Search - Damned :: Strawberries

The Damned at perfection

M. T. | Minnesota | 03/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes an album comes along that surprises, invigorates the imagination, births feelings that we are ashamed to expose, and inspire us to continue our journey through the infinite wastes of the human condition. This is one album that does all of those things and much more.



Even people who had never heard of the Damned and listened to this album immediately fell in love with it. There is a reason for this: it is simply the most perfect piece of musical work that was derived. Now you can get all pissy and say that I am making way too much of this but I really don't care because it's the best.



I cannot neglect to point out that this has one of the greatest song writers in my opinion: Captain Sensible at the time when his ego was really beginning to blossom. It is also the Damned with what I believe to be their best lineup including Paul Gray on bass. Gray is not necessarily the best bassist ever, but probably the best in the "Punk" realm with simplicity and bold creativity that makes the listener forget about skill altogether. We have the Captain for that anyway. I have to admit the 2 albums and one EP(not to mention B-Sides) that came before this record, and after the Brian James lineup, are also great through and through.



This edition has a few perks and a couple of very tiny problems. One good thing is that it includes all the great bonus tracks included in the mid-nineties versions of it. One problem I thought was that the bimbo jingle is at the very end and did not come before "Take That", amongst a couple of other hard to notice things. I much preferred ending the album with "Torture Me".



Another great feature is that it includes the single "Lovely Money" plus it's B-Side "I Think I'm Wonderful", that came out around the same time as Strawberries. It includes an exended version of Lovely Money as well which is kinda neat. I always wonder what the Disco mix of it sounds like but have failed to hear it.



Between so many of the songs it's not easy to pick the most timeless and emotionally erupting. However I will say that the opening song "Ignite" personally makes me want to spontaneously combust because it is so wild and explosive. Any song from this gives something back to the listener. Not only something to relate, but a mystery and longing that living by the ever-growing list of rules we worry about daily will not satisfy.



To me it's hard to find those kind of gems that help us to pour life back into our souls, and soul back into our lives. It may be a book, movie, entertainer, friend/pet, place, activity, or whatever. I don't mean to promise that this item will necessarily do that for you, but it sure did for me time and time again."