious theme, the decision whether or not to leave the old sod behind. The Petrols could have used a better vocalist. The west coast Yank that they took on unfortunately comes from the Offspring school of thin and reedy obnoxiousness. Undertones vocalist Feargal Sharkey's weird caterwalling was at least endearing. No matter, here and elsewhere (check out "Manic Pop Thrill") the lads from the North of Ireland, powered by the brothers O'Neill, mash out a fine guitar sound all their own."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1