The MEKONS Punk Rock (Quarterstick) Rating: Nn
Rating: NN
There was a time when the Mekons actually played punk rock, but that was about 25 years ago. Things changed drastically when Jon Langford discovered country music sometime in the mid-80s, but he could still be counted on for a loutish rant. In recent years the noisy guitars have been replaced by pleasant accordion wheeze, festive fiddling and the sort of hippy-dippy mbira plinking over bouncy reggae-ish grooves you encounter on their misleadingly titled Punk Rock album. Langford works up a growl for nostalgia’s sake a couple of times, but most of this is very weak. A sprightly little ditty like Work All Week could be a hit for Jimmy Buffett or Bobby McFerrin – if it wasn’t already.
