The Sultans of Ping "Teenage Drug" 1994***

I vaguely remember liking this band back in the 90's but never had any of their albums until recently when I found this CD at a record fair, sold along with others by semi-forgotten bands for €1. When I say SoP are semi-forgotten I mean by wide audiences and the British music press that sang their praises once upon a time. Not so in their birthplace of Cork, Ireland, where they apparently enjoy the status of local legends second only to Rory Gallagher and have been giving sold-out concerts since they reformed a few years ago. The band had a strong humorous streak, as evidenced by their Dire Straits-mocking name and breakthrough hit "Where's Me Jumper?" Teenage Drug is their second album, featuring (mostly) fast-paced indie glam/punk pop anthems with irreverent and funny lyrics. The music reminds me often of The Damned, early Manic Street Preachers, as well as the band they were often lumped with back in the day, Carter USM. The eponymous opener "Teenage Drug" is a catchy indie guitar rocker, followed by "Wake Up & Scratch Me", surprisingly kicking off with harmonica and sounding like a glam boogie played by The Fall. "Teenage Punks" is another short punk number with a chorus that sounds just like Franz Ferdinand, quite a few years before their formation. Together with Jam rip-off "Michiko" they're the two hit singles from the album. The latter (about a long-distance love affair with a Japanese girl) ensured international success from the Emerald Isle to the land of the Rising Sun - but very little in the places between. "Terrorist Angel" is a cool song that reminds me of The Pixies' surf moments, while "Teenrage Rock & Roll Girl" and "Telephone Lover" recall Clash circa '77. Lastly, some seemingly out-of-place folk ("Sisters") and jazz ("Pussycat", "Red Cadillac") flavoured tunes towards the end just slow the album down. All in all "Teenage Drug" contains some nice punk-pop songs, but there's a reason few still remember them out of their home country - it all sounds a bit too familiar. On the other hand, as I was just listening to the CD on the car stereo on my way from work it got me humming along and nodding my head, and that's always a good sign. 

**** for Teenage Drug, Wake Up & Scratch Me, Teenage Punks

*** for Michiko, Love & Understanding, Terrorist Angel, Teenrage Rock & Roll Girl, Telephone Lover, Red Cadillac and BLack Moustache

** for Curse, Psychopath, Pussycat, Sisters, Pussycat