Although they hail from the decidedly non rock'n'roll mecca of Tewkesbury rather than London or LA, SPUNGE have clearly got what it takes (after several years of pub slogging) to give Ska-infested frontline troops like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt a bloody good run for their money.
The disarmingly honest and upfront "The Story So Far" is a little gem of a debut album, zonking out at just under a no-nonsense 40 minutes and featuring 11 chorus-heavy, positivity-spouting choons that are guaranteed to turn your black moods around and get you up frugging like a total pillock within minutes.
But, despite this and the daft cartoon sleeve, don't be hoodwinked into thinking SPUNGE are mugs, as all the songs here display musical proficiency aplenty, plus an almost supernatural way with a killer tune. The opening (title) track may kick in with a Lydon-esque sneer of "Ha! You're all a bunch of amateurs", but what follows gives the lie to this, with sunny POP skankalongs like "Give It A Try", "Ego" and the indecently catchy "Jump On Demand" all etching themselves into your brain immediately.
Admittedly, an upbeat Ska edge usually takes precedent, but songs like "Give It A Try" and "Skanking Song" benefit from the group's excellent musical prowess. Rhythm section Jem King and Chris (Jarvis) Murphy are fluid and fantastic, while guitarists Des Robins and Wol Gurney have a kinetic understanding. They've no problem with letting rip, either, as the heavy choruses of bisexual tale "Change Of Scene" or the crunchy riffs of "Roots" prove.
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The relentless positivity belies singer Alex Copeland's darker lyrical concerns, too. "Dotted Line"s built-up-and-knocked-down theme is vividly realised, with the surprise metal(lic) opening chords, groovy Hammond splurges and express train chorus slamming the point home. "It's Over" (intro line: "Your clother are on the lawn, all ripped and torn") also suggests it's not all Austin Powers and vicarious thrills round at SPUNGE HQ 24/7 either.
Possessing both a skate punk edge and the kind of tunes Madness used to dispense scarily often, SPUNGE may be blooming from unfashionable roots, but they're still blossoming beautifully and sound thrillingly like themselves for most of this excellent debut. Whether their unfailing optimism will seem so fresh down the line remains to be seen, but "The Story So Far" definitely requires a sequel.
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