One of Scotland’s best loved punk bands return with their latest offering. Huh? features ten socially conscious slabs of energetic punk rock attitude fuelled rock ‘n’ roll.
IOU
IOU opens the album in inimitable style, the song having appeared on the bands recent limited 7” vinyl package, it tackles employers who take their employees for granted in a time when zero hours contracts ensure that big get their pound of flesh.
Sirens herald the arrival of State, highlighting the mess politicians and bankers have made of the country Jonzip declaring a state of emergency underlined by a suitably frantic drum line. This is a public service announcement – with guitars.
AOB?
The Strummer link continues with the intro melody line to AOB almost having me sing “I was crawling through a festival way out west…” along to it. The song laments the closure of a factory and the resultant loss of jobs and the dismissive attitude towards employees. Resonant driving guitars continue from this into the unswerving romp of Taxi.
Along with nine of their own compositions, The Zips pay tribute to the legendary Shug O’Neill with a glorious cover of The Snipes Ein Zwei Drei Vier. The connection with German punk rock fans continues later in the album with the band paying homage to the Lenz twins, Jessica & Janine, who many of those who have attended Zips gigs will recognise. Rock Twins explodes with an adrenaline rush of pounding drums and thrashing guitars expounding their tale – “This is the story of a sister act, don’t miss a trick their fingers scan the lyrics, don’t do realpolitik”.
Biff, Bang, Pow!
Who knew you could mix Back to the Future with the White House? Biff does just that, replacing the bad ‘un in the movie with the arch villain and serial liar in Washington DC. Where’s my De Lorean? Jonzip asks as he wishes the ability to return and have a word in Trumps parent’s ears. The guitars sing as they rise and soar in this one complemented by a sweet bass riff. Whether intentional or not, the outro to the song recalls a certain band from another Scottish legend – Alan McGee.
Bread Over Bombs
Closing the album Jon and co. tackle the subject of homelessness and government spending on needless weapons on Bread Over Bombs, influenced by the NYC based organisation, which has been supported by the band over the years.
Just one last thing. There is one thing I can’t overlook, the corny call me a taxi joke…makes me cringe every time.