I had wondered what would be an apt selection for this, the 300th review in this exercise. Then I saw the owner of the excellent Albums In 200 Words site had chosen this album to review this week, and my pondering was over.
The Fall are one of my favourite bands, and this is one of my favourite Fall albums, so I submitted to serendipity and here we are.
This was the album that I finally 'got' The Fall. As previously said, I knew Live At The Witch Trials, and had dipped in and out of their output, feeling as Tony Wilson allegedly said "I love The Fall, I'm just not sure I like their music".
Some time in 1991, I borrowed this CD from the library and was finally convinced. Decried by some as being "too accessible", for some of us it was exactly what was needed to see the genius.
And who can resist the cry of "Fall advice" which opens the album up on So What About It? It's a full blooded rocker with not only Steve Hanley's driving bass, but Craig Scanlon's magical guitar, and Si Wolstencroft contributing both keyboard and drum to Mark E Smith's drawl. At this point the band is down to a four-piece, with guests, and feeling more focussed for it. Idiot Joy Showland is MES's commentary on the Madchester scene, unsurprisingly caustic, and not wholly unrelated to him choosing temporary exile in Edinburgh, his love for this city being documented in the lovely Edinburgh Man. Pittsville Direkt follows, slow and monotone in the verses, with a catchy chorus, then The Book Of Lies, possibly yet another dig at Brix? It's good, but not the strongest song; then the first half (entitled Earth's Impossible Day) ends with MES's world view on The War Against Intelligence, backed by the scratchy fiddle of guest Kenny Brady. The second half takes its title (Notebooks Out Plagiarists) from this song, and opens with the relentless beat of the title track, Shiftwork, a touching kitchen sink drama you wouldn't normally associate with MES. You Haven't Found It Yet just kind of flows along, with MES making good use of the megaphone and segues into the upbeat, fiddle led The Mixer, with MES on top vocal form. I'm sure the version I first heard had White Lightning at this point, but it's straight into A Lot Of Wind which seems to be Smith's pop at daytime TV - a single note classic with a thumping bassline, and some top lyrical amusement. Rose is a slower, more reflective song, the album ending with Sinister Waltz, another single note accompaniment, as MES uses the distortion of the megaphone to good effect.
The bonus CD contains several remixes, a Peel Session but there's a number of other tracks - the aforementioned White Lightning, a Big Bopper cover, which was a fantastic single, followed by its B-sides Blood Outta Stone, a solid enough Fall song (which puts it head and shoulders above most); Zagreb, a rambling, full blooded rock song; and Life Just Bounces, which opens in the manner of Elton & Kiki's Don't Go Breaking My Heart, but thankfully finds its way - OK, but no classic.
And the same goes for Xmas With Simon and Don't Take The Pizza - B side / bonus track filler and no more.
But let's judge this on the main album. It's a special Fall album to me, as the one where the penny dropped and I understood the music, and it's still sounding great. Perhaps it's an easier listen than some earlier stuff, but it's still The Fall at their peak, and I still love this one.
5* - a fantastic album from The Fall on top of their game
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