Sham 69 are an odd phenomenon of the Punk Rock world; forever celebrated and credited by the Skinhead community, I often found myself partly disappointed when listening to full length albums as opposed to compilations. The nice thing about “Who Killed Joe Public” is that component instrumental in ensuring this disappointment has been irreversibly removed- namely the lyrics and vision of Jimmy fucking Pursey. It’s nice to hear Sham get back to doing what they do best, writing Street- Punk tracks away from the lime light and without a singer who presents himself as some sort of hideous street- urchin- come- messiah.
Tim V’s vocals are pretty far removed from Pursey’s; less a bark and more a melodic soar, he’s not the most accomplished singer but pretty fucking perfect for this sort of band. Opener “Shout” is how, if I had my way, Sham 69 would have sounded from the fucking start (allowing for the necessary iconic tracks of the band’s history) and is up there with the finest material ever composed in the group’s entire history. Other highlights include yuppie- punching “Vengeance”, generation X- Factor basher “Who Killed Joe Public?” and the Rock n’ Roll attraction of “Little Lady” all of which are pungent with successful pop sensibility backed with the punch of Punk.
Like almost every other Sham release, however, this is a mixed bag. Some of the lyrics frankly just aren’t up to scratch and on first listen “Skin & Bone” is a particular cringe- fest, whilst “The Last Gang In London” is nothing short of a masturbatory effort at reggae.
If you always liked Sham 69 but waited for the day they ditched that baggy jeans wearing skeletal whinging twat of a vocalist who had a penchant for presenting himself as a demi- god of the Skinhead scene and in his own pomposity shat Sham in a world of god awful electronic infused hard- rock, grab this album sharpish. Largely, it’s a fucking great record- a few lows- and on occasion thin on mind- blowing lyrics- but then what did you expect? It’s not fucking Wordsworth and it hands down beats most of the drivel produced by the survivors of the early punk years nowadays. Impressive, too, is how eloquently Tim V places his finger on the pulse of what it’s like to be an outsider in Britain today. It’s good to hear Sham 69 with the street- cred Pursey could never whip up. Nice one, lads.
This is a frank & honest review of the album & leaves nothing more to be said. Were the band do's come out on top as a contender for being one of the best punk bands around is as a live act. They play any where they can get a gig travelling up & down the UK, Europe & around the world in the back of a fucked van playing in some of the shitiest dives you can imagine just as punk bands have always done & that’s the point they are one of the real punk bands not some stardom seeking gang of twats that dream of winning the x factor or cashing in the nostalgic gravy train, they wonna catcher the harts & minds of the ordinances & that is just what they do. Tim, Tony, AL, Neil & Ian have been criticised as not being the real sham " no Jimmy no sham " well all I can say having seen both Sham 69,s more than a few times from 79 up to 2012, I know which are the best live ( for one thing they fuckin turn up ) & I’ve seen this line up win ordinances round time & time again making even the hardest “ Jimmy P” fan eat their words & I recommend you give em a go before you judge them, you will not be disappointed. I know “JP” has formed a new band he calls the “original Sham 69” & good luck to the band but there are politics that most people know nothing about & a histroy to Jimmy that stops me & meny more from going any were neir one of there gig's. I have taken my daughter to see Tim & the guy’s many time letting her go back stage with the band & hanging out with them knowing she would be safe & looked after & there no fuckin way I would let her at a JP show ( if ya wonna know why do some research its all on the net ) So if ya get the chance go & have a fuckin good night out if you’re in your teen’s you will find out why the old fuckers are there reliving there past & without exception you will go back to see em every time ya get the chance it will be one of the best tener’s you will ever spend on a band ( the band all so donate to sex abuse charity’s from the profits of every gig ) ….kayi : Fuck X Factor Magazine ( www.fxfmag.com )
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