Midnight Rags - The Werewolf of London
| Comments: | Enjoyable album overall. |
| Artist: | Midnight Rags |
| Rating: | |
| Genres: | New Wave, Psychedelic Pop |
| Released: | 1980 |
| Type: | Album |
| Label: | Ace |
| Link: | Spotify |
Originally released under the guise of Midnight Rags in 1980, Paul Roland recorded this long player when he was just 19. However, despite his tender age the tracks already show an artist at his peak. Paul’s lyrical themes right from the start showed a ghoulish pop sensibility, approaching the horror he read in comics and literature during his teenage years, head on....
The strength of his writing quickly created a stir on the music scene with gothic album opener “Blades of Battenburg” picked up by John Peel. “Lon Chaney” and “Flying Ace” are vintage acoustic Roland, the former on the strange story of a silent film star whilst the latter is a historical vignette of a World War One pilot. “Brain Police” shifts gear, out gunning Gary Numan with its topical look at the KGB and CIA psychic war.
Finally a special mention must go to the infectious Bolan-esque stomper “Jack Daniels”. As Paul playfully utters “Bye, Bye” listeners will be saying “Hello” as they give this platter yet another spin. Taken together they are a great chance to hear yet another side to this multifaceted artist.
[Review by Jason Barnard on the www.strangebrew.co.uk Dec 2013]
released May 3, 1980
The strength of his writing quickly created a stir on the music scene with gothic album opener “Blades of Battenburg” picked up by John Peel. “Lon Chaney” and “Flying Ace” are vintage acoustic Roland, the former on the strange story of a silent film star whilst the latter is a historical vignette of a World War One pilot. “Brain Police” shifts gear, out gunning Gary Numan with its topical look at the KGB and CIA psychic war.
Finally a special mention must go to the infectious Bolan-esque stomper “Jack Daniels”. As Paul playfully utters “Bye, Bye” listeners will be saying “Hello” as they give this platter yet another spin. Taken together they are a great chance to hear yet another side to this multifaceted artist.
[Review by Jason Barnard on the www.strangebrew.co.uk Dec 2013]
released May 3, 1980
Editions:
1980
Original Release
Ace
| ACE 013
| Vinyl, LP
| Side A: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A1. | Blades of Battenberg | (4:19) | |
| A2. | Brain Police | (4:33) | |
| A3. | Oscar Automobile | (3:45) | |
| A4. | Flying Ace | (3:21) | |
| A5. | The Cars That Ate New York | (5:35) | |
| Side B: | |||
| B1. | Public Enemy | (2:37) | |
| B2. | Werewolves of London | (3:18) | |
| B3. | The Witching Hour | (2:40) | |
| B4. | Lon Chaney (1883-1930) | (3:05) | |
| B5. | Alcatraz | (2:50) | |
| B6. | Girls | (2:19) | |