REDUCERS SF
"ESSENTIALS" 4 LP BOX
SET
PIRATES PRESS 2015
First up, I have to admit to being pretty much a “freshcut”
when it comes to the Reducers SF. I didn’t have any of their stuff before
getting this. I’d heard one or two of their songs way back one way or another
somewhere somehow, and was aware of them courtesy of their
association/relationship with perhaps better known San Francisco bands such as
the Swingin’ Utters and Workin’ Stiffs in the late 90’s. The songs I did hear
kind of stuck in my head. I spotted this box set in a record shop and had my
eye on it, and when my wife asked me
what to get me for my birthday I asked her to get it for me. I’ve been
dining out on it for a good few weeks now. It’ll be a while before I get bored
of this lot. Let’s be clear straight off the bat; this is all great stuff. All
the original albums here warrant a reissue.
What I like most is that Reducers SF tap the source so to
speak –drawing inspiration directly from the likes of the original UK Oi! - Cock Sparrer, Chelsea, The Adicts, and
The Business, filtering and digesting them to produce their own sound which has
a distinct US slant. The result over the 4 LP collection is a unique brand of
good time, singalong, melodic oi!/streetpunk.
The debut LP Backing
the Longshot has some great
(Reducers classics) songs in “Never hear a word”
(although it’s not entirely representative of the band’s sound) and the
second song “Let it go”, as well as “A few rounds” , “Die like Me”, and “SF
United”. It’s probably the most melodic
of all the collection, and consolidated the band as a 4 piece with mainstays Glen
McHenry (vocals/guitar), Kevin Doherty (guitar),
Mike Crowell (bass), and Scott Nicol
(drums).
Crappy Clubs and Smelly Pubs is more of the
same. Except it’s not. They’ve eased
back on the production a tad, and It’s a bit leaner, zippier and faster overall
than its predecessor . The signature
melodic singalongs and guitar melodies are all there. Highlights here
are “We are the enemy” and Another day
older”.
2001’s Raise Your
hackles sees the lineup expand to a five piece with the addition of Ryan
Allen on guitar to give Glen McHenry free rein on vocals, resulting in a tougher and more
direct sound. Again, The signature melodic singalongs are all there still. They’ve
upped the ante with production, and everything has a smidge more clarity. Raise Your hackles mixes their UK 80’s Oi! influences with a bit of a US
hardcore flavour. “Fading Away” sets the tone, we’re
off again, and there’s plenty more to hook you in once more. Likewise side two, which closes with the
classic “We are the same” with its prickly guitar loop solo.
1995 – 2001
Demos/B-Sides/Live/Outtakes rounds up non LP extras. It’s good enough as a standalone LP in itself
. The only (minor) gripe I have here is that 8? of the 12 songs are represented
elsewhere, or here on this LP. Little consequence though, as classics such as
“Let it go” and “We are the Same” have a different sound when presented here in
their original versions of the band with
a more stripped down, rougher sound. Side two documents the pre “Backing the
Longshot” era of the band with original singer Jim Martinez’s tenure, and you
can see how the band developed their sound from more basic streetpunk roots. They
also wear their influences on their sleeves proudly with three top-notch covers (2 by Cock Sparrer and one by Slaughter and The Dogs). (And where is their cover of The Pogues “The
Broad Majestic Shannon”? With the downloads somewhere? And that other single
that coulda been chucked on here?)
For me throughout
this 4 LP collection the guitars shine
and complement each other fantastically. Glen Mc Henry’s raspy drawl suits the
songs, he sings with conviction, and doesn’t
stretch it. The rhythm section holds it all down solidly throughout.
Package wise this is an absolute winner. The box slipcase
that contains the LP’s is well done with
a great cover. The albums themselves have all the artwork and inner sleeves
with good quality cardboard and stuff with nice quality printing. Each album
has a different colour heavy vinyl. Some?
Of the collection has been remastered, and
all the vinyls have good stereo
sound with plenty of dynamic. Download
codes included.
