Pork Pie Rabbis: Shit Street

One-time Jade Warrior and "The Edge" man Glyn Havard is angry and a shit on a plate with a Union Flag poking out of it on the cover of the Pork Pie Rabbis Shit Street album, leaves you in little doubt who that anger is aimed at. Now, albums based more on political ideals than musical content ain't my thing at all usually, however what Havard and his Pork Pie Rabbis (in reality Havard sings and plays all the instruments minus lead guitar and a few minor parts) have achieved with Shit Street is a wry and insightful look at modern day Britain highlighting nearly all of the faults that are sending our current "culture" to hell in a handbasket. In places it all feels remarkably throw away, with silly "character" voiced vocals from a man who is actually a great singer and simple songs and electronically produced beats leaving more than enough room for the lyrics and their themes to dominate. In days gone by this would be a "comedy" record, but with nearly every second word being profanity and the themes covered being so true that they stop being funny even as you laugh out loud, Shit Street becomes a sharp, poignant comment on society that is hard to ignore or not to nod in agreement with.

"Big Exhaust" describes those idiot boy-racers we all love to loathe and the sheer banality of what they do, while "The Rover Song" tackles things from the other direction, berating those people hellbent on creating a long tail back through their inept scaredy cat driving style. Not exactly world changing topics I know, but things most UK residents can relate to. "Geezaz Is Coming" takes on religious idealism, "New Build Blues" talks about high ideas, low expectations and poor solutions, while "Shit Street" itself berates the current state of employment and wealth distribution in the UK.

All of this is done with a sharp and biting style, never missing its targets and far from frightened to ruffle feathers or noise up those who live for political correctness. And all the better for it, it is too. Then comes a jibe at those free-loading "Celebrities", and the self explanatory "Slut From Splott", "Tony And The Catholics", about an ex-Prime Minister, and "Suits (Sodomy In The UK)", while across the album everything from power-pop, funk, soul, rap, rock and pop are employed as a best fit for their lyrical themes. Although in truth all of the music here is secondary to the messages it helps to shove across. Leaving the ridiculous "Rare Dylan Track" to poke fun at those desperate to unearth every last note their heroes have ever plucked or blown, with a slice of complete piss-take folk and random harmonica wearing on the nerves.

If you are looking for an album to make you laugh, smile wryly as you struggle to stifle your agreement, or use as a politically incorrect manifesto then Shit Street is where it's at. Whether the ethos behind and ideas within this album will translate outside of the borders of the UK I'm not sure, but if you find yourself disagreeing with the sentiments contained on it, then you are either a perpetrator of the "crimes" described, or one of those trying to explain it away as simply "modern life".

Track Listing
1. Big Exhaust
2. Geezaz Is Cummin'
3. Rover Song
4. New Build Blues
5. Shit Street
6. Slut From Splott
7. Celebrities
8. Tony And The Catholics
9. Suits
10. Rare Dylan Track
11. Suits (Remix)

Added: August 16th 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: PPR at New Weave Records
Hits: 2001
Language: english

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