The Blockheads

The Blockheads - Staring Down The Barrel - 2009 - EMI

"Given the times those ancient Blockheads sound more here-and-now than anyone..." Uncut, "Dury would be proud." Mojo, "This is a record which will thrill Blockheads fans of all ages and demonstrates this ensemble have lost none of their passion and spirit." Subba-Cultcha, "The trademark funk/rock/music hall/ska fusion of old mucker Derek The Draw has...got the great man [Ian Dury]'s knack for vivid social commentary nailed too." Big Cheese, "...unexpectedly thoughtful and engaging." Daily Telegraph Review, "It sounds like a vintage Blockheads album..." Record Collector,"Staring Down The Barrel is a great, adult album full of good tunes, witty lyrics and steaming great grooves." bbc.co.uk

Staring Down The Barrel is a great, adult album full of good tunes, witty lyrics and steaming great grooves. In 2004, bbc.co.uk said about the Blockheads last album, Where’s The Party, that “the Blocks are on their own label and the album, unless some benevolent sponsor steps in, is most likely destined for obscurity.” Well, that album opened some doors and lo and behold, a benevolent sponsor in the shape of EMI stepped in. That’s right, that EMI, the one that has the Beatles and Coldplay. It is testament to the accomplishment and downright tenacity of the group to find themselves in such illustrious company. The musicianship here is remarkable, of course. MD and co-writer Chaz Jankel delivers some hummable epics and the band is as tight as they’ve ever been. What is different is that they have decided that Derek Hussey is to be the album’s sole vocalist. In Hussey, they have a song stylist who takes on former leader Ian Dury’s mantle with accomplishment. Comparisons, inevitably, are going to be drawn, but this is Derek, not Ian, you are listening to. Hussey's lyrics make you both giggle and think and are sufficiently three-dimensional to not simply be a disgruntled old bloke railing against 21st Century. He uses terms like 'shove off' and 'rozzers' with such great sincerity; you think you've found a lost artifact from the 50s. Staring Down The Barrel, with its Peter Blake sleeve, musical and lyrical references to the group’s thirty years and some very modern concerns in the subject matter, is a rather enjoyable romp. Whether it sells is another affair, but as a signpost to their stunning live work and a postcard to prove they have survived without the wondrous Dury, it does the job. Daryl Easlea 2009-04-06 [This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you choose to use this review on your site please link back to this page. ] http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3xw6

Thirty years since their chart-topping Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and nine since singer Ian Dury died, The Blockheads return. Dury’s friend and sound-alike Derek Hussey delivers drily poetic songs of societal decline which slip down easily on the band’s unlikely amalgam of jazz-funk and Cockney knees-up. It’s all unexpectedly thoughtful and engaging. By Thomas H Green Published: 11:20AM BST 03 Apr 2009 © Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2010 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopreviews/5099154/The-Blockheads---Staring-Down-The-Barrel-review.html

"Ian Dury owed his brilliance to no one. But he owed his stardom to The Blockheads. Musically Jankel and his men keep it as tight and funky as before." - The Word. A good quote from The Word. This album is the second Blockheads release since Ian Dury's death. The album has probably gone unnoticed by many music fans, and the media. The funny thing is, if Ian Dury had played on this album, it would probably be regarded as a great ID & TB's album. There is a sense of deja vu about this album. The music by Chaz Jankel is in the the same style as the music he wrote with Ian, and Essex boy, Derek "The Draw" Hussey's vocal style is very similar to fellow Essex Boy, Ian Dury. Derek's lyrics are also in the Ian Dury style, clever, humorous, and intelligent. As usual, the musicianship is outstanding, and Gilad Atzmon on clarinet, and saxophone is a revelation. This is a wonderful, timeless album, and is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. It may remind you of the great days of this stellar band. The great Ian Dury would surely have enjoyed this album. Listen to The Blockhead's "Where's The Party?" album @ BLOCKHS/WTP and check this blog for more Ian Dury/Blockheads releases.

"Here's a little piece of advice. You're quite welcome it is free. Don't do nothing that is cut price. You know what that'll make you be. They will try their tricky device. Trap you with the ordinary. Get your teeth into a small slice. The cake of liberty." [ © "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" by Ian Dury and Chaz Jankel ]

The original front CD artwork was illustrated by Ian Dury's former art teacher, Sir Peter Blake

TRACKS

1.Roll Over
2.Greed
3.A Little Knowledge
4.George The Human Pigeon
5.No Go Central
6.Prophet Of Doom
7.Hold Tight
8.Life In Your Hands
9.Dirty Money
10.Elegant Style

All tracks composed by Derek "The Draw" Hussey
Chaz Jankel (guitar, piano, Clavinet)
John Turnball (guitar, ukulele, spoons)
Norman Watt-Roy - Bass
Mick Gallagher (Hammond b-3 organ)
Dylan Howe (drums)
Gilad Atzmon (clarinet, saxophone)
Dave Lewis (tenor saxophone)
Derek "The Draw" Hussey (vocals)
The Breezeblocks (background vocals)

BLOCKHEADS BIO

The backing band of the legendary Ian Dury, the Blockheads were formed in 1977 to back up and promote Dury on tour for his New Boots and Panties!! album. Made up of Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, Charlie Charles, John Turnbull, and Mick Gallagher, the Blockheads soon found themselves recording with Dury — albeit without Jankel — and landing themselves a hit as Ian Dury & the Blockheads with the 1978 single "What a Waste." Their newfound success led to a U.S. tour in support of Lou Reed, and they went on to further home success in the following two years with the single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" — composed by Dury and a returned-to-the-fold Jankel — and the Do It Yourself album. The early '80s were spent (again) without Jankel, who was off to the States for a solo career, but the band and Dury soldiered on together, releasing the album Laughter and touring Europe and the U.K. in 1981. The Blockheads and Dury dissolved their working relationship in 1982, but staged a reunion, Asian-style, in 1987. The death of Charlie Charles brought them back together in 1990 to raise funds for the departed member's family. A live album, Warts 'n' Audience, was recorded from the subsequent shows. The band — minus Jankel, of course — toured Spain in 1991, but went on hiatus until 1994 (to play the Madstock Festival) following the dates. When leader and frontman Dury was diagnosed with cancer, he was determined to release another album, and got back together with the Blockheads for the sessions. The resulting work, Mr. Love Pants, was released in 1998. A tour followed, but the Blockheads called it a — semi-permanent — day when Ian Dury passed away in early 2000. The band returned to store shelves with the album Where's the Party? in 2004, and in 2008 the Blockheads were slated to play a sizable number of gigs in the United Kingdom, culminating in the release of Staring Down the Barrel the following year. © Chris True © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fcfoxqtaldke~T1