The first album by seminal political power punk trio Newtown Neurotics Beggars Can Be Choosers hit #6 on the UK independent chart in 1983. Formed in 1979 by vocalist and guitarist Steve Drewett, whose socialist-flavoured lyrics – never overbearing – have been grouped with those of Easterhouse, Billy Bragg, or the Housemartins, The Neurotics sounded like a synthesis of everything cool in the first wave of punk: from The Ramones to The Clash to mid-period Undertones. They were sharp-edged, but still fun-sounding, with great hooks and melodies and socially aware lyrics. This is criminally underrated Ramones-influenced political pop-punk whose titles like ‘Living with Unemployment’ and ‘Get Up And Fight’ speak for themselves. A must!
