THE PRIMITIVES : LAZY 86 - 88 [ESP 1989] CD/COMP

(Polar Records) 1989 made in Spain

cat. num. PCD-002

#indie rock #alternative

1Thru The Flowers (Original Version) 2Across My Shoulder 3She Don't Need You 4Lazy 5Really Stupid 6(We've) Found A Way (To The Sun) 7Where The Wind Blows 8Stop Killing Me 9Buzz Buzz Buzz 10Laughing Up My Sleeve 11Shadow (Guitar Version) 12Thru The Flowers 13Everything Shining Bright

Those who are only familiar with the Primitives' relatively glossy RCA albums will be surprised by this 13-track compilation of the Coventry, England, quartet's mid-'80s indie recordings. These much rawer recordings have the lo-fi noise pop feel of contemporary releases by other post-Jesus & Mary Chain U.K. guitar poppers like the Flatmates, Shop Assistants, Talulah Gosh, and the Chesterfields. Even early versions of songs that ended up on their debut album, Lovely -- "Thru the Flowers" (in two versions, one of which sounds like an early Pixies track), "Stop Killing Me," "Buzz Buzz Buzz," and "Shadow" (which doesn't have the quasi-Indian feel of the album track) -- have more feedback, less separation, and the sort of coolly mysterious, diffident air that marks the C-86 era. As for the other tracks, they're a mixed bag. "Really Stupid" is quite catchy, and "Everything Shining Bright" is a sunshiny gem, but "Lazy" (sung by guitarist Paul Court in a bored JaMC monotone) is terribly derivative and a few of the others don't have particularly memorable melodies or choruses. Still, this is both essential for Primitives fans and a welcome C-86 document for those still interested in that semi-scene.