223) The Wildhearts - Earth Vs The Wildhearts

Ginger Wildheart (or David Walls as his birth certificate will say) was fired from The Quireboys but unlike many who disappear and miss the success he didn’t end up letting this setback get him down and formed The Wildhearts in 1989 and has released ten studio albums throughout the years.

There has been the odd break up here and there and there are several ex-members but there is a current version led by Ginger who thankfully seems okay at the moment after struggling with his mental health.

I have to confess I only know I Wanna Go Where the People Go before I came to listen to Earth Versus the Wildhearts which was their debut album that made a very respectable number forty six in the charts especially as of the eleven tracks we have two containing the word shit and one with fuck.

In fact My Baby is a Headfuck is seemingly the last recorded music by the late great Mick Ronson who guests on the track and elevates it with his guitar solo, it’s a rush along and catchy but titles like that are not earning you radio play in 1989, nice nod to The Beatles Day Tripper though.

Heavy rock is not really for me but have always been a sucker for a riff and to be fair Ginger knows his way round a riff and how to deliver a catchy chorus. So don’t be put off if not a heavy rock fan, on researching though I found out it was voted Kerrang’s record of the year if that may tempt you to give it a go.

Regular readers (I’m stopping writing that as I don’t have any) will know I listen to any request three times before writing anything and by the time I had finished the third listen I realised I liked a fair few tracks on this record and would go back there.

Greetings from Shitsvillle describes the difficulties of living in less than great part of London under frantic drums and a heavy guitar and TV Tan will have you pumping your foot as will News of the World and Evermore is an excellent pop song with a bit more guitar.

Suckerpunch and Drinking About Life are the thrash along ones neither hang about at two minutes long each but whereas I could never understand thrash Ginger ensures you hear the vocals and is not just a noise.

I didn’t expect to like this record, but I would recommend giving it a go as it was a pleasant surprise.

7/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Welcome to Shitsville