What's in a Name?

While Evan Dando was disregarding his punk weeds; dressing himself up in his best bib and tucker; preparing to flirt with the mainstream; a three-piece band from Hendon, North London, laid down some extremely well executed punk songs, proving that it wasn't over: there was life in the old beast yet.

The other thing Snuff proved is that the Brits do this kind of thing so much better.

When Snuff played a crazy cover - 'Purple Haze' in this case, or The Shondells' 'I think We're Alone Now' (probably brought to mind if you think of Tiffany [fuck, remember her?], as I'm sure Snuff did) - they actually revitalised it, put something into it; rather than just adding it to an album as a kind of hip post-modern joke.

('Purple Haze' here at 240bpm not only sounds kind of wonderful, it also sounds totally liberated!)

But then that punk thing was really very British.
Yeah, yeah, I know, New York Dolls, Ramones and the whole CBGB's thing; but really it's obvious, there were always subdivisions in the overarching generic term, and British punk is distinctly different.

Never heard Snuff?
Give this a listen, make the comparison.
But I'm sure you'll agree: this is one of the best punk rock albums made in the post-post-punk era.

And like Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the title of this album is pretty damn tricky to pronounce.

Snuff - Snuffsaidbutgorblimeyguvstonemeifhedidn'tthrowawobblerchachachachachachachachachayou'regoinghomeinacosmicambience (1989)

Words of Wisdom
Some - How
Now You Don't Remember
Not Listening
I See/H.M. Trout
Too Late
Another Girl
I Think We're Alone Now
Win Some, Lose Some
Pass Me By
Keep the Beat
Night of the Li's
Purple Haze

Decent vinyl rip @320kbs
'ave a sniff o' Snuff here

P.S.
In the same way Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is abbreviated down to Llanfair PG, the Snuff album is more often referred to as Snuff Said.
Shame.

Thrash Me, Darling

Remember when thrash was allowed to be fun?
When it was okay to go fast without an accompanying voice insisting we crucify all Christians or boil our kids in their own blood?
I do.

And Snuff, despite their name, were very fun indeed.
What with their rapidity and love of speed on versions of songs by the likes of the Who, the Four Tops and Simon and Garfunkel; and their hilarious takes on jingles from British TV ads; well, you kind of get the picture.

It seemed they could thrash anything.
GBH's 'City Baby - 'Attacked by Rats'? No problem.
Chas & Dave's 'In Sickness and in Health'? A breeze.
The jingles that accompany the Shake n Vac and Bran Flakes ads? Er. Yeah!
They all work.
And why not.

But the secret of Snuff's success, apart from their humour, was their inclusion of the good old trombone.
Nicolae Ceauşescu's nemesis (yes, the despotic once ruler of Romania banned the trombone, believing it to be seditious. When he was finally dealt with by the Romanian people, underground trombone bands took to the streets of Bucharest and celebrated their new found emancipation!) and Rico Rodriguez's best friend (did you know Rico received an MBE in 2007 for services to music? Rastafari!); and every thrash band should have one.

All together now: Tasty, tasty, very very tasty, they're very tasty...

Snuff - Flibbiddydibbiddydob (1990)

Rods and Mockers
Do Nothing
Shake 'N' Black
Can't Explain
Ecstasy
Reach Out
Hazy Shade of Winter
Do It Quick
City Baby - Attacked By Rats
Bran Flakes
In Sickness and in Health

Slightly crackly vinyl rip @320kbs
But still Sensational!
Shout along with Snuff here