Re-Issues : The Ordinary Boys - Over The Counter Culture

Introduced to me through a promotional CD stuck to the front of the NME, track ‘Talk Talk Talk’ was catchy and anthemic, standing its ground thus introducing me further to Brighton’s The Ordinary Boys.

This reissue comes in the form of their 2004 release ‘Over The Counter Culture’, a brusque, courageous, rowdy first outing built on the basis of telling a story straight down the middle. Pulling no punches second track ‘The List Goes On’ throws lefts and rights at the media, music and politics followed by life baiting ‘Week In Week Out’.

At the point of release in my life I was just finding my feet musically, ears wide open though on the scale of stereotype I was pointed firmly towards ‘Indie Kid’ coming straight out of the ‘angry at my parents’ stage. If anything was to be clear it was that the jangley guitar sound that I was hooked on would become on of those sounds that influenced everything I was to listen to from then on.

Fronted by Samuel Preston (also of Big Brother fame) Ordinary Boys went on to release ‘Brassbound’ and ‘How To Get Everything You Ever Wanted In 10 Easy Steps’ both including hits such as swansong ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ one time collaboration with grime artist Lady Sovereign ‘Nine2Five’ and ode to Chantelle Houghton ‘I Luv U’.

‘Over The Counter Culture’ pathed the way for bands such as The Enemy, Pigeon Detectives and Metros. Citing influences from The Jam, The Specials and The Buzzcocks. The album introduced me to much of the music I listen to now, as well as the band themselves.