features in: Album Chart of 1980 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
In July ’80, the Bunnymen’s “Crocodiles” was one of the key works delivering a sure-fire sign that Britain’s leftfield rock scene was moving forwards, as post-punk fragmented into many different tributaries; with their literate new wave jangle they would soon spearhead a whole new indie pop scene in Britain. The Fab 4 putting Liverpool back on the map were: Ian McCulloch (21, vocals, guitar, piano); Will Sergeant (22, lead guitar); Les Pattinson (22, bass) and Pete de Freitas (18, drums). This is not to say they were year zero on anything in particular; McCulloch’s demonstrative vocalizations tell me he was a massive fan of Jim Morrison and the inventive, restless nature of the rhythm section and guitarists suggest they took at least a degree of inspiration from Television. For teenagers getting into serious music, the Bunnymen easily served exclusively as “their new thing”, infinitely superior to noisy punk oiks and plastic new romantic goons. They’d be openly snobbish with it too, and the confidence which oozed from the front-man only served to re-inforce the cultish supremacy. Amongst the slew of vital cuts were “Going Up”, “Monkeys”, “Rescue” and “Villiers Terrace” – killers one and all. This was a stellar debut – and very much the dawning of a new era.
The Jukebox Rebel
21–Apr–2006
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:57]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Going Up (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) New Wave |
| A2 | [02:45]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Stars Are Stars (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) New Wave |
| A3 | [02:41]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Pride (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) New Wave |
| A4 | [02:49]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Monkeys (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) New Wave |
| A5 | [02:38]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Crocodiles (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) Post-Punk |
| B1 | [04:26]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Rescue (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) New Wave |
| B2 | [02:44]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Villiers Terrace (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) New Wave |
| B3 | [02:52]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Pictures On My Wall (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson) Post-Punk |
| B4 | [02:43]  Echo and The Bunnymen - All That Jazz (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) Post-Punk |
| B5 | [04:56]  Echo and The Bunnymen - Happy Death Men (Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas) Post-Punk |
