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Selection: Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas

Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas (2002)

Do Dallas [let's not argue about whether Mclusky is in the title] was included in a ballot by Alan Stephen. These are his words on the record, followed by mine.

Alan: The reformed mclusky are a joy beyond compare. Their sets are heavy on this album, which isn’t surprising because it’s got their best songs on it and nothing better than the bobbysoxer bop of ‘whoyouknow’ which I always assumed I would play at my wedding until I didn’t. Shamefully, I ignored mclusky while they were going the first time solely because of their name and therefore I assumed sounded like Hefner. (Who I still have never heard for the same prejudiced reason and might turn out to be brilliant after all.) Then I saw them at an ATP where the bassist gaffer taped his glasses to his head to stop them falling off, which would have been a masterplan had he not just wound the tape round and round and taped over the lenses in doing so. They played the Scala a few months later and promptly split up, because arseholes like me were ignoring them. I’ve apologised to Falco for this several times now and I think he’s almost forgiven me.

Joe: Alan's right, we Brits let Mclusky down. They should have - at least - been bigger than Idlewild. I didn't buy this when it came out and only bought their next and final album after they had split up. And I was at that ATP show too! After the split I also bought the essential Mcluskyism compilation and assumed that was all I would need to hear.

If you only know Mclusky from the singles then you owe it to yourself to spend 35 minutes listening to this whole album. It's solid all the way through. I'd love to have seen Steve Albini's face as Falco barked out the ridiculous lyrics of 'Collagen Rock' or 'Gareth Brown Says'. I needed the mellow and tender 'Fuck This Band' in my life. And the singles need no further assessment - you and I know they rule.
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