Neurotic Outsiders
The Album Review
Tuesday 27th August saw the UK release of the Neurotic Outsiders debut eponymous album. Despite the strength of the line-up - featuring our very own "Johnny" Taylor - the album was unleashed onto an unsuspecting public with more of a whimper than the bang it deserved. As seems to be the norm for recent Duran-related releases firstly there was the problem of finding out about the release (the only mainstream press mentions being a few comments on Teletext and a review in Q) and secondly there was the problem of actually getting the album. Lots of people seem to have dashed eagerly to their local record shop only to find out that they hadn't heard of the album.  
In the first week of release I only saw 2 copies for sale and when I bought it the shop assistant had to root through a basket of CDs behind the counter whilst muttering "I've seen it around here somewhere!" NO Signed Cover The album is a grower. The first time I played it I thought it was too intense, too heavy and definitely more suited to those fans of Steve, Duff and Matt. It made Johns album seem positively pedestrian and accessible.
In fact it was  only a couple of listens to Feelings Are Good that persuaded me to give the Nos another chance. Thank God I did! If you can get past the OTT lyrics of Nasty Ho then a cracking album awaits. The best songs are largely Steve Jones', though the new versions of Johns solo tracks are a step forward, especially vocally. Angelina is probably the most catchy track on the album and should have been released as a first single, certainly it has more about it than Jerk whose lyrics serve to annoy. Good News is throwaway but followed by possibly JTs best solo song to date, the magnificent Better Way which rises from quiet beginnings to a great crescendo. Tracks 9-11 bring the album to a superb close. The autobiographical and bitter Union (a live favourite) has a good feel to it with heartfelt lyrics before turning nasty both lyrically and musically. Janie Jones is little more than a fun cover while Story of my Life features great vocals and steady bass line. So our last memories of the album aren't too soft Six Feet Under lets Duff off the leash. All in all a cracking record, full of anger, energy and lots of fun.
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Most recent revision 23 July 1997 18:58:36