Some People Are on the Pitch (They Think It's All Over It Is Now). Those words adorn the first few seconds, Kenneth Wolstenhome’s stirring commentary on the England Word Cup victory in 1966, uttered as Geoff Hurst whacked his third and England’s fourth goal. Then The Dentists take over....
The Dentists formed in their native Medway, a small town in rural Kent, in 1983; the original lineup comprised Michael Murphy singing, Robert Collins guitars, bassist Mark Matthews, and drummer Ian Smith. A smart and friendly band that embodies the best aspects of the Anglo-jangle-pop genre, while maintaining a jittery-sometimes downright loud-rock edge that keeps their playful tunes from straying too far into the land of the twee.
The album sounding like they time-traveled in from 1966 or so, picked up a couple of tips from the Smiths, and were let loose in the studio with Joe Meek behind the board. It is an assured and exciting record informed by the sounds of the '60s garage, folk, and psychedelic scenes (the raw sound and pounding beats, jangling 12- and six-string guitars, whimsical lyrics, and fuzzy edges, respectively), but thoroughly modern too (the Medway-inspired raw guitar sound -The Buff Medways, The Milkshakes, The Prisoners-, the at times fey and melancholic vocal stylings of Michael Murphy, the almost punk attack that the whole record has). I’m Not The Devil, epic stuff with Mamas And papas-style melodyand impeccable harmonies. The up-tempo songs ("Flowers Around Me," " "I Had an Excellent Dream," "Tangerine," "Tony Bastable v John Noakes") sound like the Byrds if they had formed in the wake of the punk explosion of the '70s, hooky and exciting with the rough edges left on and the guitars bubbling and slashing all around.
Indeed, place Some People up against the debuts of any '80s guitar pop band and the match would end up knotted at least, the opponents trounced in most cases. Against the best album of any '80s guitar pop band even, because this is the best album the Dentists made. The blend of inspired songcraft performance and sound (and the fact that not too many people heard it) make the record a lost guitar pop classic.
The Dentists formed in their native Medway, a small town in rural Kent, in 1983; the original lineup comprised Michael Murphy singing, Robert Collins guitars, bassist Mark Matthews, and drummer Ian Smith. A smart and friendly band that embodies the best aspects of the Anglo-jangle-pop genre, while maintaining a jittery-sometimes downright loud-rock edge that keeps their playful tunes from straying too far into the land of the twee.
The album sounding like they time-traveled in from 1966 or so, picked up a couple of tips from the Smiths, and were let loose in the studio with Joe Meek behind the board. It is an assured and exciting record informed by the sounds of the '60s garage, folk, and psychedelic scenes (the raw sound and pounding beats, jangling 12- and six-string guitars, whimsical lyrics, and fuzzy edges, respectively), but thoroughly modern too (the Medway-inspired raw guitar sound -The Buff Medways, The Milkshakes, The Prisoners-, the at times fey and melancholic vocal stylings of Michael Murphy, the almost punk attack that the whole record has). I’m Not The Devil, epic stuff with Mamas And papas-style melodyand impeccable harmonies. The up-tempo songs ("Flowers Around Me," " "I Had an Excellent Dream," "Tangerine," "Tony Bastable v John Noakes") sound like the Byrds if they had formed in the wake of the punk explosion of the '70s, hooky and exciting with the rough edges left on and the guitars bubbling and slashing all around.
Indeed, place Some People up against the debuts of any '80s guitar pop band and the match would end up knotted at least, the opponents trounced in most cases. Against the best album of any '80s guitar pop band even, because this is the best album the Dentists made. The blend of inspired songcraft performance and sound (and the fact that not too many people heard it) make the record a lost guitar pop classic.
Now, Rev-Ola presents the album and their first single -Strawberries Are Growing In My Garden (And It's Wintertime) - on CD, remastered and expanded.
Some People Are on the Pitch (They Think It's All Over It Is Now) [lp Spruck Records 1985]
Prod..: Allan Crockford & The Dentists
http://thedentistsweb.com/Some%20People%20Reissue.html
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