Leatherface - Dog Disco by Tim Byrnes

Leatherface - Dog Disco
Label: BYO Records
Rating:

Leatherface, if you haven't heard, come from England, formed in 1988 as a 4 piece and released their first record, the legendary "Cherry Knowle" on the Meantime label in 1989. Through constant touring which left small packs of (Jack) rabid apostates across Europe, news of this new sensation swept quickly and cryptically through the American Underground grapevine (such as it was). "Mush" (1991) and "Do the Right Thing" (1993) fanned the flames of the band's notoriety within small, but ecstatic circles but for some reason the band never attained the success they so richly deserved. Fanatical magazine writers and an enormous amount of re-issues, compilation appearances, b-sides and imports/bootlegs of Peel Sessions etc. kept the band alive, if only in our memories
throughout the waning days of the 90s.

The faithful were rewarded in 2000 when "Horsebox" was released. A powerful re-statement of the Leatherface sound, garage guitars and dynamite. After an almost Spinal Tap array of bass players (Stuart Schooley, the late Andy Crighton, Eagle and the impressively named Dick Head) the line up now consists of stalwarts Frankie Stubbs on gtr/vox (he became the band's singer by default when, in 1988 - 3 days before recording their 1st record, mind you - it turned out he was the only one who'd written any lyrics. That, my friends, is what punk rock means to me), the inimitable Andrew Laing on drums and Davey Burden on bass. 15 years on Leatherface continue to mix the power and fury of punk with literate and insightful lyrics, resulting in a body of work where fun and integrity dance the holy dance on the spiritual grave of modern rock.

History. It really has it's place, y'know?

0ther than maybe Fugazi (sound like a Buddy Holly song from Dimension X), Leatherface has stayed truest to the punk ethic, at least as I perceive it, lo these many years. From holding a contest through their record company to choose the cover for this CD, to the ultra-personal pages on their web site where they have links to show you how to play their songs (they even take requests) to the way Stubbs writes and sings plainly and insightfully about his life like he was sitting on the stool next to you at quitting time. This accessibility, this "we're no different from the punters" vibe that they maintain through action and not publicists is only part of what makes Leatherface a great band and only part of why you should buy this CD.

(Hell, buy all of �em. This is America.... take out a loan!) The other part, maybe the best part, is how their music makes you feel. Alive. Real, Part of something bigger than yourself. This CD alternately burns and cools, races and waltzes, running the emotional gamut all the way up and back, touching on gray shades only discernible after many listenings. This CD, as well as all of Leatherface's work, is something that you can grow into as it grows on you and with you, because beneath the glorious ruckus (and it is glorious) beats the heart of flawed humanity, hoping against hope that there's hope for us all.

They'll be coming this way in June, most likely. Go to the show closest to you, no matter how far away that might be. Your life will be changed. Call your radio stations and request their music. Write letters to all the rock magazines. Wire your congressman. Tell your friends. Yes, all your friends. It's up to us, you and me, to do right by Leatherface cause they've been doing right by us for a long time, now, and it's apparent to us all that the "Music Industry" isn't up to the job.