The esteemed Paul Morley reviews the debut EP in the 17th March 1979 issue of NME (adding to JCC's earlier piece). This scan is again courtesy of NME's History of Rock and Roll archives.
Pic by PETE SHELLEY
SINGLES
Reviewed this week by PAUL MORLEY
THE DISTRACTIONS: You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That (TJM)
More Manchester magnificence! Sadly skimmed over in Johnny Clarke's wordless guest column a few weeks back, this poshly packaged 12" EP on Manchester's wealthy TJM pabel is yet another Mancunian pop classic and no way must it be overlooked. Like 'Spiral Scratch', 'What Do I Get?', 'Shot By Both Sides', 'Jilted John', unique, complete, tenacious.
Contained are four immaculate gems of teenage vulnerability, each of three minutes of under, based on steely, needly guitar poetry, snug with a smooth charm, structured with superior wisdom. Such precious, precocious pop! (sigh). Brittle young Byrds meet Peter Pan Shelley and it's so very, very special.
The opening song 'Don't Bother Me' is truly sublime - Peter Powell has simply got to make it his record of the week. Buy it and make it a hit. (What is it about us Mancunians that makes us so soft and sulky?)
(c) NME's History of Rock and Roll.
No comments:
Post a Comment