Angus Crowne & The Family Jewels
SHAG RUG
Self-Release
Hey Kids! It Ain’t Stiff But It’s Just As Much Fun.
Occasionally I accidentally get to watch talent shows like X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent for ten minutes or so before I get the urge to throw something aerodynamic (like a shoe) at my TV. OK some of the acts are rubbish; but it’s the better ones that really annoy me; because of just enjoying singing or playing their instruments to the best of their ability they all want to be ‘Stars’ and have sick inducing backstories about their Granny being such an inspiration or their dog doing harmonies in the bathroom and don’t get me started on “How very much winning means to them!” Grr Grrr Grrrrr.
I only mention this because 99.9% of all music is meant to be an entertainment and actually be fun….remember that? Fun?
Well, this album from Angus Crowne is just that……entertaining and Fun, Fun, Fun! That’s not meant to decry from the work that has obviously gone into the recording process; but the outcome is a deliberately quirky set of songs that will make every single purchaser smile and even chuckle at some time as they try to sing along with at least one song.
The breathtaking opening song Little Green Man sounds like a Surf-Noir homage to Quentin Tarantino that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on the Stiff Records label in 1979.
Title track Shag Rug follows and your head will spin as it’s a Ukulele fronted Hawaiian Folk Rocker! Don’t believe me? Well you listen and tell me what it is.
That’s the joy of this album; it’s a blast of fresh air with Crowne’s cool and raspy voice jumping from genre to genre at will with the soft shoe shuffle of Hello, Goodbye, a Ukeabilly toe-tapper with Beyond The See and there aren’t any surprises with Punk Rock Aftershock……especially if you like Wreckless Eric or the Dickies!
Where do I star choosing a favourite track? Middle Age Crawl was an early contender, then the cutesy but dark Opened Book nearly took the title but how can I resist Get Me a Beer , as it say so much about my own life in the last twenty years!!!
Obviously an album as eclectic as this won’t appeal to everyone (ask my wife!) but if you have an open mind and like Jonathan Richman or just about anyone on Stiff Records you will absolutely adore this disc.
Released April 2017
https://www.anguscrowne.com/
The Rocking Magpie 