The Soft Boys –
UNDERWATER MOONLIGHT
I’d read a lot about Robyn Hitchcock before I
actually sat down and heard his music. Magazine articles and encyclopedia
entries made him sound like some Syd Barrett-obsessed eccentric playing brittle
folk music with abstract lyrics and unwieldy melodies. Then I forgot all about
him. Then I got Underwater Moonlight.
And then along came
“I Wanna Destroy You”.
Underwater Moonlight is brimming
with self-confidence. Hooks, attitude, nonsense. Lyrics are quirky verging on
obscene (one song is actually called “Old Pervert”), but Hitchcock’s personality
and assertive vocal delivery make them sound special and strangely meaningful.
This album has it
all. From insane violin (“Insanely Jealous”, obviously) to some of the greatest
pop songs ever written (“Queen Of Eyes”, incidentally). Intelligent, gutsy,
adventurous, charismatic masterpiece. Later, Hitchcock would emulate this
brilliance but never quite top it.
P.S. The Affectionate Punch and Searching For The Young Soul Rebels are
almost as good, but someone had to be left in the snow. 1980 was some year.
