When I was a child, I was mad keen on Madness, but as I got older the novelty wore off and I grew to develop a real dislike of Ska. Five-piece Glaswegian DIY pop act The Plimptons have been compared to Madness and The Rezillos. Great.
What’s more, I hate Christmas records with a passion. Christmas sucks anyway, and as much as the whole joviality and celebrations rub me up the wrong way and the commercial aspects make my blood boil and my skin crawl, I could probably just about handle it were it not for sodding Christmas records.
So when The Plymptons’ forthcoming EP landed with me to review, once I’d managed to overcome the urge to jump out of the window, I was tempted to delete the file straight away.
I’m glad I didn’t, though. Musically, it may be crappy bouncy indie with bells on – literally – but the overt Scottishness of it is its redeeming feature. Not only are the lyrics a paean to boozing (that it’s a national pastime is widely known, although you really have to spend a Christmas / New Year up there to fully appreciate it), but they’re delivered in a broad Scots accent (‘get anothir roon en then et’s time tae goo’). It’s also a sad commentary on modern time, as it transpires the local boozer they’ve frequented every year since they were old enough to get served is ‘closin’ doon’ - but joyously, they’re not going to let that dampen their spirits or end the tradition. Heart-warming stuff.
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Additional tracks ‘Xmas in Motherwell’ and ‘Christmas is Over’ are trashy, raucous upbeat punky numbers that are actually good fun.
I’ll drink to that!
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