Time changes everything. We all know that. Or should. So why, when I inserted this album into the CD drive did I fully expect forty-five minutes of quality street-punk? Because I’m a bit of muppet living in the past, I guess! After all, it’s now thirty-one years (yes – THIRTY-ONE chuffin’ years!) since TV Smith came to the public’s attention with seminal punks, The Adverts.
During that time he has of course been consistently involved with music, touring and recording under both his own name and with the bands TV Smith’s Explorers and Cheap, but that obviously passed me by completely, although I did see him at the WASTED Punk Festival in Blackpool a couple of years ago. I think. He WAS there, and so was I, but he was on late in the day and the beer was cheap…!
Anyway – the first listen to this album left me with the impression that it was recorded by a group of tree-hugging hippies from an east London squat. That of course doesn’t make it a bad album, but the contrast with my expectations was immense and the temptation was to immediately press the eject button and file the CD away.
However I instead hit the repeat button and listened again with an open and unprejudiced mind. You know what? I’m so glad I did. It took a couple more listens, granted, but suddenly I got it!
It’s a stripped back acoustic album brimming with punk sensibilities, reflected in the lyrics and delivered by TV’s rasping yet soft vocals. Dealing with issues such as global warming, the demise of individuality and suffocation by enforced conformity, the twelve tracks don’t so much preach political messages as portray an inner feeling of helplessness. And yet, it is anything but a depressing album. Quite the opposite really. In many ways, it merely mirrors the thoughts of millions, but without screaming for a call to arms. All tracks are mid-tempo – ideal for anthemic sing-a-longs, background music, or reflective listening. Whatever you like.
Attitudes and perceptions certainly do change through ‘Time.’ And ‘Change,’ can often be for the better. I have learned my lesson!