Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Q (1/01, p.95) - Included in Q's "5 Best Re-Issues of 2000". Q (6/00, p.62) - Ranked #85 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" - "...Rowland had more emotions than locations: anger, bitterness, even a little anti-love. Still extraordinary today." Uncut (p.111) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[S]ome truly soul-scorching music....At 30 years of age, SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS continues to burn." Melody Maker (9/12/00, p.52) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...The best white soul band of all time....This album is still [a] new testament in truth and communication, clear ideas finding their perfect expression..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.118) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With an] explosion of '60s Stax Revue-like energy, passion and post-punk attitude..." Mojo (Publisher) (9/00, p.112) - "...The most incandescent and refreshing record of the year [1980]: an energetic mix of pop, Northern soul and punkish attitude..." NME (Magazine) (12/30/00, p.79) - Ranked #1 in NME's "Top 5 Reissues Of The Year". NME (Magazine) (9/25/93, p.19) - Ranked #12 in NME's list of the `50 Greatest Albums Of The '80s.' NME (Magazine) (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #84 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.' Record Collector (magazine) (p.80) - 5 star out of 5 -- "[I]ts blend of post-punk ferocity and bygone soul struck a match under pop music and arguably reignited other wordy and worldly artists."

The crackling stations being switched on the radio and the gang shout followed by the spoken injunction to "burn it down" sound like they should be starting off a Sham 69 record. Then "Burn It Down" actually starts, with its horn section, Hammond organ and Kevin Rowland's utterly unconventional soul vocals. The cult of Dexy's, and this album in particular, were worshipped as the return of "soul" to English rock music at the dawn of Thatcherism. Exploring the myth that this album holds, especially in Brit music terms, can be a strange prospect: 20 years on it doesn't sound revolutionary, it just sounds good. And good it is, quite good, compared to where Paul Weller ended up, i.e., too reverential by half. This is vibrant, alive, and unconcerned with perfection. Rowland takes a role that Morrissey would have in 1985 and Jarvis Cocker in 1995 -- the unexpected but perfect voice to capture a time and moment in the U.K. His slightly strangled wail and sly, wry lyrics and song titles ("Tell Me When My Light Turns Green," "Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply") make this album in many ways. Musically, the group lays down R&B grooves and brassy hooks with aplomb, as on the brilliant "Seven Days Too Long" and the number one single "Geno," but throw in film noir touches, John Barry-writing-for-James Bond fare and more just as ably. The liner notes have a fun description of the group's origins and brief notes for most of the tunes -- the best for the finale, "There, There, My Dear": "P.S. Old clothes do not make a tortured artist." The 2000 reissue contains a slew of extra tracks and B-sides, making it the version to find. ~ Ned Raggett