I was up
early this morning to feed a friend’s cat and I’ve decided to make the most of
this pre-football time by getting in a music review. If this posts after the
game starts do not be alarmed; I have PVR. I will miss nothing my beloved Miami
Dolphins may do.
Disc 1191 is… Screaming Blue Murder
Artist: Girlschool
Year of Release: 1982
What’s up with the Cover? Blue smoke was a common feature
of early eighties metal, and Girlschool embraces it here. This cover looks like
it was shot on the set of a high school musical. Perhaps these are the ghosts
of that musical’s stars, who were all tragically killed when the giant iron
frame they’re hanging onto crashed down on them.
The
school’s handyman had repeatedly warned
that it was unwise to hang a frame from the lighting track, but no one would listen.
Now the ghosts of the four dead girls haunt the school’s theatre, planning
their vengeance…
But I
digress…
How I Came To Know It: I first learned about Girlschool
through their appearances on 2000’s double CD compilation “Best of Motorhead.”
I didn’t buy any Girlschool for the longest time and then I saw a box set of
their first four CDs in my local record store, Ditch. I dithered on whether to
buy it, as I kept promising myself to check the band out online first and then
forgetting over and over again. Finally, about a year ago I did check them out
and I liked what I heard.
Unfortunately
the box set had sold. Ditch said they could order me another one so I accepted.
Months passed, and they managed to get in a stand-alone copy of “Screaming Blue
Murder”. However it was $27 and wasn’t even the record in the set I wanted
most, so I demurred. Finally I gave up and cancelled the order, and ordered it
online through an English seller on Amazon. Turns out that fell through as
well..
I was
about to give up when the guys at Ditch said they could take another try to get
it. A week later, there it was. “Screaming Blue Murder” is the third disk in
the box set.
How It Stacks Up: Those four albums in the box set are my only
four Girlschool albums. Girlschool put out 13 albums and I’ve listened to most
of them online, but those first four are the only “must haves” for me. Of the
four, “Screaming Blue Murder” is third, but only because the two in front of it
are really good.
Ratings: 3 stars but almost 4
“Screaming Blue Murder” is an unapologetic collection
of songs about hard livin’, hard rockin’ and not giving a damn. It is best
played loud and late at night, but I also enjoyed it just walking around in the
day.
Girlschool are an all-woman metal band from England
that sound a lot like their oft-times collaborators, Motorhead. Both bands have
a crunchy, driving energy that mixes the recklessness of punk with the anthemic
power of metal. “Screaming Blue Murder” is their third album, and at this point
the band is starting to incorporate some more mainstream elements, resulting in
a bit less crunch.
These mainstream elements skirt uncomfortably close
to the edge of kitschy, but I think they are subtle enough to not detract from
the album’s power overmuch. It is a shift in their sound, but the shift stays
on the right side of the line (they wouldn’t go too far until their next
record, “Play Dirty”). While I prefer Girlschool’s first two albums, I like what
they are going for on “Screaming Blue Murder” and overall they stick the
landing. There is still plenty of fury and metal mayhem to be had.
Rhythm guitarist Kim McAuliffe and lead guitarist
Kelly Johnson share lead vocal duties, and I couldn’t pick a favourite between
them. Both have plenty of snarl. The real star of the band is the guitar work.
Johnson’s lead guitar is classic British heavy metal, peeling out with furious solos
but always staying tastefully within the song’s melody.
McAuliffe’s work on rhythm is equally brilliant.
Song with these kinds of churning riffs need the rhythm guitar to sit down in
the pocket, giving the song their energy without drawing too much attention to
themselves. Johnson does this masterfully, sitting slightly at the front of the
beat and giving the songs a little urgency with their groove.
My version of the album has a bonus track, “Don’t Stop” which was the B-side on the
single release of “Wildlife”. I
actually liked it more than the single and I love having it (B-Sides should
always be on the LP).
Even with this addition the record is only 11 songs
and 33 minutes long. Girlschool waste no time – they get in, get on it, and get
out. It was over so quick it left me wanting more. Good thing I’ve got three
more of their albums that are just a dice roll away!
Best
tracks: Screaming
Blue Murder, Live With Me, It Turns Your Head Around, Don’t Call It Love
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