I can’t believe that we’ve already got to the sixth album from comedy folk band ‘The Lancashire Hotpots’ who, many years ago, stormed onto the circuit with their cult classics ‘Chippy Tea’ and ‘He’s Turned Emo’. Two albums, a Christmas disc, a concept CD about tongue-in-cheek criminal acts, and a fun album last year called ‘Achtung Gravy’ and we have the beer-based concept album ‘A Hard Day’s Pint,’ inspired cover-wise by the Beatles album like last year’s CD was based on U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’.
I was lucky enough to grab this album as part of the deluxe set for a bargain £20, so I’m now the proud owner of an exclusive t-shirt, wallet, signed card poster, album and live Sheffield CD, a one-hour plus 18-track disc recorded at ‘The Plug’ with an excellent live show captured on disc complete with a great selection of tracks from their first five albums plus the fantastic ‘Bang Bang Thumpy Megamix’. It’s not quite as spell-binding as their recent live show I saw in Lancaster, it’s impossible to capture the live atmosphere on a recording, but it’s as close as it can be to it with a great mix of the band members and instruments and one of the clearest and fun live albums I’ve heard that shows the spirit of the band and their involvement with the crowd (though the crowd are perhaps a little quiet in the mix), plus their variants in lyrics from their original recorded versions.
But onto the main body of work. Coming in at just over forty-five minutes – putting some more serious bands to shame with their shorter albums – ‘A Hard Day’s Pint’ boasts fifteen tracks all on the theme of drinking and, though it could easily, the joke doesn’t wear thin over its running time. Though I do feel a little cheated that four of the said tracks are re-recordings of previous album songs, eleven new tracks is a good return rate and the older songs fit in nicely.
The album kicks off with ‘Let’s Get Leathered’. Though it could never reach the heights of previous album opener ‘Mek Us A Brew’ it’s a fun introduction to the album’s theme and includes a cracking sing-a-long breakdown that apes the live version and builds to a great conclusion that throws in some great piano, Monty Python-style elements and a fun retro theme.
We then get a new version of fan favourite ‘Bitter, Lager, Cider, Ale, Stout’ which is much perkier than the first album version and benefits from some much better production, alongside the inclusion of the ‘alcopops’ shout-out from the live version, which really benefits this version and makes it a stronger track and justifies its re-inclusion.
‘It’s The Beer Talking’, is a country-sounding ditty with Bernard’s vocals given the high-pitched treatment as he becomes ‘Pinta Beer’ which thankfully don’t end up being annoying like they easily could. With some catchy sections and lots of the well-written lyrics that permeate through all their songs, it continues the album well.
The group’s version of the famous Sailor’s Hornpipe tune, ‘The Perfect Pint’ was excellent live and though this doesn’t quite capture the magic of the challenging delivery of the live version is still an ideal drinking song. The lyrics take inspiration from the original but bring them to another level and the speeding up elements work really well.
Next up we have the Lock-In Mix of ‘I’ll ‘ave One With You’ which is possibly the laziest addition to the album, adding in the single version of a track that was only included on the last album, with the only difference being the removal of a mention to ‘Pete Docherty’. It is, of course, a great version of the traditional song with well-written lyrics and a catchy delivery, but its re-appearance is a little bit disappointing.
But the next track is a highlight. It might be crude and lewd but ‘No Lock On The Door’ is very funny and an excellent showcase of the observational humour that makes the Hotpots as good as they are. A definitely highlight of the album and you’ll soon sing-a-long to the chorus.
After a relatively strong first third the album does take a little dip here. ‘Designated Driver’ has some great lyrics, sounding a little Madness-esque, but isn’t the strongest song musically. ‘Did You Spill My Pint?’ with its Phil Mitchell-sounding opening chorus is again an average track compared to their usual quality. ‘The Barmaid’s Baps’, naturally full of innuendo of the same type of the title, is a fun enough track but again not a classic.
Thankfully the album starts lifting up soon after with Liverpudlian Billy taking vocal duties and delivering a Doctor Who-themed track in the form of ‘If I Had A TARDIS’ with some clever sci-fi references scattered amongst some cheesier skits. With a refreshing change of voice and some funny lyrics, this builds up the album back up and continues with ‘The Beer Festival’, with some top use of backing vocals and a really enjoyable music track.
Recent single ‘The Beer Olympics’ follows, making its third appearance in the Hotpots catalogue following the original EP and second album presences. The new version isn’t a million miles away from the original versions but is better produced and a little buzzier with a jazzier piano and a switch of members from Willie to Bernard mentioned in the breakdown. A catchy chorus and a timely re-appearance make this a welcome addition.
‘The Last Man Standing’, built around a singable round, is perhaps disappointingly the weakest track on the album which would work well live or as a drinking song with friends but is a little stale on the album and outstays its welcome. But it’s followed by the best song on the album, ‘Kebablishment’, a catchy, lyrically strong and hilarious song that’s only fault is that it ends too quickly.
‘A Hard Day’s Pint’ comes to an end with a new version of the second album closer ‘The Girl From Bargain Booze’, one of my personal favourites and a great ender. However, out of the four new tracks, this is the only that’s actually not as good as the original, forgoing the more effective Oasis-style piano for a less good one, with a little less emotion in Bernard’s voice, though the kazoo solo over the guitar one of the original is better, and the lyrics are as funny as ever, plus it concludes the album, as it did on ‘Pot Sounds’, in an ideal way.
Overall ‘A Hard Day’s Pint’ is another great album from the comedy folk group. Featuring songs such as ‘The Perfect Pint’, ‘No Lock On The Door’, ‘The Beer Festival’ and ‘Kebablishment’ which are destined to become classics in their canon it captures the beer theme perfectly and there are a lot of well observed lyrics amongst catchy chorus. There are a few less appealing tracks around the middle of the album and the inclusion of four old album tracks, though welcome in their new versions and are all great to hear again, smacks of repetition and laziness. But, as a comedy album it works and the joke concept that the Lancashire Hotpots have built their music career on shows no sign of stopping or tiring so if they can just continue making new music and leaving the old favourites for their live shows then I look forward to further albums from the band.
In fact, I’ll hope to ‘ave another one with them next year if we get a seventh album!
7/10
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