“Good evening, we are The Fall,” was Mark E Smith’s mantra at every gig and this will be the band you will see the most reviews for as we have thirty-three albums to get through. All have something of merit and no matter what people’s thoughts are on Mark E Smith to lead a band for forty-two years and provoke a reaction in my book is genius. Various member, throughout these albums, are also important not just Smith.
These albums need to be reviewed in order.
Personally, I think if you don’t like Witch Trial then you will not like The Fall. Frightened, Crap Rap 2, Rebellious Jukebox and No Xmas for John Quays will put you on track to see if you are a convert. Music Scene is eight minutes long, not a regular occurrence on albums at the time.
My son is, we played Industrial Estate to his girlfriend, she said it was the biggest pile of shit she had ever heard. I think there’s the answer to The Fall, you are devoted to them, or you hate them.
I love them and even on poorer albums there will be a gem, this is a great debut.
9/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: Frightened