It’s so exciting to see these late 80’s / early 90’s European revival albums originally released on UNICORN and SKANK RECORDS back on wax from our friends at MAD BUTCHER in Germany. To put it simply, labels like UNICORN, SKANK, SKA, and PORK PIE bridged the gap between the end of 2-TONE and the beginning of what became known as the “third wave”. Super melodic with catchy vocals and gentle horns, THE HOTKNIVES “THE WAY THINGS ARE” was truly a modern British ska classic. To this day, this album is still my stone cold favorite from the Unicorn catalog. Songs like “DAVE & MARY”, “OLD MAN AND HIS DOG” and “DON’T GO AWAY” are so perfectly English, strong lyrics that stay in your head forever. Exact replica from the 1990 issue – we can not recommend this enough for people who like 2-TONE ska!!
Prior to THE HOTKNIVES debut studio album – SKANK records releases an amazing LIVE double LP capturing the band at it’s prime!! A two LP set full of tunes that would become popular worldwide, including covers of “LIQUIDATOR”, “DOUBLE BARRELL”, and “AL CAPONE”. Tracklisting: A1 Cryin’ A2 Alcoholic Nightmare A3 Don’t Go Away A4 Dick Barton A5 Turkey Stomp A6 Doing Alright B1 Skin Up Harry B2 Believe It B3 Driving Me Mad B4 She’s A Lady B5 Liquidator B6 Holsten Boys C1 Rio C2 W. L. N. C3 Jack The Ripper D1 Dust Of Death D2 Double Barrel D3 Al Capone
THE BRACES were part of the first wave of amazing post-2-TONE German bands, but (in our option) had a more pop oriented songwriting style that set them apart from “harder” edged bands like No Sports, Blechreitz, Skaos, or The Frits. Songs on their debut “PRIME CUT” (Unicorn Records) have stood the test of time, specifically “Julie Julie” and “Her Smile Means Nothing” which we played to death on our radio show back in the day! A couple years later they returned with their follow up “BLUE FLAME” on Pork Pie Records.
