Follow The Sound - The Undertones

This time I will talk about what is in my opinion (and anyone else who has heard it) the best pop-punk album ever recorded. Yes, better than Rocket To Russia, Milo Goes To College, Singles Going Steady, Dookie, My Brain Hurts, or whatever else you can think of. This album is the first by massively underrated band The Undertones, who had a few great albums before disbanding, but their first was definitely their best. This album is permanently ranked in my top 10 best albums ever.



1. Family Entertainment (2:38)
2. Girls Don't Like It (2:18)
3. Male Model (1:58)
4. I Gotta Getta (1:53)
5. Teenage Kicks (2:28)
6. Wrong Way (1:23)
7. Jump Boys (2:41)
8. Here Comes The Summer (1:46)
9. Get Over You (2:44)
10. Billy's Third (1:57)
11. Jimmy Jimmy (2:41)
12. True Confessions (2:23)
13. (She's A) Runaround (1:50)
14. I Know A Girl (2:38)
15. Listening In (2:26)
16. Casbah Rock (0:56)

Bonus Tracks:

17. Smarter Than You (1:40)
18. True Confessions (1:56)
19. Emergency Cases (1:58)
20. Really Really (1:52)
21. She Can Only Say No (0:53)
22. Mars Bars (2:10)
23. One Way Love (2:16)
24. Top Twenty (2:14)
25. You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It?) (2:40)
26. Let's Talk About Girls (3:35)


Every band since this album has come out has swiped considerably from it. You've got Beatle-esque pop numbers, Ramones style ravers, and a dash of great songwriting that all makes it sound so unique. I'm not going to pick out favorites here, as that would take way too long with the amount of songs available, but let me say that if you don't think "I Gotta Getta" is one of the best songs ever written, you're crazy and I never want to hear from you again.

The emotions expressed are purely those of being young, and the simplicity involved in it. Although there are songs about girls and longing for them, they never dip into whining territory. It's all sarcasm, irony, self deprecation, and hope, and it's all in good fun.

Every song is perfect pop music with a hard punk kick, exactly like the Ramones intended, but perfect here. Their follow ups are actually almost on par with this (Sometimes I even prefer them), but their song writing is at their absolute peak on the debut. Feargal Sharkey's vocals are probably the most unique you'll ever hear on a punk record, and are able to make the stretch from "tough" to "sweet" almost instantaneously. Let me also note that the legendary John Peel himself once stated that Teenage Kicks is the greatest song ever recorded, and even made the man cry. It's no joke, this album is that good.

*Image from allmusic.com