Better to have loved

Here is Melody Maker's review of Time Goes By So Slow from 8th September 1979, courtesy of the History of Rock and Roll [1].  As has happened elsewhere [2], the flip-side (originally the A-side until Tony Wilson insisted that Adrian Wright's song became the lead track), Pillow Fight, is actually referred to as "Pillow Talk".

THE DISTRACTIONS: "Time Goes By So Slow" (Factory FAC 12).

Fragile, professionally amateur single from the world's most perfect youth club band.  Yearning Buddy Holly loser vocals over a loose backing - piping organ, jangly guitar - full of 1965 nostalgia.  But with a twist: "Time Goes By So Slow" is a reasonably straightforward lost love song, with a neat, kinetic instrumental break at the end, while "Pillow Talk" has the singer wanting to know just what was his girl dreaming about last night and was it HIM?  Another classic line: "A sick fantasy is better than none at all."  The Distractions are the musical version of the principle that it's better to have loved unsuccessfully than not at all.  At present, perhaps too under-produced to be a hit, but you never know.

(c) NME's History of Rock and Roll.

1. www.historyofrockandroll.co.uk.

2. www.allmusic.com/artist/the-distractions-mn0000152249.