The Saints
(I'm) Stranded (1977)
The Saints are regarded by many as Australia's first proper punk rock band. Formed by Chris Bailey, Ivor Hay and Ed Kuepper, the group rose to prominence well before other, more "well-known" punk groups like The Sex Pistols and The Clash. At the time of their rise, they were faster, louder and more violent than just about any other band in Australia.
Their debut album, (I'm) Stranded, wasn't a massive seller, however as time has passed, it has become known as one of Australia's greatest albums. It would have been remiss of me to ignore this pioneer release in punk rock, so I'm reviewing it for you today.
The Album
Abrasive, raw, edgy, wild; all four are adjectives which sum up this album perfectly. It's a magnificent sample of everything that made punk rock so vital in those early years, exuding a kind of energy and carefree attitude that today's poseur punks rarely achieve even in their dreams. This raw, aggressive sound and style is the album's greatest strength. To non-punk fans or to those who don't usually prefer their music quite so rough, that is also its biggest weakness. (Personally, I loved it - the album's rough as guts production and buzzing guitar sound perfectly encapsulates 70s punk to me.)
The title track opens the album, and it's easy to see why it made such an impact; it really was without peer upon its release. Aggressive guitars, Chris Bailey's trademark half-sing half-yell vocal style, and all the personal fury and anguish you can muster; it's arguably the first truly great punk song. One Way Street is a contender for the album's standout song (yes, it's almost as good as (I'm) Stranded), combining messy, raw punk rock with a somewhat hooky aesthetic. Erotic Neurotic features one of the catchier, cooler buzzsaw riffs on the album, along with a highly noisy guitar solo and some heavily cymbal-accented drumming from Ivor Hay. Kissin' Cousins is also a nifty little track; a punk cover of a song from an Elvis Presley movie, and a pretty good cover to boot.
There are a couple of tracks where the angry, carefree edge is replaced by a slightly slower tone. Messin' With The Kid still has the album's abundant raucous guitar sound, however this time it's playing a slower, bluesy riff, and at almost six minutes, it's the album's longest song. The second half is essentially an extended jam; it adds some diversity to the album, while still being quite a good song. Story of Love, written solely by guitarist Ed Kuepper, is also a departure from the punk style; a more straight-ahead rock tune, with an extended solo in the midsection. With cleaner production and a more careful mix, it would make a great 80s pop/rock tune. For mine it was an unexpected highlight.
There aren't too many disappointing moments; closing track Nights In Venice is one, but only because it's quite....well, boring. It goes on and on, seemingly leading nowhere....until the closing minute or so, when all four members of the band absolutely cut loose on their instruments; the chaos actually draws you back into the song, and prevents it being a total write off. Wild About You wasn't great, more of the same only less interesting, but it does have two wicked guitar breaks from the impressive Kuepper.
The Verdict
Yep, it fully deserves all the far-too-late plaudits it has received. (I'm) Stranded is essential listening for anyone who considers themselves a punk rock fan, because it is so important in the development of the genre; and it's essential listening for anyone who appreciates the lost art of simply recording an album full of music that is loud and angry because it bloody well can be.
My rating: ****
Standout Tracks
(I'm) Stranded
Story of Love
One Way Street
My next album is another highly influential album in its genre (nay, in all music), featuring a 22 minute long title track that revolutionised music as we know it.
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