| features in: Album Chart of 1978 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Co-produced by Kevin Coyne and Bob Ward, who also plays on the album. The contributors are: Kevin Coyne (vocal, guitar); Zoot Money (piano); Bob Ward (guitar); Al James (bass); Vic Sweeney (drums); Paul Wickens (accordion, drums, mini-moog, congas) and Tim Rice (piano). He made my Top 10 in both ’72 and ’73, and it’s a great testament to the “old guard” that he’s still right in there as the new wave comes sweeping through the scene in ’78. Kevin Coyne stands with Captain Beefheart in this regard, and this doesn’t surprise me one little bit; both have always bristled with inventiveness and single mindedness, and are more punk than iconic punks. “Dynamite Daze” opens the set energetically, and our man is on the money, showing great self-awareness to boot: “We know the Pope is too old to rock n roll and quite aware that he's got no soul, you see me and I stand outside the Palais de Dance, I'm rattling my bones, I'm pogoing, I'm giving myself a little chance these-a-dynamite-daze”. It’s more Status Quo than Buzzcocks but that doesn’t matter a damn – it’s all about the great delivery from Coyne and, besides, Status Quo are alright by me.
Even better is “Brothers Of Mine”, an acoustically strummed swinger that’s reeks of paranoia: “Brothers of mine, brothers of mine, you're building the crucifix, the crucifix in the market square, Brothers of mine, brothers of mine, oh they're lining up the people, lining up the people to watch and stare”. The excellence is maintained on “Lunatic”, as disturbing and sad as it is powerful: “An old man surrounded by his books, trestle table pilled with old newspapers, fifteen cats scratching at his door, filth and mess all across the floor”. He sure can paint lyrics some. Side two is graced by the classic “Juliet And Mark”, which serves as a great reminder that even the darkest of days can always be followed by wide open curtains, sunshine and music. We’re then back on a strong-backbeat Rockabilly tip with the excellent “Woman, Woman, Woman”, the upbeat nature of which belies the sentiment that only the lonely know how he feels tonight. I find “Dynamite Daze” to be every bit the equal of the much lauded “Marjory Razorblade” – there can be no higher praise for this brilliant offering.
The Jukebox Rebel
05–Apr–2006
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:04]  Kevin Coyne - Dynamite Daze (Kevin Coyne) Rock |
| A2 | [04:07]  Kevin Coyne - Brothers Of Mine (Kevin Coyne) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| A3 | [04:52]  Kevin Coyne - Lunatic (Kevin Coyne) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A4 | [03:39]  Kevin Coyne - Are We Dreaming (Kevin Coyne, Paul Wickens) Alternative Folk |
| A5 | [01:27]  Kevin Coyne - (Take Me Back To) Dear Old Blighty (Arthur J. Mills, Bennett Scott, Fred Godfrey) Crooner / Cabaret |
| A6 | [03:56]  Kevin Coyne - I Really Live Round Here (False Friends) (Kevin Coyne) New Wave |
| A7 | [02:21] Kevin Coyne - I Am (Kevin Coyne, Eric Robinson) Songwriter |
| B1 | [03:00]  Kevin Coyne - Amsterdam (Kevin Coyne) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| B2 | [02:31]  Kevin Coyne - I Only Want To See You Smile (Kevin Coyne) Songwriter |
| B3 | [04:46]  Kevin Coyne - Juliet And Mark (Kevin Coyne, Robert Ward) Songwriter |
| B4 | [04:06]  Kevin Coyne - Woman, Woman, Woman (Kevin Coyne) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| B5 | [05:36]  Kevin Coyne - Cry (Churchill Kohlman) Songwriter |
| B6 | [02:00]  Kevin Coyne - Dance Of Bourgeoisie (Kevin Coyne, George Bruno Money) Avant-Garde |
