Review: Never Mind The Bollocks

 Never Mind The Bollocks - Sex Pistols

Rating: 8/10 (Very Good)

Track Listing (highlights are bolded):

1. "Holidays in the Sun"

2. "Bodies"

3. "No Feelings"

4. "Liar"

5. "God Save the Queen"

6. "Problems"

7. "Seventeen"

8. "Anarchy in the U.K."

9. "Submission"

10. "Pretty Vacant"

11. "New York"

12. "E.M.I."

Review:

What was once one of the untouchable classics has probably become the most controversial punk album of all time. When Never Mind The Bollocks came out in 1977, it received thunderous acclaim from critics as some of the decade's fiercest rock n' roll. The Sex Pistols' mythos, image, and style were huge, and their assault against 70s culture led to a storm of internal and external issues that caused the band to implode. Nevertheless, the legend remained, and critics continue to tout their debut as the symbol of punk music and everything it stands for.

Yet, as you slowly dive into the many punk groups that debuted in the initial explosion (1976-1979), the chinks in their armor become rather evident. Maybe if they were the first punk band, their flaws would be excusable, but by 1977, the genre had been well established. Discerning punk fans could probably tell the Pistols were easily outclassed in terms of intelligence (Clash), melody (Ramones), brawn (Heartbreakers), and intensity (Saints) by the hoards of punk bands that were popping up left and right. They could play loud and mean, but the songwriting and musicianship were never outstanding, making all the songs blend into one angry mass. The group certainly sounded cool, but writing good music requires more than bashing power chords. It's no wonder that at their initial gigs, most didn't find them terribly impressive.

Even the flashy rebellion lost some of its meaning in the ensuing decades. Hardcore punk, 80s metal, grunge, and all kinds of heavier genres would emerge that seriously dwarfed how shocking it was to say "fuck" in a song. In 1977, it might have been a revolution, but now the album does feel a little dated. Future hardcore punk artists paid homage to the Sex Pistols sure enough, but they just as much venerated the Clash, Richard Hell, Adverts, and many others that helped build the punk look and image. As much as many (including me) enjoy this record, it's hard to deny that the detractors have a very strong case on their hands: it's chained down to its time in a way many classic punk artists just aren't.

Fortunately, there is one element of the Sex Pistols that no one has truly "surpassed" them in, and it's honestly the main reason Never Mind The Bollocks is still treasurable after all these years: the vile vocal sneer of Johnny Rotten. The punk style had been established, but no punk singer at the time could match the unbelievable gut-punch of his pissed-off demeanor. He does not merely "sing:" he spits, barks, grunts, howls, whatever he can do to fuel hatred within your body. Rotten conveys so much animalistic rage in every word he sings that he can make annoyingly slow songs like "Submission" sound ferocious. I understand that some people find this style manufactured, but it's not like it was entirely an act. Like the rest of the band members, Rotten came from humble, working-class beginnings and had to scrape by to make it. The political statements may be inauthentic, but his outraged vocals sound too visceral to be theatrical.

It is this unbeatable strength that is responsible for the enduring power of these songs. "Anarchy In The UK" would be a failure by any lesser vocalist. It doesn't have much more compositionally besides that basic crashing-down power chord riff. Yet, Rotten transforms it into a classic by his forceful delivery of those shocking verses, as if he was shouting rallying cries to a mob of blood-thirsty rebels. He screams out, "I AM AN ANTICHRIST, I AM AN ANARCHIST," so effectively that it almost sounds like he really meant that. Or listen to the sneering "EMI" or explosive "Bodies," where Rotten pummels out each verse like a jackhammer until their bombastic choruses annihilate you. He could be singing about how his soup went cold for all I care. When he belts out, "BODIES, IM NOT AN ANIMAL," it makes me want to punch holes into my wall. I can almost hear the rioters in the background of these songs wreaking havoc in the streets. Rock theatre or not, Rotten is certainly exorcising some of his demons here and awakening some in his teenage audience.

Of course, I wouldn't only give the props to Johnny. Steve Jones seriously lacks technical competency to make his leads memorable, but he always plays with enough energy to keep the songs entertaining. The guitar intro to "Liar" has a cool metallic tone. He gave "God Save The Queen" the necessary thickness and raw power it needed to become a generational anthem. "Holidays In The Sun" might indeed be the greatest piece of songwriting of this band, featuring one of the most iconic riffs of the decade. Doesn't it sound like beams of sunlight sending shockwaves of energy into your body? Still, these classics rely on Rotten boiling deliveries to come to life. Would "Holidays" be the same without the intense "Now I got reason!" section? Or how Johnny turns British patriotism against itself using the punk mentality in his vocal performance on "Queen?" Great energy from the players, but it is Johnny's show in the end.

To sum it all up, it is reasonable that music fans today are dismissive of this record: it's hard to see why anyone should listen to the Sex Pistols when the Clash, Dead Kennedys, and so many others would do this with better playing and more intelligent songwriting. Yet, those criticism are trampled in my brain by the sound of Rotten's snarl, still overwhelming every time I hear it. It's all a matterof adjusting your expectations, regarding it not a series of well-written songs but one enormous vocal punch in the gut. With this frame of mind, Never Mind The Bollocks becomes an enduring statement of its epoch, a time when rock music still sounded like it could save the world from the forces of evil. It is this glorious punk spirit that makes it such a treat to hear, and even if the band may not be to your palette, at least pay homage to how much great music came because of the Sex Pistols' impact.