Simply sensational

As we ready ourselves for news of not one but two new Distractions releases (new album and you-know-what), here's a nice little single review by the one and only Mr Middles. Mick wrote so much about the group back in the day, and in more recent times, and this piece comes from the City Fun fanzine in 1979 (via the fantastic Manchester District Music Archive).

RECORD REVIEWS by Mick Middles

A surprisingly superb batch of Mancunian releases here...

THE DISTRACTIONS

'It Doesn't Bother Me!' (Island).

...this is a dreadful chunk of overrated non-active garbage from one of the most boring pop acts of all time. (Just watch those temperatures rise, ha-ha). Please read on 'cos I'm only jesting. This is, in fact one of the finest pop singles of the past three years. Island have succeeded in transforming an old ruby into a new diamond. A light, hollow sound now replaces the perhaps slightly messy approach of the T.J.M. version. Simply sensational and I can't find a fault. I've never known anyone who dislikes The Distractions and THAT is the reason why they are destined to be our city's most successful band since 10cc. I'm sure of it.

Mick Middles, City Fun, 1979.

Nearly Perfect

The news is now out that fans of The Distractions can look forward to two huge releases between now and into 2017. As announced recently, the third and final album, Kindly Leave The Stage, is out next year, while the Parabolically Yours bookset will happen when the stars align.

Here's a nice little preview piece from Fast n Bulbous in a 'Between the Cracks' feature. It rather underplays the contents of Parabolically Yours actually, but then we've already hinted at the incredible amount of material - released, unreleased, live, photos, interviews & more - you can look forward to.

Manchester’s The Distractions formed in 1975 with '60s influences until they were inspired by the Buzzcocks to evolve toward a unique hybrid sound of garage psych, power pop and post-punk. After recording the You’re Not Going Out Dressed Like That EP in 1978, they released the “Time Goes By So Slow” single on Factory records. They had already signed to Island before the single was released, and put out two more singles, “It Doesn’t Bother Me” and “Boys Cry” before releasing Nobody’s Perfect (Island, 1980), a nearly perfect album completely out of fashion and time. Its lack of commercial success lead to the band splitting up in 1981. A box set reissue with the full album and all the singles, Parabolically Yours, will be out sometime early next year on HiddenMasters. The band reunited in 2010 and released The End Of The Pier (Occultation, 2012), and will be releasing a third and final album also next year.