Search - Tom Robinson :: Power in the Darkness-2 lp's

Punk Power

Pieter | Johannesburg | 04/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This reissue of Power In The Darkness contains many extra tracks making it in effect a Best Of or Greatest Hits collection of the Tom Robinson Band. The sound is aggressive rock straight out of the heyday of punk when the Sex Pistols, The Clash and Siouxsie & The Banshees were making waves in the UK. Of the new tracks, the cover of the VU's Waiting For My Man is the most impressive.



Opening with the anthem Up Against The Wall, it takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride through the politics of those times, mercifully interspersed with some pure love songs and a dash of humor here and there. Gray Cortina and 2-4-6-8 Motorway are great rocking road songs whilst the protest number Better Decide Which Side You're On sounds dated now and Glad To Be Gay, probably Robinson's most famous anthem, has aged well.



Power In The Darkness is basically a repetitive chant but there's a ver funny speech in the middle which still cracks me up after all these years. The song Now Martin's Gone dates from a couple of years later, in the 1980s, when his sound had changed considerably into a pop direction. The music isn't particularly innovative, it's just good old rock infused with punk fury, but Robinson's contribution is valuable for the great songs he created. Fans of artists like The Clash, The Jam, The Sex Pistols and The Stranglers will appreciate Power In The Darkness.



Rising Free: The Very Best of Tom Robinson Band



Having It Both Ways





"

Political And Timely

Mike B. | 04/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was an important album when released in 1978. Tom Robinson Band's "Power In The Darkness" was a clarion call to oppressed people everywhere to stand and be counted. This struck a chord with young listeners in England during that tumultuous time. Unemployment was sky-high, the government was nearly bankrupt, and the whole country seemed on the verge of going belly-up.



It's sad that near identical circumstances have now besieged America (and by extension, the world). When this record reached our then-comfortable shores, it didn't make nearly the impact it did in Robinson's homeland.



Gays in the U.S. were heartened to finally have an out-and-proud rocker speaking on their behalf - if they heard him at all. Remember, it was the disco era. Likewise, punk had difficulty gaining a foothold. The happier American punks (luv ya Ramones) couldn't even make it, what to speak of these angry sounds emanating from the Sex Pistols, Clash, and TRB. Sure, they found an underground following and could fill small clubs or medium-sized halls - but it was nothing compared to the disco phenomenon (or the reaction these bands elicited in Britain).



Guess you had to be there. Now that we are, this record finally resonates meaningfully for us in the states - and warrants a close listen with fresh ears. In addition to its current timeliness, it also holds up remarkably well musically. With passionate lyrics delivered in a voice that's part Ray Davies/part Joe Strummer, Tom Robinson came up with a batch of songs that easily equal the great Clash debut.



If you're a Clash fan, then this CD purchase is a no-brainer for you, and a must to own. If you're gay, the tracks "Right On Sister" and the anthemic "Glad To Be Gay" will speak to you. Fans of songs about cars and driving will enjoy "Grey Cortina" and their British hit single "2-4-6-8 Motorway", which for my money is almost as good as the Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner". Robinson adopts a cockney accent reminiscent of Ian Dury for the endearing "Martin", an hilarious ode to a friend. The remaining tracks have mostly political overtones, such as the title song, which exhorts all to "stand up and fight for your rights" - and Robinson sings them stridently and with confidence. The band is great, especially the guitar and keyboards.



This is something of a forgotten classic waiting to be re-discovered. It might have been better remembered if his star hadn't fallen so fast. They disbanded after releasing "TRB TWO", which wasn't nearly as strong as Power. It already seemed like a weak re-hash of their debut, and the songs weren't as good. The usually astute Todd Rundgren mixed Tom's voice too low, and his production imparted an ill-fitting Utopia sheen. In retrospect, they may have been better served had they stuck with legendary Power producer Chris Thomas. Robinson then went "new wave" for a one-off with his new band Sector 27, which he bankrolled to the point of personal bankruptcy.



Since 1986, Robinson has found greater renown as a BBC radio DJ and talk host. He still releases an occasional record, though it's been some time now. I haven't kept up with them, but they're supposed to be folk/roots records. He married, settled down and had kids, and now describes himself as "a gay man who happened to fall in love with a woman". Addressing this, he humorously titled one of his later albums "Having It Both Ways".



But for one shining moment, Tom Robinson was one of the best and brightest. "Power In The Darkness" deserves to find a new audience. It was - and should be again - an enduring classic."

TRB Power in the Darkness

K. Adymcdonald | Ibadan, Nigeria | 02/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an album I listened to when growing up in the 70s, so it brings back many memories. I was able to see this awesome band at the Palladium in NYC with two other young gals - we were the only young women in the room, I think! I still love to listen to this music, (TRB truly rocks!) and feel the political topics are still germane - moreso today than ever. I am really grateful to have the album in DVD form! To know what it felt like in the seventies, & to hear a unique sound, I recommend owning all of the TRB tunes!"