Back in 2012 I was feeling a bit lost. I had just went up to high school and knew I didn't 'fit in' with anyone. Music was always my escape, I had been through small obsessions with The Who , The Rolling Stones and The Beatles but they never stuck it wasn't 'my' music. That was until I found The Stranglers. My dad was going through his record collection playing a few he hadn't heard in years and Black and White just happened to be one of them. As soon as I heard that opening track it was like my eyes had been opened to a whole new world, The Black side has always been my favourite, I much prefer those darker lyrics and the bass and drums being more prominent. In The Shadows has got to be my stand out track from the Black Side, It always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up even now after hearing it hundreds of times it just has a real creepy vibe and you can't beat the sound of that bass through a good set of speakers. My stand out track of The White Side has got to be Nice N Sleazy it's just sums up The Stranglers in my opinion, politically incorrect and wanting to piss people off plus as a bass player its great fun to play. . You couldn't do a review of this album and not mention their cover of Dionne Warwick's Walk On By, That moment in the middle between JJs Bass and Dave's Keyboards is just phenomenal something i will never get tired of hearing especially live. Although I wasn't born when this album came out I was lucky enough to see them play the entire album on their 2016 tour which was something really special! I guess for me this album put me on the path I'm on today. I've been lucky enough to have seen The Stranglers over 30 times and have made some wonderful friends because of it and I'm hoping to do the same with The Boomtown Rats very soon!
R.I.P Dave Greenfield taken far too soon
Good Choice Trash Glam Baby
I must admit never heard this album at the time and did know a few singles of the Stranglers so I thought I would play it a few times .
I have enjoyed it thanks to Spotify and Nice & Sleazy & Toiler on the Sea were my favs
I do love hearing other bands but 40+ years later I should be embarrassed it took so long.
It’s amazing what music can do when required you are correct escape is a great way of looking at it.