Screaming Blue Messiahs

The Screaming Blue Messiahs - Gun Shy (1986) {Elektra–Wounded Bird WOU488 rel 2009}
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© 1986, 2009 Elektra Entertainment Group / Wounded Bird Records | WOU 488
Rock / Alternative / Hard Rock / Punk-Blues / Rock & Roll / Blues Rock

Starting off with the hyperactive pub rock sound of "Wild Blue Yonder," this is a great debut record. Taking its cues from punk rock, the Messiahs crank up the intensity with songs like "Smash the Marketplace" and the ominous "Let's Go Out to the Woods Tonight." If Gun-Shy stumbles, it's probably because it's a tad restrained (given the energy, volume, and power these guys generated live), as if it were assumed that audiences simply might not be able to handle it all at once. Still, that's a minor complaint. This record will knock you out.

The Screaming Blue Messiahs - BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert (1992) {Windsong WINCD022 rec 1988}
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© 1988, 1992 Windsong International / BBC | WINCD 022
Rock / Hard Rock / Power Rock / Punk-Blues / Rock & Roll / Blues Rock

This is the ultimate Messiahs record - live in front of a good sized crowd at London's Town & Country Club (later the Forum) at the brief height of their success. The rhythm section are an awesomely powerful, well-drilled machine - Kenny Harris's drumming almost unavoidably conjures up visions of steam locomotives with all the pistons and connecting rods going like crazy … Over the top of it (WELL over the top …) Bill Carter rants (about American cars and Jesus mostly) and slashes at his guitar. You can tell it was very loud (it was …)

The Screaming Blue Messiahs - The Peel Sessions (1986) {EP, Strange Fruit–BBC DEI8315-2 rec 1984}
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© 1986 Strange Fruit / BBC Enterprises Ltd. | DEI8315-2
Rock / Alternative / Power Rock / Punk-Blues / Rock & Roll / Blues Rock

This scorching Peel Session from 1984 is a prime introduction to the Screaming Blue Messiahs' catchy mix of guitar-driven garage rock, punk, blues, and rockabilly. All four songs are better here than in their studio form, with "Good and Gone" and "Someone to Talk To" being absolutely awesome, along with quite cool versions of "Tracking the Dog" and "Let's Go Down to the Woods and Pray" as well.

The Screaming Blue Messiahs - Bikini Red (1987) {Elektra–Wounded Bird WOU755 rel 2009}
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© 1987, 2009 Elektra Entertainment Group / Wounded Bird Records | WOU 755
Rock / Alternative / Hard Rock / Punk-Blues / Rock & Roll / Blues Rock

The Messiahs' follow-up to Gun-Shy was this devastating hunk of noise, which didn't pull any punches when it came to raw emotion and intensity. Side One, especially, is a rave-up from the gut-bustin' raunch of "Sweet Water Pools" to the closer "Big Brother Muscle." As always, Carter's obsessions are a little hard to understand, but the images and lyric fragments fly at you like shards of broken glass; you'll remember when they hit you. "I Wanna Be a Flintstone" kicks off Side Two, and it remains as funky and funny as it was the first time you hear it. Great production work by Vic Maile.

The Screaming Blue Messiahs - Totally Religious (1989) {Elektra Entertainment 9 60859-2}
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© 1989 Elektra Entertainment | 9 60859-2
Rock / Alternative / Power Rock / Punk-Blues / Rock & Roll / Blues Rock

TOTALLY RELIGIOUS is a circular saw through the ropes tied to rock and roll's captors. Ten cuts of rotating blades at different speeds. The rhythm section of Kenny Harris and Chris Thompson form the perfect airstrip for Bill Carter's frantic vocals and Telecaster dogfights. The Messiahs take traditional R&B and rock and roll structures and revitalise them with a maniacal energy. I'll use my patented metaphor: "the Screaming Blue Messiahs sound like Bo Diddley babysitting the bastard child of Squeaky Fromme and George Thorogood in a little house located right near the mouth of hell." It's TOTALLY RELIGIOUS, alright. Get your ass to church now!

The Screaming Blue Messiahs - Live At The BBC (2009) {Hux Records HUX103 rec rec 1985, 1987}
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© 1985-87, 2009 BBC / Hux Records | HUX 103
Rock / Alternative / Power Rock / Punk-Blues / Rock & Roll / Blues Rock

This collection brings together some of their best work for BBC radio. There are red-hot, vintage studio sessions for DJs Andy Kershaw and Janice Long from 1985 and 1987 respectively, whilst a BBC concert from early '85 reveals just what a powerful live band they were from the start. Just feel that raw energy and electricity! British rock was tragically robbed of one of its most resilient flame keepers when the group had to call it a day in 1990.

Going by the title, the Retro: Active series from Canada's Hi-Bias label sounds like it could be a nightmare of new wave and '80s-alternative singles remixed by modern producers to put a new spin on old favorites. Thankfully, the label has simply plucked extended versions and remixes from previously existing 12" singles - like the ones you might have sitting in your closet, or the ones you heard in clubs or even on the radio.
A-ha, Erasure, The Cure, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Alphaville, Duran Duran, INXS, New Order, Peter Schilling and many more.

The 80s Compilation market is a minefield - a lack of variety, re-recorded versions, poor sound quality among the pitfalls - but Demon Music Groups' "100 Hits" series have been the pick of the bunch in recent times…