What does it sound like?:
I’ve never hidden my love of The Blow Monkeys. Why would I? They are a fantastic band with a wonderful back catalogue. Until recently I’d only focused on everything post “Animal Magic” not realising there was an album pre “Animal Magic”. My joy in discovering “new” Blow Monkeys is only matched by the joy of how bloody great the album is. “Limping For A Generation” is an edgier album all-round. It’s a Post Punk / Jazz Punk affair still full of all those familiar Blow Monkeys traits. Dr Robert’s uniquely brilliant vocals, stunning sax and exquisite musicality. Songs like “He’s Shedding Skin” with its Pearl and Dean ending. “Fat Cat Belusha” the theme to a Hannah Barbera cartoon from the 60’s that you never saw. “The Man From Russia” a lost Bond theme all fantastic uplifting songs. “Wildflower” is gorgeous lament with hints of Lloyd Coles “Forest Fire”. As you can tell I think it’s rather good. What I wasn’t expecting to find from a Blow Monkeys album from 1984 was a link to The Smiths 1986 album “The Queen Is Dead”. If Morrissey didn’t base the title track almost entirely on “Go Public” then I’m a monarchist. There’s all sorts of other things going on from “Young Americans” to “Young Soul Rebels” finishing on a sitar inspired jazzy freakout “Trashtown Incident”. It’s worth an hour if your time.
What does it all *mean*?
I’ve bought myself a vinyl copy of and will be donating something through the Spotify Artist Fundraising Pick a great initiative. There’s new music out there from The Blow Monkeys too to enjoy. I wanted to share my old new discovery so I hope you delve in too…
Goes well with…
Something old, something new….
Release Date:
1984
Might suit people who like…
All of the above
Dave Ross says
Paul Wad says
I was a big Blow Monkeys fan up to about Springtime For the World. The single was great, but the album was a step down from the previous four. I had all their albums, singles and 12” singles, including a double grooved one that was pretty cool, as it was the first double grooved record I’d seen. I think there was even a 10” single, maybe Digging Your Scene, and I had their first 7” on a label I think called Parasol. In fact, I might still have that one. But the one record of theirs I didn’t have was the original issue of Limping For a Generation with the above sleeve! I only had the version with the other sleeve, a close up of Dr Robert in a jacket that looked like he borrowed it off Richard Whiteley. But what made it worse was that Barnsley’s music library had a copy of the original.
They didn’t have a great selection of modernish pop records, so I couldn’t fathom how they ended up ordering in a pretty obscure one like this, but it really peeved me that the only copy I’d ever seen was in the music library. I gave consideration to buying another copy of the one I had, borrowing it from the library and painstakingly removing all the stickers from it, applying them to the brand new copy and handing that back in, but it was already in a tatty state, with stamps all over it. I eventually got hold of a copy. Crazy when you think about it, cos the record sounded no different, but collectors are rarely rational.
Great album though. He’s Shedding Skin, Atomic Lullaby and The Man From Russia are standouts, but Wildflowers is one of my absolute favourite songs, that I listened to only a couple of days ago. I saw them on the Grocer’s Daughter and Whoops… tours, but I don’t think they played a single track off it either time, more’s the pity. There was a good 2CD version that came out a while ago that had a lot of the demos on the second disc, and they are well worth a listen.
…I’ve just had flashback as I finished writing that. I’m sure I’ve written it before. Maybe we’ve spoken about this album previously?
Dave Ross says
I’ve taken a punt on an original from ebay for a tenner…
Wild River is just gorgeous. Springtime is another one I’ve missed which I need to put right. The new music sounds like they’re still on top form.
Don’t think I’ve discussed LFAG before as I only discovered it a week ago…
Nick L says
Although the Blow Monkeys are still gigging and putting out quality records, I really like a lot of Dr. Roberts solo stuff as well. The Coming of Grace and Circular Quay being particular favourite songs.
Razor Boy says
Some great recent stuff from Dr Robert and his eclectic bunch of mates under the name Monks Road Social too, with reworked old tracks and some new.
Three cracking albums so far made out at Roberts place in Spain and at Youth’s studio there I think.
Contributions on tracks from Matt Deighton, Mick Talbot, Kathryn Williams amongst others