TWINK
Odds & Beginnings (Twink Records)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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This has been out for a few years, actually, but Capt. Trip sent it along with some newer things for review. John "Twink" Alder, as you may or may not know, was a drummer in the Fairies, the Pretty Things, Tomorrow and Pink Fairies, to name a few. This CD, compiled out of various different solo sessions, seems to cover the '80s and '90s judging from the sound of a lot of this. It's a real mixed bag, actually, with some fairly daft and inferior remakes of songs from his old bands such as the Pink Fairies' classic "The Snake." A lot of this is pretty embarrassing "modern rock" sounding stuff, with really terrible synths and electronic drums! Inbetween the songs are interview snippets, which are kinda interesting, but not that much. I did like the countrified remake of the Fairies' "Get Yourself Home." Also "Jissom Analogy," recorded with Twink on the drums (he mostly sings on the other tracks) and the Bevis Frond on lead vocals and guitars is excellent. The best stuff, really, is the 30 minute live recording of his punk band the Rings at the 100 Club in 1977 (featuring Alan Lee Shaw of '77 punkers the Maniacs and the Physicals), not to mention a mid-90s version of the Damned, including the great "I Wanna Be Free," and high energy versions of "Kick Out The Jams," "The Snake," News Of The World," "Do It," "Teenage Rebel" and "Shoot You Down." A lo-fi audience recording, but great nonetheless. The CD's actually worth it for just that!

[Pick this up at www.midheaven.com.]

© 2003 - Alan Wright