The 1981 Listening Post - Cockney Rejects - The Power and the Glory

 Cockney Rejects - The Power and the Glory

#351

August 8 1981

The Cockney Rejects

The Power and the Glory

Genre: Punk

3.25 out of 5

The Cockney Rejects are back with their 3rd snot filled spinner in less than 2 years. With substandard production they straddle the line between old school Ramones of 1974 and the melodic Uber Power Pop of Green Day 10 years later. But they’ve gifted us with inferior versions of both. 

It’s dumb and big and obnoxious and did not age well. When they go for the melodic and approachable like “Lumon” and “It’s Over” and the truly bizarre dream-synth “Byc”, they belie who they really are or want to be, which is latter day Clash. But they don’t have that, either.

A come down from their first two. 

Rejects, take some time, guys. You don’t have to release an album every 6 months. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-power-and-the-glory/1449265746

The 1980 Listening Post - Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. II

 Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. II

#350

September 30 1980

Cockney Rejects

Greatest Hits Vol. II

Genre: Oi with Metal

4.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Oi! Oi! Oi!

Hate in the City

The Rocker

Blockbuster

Requisite 80s Cover:

The Sweet’s “Blockbuster”. This closes the record. Which makes it a welcome treat instead of a harbinger that the rest of the record won’t match up. As much as they seem to be taking the piss out Glam, they seem to love it at the same time. It’s a fun bit of lunacy. 

This one feels different than that first Cockney Rejects album, released earlier this year. Maybe it’s the tyranny of the volume of music but I don’t get the same stoopid lunacy from this and, instead, it feels more aggressively powerful. It’s still got that remnants of Ramones going for it and the songs are as immediately forgettable as they have been all along. I should have listened to them back to back but, as I’ve said before, there is a limit to the number of Ramones one can listen to (and that’s about 17) before you just have to wash your palette. I believe the same thing would happen here. 

This time I am reminded of the best moments of The Clash (who I sorely miss at this point), with “Hate in the City” calling to mind “Career Opportunities” or “Remote Control” and, man, could we use some of that anger today. 

As much as I didn’t care for the first one, I really like this one, which suggests that maybe I need to go back and listen to that first one again. 

They seem to know that you are gonna get bored because just when i was ready to be done with them, they pulled out the hilarious (and highlight worthy) cover of Sweet’s “Blockbuster”. Cuz, when they shout “Wr just haven’t got a clue what to do!” you get the sense that it’s the truest statement in rock history.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/greatest-hits-vol-2/1449266853

The 1980 Listening Post - Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. 1

Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. 1

#96

March 7 1980

Cockney Rejects

Greatest Hits Vol. 1

Genre: Oi!

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Bad Man

Here They Come Again

Join the Rejects

It’s not on this album, but, rather on the next one, Greatest Hits Vol. 2, that the song “Oi! Oi! Oi!” is featured and is the inspiration for the genre. 

I used to see it written on the cover of magazines, didn’t you? “Oi!”! Those two little letters are all that are needed to explain an entire style. You don’t need anything else. You can hear ONE song from this band and you get it. 

It’s like a British Ramones. And every song is done before you got done pogoing to it but, don’t worry, there’s another one right behind it. Bang into someone? Fine. This isn’t 2000, don’t apologize. Laugh at the guy you bumped into and then just take it as he hauls off and punches you in the face with his beer mug. Scars? They build character. Broken bones? Bones heal. Concussion? Whatever, get up or get spat on. 

This is the new punk. It’s very specific. It’s very niche. Not everyone can do it. Nor should they. 

I find it very endearing. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/greatest-hits-vol-1/1449266510