New Half Man Half Biscuit Al*** Out Now/Sept

Superb news Jonathan

Thanks for the posting.

I know Corgi Registered Friends, Joy Division Oven Gloves and Asparagus First Left, but the other tracks will be new for me. May be worth adding that XPS2 if this is the shape of music to come.

Having seen MOTD2 on Sunday, I still can't get my head around Bob Wilson, Anchorman?

Rotf

For What Is Chatteris.. has an absolutely epic HMHB verse

"Car crime's low, the gun crime's lower
The Town Hall Band CD its a grower,
You never hear of people getting knocked on the bonce,
although there was a drive-by shouting once"

Inspired. Can't wait to get a copy

Hello Jonathan

I heard a HMHB track on 6 Music the other week, "You're Hard" and it made me laugh. I'd like to buy one of their albums, which one should I get?

thanks

Anna

Anna

They're most famous for their first 2 albums yet in my opinion the last 4 have been the most clever/inspired/musically diverse/downright funny .

Those 4 in chronological order are...

Voyage to the Bottom of the Road
Four Lads Who Shook The Wirral
Trouble Over Bridgewater
Cammell Laird Social Club

'You're Hard' is on FLWSTW

All the others (9 albums?) are very good though too. Joking apart they are by far the most consistent group I know....if you like what they do.

Jonathan

Anna

The Half Man Half Biscuit official web site has an audio page where you can can get lots of MP3 samples - it's here.

I think you may find Four Lads Who Shook The Wirral difficult to track down - although I agree it is a great elpee. The early albums were rougher in the music mix - if you're not worried about the recording quality and are just going for the great and very funny songs then I'd go for ACD otherwise I'd try Trouble over Bridgewater (24 Hour Garage People is sensational - it is on the sample site).

Rotf

quote:

difficult to track down

It is I tried!

Thanks both for your suggestions, think I'll buy ToB.

Anna

HMHB,

Haven't heard them for a loooong time!

All I can remember is 'Trumpton Riots' , 'I hate Nerys Hughes' and 'All I wanted was a Dukla Prague Away Kit.' Inspired stuff. Must give the new one a listen!

Sonofcolin

Definitely - you should give any HMHB material a go - IMHO it is all wondeful. It is bit more polished these days than "All I Want for Christmas is Dukla Parague Away Kit", but just as entertaining.

Notice your in Washington DC - does the humour translate. Are Trumpton and Nerys Hughes known Stateside? Would Bob Wilson Anchorman make sense in America?

I find some American humour difficult to appreciate as I don't know the characters, but I still find Tom Leher hillarious.

Rotf

I checked out all the HMHB samples I could find, and I have to say, it may be a British thing. I mean, I could tell they're clever, but it seemed pretty context dependent.

British humo(u)r in general I get most of the time. Prefer Fry and Laurie to Benny Hill, and had a tough go with "League of Gentlemen", but Python me any time and I'll be rolling. Ditto anything Rowan Atkinson does. (And if I could purchase episodes of The Goodies, I'd be one mirthful mofo.)

HMHB songs generally fall into several categories (A selection described below) but I would agree most are pretty much a British only thing. A lot of their stuff is extremely self depricating and I would imagine an American (for example) would have trouble 'connecting' with a band with such low aspirations.

Their strong point for me (as is the case with a good comedian) is that they can point out something completely ridiculous about everyday life that had perhaps not struck you as being so before yet you can't but agree. They also write musically extremely varied songs to a high standard album after album. Not many groups I've known ever can match their consistancy. It probably is helped by purposefully remaining out of the limelight.

Main HMHB Song Types

1. List Songs (ITMA, Referees Alphabet, Breaking news)
2. Being in a band songs (Running Order Squabble Fest; Girlfriends Finished With Him; Bad Review; Used To Be In Evil Gazebo; With Goth On Our Side; Secret Gig; Eno Collaboration)
3. Football Songs (Friday Night and The Gates Are Low; Dukla Prague Away Kit; Dead Men Don't Need Season Tickets; Mathematically Safe; Men With Steel Hearts)
4. Reworded traditional songs (Irk The Purists; Paintball's Coming Home; He Who Would Valium Take; Turn A Blind Eye)
5. Poking fun at the banality of British life (I Went To A Wedding; 24 hr Garage People; CAMRA man; Light At The End Of The Tunnel; Soft Verges; Asparagus Next Left)

Jonathan

Jonathan - Superb posting. Expertly put.

Jayd

I agree HMHB are very British - the web site has a really good go at explaining the meaning of the songs.

God Gave Us Life is a typical list song - as Nigel (HMHB's lead man) explains that although God did indeed give us life he also gave us

• John the Baptist Jordan dipper, splashed Our Lord, head chopped of on Salome's behest.
  
• Una Stubbs Actress, Alf Garnett's daughter (Rita), appeared as captain on "Give Us A Clue".
  
• Little & Large Seriously unfunny comedy duo who once got Kevin Keegan to sing to millions.
  
• Keith Harris Mediocre ventriloquist, had a hit with "Orville's Song".
  
• Wendy Craig Star of "Butterflies", Carla Lane abomination sitcom.
  
• Thora Hird Actress and presenter of "Songs of Praise".
  
• Mathew Kelly Presenter of "Game For A Laugh" Has moved on to other crimes against humanity.
  
• Eartha Kitt Singer, also starred as Catwoman in the 60's spoof Batman series.
  
• Isla St.Clair On The Generation Game with Larry Grayson, other things as well.
  
• Lionel Blair Dancer. Led the opposing team to Una on "Give Us a Clue".
  

To me they are a breath of fresh air and by far and away my favourite band - but I do understand why they are hard for non-Brit.

Rotf

Achtung Bono should be in the Shops on Monday (12th Sept) - got mine on order.