Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
Alright rock pickers, we’re back to it, and this past week, I’ve been giving NY Loose a spin on the decks. You guys remember Brigitte West? Well, cast your mind back.
I did when I got the opportunity to listen to the latest remastered works, and I remembered, or thought I did, ‘didn’t NY Loose support Marilyn Manson in the 90’s?’
I did my research, and sure enough, there it was on YouTube. Vaneesa Warick interviewed NY Loose in 1996 when they were indeed supporting Marilyn Manson. Who would have thought that despite all those funny cigarettes at the time, I can still be as sharp as a tack when needed.
Anyway, back to my morning brew accompanied by some awesome raucous noise. This latest release is 12 tracks of pop punk, New York and London inspired, 90’s alternative at its best. Remastered from their early releases and taken from a selection of EPs and album releases, its everything you’d expect a 90’s girl led, alternative punk band to be. It sounds like torn jeans, studs, colour haired and low-slung guitars.
The opening track is just what you’d expect to hear. 2 minutes of attitude, palm muting, and a lead vocal that’s attitudinal, angry, yet balanced with softness in just the right proportions. Even if they didn’t ever make an appearance on it, they’re the sort of band you’d have expected to see on Channel 4’s The Word. You can imagine Terry Christian getting very excited about it all, in equal measures of confusion and unresearched dialogue.
And who wouldn’t like a song called ‘Bitch’. Track 2 is another sub 3 min punky mix of chunk and clarity. I find myself accidentally falling into stereotypes, without intentionally doing so. But if you think punk rock girl led band, you’ve got to think of Joan Jett (other girl led punk bands are available). But the point being, is our ears and influences are steadily narrowed by those genre leaders, and Brigitte should not be overlooked. Sounding strong, powerful, and just as raw, NY Loose performances gained abundant followers at their peak.
‘Green Light Semaphore’ is the 3rd track. Continuing the theme, its another punchy little rock ditty to get your ears round. Enough edge to be punk, but not abusive enough to offend anyone, its ‘easy listening’ pop punk to accompany my tea, and now, some marmite on toast.
The recording rocks on, and with little change (not that change is needed), until ‘Spit’ plays as track 6. Slightly bucking the pop punk trend, this song is over 5 minutes long. I wasn’t expecting that. It’s a slower, darker, track. And a welcomed change of pace at halfway through the remastered selection.
Ploughing on, this record is just pure ‘what you’d expect a 90’s pop punk band to be’. You can hear the decade in every track. We’ve got elements of Joan Jett, Nirvana, Elastica, baggy jumpers, nose piercings, bleached hair, Brit-Pop lovers mixed with an oddly ‘not so dissimilar sound at times’ rockers. I think listening to the tracks now, there’s of course evidence and a feeling of nostalgia, but having not been exposed too much to NY Loose at the time of initial fame, I’m just enjoying the album for what it is.
As I’m heading towards the later few songs, I’m in full swing grunge mode, and I know that early Nirvana releases are going on the turn table after I’ve heard the final track ‘Cheap Tragedies’. This is a great album. It’s from a time, an era, where youth culture was leading influences, design, fashion and behaviours. It’s also from a time where being in a band, a musician, was not only super cool, but you could also actually survive and try to make a living from it. And we thought back then we had it bad. Imagine now, trying to be a driver of youth culture, where you have real issues to influence songs. Pandemics, death, war, economic uncertainty, climate change and the clown-based merry-go-round that is UK politics to contend with. In a world were there is more reason to be angst than ever, it is harder to get that voice heard, despite the advent of social media.
Whether you’re of a certain vintage, or, just picking up your first 6 string, give this set of releases the attention they deserve. It has the surface of innocence, with an undertone of darker rebellion. Its is pop punk. But its also great music that creates emotion and a sense of freedom. Grab a guitar, anyone will do and borrow an amp. Crank it up. Get ya mates over. And be creative. Who knows, in 35 yrs time maybe you’ll be remastering those garage tracks from the safety of your nuclear bunker and factor 50.
Order here (UK/International) : HERE
Vinyl: £33.90 + shipping / CD: £13.90 + shipping
Order here (US only) : HERE
Vinyl: $38.99 + $8.00 shipping / CD: $14.99 + $5.00 shipping / Vinyl & CD: $68.98 inc shipping
