It's New to Me: Tommy (1985-1987) by the Wedding Present

Illustration titled "Goat in bedroom gazing at sleeping person" by Felix Darley, c. 1880

People seem to associate the rise of the UK indie band the Wedding Present with the break-up of the Smiths. I'm not sure why this is the case, as the singles collected on Tommy (1985-1987) were all released while the Smiths were still together. It's true that the Wedding Present's first album, George Best, was released around the time of the Smiths' dissolution - I guess maybe you had to be there to see the connection. There are also people who associate the early Wedding Present singles with the "twee" indie sound that was growing in popularity in the UK at that time, but I don't hear much "twee" in these songs. Bitter, angry lyrics sung in a throaty growl over buzzsaw acoustic guitars - that doesn't sound too much like twee-pop to me. Sounds more like the Buzzcocks.

Hearing these early Wedding Present singles for the first time, I'm impressed by how Wedding Present mastermind Dave Gedge had a definitive and immediately recognizable sound mastered right from day one. Tommy (1985-1987) collects the band's first four singles, originally self-released by the band on their Reception Records label. A few of the single versions were subbed out for superior radio sessions recorded during the same period, but the tracks all blend together well enough. Perhaps too well, in fact - the band's first single "Go Out and Get 'Em Boy!" sets the band's breakneck pace and other early tracks like "Once More" and "This Boy Can Wait" have memorable hooks, but many of the songs rush by in a trebly, clattering blur. The band's last single features three songs that are more or less perfect ("Never Said", "Every Mother's Son", and "Favourite Dress"), ending the collection on a real high note. This single directly preceded the recording of George Best, so I think I need to track down a copy of that somewhat elusive record next.

My favorite song on Tommy (1985-1987) is probably "You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends". The track here is from the band's first session on the John Peel Show - I'd be interested in hearing how it originally sounded on the 7", but I can't argue with the energy and jangle of its Peel Session version. And it has one of Gedge's best breakup-obsessed chorus lyrics, "I'm sure you understand/The first who lay beside me/Made me what I am!"

"You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends" by the Wedding Present