Back to the long round-up of the Nobody's Perfect reissue reviews. This is the first of the absolutely glowing reviews that the release had in the music monthlies: a four-star Classic Pop review by John Earls in March 2020's issue. Nobody's Perfect sits alongside fellow Mancunians, M People - only The Cure's Disintegration and Electronic's self-titled debut received higher scores, and we can't argue with that. The Nobody's Perfect 2CD and LPs are still available from Occultation or Bandcamp (get the 14-track download there too).
THE DISTRACTIONS
NOBODY'S PERFECT
MAN IN THE MOON/OCCULTATION
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Originally signed to Factory, Manchester indie popsters The Distractions were poached by Island's Nick Stewart, the A&R who signed U2. Forty years later, Stewart reissues his charges' debut album on his own Man In The Moon label. His long-standing faith that The Distractions deserve more acclaim is fully justified.
Singer Mike Finney has the same mix of intense fervour and soulful beauty as Kevin Rowland, while guitarist Steve Perrin's melodies take in Undertones-style melodic punk (Louise), pre-Smiths wistful wonder (Stuck In A Fantasy) and Phil Spector dramas (Boys Cry).
A lost classic, it may be The Distractions' diversity that proved their undoing as they tear through so many styles and cheerfully master them all.
The reissue is lovingly done - the original LP on heavyweight vinyl, or a 2CD set featuring 34 bonus tracks compiled from five standalone singles, four demos, a compilation appearance and an alternative mix of the original album by The June Brides producer Nick Halliwell.
Touchingly, The Distractions reformed in 2010. They've released two further albums on Halliwell's label Occulation and still tour. If Nobody's Perfect is any judge, they deserve wider cult hero status.
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