released May 30, 2018

REVIEWS:

Maximum Rock n Roll
• REVIEWER ROBERT COLLINS
• LABEL JUST SAY NO TO GOVERNMENT MUSIC

What do you say about a record that reminds you of Sarah Kirsch and KING MISSILE and some commercial version of SHOTWELL-by-way-of-WEAKERTHANS? Yeah, I don’t know either, to be honest, but by the time I was finished trying to figure it out I realized I had listened to the whole damn first side twice….and I was kinda liking the weird sporadic tambourine. IDFS is truly endearing in their shameless honestly, and that honesty wins out even when I admit that I don’t exactly need the tracks in my life. Anthemic and sweet and tongue in cheek, but never shite or trite—let this one sink in and you’ll be rewarded.

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IN DIRE FUCKING STRAITS - January’s Kids {JSNTGM}

Limited to a mere 200 on tangerine vinyl, this 10 track album features JSNTGM head-honcho Andy Higgins. Total Blackpool FC vibe going on here too as the insert proudly states, ‘Anti-Oyston, Pro-hooligan Punk Rock’ with tracks titled ‘Tower Of Blackpool’, ‘Pubs Of Blackpool’ (one of the album’s best tracks) and ‘Streets Of Blackpool’ while opener ‘Voices Of Blackpool’ features a number of vocal opinions, most of them expletive laden! Fantastic!! Musically, it’s solid, melodic UK Punk Rock that’s both inventive and accessible, similar to RED LETTER DAY with a vague DC influence in places. Best bits include ‘On The Seventh Day’ that could be a LEATHERFACE outtake, ‘Tyrants’ which could be the highlight with a defiant claim to the likes of Donald Trump that “we’re not frightened anymore" and the take on ‘Jingle Bells’ has to be heard rather than explained. Stellar stuff that is essential for any Blackpool Punk while being effective as a whole body of work in a decidedly convincing way. Could actually be the surprise hit of 2019 - I’ve played this heaps already!! (08.09.19)

Hope Collective
Play of the Day – In Dire Fucking Straits

what a better way to celebrate the reurn of fans to Bloomfield road to watch their football team than having IDFS as Play of the Day. For those who don’t follow football and for those who do but don’t go outside League Of ireland or the top flight in whatever country you are in there was a long running dispute between Blackpool FC fans and their owners. It’s a long saga that has seen court cases, election candidates and a record. This one.
Recent footage showed the fans returning to bloomfield road after years boycotting their team. A team that was the focal part for many in the community, a team that meant so much to so many. I watched it from another country remebering the good times I had in that stadium and as the goosebumps settled down I pulled out this record. The good times are back.

Suspect Device
IDFS - January’s Kids

I’m not even sure if IDFS are a serious band but they are basically all about the Seaside town of Blackpool and quite a bit about that town’s football club! For those of you in the know ‘Andy Higgins’ founder of the ‘Just Say No To Government Music’ label and all round Mr Blackpool is highly likely to be the driving force here and it’s no shock to find him in the line up! Ten tracks in all on a bright orange disc (Well it was never likely to be any other colour!) which include such hits as Voice’s of Blackpool, Tower of Blackpool, Streets of Blackpool, Pubs of Blackpool and A Difficult Telephone Conversation With The Head Of Discipline At The Football League! Tuneful throughout I guess the band can rest easy now the Oyston Family have gone from Blackpool Football Club! Not sure this will ever be a best seller, but underneath if you follow the beautiful game there is a serious point to it all. I would have liked the lyrics to have sung along but that doesn’t detract too much. However, the cover is likely to scare small children so don’t leave it lying about the house or anywhere else for that matter!
JSNTGM (Gaz)
Gaz Suspect (Gary Watts)