Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus) 1977 Album

The Stranglers

A defiantly odd act no matter what era they debuted in, the Stranglers happened to release their initial works in the midst of punk era Britain, and got themselves pegged as misanthropic thugs. But then again, snap judgments proved useless when it came to these guys, and furthermore, they could not have cared less. The album is a psychological tempest, going well beyond the mere question of what is or is not punk rock - leave that for simpletons like the Clash and the Pistols - instead focusing on the ins, outs, and battles of everyday street life. You know, stuff that actually mattered to functioning followers of the punk rock scene, most likely. Dave Greenfield's nimble keyboard work is the main musical anchor here, winding around everyone else's trials and tribulations, thumbing it in the noses of societal norms - or even the norms of punk rock, as evidenced by the copious amounts of professional musicianship on display. The proper album even ends on a mesmerizing four-part epic reminiscent of progressive rock ("Down in the Sewer"), while the 2001 re-issue adds three bonus tracks ("Choosey Susie", "Go Buddy Go", a live version of "Peasant in the Big Shitty") which are all worth hearing, and blend seamlessly into the fabric of the album itself.