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Hypnotised

The Undertones - Hypnotised Audio CD

A fair review of the The Undertones "Hypnotised" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Undertones reviews here, or go back to the The Undertones tabs.

Band: The Undertones
Title: Hypnotised
Rating:

Release Date: 2003-09-09
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: More Songs About Chocolate and Girls 2: There Goes Norman 3: Hypnotised 4: See That Girl 5: Whizz Kids 6: Under the Boardwalk 7: Way Girls Talk 8: Hard Luck 9: My Perfect Cousin 10: Boys Will Be Boys 11: Tearproof 12: Wednesday Week 13: Nine Times Out of Ten 14: Girls That Don't Talk 15: What's with Terry? 16: Hard Luck (Again) [*] 17: I Don't Wanna See (You Again) [*] 18: I Told You So [*]

Not very helpful.
Popped it in the car stereo and was instantly hooked. 15 years ago I found an unlabeled cassette tape while walking through the Indiana University campus. Problem was, I had no idea what the name of this great band was. All I knew was that the lead singer sounded like a jacked-up Buddy Holly. Anyway, 15 years later I finally heard the Undertones on amazon and the great mystery of my life had been solved. This is not a very helpful review, but I selfishly wanted to share my story anyway.

One of their 2 classic power pop punk git albums
In fact, if I got it right, during the period they were making their music, 1978 or so to 1982, the Troubles were in full swing with bombings and British soldiers and just a terrible life that the people had to live in. Hard to believe these guys apparently came from Northern Ireland, land of the Troubles. Then listen to this music. It's all about Chocolate and Girls as they say. No politics. Although an Irish punk told me that back in the day you were either into the UNDERTONES or STIFF LITTLE FINGERS and that each was in one general camp or the other (Protestant vs. Catholic and their respective political and geographic stances).

All I know is that the UNDERTONES captivated me from the time I first heard 'em about 1980 through, well, today. I still dig their sounds. In fact, I'm such a fan, I even like everything they did, that is, the last 2 lps where got more slick and Motowny. It's still great if you ask me mainly cuz the song writing is strong and the guitar remains a strong presence. However, it's the first two albums, this being the second one, that are the stand out classics. I can't think of a single band who does better power pop punk. It's all the guitar and song writing. Even the funny vocals somehow work.

This is one of those bands (like PERE UBU and HALF JAPANESE) that, if you don't like the vocals, forget it, cuz all the songs are drenched in them. But, if you do, welcome aboard. Very breezy stuff, suitable for radio airplay but, of course, only made it in the UK cuz the U. S. is so very rigid about what will be played on corporate radio while in England they relish their national eclectic tastes. Course, they can turn on a band in a second while in the U. S. most bands, if they can keep cranking out songs that get on the radio, the public keeps goin' with 'em, in general. This is stronger and less silly than BAY CITY ROLLERS and has none of the snarling of BILLY IDOL. They're probably in the general catagory of a singles band, they released a dozen or so of them. I never try to convince anyone to listen to a particular band or to like them. I figure, you like 'em or you don't. I love the UNDERTONES and contine to. You can also get either their Greatest Hits CD or the Singles 2xCD which really puts all their great songs on one release. Meanwhile, this CD includes 3 extra trax, proably from a single and they're good songs as well.

My only sadness is they only toured the U. S. once back in the day and I was workin' that night! but at least I sent along a dozen friends and relatives and they told me it was like goin' to a BEATLES concert, cept on a smaller scale, pure energy and pleasure and lots of happy people. They've since reformed with a new vocalist and even toured the East Coast a coupla times. Cool.
.

THE UNDERTONES JUST GOT BETTER WITH EACH ALBUM
It's way better than The Ramones because The 'Tones use loads more chords while still keeping it simple. This is the second Undertones album and it is SUPERB, as all their albums are. This is like The Ramones meet The Beatles. There's not a bad song on here - every song is a JOY! Don't MISS this album!!!
It sounds as great in 2004 as it did in 1980!!! The Undertones were the most underrated overlooked band of all-time. If you discover them, you will be thrilled you did!.

It's Never too Late to Enjoy Dumb Entertainment
An early criticism of the band was that they were lightweights in the shadow of punk's heavy political hitters like the Clash or the Sex Pistols. On their second album, The Undertones opened with what is probably one of the great self effacing songs of all time. They countered with tongue planted firmly in cheek:

"So here's more songs about chocolate and girls.
It's not so easy knowing they'll be heard.
A lot less time but a lot more care,
so here's more songs about chocolate and girls. "

Having taken all the starch out of their image, The Undertones then embarked on a rowdy record that pushed their envelope as writers and musicians. A year on the road (and a US tour) had sharpened them as a band, with John and Damien O'Neill becoming observant songwriters. The characters that fill the songs like "What's With Terry," "There Goes Norman" and "My Perfect Cousin" may not have been all that far removed from the debut album's "Jimmy Jimmy," but were a lot better defined. And that the songs still had the hooky charm and speed of the first record didn't hurt either.

The seeds of experimentation were just beginning to take hold as well. What was side two of the original album contained the more sophisticated song arrangements of "Wednesday Week" and "Tear Proof," finding the band toying with sonics but not yet being spoiled by them. Feargel Sharkey had become confident enough to wade into a classic cover of "Under The Boardwalk" and make it his own. Unfortunately, this maturation would sap the band's charm by the next album. To that extent, much like their debut, "Hypnotised" is a marvel of adolescent randiness and joy. If you are a lover of the pure energy of the Ramones first three platters or even the Buzzcocks, then the Undertones' first two records are must haves.

You can see a complete list of all The Undertones discography, or go back to the The Undertones tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.