Artists
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mclusky are dead.
Having somehow managed to last three albums together (they did lose a drummer en route mind) and perform countless gigs around the world before their almost inevitable implosion a year ago, good news comes with there still being time for one final act of defiance from the Cardiff trio.
‘mcluskyism’ is here; a lasting testament to one of the most under-rated UK bands of recent years. Being made available as either a run-of-the-mill ‘Best Of’ or a limited edition, comprehensive 3CD retrospective of A-sides, B-sides and C-sides (rarities and live versions), there’s no arguing that ‘mcluskyism’ isn’t a suitable way to end to their story (well, until we scrape up enough below-par footage for a DVD that is).
Everything is here and accounted for; brilliant singles (‘Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues’, ‘Alan Is A Cowboy Killer’, ‘That Man Will Not Hang’), even better B-sides (‘whiteliberalonwhiteliberalaction’, ‘Join The Mevolution’, ‘Dave, Stop Killing Prostitutes’), live favourites (‘Collagen Rock’, ‘You Should Be Ashamed, Seamus’, ‘To Hell With Good Intentions’) and plenty of obscurities to keep fans happy, very happy.
Fuck this band? Hardly. There are few around that share their musicianship, graft and humour (which, aptly according to Pitchfork, “lightens the harsh crunch of their mom-murdering instrumental beatdown” and “gives them a way to take the piss out of themselves”). When you consider every new British band seems to still be looking to the Libertines for inspiration, it makes you realise just how sorely missed mclusky are.
Andy Falkous, one third of mclusky, on mclusky and 'mcluskyism'…
This compilation album is a great idea. Queen, The Birthday Party, Jimi 'posthumous compilation album including previously unreleased yak noises' Hendrix, Big Black, Mott the Hoople (I'm guessing), they've all done it, even if in Big Black's case, they pretended they didn't by only releasing it on CD ("the rich man's eight-track tape").
The A-sides disc was a great idea anyway, except for 'Joy' (a lot of people rate it, and I'm none of them), although there remains a slight regret that we never actually got to release 'Without MSG I Am Nothing' as an actual single before the band imploded in a powder-puff of unfettered realism and cant; it is included here because it should be.
I have more of a problem with the B-sides disc, even considering that the gaps between the songs are top fucking notch. Although I won't name them (It would be like pointing at a crippled son and shouting 'HE'S SO MUCH WEAKER THAN THE OTHER BOYS!'), some of the songs stunk the place out so much that I actually started crying at one point during mastering. Still, it gets better as it goes on, with occasional stage-managed lulls to keep things interesting.
The C-sides disc of demos, live songs and session tracks was a great idea, but you didn't have to compile it. You didn't have to shiftily sift through boxes upon boxes of unmarked CDRS, inlays helpfully marked with messages such as 'Song 3 has AIDS', or try to justify the time spent on it to yourself and the people who surround it. Certainly, I could have used those 6 or so hours more constructively, like for sleeping or petting a cat. To those who emailed and/or confronted me in the street demanding the inclusion of particular songs I say this – compile your own damn album.
That's it, then. No farewell tour, a thousand TDK C-90s, various piss-poor attempts at merchandising, no premature deaths (at time of writing), no live DVDS, one serious road accident and several semi-serious ones, heart monitors, thirty five broken guitars, a world of touring, great friends, greater friends, having all of our shit stolen on presidential election day 2004, playing the Reading festival, hecklers tall and small, rude and polite, All Tomorrows Parties, New Year in Chicago, meeting the late, great John Peel, the incredible Electrical Audio experience, the rough, the tough, the dancing girls, Australia (Australia!!!) and the whole, incredible life-consuming sweat and joy of it. Thanks, to anyone who deserves it, and a few who don't.
Having somehow managed to last three albums together (they did lose a drummer en route mind) and perform countless gigs around the world before their almost inevitable implosion a year ago, good news comes with there still being time for one final act of defiance from the Cardiff trio.
‘mcluskyism’ is here; a lasting testament to one of the most under-rated UK bands of recent years. Being made available as either a run-of-the-mill ‘Best Of’ or a limited edition, comprehensive 3CD retrospective of A-sides, B-sides and C-sides (rarities and live versions), there’s no arguing that ‘mcluskyism’ isn’t a suitable way to end to their story (well, until we scrape up enough below-par footage for a DVD that is).
Everything is here and accounted for; brilliant singles (‘Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues’, ‘Alan Is A Cowboy Killer’, ‘That Man Will Not Hang’), even better B-sides (‘whiteliberalonwhiteliberalaction’, ‘Join The Mevolution’, ‘Dave, Stop Killing Prostitutes’), live favourites (‘Collagen Rock’, ‘You Should Be Ashamed, Seamus’, ‘To Hell With Good Intentions’) and plenty of obscurities to keep fans happy, very happy.
Fuck this band? Hardly. There are few around that share their musicianship, graft and humour (which, aptly according to Pitchfork, “lightens the harsh crunch of their mom-murdering instrumental beatdown” and “gives them a way to take the piss out of themselves”). When you consider every new British band seems to still be looking to the Libertines for inspiration, it makes you realise just how sorely missed mclusky are.
Andy Falkous, one third of mclusky, on mclusky and 'mcluskyism'…
This compilation album is a great idea. Queen, The Birthday Party, Jimi 'posthumous compilation album including previously unreleased yak noises' Hendrix, Big Black, Mott the Hoople (I'm guessing), they've all done it, even if in Big Black's case, they pretended they didn't by only releasing it on CD ("the rich man's eight-track tape").
The A-sides disc was a great idea anyway, except for 'Joy' (a lot of people rate it, and I'm none of them), although there remains a slight regret that we never actually got to release 'Without MSG I Am Nothing' as an actual single before the band imploded in a powder-puff of unfettered realism and cant; it is included here because it should be.
I have more of a problem with the B-sides disc, even considering that the gaps between the songs are top fucking notch. Although I won't name them (It would be like pointing at a crippled son and shouting 'HE'S SO MUCH WEAKER THAN THE OTHER BOYS!'), some of the songs stunk the place out so much that I actually started crying at one point during mastering. Still, it gets better as it goes on, with occasional stage-managed lulls to keep things interesting.
The C-sides disc of demos, live songs and session tracks was a great idea, but you didn't have to compile it. You didn't have to shiftily sift through boxes upon boxes of unmarked CDRS, inlays helpfully marked with messages such as 'Song 3 has AIDS', or try to justify the time spent on it to yourself and the people who surround it. Certainly, I could have used those 6 or so hours more constructively, like for sleeping or petting a cat. To those who emailed and/or confronted me in the street demanding the inclusion of particular songs I say this – compile your own damn album.
That's it, then. No farewell tour, a thousand TDK C-90s, various piss-poor attempts at merchandising, no premature deaths (at time of writing), no live DVDS, one serious road accident and several semi-serious ones, heart monitors, thirty five broken guitars, a world of touring, great friends, greater friends, having all of our shit stolen on presidential election day 2004, playing the Reading festival, hecklers tall and small, rude and polite, All Tomorrows Parties, New Year in Chicago, meeting the late, great John Peel, the incredible Electrical Audio experience, the rough, the tough, the dancing girls, Australia (Australia!!!) and the whole, incredible life-consuming sweat and joy of it. Thanks, to anyone who deserves it, and a few who don't.