"A Way Of Life: Skinhead Anthems"- The Last Resort

  When you consider the title of this catastrophe, and for argument's sake grant it the authority it boasts, it's enough to make the most dedicated shaven head consider not just hanging up his boots- but fucking burning them. For, if this god- awful collection of bullshit really is a summary of skinhead life committed to record, then the skinhead is a violent, old- lady scaring, bigoted mongoloid who should probably be shot in the face. Thankfully, proper skinheads know better, and there's plenty more choice out there for sincere sta- prest enthusiasts.
  Evidently, it wasn't enough for Roi Pearce and chums to simply release an album that was badly produced, out of time and played by what sounds like a bunch of monkeys fighting over the chance to shit into a speaker. No. They had to throw in some truly awful lyrics too. After the musical masturbation that is "Freedom" finally ends we are thrown into the world of Pearce's inanity and well 'ard lexicon. Unfortunately, life in the east end doesn't seem to have had the same effect on him as it did on well executed outfits such as The 4- Skins or The Business, and lyrically it sounds like one of their little brothers having a go. Whilst tunes like "We Rule OK!", "Violence In Our Minds" and "Resort Boot Boys" are, let's face it, irresistible to any oi! fan- the rest of this racket really lets the album down. And that's putting it mildly.
  To communicate my criticism in a more visceral fashion, the lyrics to "Red, White and Blue" and "Soul Boys" are particularly fucking irritating. "Soul Boys" centres around what sounds like a minor and laughable rivalry that occurred in the group's hay- day between skins and soul boys, the pathetic rhetoric used is hopelessly generalising for a band who could have served to defend ferociously the most misunderstood subculture in history (The Skinhead). Dubbing all soul- boys "pricks" or "a bunch of cunts" is hardly imaginative or fair when you consider the history of abuse and prejudice suffered by skinheads at the hands of the media. It hardly seems compatible with a scene that evolved FROM SOUL MUSIC to criticize another subculture based entirely on fashion tastes and the occasional punch up. Anyone with any sense got bored with that shit in the 60's. There's rivalry and then there's stupidity. As for "Red, White and Blue"- the band ramble on about England- attempting to articulate deep seated emotions of patriotism- and instead produce something a ten year old could. Further, for a song entitled "Red, White and Blue" there seems to be a lot of emphasis on just England- I've nothing against such statements- but just call it something else for Christ's sake!
  What I will say for this record is that the three legendary aforementioned tracks helped define a genre and time in history- something some bands never achieve- and you can't take that away from The Last Resort. Also, the overall guitar sound produced is- whether accidentally or not- a corner stone of Oi! music today and no doubt influenced (or resembled a sound that influenced) modern bands such as The Templars. Unfortunately, the three classic tunes to be found on here are drowned out by nonsensical lyrics largely concerned with lookin' well 'ard (even if such things are achieved by "making old ladies die with fright- nice- just what the subculture needs) clumsily made vocal over ploddy, struggling beats all devised by a group who can't keep in time with themselves. It's a good job this band had the name of the famous shop The Last Resort to ride off and the power of this record is definitely mainly due to association with a wider, exciting scene. Therefore, we are bound to find some kin ship and do in the songs previously stated... As for the rest of it? Don't fucking bother.