Carter USM – The Love Album
Reissue on double vinyl and in CD / DVD boxset, 19.1.24)

Apparently musicology experts feel that the career and reputation of Carter USM was curtailed by the band being caught between a pincer movement from Grunge and Britpop. As I explain here, in my case it was more my Manics monogamy. And while I enjoyed both their Rough Trade albums, after they signed to Chrysalis I lost track of them for a couple of years. At least, until they hijacked Rob from S*M*A*S*H...

Which is sort of weird, as this was the time they scored a number one album with 1992 The Love Album, as well as headlining (and getting banned from) Glastonbury, had serial hit singles and continued to play ever larger shows.

 

32 years later and it's my (and your) chance to correct any ignorance with this reissue. And to realise what we've been missing. Not the hits of course, whose giant pop hooks, caustic wordplay and inspired pop nous we all already know, but some of the lesser heard tracks. 'Suppose you gave a Funeral and Nobody Came', 'While You were Out' and 'Is Wrestling Fixed' all burn with a totally contemporary righteous indignation at the way the world was heading in 1992, and where we seem to be ever closer to today. As Jim Bob recently said

“Lyrically at least, the album still seems quite topical. ‘Suppose You Gave a Funeral’ is a song about self-serving, ambulance chasing politicians, ‘Do Re Me, So Far So Good’ is about pop bands singing songs about nothing while the world collapses around them. ‘Look Mum, No Hands!’ is about terrorism and religious sectarianism and ‘The Only Living Boy in New Cross’ mentions Clause 28, the banning of promoting homosexuality in schools, something that’s happening right now in some American states. Also, try looking at the album cover without thinking of Brexit.”

I have the double gatefold vinyl which is a thing of beauty, remastered and pressed on translucent yellow and blue vinyl to reflect the signature colours of the original. The second disc is called 'The Other Love Songs’ and features the complete collection of B-sides from the period plus the non-album Top 20 A-side ‘After The Watershed (Early Learning The Hard Way)’, a song whose poignancy and power is unfortunately still painfully relevant. And which lead to a tussle with the Rolling Stones. I also love their choice of cover versions, including interpretations of 'This Is How It Feels', 'King Rocker', 'Panic' and 'Down in the Tube Station at Midnight', an ear for a relevant reverence continued to this day, as in the covers on Jim Bob's recent 'Mixtape' included with limited editions of his 2023 album 'Thanks for Reaching Out'.

Meanwhile, the CD boxset edition features the complete album newly remastered on CD 1 in the original running order. CD 2 features BBC ‘Live In Norwich Sound City’ recordings, and a previously unreleased mix of ‘Skywest And Crooked’ featuring a new reading from Ian Dury. CD 3 includes the complete 1992 Glastonbury headline performance from the legendary Pyramid stage – available in its entirety for the very first time. Rounding off the set is the 55 minutes ‘What Do You Think Of The Programme So Far?’ documentary, plus three Top Of The Pops performances, all appearing on DVD for the first time and accompanied by exclusive new commentary by Jim Bob and Fruitbat.

If like me you were too busy falling for the Manics to appreciate this powerful, intelligent, rebellious record the first time round, now might be a good point to put this right. If you were always a T shirt toting fan, there’s enough rarely heard material here (perhaps ironically, all lusciously packaged) to keep you kicking against the pricks as you grow old disgracefully.

Turn on. Tune In. Bash back.

Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T

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Order '1992 The Love' album direct from the Carter USM store here or from Rough Trade here
Listen online here
Read our news piece here
Read our review of 30 Something reissue here

Thanks to Luigia Minichiello for help with this piece