Ballboy - Club Anthems 2001

  by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

When you hear a really really great single by a new band, you often can’t wait to hear their full-length debut. And I must say that was the case with Edinburgh’s ballboy. When I heard their first EP, 'Silver Suits For Astronauts', in early 2000 I wanted to hear more. And more. And later that summer, the second EP, 'I Hate Scotland', became available and it was just as brilliant as the first one. I thought that this was a band that could make a smashing debut album if they wanted to. But time went by and on their website you could read about how much John Peel loved them (which is something I don’t care a lot about, as we can’t hear his show here in Sweden) and you could vote for their best song so far (I voted for 'Donald In Bushes With A Bag Of Glue', from their first EP) and so forth, but there were no words of any upcoming album. I then got the chance to interview Gordon McIntyre, ballboy’s singer/guitarist/mastermind, for this site and I asked him if ballboy would making an album soon. He answered that if they would make an album, they wanted plenty of time in the studio and also a record company that could afford to make more than 1000 copies. And obviously that wasn’t the case a year ago, so instead they made a third EP, entitled 'Girls Are Better Than Boys', and it was released earlier this year. Once again it left me wanting more. So when I checked out the website some months ago, I suddenly read about the first album! Who-hoo! At last! I didn’t have to wait any longer! But then I read more, and saw that it would be a CD compiling all three EPs and some bonus tracks (of course). I must admit that I was a little disappointed. But I guess you have to take what’s being offered to you, so while waiting for the first “proper” album, I decided I could certainly do with those unreleased songs… So, for anyone that already owns the three EP’s, there only three reasons for you to buy this album. The first two reasons are the two bonus tracks, 'Postcards From The Beach' (which was recorded as early as 1997), and 'Sex Is Boring', a brilliant song that will probably be the title track for the next EP, here presented in an acoustic version. You can’t help but smile when Gordon sings “I hate house music / Because house music has never meant anything to me”. The third reason for buying this record is the video track that’s included for all you persons with a modern computer. It’s the video for 'I Hate Scotland,' and maybe in theory that isn’t a great song to make a video for. In theory. But when I watch it at home on my computer (yes, I have a new one now, so even I can see those CD-rom things), I realise that it wasn’t impossible, and that this is a great music video for a great song. Not bad, eh? The song features Gordon speaking about what he finds irritating (and it’s not really about him hating Scotland…), and the video features among other things some kids doing gymnastics in school. It’s really nice anyway. If you don’t own any of the three EP’s, then you have 15 reasons to buy 'Club Anthems 2001'. Almost every song on this CD is great, but if I have pick some stand-out tracks, it will have to be the aforementioned' Donald In The Bushes…', 'Public Park', 'Essential Wear For Future Trips To Space', 'I’ve Got Pictures Of You In Your Underwear', and of course 'Sex Is Boring'. But as I said, you'll get a record full of gems here! So, while waiting for the first album, why not buy this one and discover why Scotland is a great nation for indiepop.

Track Listing:-

1 Donald In The Bushes With A Bag Of Glue
2 A Day In Space
3 Dumper Truck Racing
4 Public Park
5 Essential Wear For Future Trips In Space
6 I Hate Scotland
7 One Sailor Was Waving
8 Olympic Cyclist (Acoustic Version)
9 Leave The Earth Behind You And Take A Walk
10 I've Got Pictures Of You In Your Underwear
11 Swim For Health
12 They'll Hang Flags From Cranes Upon My Wedding Day
13 Postcards From The The Beach
14 Sex Is Boring (Acoustic Version)