Ian Dury - Reasons To Be Cheerful - NEW/MINT CD

This is the smoothest, dirtiest, most corrupted pick-up band you will ever hear - complemented by Dury's Dickensian observation of the extraordinary ordinary. From the faux-naif laddism of 'Billericay Dickie' to the outraged sympathy of 'Itinerant Child', this is affection for the English at its most telling. Not patriotic, nor patronising - but affectionate and critical, as you might mock your sister's haircut, loving her but wincing at the flickbacks.

It's not without its weak tracks. I'd say there were three that I would have replaced with something I love more (Where's 'Geraldine'?). But that's the nature of 'Best Ofs'. I don't suppose that even the compiler was completely happy.

This is not an album that will open up to you whole new vistas of musical terrain, as might "What's Goin' On", or "Led Zep III". It's a unique document that represents nothing other than the unique talent of a superb white funk band fronted by an irreplaceable vocal and lyrical talent.

Further reading? The Stiff back catalogue. Not that there's anything like this on it. But there's a whole raft of stuff that, like this, is nothing like anything at all...