CD Rough Trade 1986 with bonus tracks
Japanese pressing
"Easterhouse's original incarnation - a Manchester quintet led by argumentative brothers Andy (vocals/lyrics) and Ivor (guitar) Perry - turned strident leftist rhetoric into bracing, cathartic music before predictably imploding over ideological conflicts. The band's demise was a shame, since Easterhouse seemed well on its way towards perfecting a brand of explicitly political rock that compromised neither music nor message. (...) Contenders, Easterhouse's abortive shot at US success, almost makes good on the band's lofty goals. Their lyrical concerns are compelling and clear without falling prey to sloganeering or anthem-mongering. The music is both melodic and muscular, lending authority to Andy's regret-tinged broadsides. Songs like Out on Your Own, To Live Like This and Cargo of Souls vilify various institutions (including England's Labour Party) without losing sight of the human cost of governmental oppression".
(Scott Schinder, Trouser Press)
"A stridently political band that came up in the mid-'80s and failed to follow through on high expectations, Easterhouse's early sound wasn't unlike a cross between the Chameleons and the Smiths. Early on, they won the vocal adoration of the latter group's Morrissey, who no doubt found the left-wing leanings and roaring sound - featuring blaring, reverb-drenched guitars - a powerful combination. However, the members weren't so closely knit, and by the time the group released its second and much different album, only one original member remained".
(Andy Kellman, All-Music Guide)
"Formed in Manchester by the Perry Brothers in the mid-80's they first came to prominence after being championed by Morrisey. They signed to Rough Trade Records and the singles Whistling In The Dark and Inspiration were both Top 5 independent chart hits. The singles were both convincing accommodations between music and politics, the band being deeply affected by the betrayal of the working class by the labour Movement. Their debut album Contenders was well received by press and public alike and reached No. 3 in the Indie charts in July '86".
(Cherry Red Records)
ENJOY
Estates
5 comments:
Tracklist:
01 Out On Your Own
02 Whistling In the Dark
03 Nineteen Sixty Nine
04 Cargo of Souls
05 Lenin In Zurich
06 Get Back To Russia
07 To Live Like This
08 The Boy Can Sing
09 Estates
bonus tracks:
10 Inspiration
11 Easter Rising
12 Johnny I Hardly Knew You
Thanks so much for this. I already have Cherry Red's shitty reissue of this album, but this is soooo much better!! Crisp, perfect sound - instead of the muffled vocals you get with the 2008 reissue.
Come on, Cherry Red - if the Japs could do it then, surely you could do better 24 years later!...
Hi Meriadoc,
Recently someone pointed out to me that the Cherry Red reissue of "Contenders" really had terrible sound quality. And that was (one of) the main reasons for posting the original CD release (which I was fortunate to get in Portobello's Rough Trade shop so so many years ago). Thanks for bringing that up in your comment.
Actually, Cherry Red has made a real bad job in other occasions - have you heard Spear of Destiny's recent reissues?
Cheers
Mais uma obra de Arte.
Excellent track list actually I had never listened this music so since I'm listening it I'm a complete addict to that, I recommend you this music because you get a rare mental state.m10m
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