Eddie and the Hot Rods

Teenage Depression (Captain Oi!)
by Jim Kaz

You need to know about Eddie and the Hot Rods. Why? Because these scrappy cats were the missing link between pub rock and punk in the early UK scene, and if you consider yourself a true punk fan, this is highly relevant shit. Pub rock was revved-up bar music infused with lots of lager, sweat, and bad attitudes. It has long since been seen as the true precursor to British punk. Eddie and the Hot Rods released this fine debut in 1976, at the tail end of pub rock and the beginning of punk. Too wild for your average pub rock fan, yet not quite new-school enough for the early punks, the band were true outsiders, and helped pave the way for young bands like The Damned and The Clash by warming club owners up to harder and faster sounds.

Teenage Depression is a raucous combination of speed, melody, and bluesy boogie, with a healthy dose of snot and spit that was no doubt a product of the Rods’ grimy, working-class origins. This reissue features the entire debut remastered. You can hear explicit early punk leanings in the bouncy “Why Can’t It Be Me” and the ballsy shuffle of “All I Need is Money.” Other standouts are hard rockers “Teenage Depression,” and “Double Checkin’ Woman,” plus a fast and furious cover of The Who’s “The Kids Are Alright.” This reissue also has a slew of bonus tracks, including a live EP, and it all comes packaged in a slick digipack. For an authentic look at early punk, this disc is a must-have. And, it still sounds friggin’ good today.
(www.captainoi.com)