Classic or Dud - That Petrol Emotion?

I concur, my good man.

i loved this band more than most in the late 80s/early 90s.
hence why the reunion confirmation is excellent news for this old'un.

I wonder if the reformed Undertones could open for them...

"Natural Kind of Joy" is very Macca, Geir would love it.

There were . . . okay. Why is it always CLASSIC or DUD? What about "meh"?

It began five years ago. Things were more polarised then.

21 years ago this week Babble was released.

I really like "Big Decision," lame rap and all.

touring the States!? Playing in Brooklyn soon. O'Neill bros & Steve Mack at least, I assume.

I've got the first couple of albums, always heard that was pretty much the only thing you needed from them.

You'se'd rather sail the ocean.

O'Neill bros & Steve Mack at least, I assume.

only damon is involved of the bros.
the rest of the currentl line up are from various incarnations.
still great live.
despite the general consensus re the first couple of albums, i actually listen to their last album, final flame, more than the others as there are some classic TPE tracks.

damon -> damian

people are wrong.

chemicrazy still stands up as a good'un.

lol, i recently downloaded a copy of chemicrazy, because it really intrigued me at the time, but i hadn't heard or thought about it in ages. wondered how it'd hold up.

turns out it's pretty damn good! the vocals are sometimes too reserved and wispy for my tastes, and the lyrics are occasionally goofy, but i love the hooks, variety, and attention to guitar textures. and the vocals to rise to some amazing moments, like the massive "sweet and slow" harmony at the climax of "sensitize". weird attempt to fuse sonic youth-style guitar fuckery, pop songwriting and dance propulsion, far more successful than it should be. like almost everything on it, but "hey venus", "sentitize", "scum surfin'" ("total trash" reinterpreted?) and "sweet shiver burn" are standouts.

great gary panter cover, too:

http://images.wikia.com/lyricwiki/images/3/3b/That_Petrol_Emotion_-_Chemicrazy.jpg

while that is indeed a cracking cover (i am biased)

thats not the best picture.

its the picture of steve mack on a beach wearing a huge FOETUS t-shirt.

major label commercial hopes vs lead man giving the finger via a well chosen t-shirt = message for the fans

and yes, i think this album totally stands up amongst the other guitar based albums of the day.

i honestly don't know if it's a fuck-you gesture or an indie cred grab. this was on the heels of PWEI's trash-culture-worshiping this is the day..., and the "hey venus" video features calculus cat and jimbo (panter) tees. circa chemicrazy, the band's fashion choices seem to exist at the intersection of baggy and grebo, making that "hey venus" vid a tough watch.

6 music right now : live set from reading .. i had no idea when i revived this thread.

sounds amazing ..

the band's fashion choices seem to exist at the intersection of baggy and grebo

spot on

steves surfer dude image vs the undertones love for jeans and t-shirt definitely created a strange clash of styles

hence why i think i loved them that little bit more

how is this not perfect? should be power pop canon. but is it? their name has been sullied but everyone on earth needs that first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSgcDU1qHWM

this guy i don't know from 9 years ago totally OTM:

For me though Manic Pop Thrill though tops the poll, one of the great guitar records of 1986 and probably Sean O'Neill's best work overall, Undertones included!
― David Gunnip, Thursday, March 13, 2003 2:53 PM (9 years ago)

+1 for Chemicrazy

TOP3:
Sensitize > Hey Venus > Scum Surfin

as always, scott tells the truth.

i found the original vinyl pressing (app. there are differences between the 1st press and subsequent pressings) of the debut album in a local charity shop for 50p, and damn, its still fucking ace ...

'natural kind of joy' = perfection ...

haven't heard it for ages but i love that album. 'a million miles away' is very cute as well y?

'can't stop' is probably my favourite thing on it - those guitars cutting it up right at the start! i guess 'mouthy crazy' is the one song that really points towards where they go to on the next record

also did 'blindspot' is a deadringer for gorkys, steve mack even sounds welsh on it

steve mack even sounds welsh on iti

hahah !

damning praise ...

but seriously, there are folks on ilm that ignore this band who i genuinely believe would be all over this bands archive if they heard this stuff ...

'can't stop' is probably my favourite thing on it - those guitars cutting it up right at the start!

john peel session version of 'cant stop'= ear shredding guitar perfection

ok, due to old school love grooves, i was somewhat skeptical about the post TPE band, the everlasting yeah, however, the album they have self released is fucking awesome.

http://thequietus.com/articles/14401-that-petrol-emotion-interview

there are times the vocals clearly need some extra love a la steve, but, the tunes and sheer excess of guitar fueled vibrancy makes up for the deficiencies.

after all, when there is a track of 8 minutes of krautrock grooves vs TPE guitars : who can complain re such perfection !?

never heard of the everlasting yeah before, will give it a whirl based on your enthusiasm

was thinking the other day that john o'neill probably still makes an okayish living off teenage kicks royalties

another day, another dose of love.
for TPE fans (Fireproof era), this album really is that good.
holla nickb if you need a taster.

seems like someone believes there is a demand for their roli mossiman produced noise filled follow up to their debut, BABBLE.

https://shop.lastnightfromglasgow.com/products/that-petrol-emotion-babble-35th-annversary-vinyl-lp-coming-soon

I remember liking that one, not sure if I will pick up this vinyl reissue.

just the fact that its back out there with their cover version of 'dance you ass off' is good enough for me.

Soul Deep is an underrated B-Side too iirc

marks e & g otm, 'natural kind of joy' is great.

re 'soul deep' : absolutely.

had never heard it until this evening.
so so good.
TPE vs b-sides was always a thing.
so many gems were hidden away on their cd singles.

what ya gotta do in this day and age / ya gotta reissue, repackage, add bonus tracks

Are there any plans to re-release Manic Pop Thrill?

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81V3giLEDBL.jpg

That Petrol Emotion: Every Beginning Has a Future – An Anthology 1984 – 1994 (7CD)

Release date: 25/11/2022

Perhaps the most extraordinary fact about That Petrol Emotion is no one has seen fit to compile all or some of their works – that is until now. With full co-operation from the band, this comprehensive 121 track 7 CD collection brings together all five of their studio albums plus a typically energy-packed live recording from May 1994. It celebrates a body of work that has stood the test of time and – all these years later – undoubtedly still deserves a wider audience.

121 original tracks across a 7 CD set, featuring all five studio albums and one live album. Includes non-album B-sides, bonus tracks, remixes, live recordings and fan club only releases. Curated by the band, who also supplied rare images and memorabilia for inclusion in the book
52-page colour book with new sleeve notes from respected author John Harris. The first ever compilation celebrating ten years of this influential and creative tour-de-force.

https://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/that-petrol-emotion-every-beginning-has-a-future-an-anthology-1984-1994-7cd/

Be still my beating heart.

debut album on cd,
a chunk of remixes and b-sides that i dont have,
and a live album.
this has just become the ultimate xmas present to myself.

They released "Manic Pop Thrill" on double 10" a while back, I got one. Three sides the original LP, one side for the b-sides.

I liked it, but couldn't sing you any of them apart from "Natural kind of joy". Oh and that live version of 'Non Alignment Pact' which was the first version of that song I knew...

yeah, i actually have it on orig vinyl.
but still, i have love for vinyl,
so, will be great to have the album on cd at long bloody last.
along with various extras.

but still, i have love for vinyl,

.. no love for vinyl ..

actually listened to TPE tonight for the first time in ages, didn't even see this thread get bumped. 'natural kind of joy' into 'it's a good thing' still gives me so much pleasure, god they were great back then

so did i but was totally due to this thread.

'natural kind of joy' into 'it's a good thing' still gives me so much pleasure, god they were great back then

100%!

looks like i got one of the editions with signed postcards by each band member.
for me its all about the cd edition of their debut.
i have never seen it out in the wild.
not heard the debut album in a very long time.
still sounds wonderful.
and yeah, shivers all over during 'natural kind of joy' ...

Ah, I bought the double 10” album, so yeah…

I was going to say something about "Umbrella Academy," but that was My Chemical Romance.

ok, the live album is brilliant.
this is not a bootleg recording on a dodgy handheld device that bands of this era add to flesh out a boxset.