Carter USM

Introduction

This was inspired by the Seven Day In blog post from 2017 which is getting a few reads, well the video I used for it:

Carter USM (Unstoppable Sex Machine) are/were known as "The band everybody hates to love", I love them and do not hate that I love them. Jim Bob and Fruitbat maybe didn't look the most handsome of people but you DID notice them and I loved how they almost appropriated the titles of more famous songs as their own and also took current figures for their verbal onslaughts.

I thought it was time I did a Crater USM primer.

Here is their Wiki, website, and Facebook page:

"Sheriff Fatman"

This is a perfect introduction to the band, and maybe was the first song I heard by the band, and still think it sounds as brilliant today as when I first heard it.

If you don't like this, you may not like the rest of the songs on this list.

"Surfin' USM"

Stealing the Beach Boys' "Surfin USA" for that title (and that stole the tune of Chuk Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" for the melody) this observation on getting older and fatter may be offensive to some as it starts off with the chant:

"You Fat Bas*rd, You Fat Bast*rd"

and then goes off on a monster sequencer onslaught.

"Bloodsport for All"

The chorus of this is almost a singalong but is still a monstrously good song. I am sure the title is very similar to something else, but I can't bring whatever that is to my mind.

"The Impossible Dream"

"The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. It is the best known tune from the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha

And this is a virtually straight as possible cover by the band. I did half expect it to speed up at some point, but Jim Bob sings as Jim Bob does keeping the dynamics of the original.

"The Young Offender's Mum"

The video features "Blakey" the only good thing from the awful "On The Buses" TV series. This is quite mild for Carter USM, no sequencer onslaught, it's just the guitars.

"Every Time a Church Bell Rings"

From the album "101 Damnations" (you know where that came from) and the title of this song lifted from the line in "It's A Wonderful Life", micing almost acapella singling with a noise assault, but still rather excellent.

"Twenty Four Minutes from Tulse Hill"

Sequencers and loud guitars usher in this one that steals the title from the Gene Pitney song.

"A Prince in a Pauper's Grave"

This has an extremely low-key start, very quiet although the words are cutting, and the the snare drum gives some indication of the wall of sound that eventually comes in to take over the song. Don't switch your volume up too much as the sound, once again is quite monstrous.

"Anytime Anyplace Anywhere"

This reappropriates the title of "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" the single by The Who. This is standard Carter USM, viciously sequenced and no worse for that.

"The Only Living Boy In New Cross"

Taking the title from Paul Simon's "Only Living Boy In New York" this starts off as close to gorgeous as Carter USM can get, and then the sequencers crash in but it still sounds amazing.

Simon and Garfunkel it is not, Jim Bob and Fruitbat it is!

I think this is a great closer for this Carter USM playlist and if you have come this far you are probably considering getting a copy of "Straw Donkey".