Reviews  

PROLIFIC, MOI?


What Paul Draper did in 1996

Taken from Melody Maker, November 23, 1996. Words: PAUL LESTER

  1. Take It Easy Chicken
    The band's debut single, on seven-inch only, released on their own Sci-Fi Hi-Fi label. Reissued as their second single for Parlophone (becoming their second hit). Synth pop opening leads to all-out rifferama.

  2. SKIN UP PIN UP
    The second single on Sci-Fi Hi-Fi. Awesome thumper plus beatbox rhythms. Imagine Led Zep with a T-Rex chorus on Def Jam.

  3. FLOURELLA
    The B-side of "Skin Up". An orgy of guitars. It says here.

  4. Drastic Sturgeon
    Extra track on the Parlophone reissue of "...Chicken". Mansun live favourite. All about the relative merits of Sainsbury's and Kwik Save, apparently.

  5. The Greatest Pain
    Another bit of "Chicken". Equal parts "Careless Whisper" and Guns N'Roses "November Rain". Watch out for the Bryan Adams cover version.

  6. Moronica
    The third cut off "Chicken". A nasty little hate song to a certain someone who believes they're "cooler than all the Roses". Hmmm.

  7. Egg Shaped Fred
    Their first release for Parlophone. Their first Top 40 hit. Altogether now: "Na na na na na na na na."

  8. Ski Jump Nose
    Extra "Fred" track. Glam goes grunge.

  9. Lemonade Secret Drinker
    Second extra "Fred" track. Sneer we go again. Is it Oasis? Is it Soundgarden?

  10. Thief
    "Fred" offcut numero three. Out-dance-rocks Garbage.

  11. Stripper Vicar
    Third Parlophone single, third hit. Insanely addictive, yet intricately constructed. Mansun's "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", no less. Only with lyrics about rear-entering a transvestite priest.

  12. The Edge
    Free with "Stripper" CD1. Slow-burn rocker. Sample lyric: "I am God."

  13. The Duchess
    Also free with "Stripper" CD1. Steely Dan bossa nova alert!

  14. An Open Letter To The Lyrical Trainspotter
    Free with "Stripper" CD2. Shoulda been a single. Pure pop for mad people ( "The lyrics aren't supposed to mean that much/They're just a vehicle for a lovely voice"). Paul Draper's attempt to write a Carpenters-sing-Burt-Bacharach song. Wicked.

  15. No One Knows Us
    Second freebie with "Stripper" CD2. Trip hop intro segues into US grunge bombast. Surprisingly effective.

  16. Things Keep Falling Off Buildings
    Third freebie with "Stripper" CD2. The Chad showcase.

  17. WIDE OPEN SPACE
    Current single. The best bits from Radiohead's "Creep", U2's "With Or Without You" and Nirvana's "Teen Spirit", all topped off with Paul Draper's angelic warble.

  18. REBEL WITHOUT A QUILT
    Extra track on CD1 of "Wide Open Space" EP. Typically flippant title belies raw feeling of this powerfully anthemic rock ballad.

  19. VISION IMPAIRED
    Second extra track on CD1 of"Wide Open Space". Heavy glam stomp with handclaps and brief horror flick piano interlude. Duran play cheap trick produced by Marc Bolan. Brilliant.

  20. THE GODS OF NOT VERY MUCH
    Extra track on CD2 of "Wide Open Space". Astonishing Tears For Fears/prog-metal/Bowie hybrid.

  21. SHE MAKES MY NOSE BLEED
    The next single, to be lifted in January '97 from Mansun's debut album, "Attack Of The Grey Lantern". If this symphony of guitars and strings is any measure, the LP might surpass Rediohead's "The Bends", The Manics' "Everything Must Go" and Suede's "Coming Up".