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The Pop Group - Y (Rhino/Warner U.K.)
5 August 2007
This hugely underrated 1979 post-punk debut LP from Bristol, England’s ironically named THE POP GROUP combined funk rhythms, harmolodic jazz principles and skronky sax, dub reggae production techniques (courtesy of DENNIS BOVELL), and radical politics. Notice that punk as a musical style isn’t in the ingredients, at least not on a sonic level (though, a year before the Minutemen even formed, some tracks here strongly anticipate their sound); that’s probably why Y is underrated by rock critics. Punk as an attitude, with its enthusiastic embrace of amateurism, though, is definitely important here. This music makes GANG OF FOUR sound mainstream by comparison; supposed neo-post-punk standard-bearers THE RAPTURE will never, ever have the balls to play music this deconstructed.
Appearing for the third time on CD, it has finally acquired a bonus track: “3:38,” the B-side to the lead track, “She Is Beyond Good and Evil,” is actually just the A-side’s instrumental track played backwards. I’m probably expected to rail against Rhino for not issuing it here, but three years ago Soul Jazz did a MARK STEWART compilation that included Pop Group tracks; it was the poorest-selling Soul Jazz comp in the history of Sound Fix. I’m just happy Y is available at all. Grab it while you have the chance.
Steve Holtje’s Top 10
Week of November 9
Favorite Steely Dan songs
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“The Boston Rag”
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“My Old School”
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“King of the World”
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“Night by Night”
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“Pretzel Logic”
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“Charlie Freak”
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“Bad Sneakers”
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“Any World (That I’m Welcome To)”
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“Kid Charlemagne”
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“Home at Last”
Comments
Thanks for mentioning this album Steve. Now if they’d only reissue the first one as well…whats with the Prince Jammy artwork?
— Tim B. 2007-08-05 10:21 #
Hi Tim,
The Prince Jammy cover is because I was so tired when I put this up that I forgot what album I was reviewing! I’ve fixed it, as you can see. Thanks for the tip.
Y was The Pop Group’s first album. How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?, their second album from Rough Trade in 1980, supposedly came out in Japan (either in 2004 or 2006, listings differ), but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.
— Steve Holtje 2007-08-05 12:08 #
Steve, if you or anyone else needs a copy of How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? or the 12” EP “We are All Prostitutes”, please get in touch. I’m offering only because they are almost impossible to find for a fair price. And yeah, I really wish Y was domestically available in the U.S. but at least now it’s cheaper than the Japanese import.
I disagree that it’s underrated, however. It’s just not that well-known compared to say, Gang of Four or PiL or something like that, for instance. It’s very highly-regarded among those who have actually heard it, myself included.
— Matthew Berlyant 2007-08-05 13:28 #
Matt, you’ve got a deal.
As for “underrated,” I guess there’s a catch-22 there. Let’s hope that this Rhino import helps overcome it.
— Steve Holtje 2007-08-06 01:19 #
There’s a good reason why some of the disk’s tracks “strongly anticipate” the Minutemen’s sound: the Minutemen were big fans and cite the Pop Group as an influence (along with Creedence and BOC). I suspect you know that and the wording just didn’t come out the way you thought it would, but just in case . Anyway, I’ve been hoping to track this disk down for some time because of that Minutemen plug—glad to see it’s available at a more reasonable price.
— Carl 2007-08-06 09:33 #
Matt
I would love a copy of the How much longer and We are all prostitutes. I used to have them on Vinyl before they were stolen. Like you I am glad Y has come back out on CD after a long time and I listen again to the great sounds
Cheers
Fred
— Fred Kramer 2007-08-08 23:22 #
Fred,
Please get in touch with me at matthew.berlyant@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to send along the discs.
— Matt Berlyant 2007-08-20 16:05 #