Fashionism - Come On My Baby/Smash Singles

Fashionism, being one of my favorite bands, needs no introduction to any regular viewer of this blog. Of course I was stoked to discover that the band had hooked up with Drunken Sailor Records - probably the best record label going right now! To make it all even better, Fashionism's first single on Drunken Sailor is by far it's most "pop" to date. You had to know I'd have no complaints about that! "Come On My Baby" is already the band's fifth single. If you have greatly disappointed me and failed to purchase the previous four, you can now get caught up in a hurry. Drunken Sailor has compiled all of them onto one handy dandy collection called Smash Singles. The album releases today along side "Come On My Baby".

"Come On My Baby" is one of Fashionism's strongest A-sides to date. It has a bouncy new wave vibe to it that really hits the spot. This is the closest Fashionism has come to sounding like the Tranzmitors - and that's not a bad thing at all. The song is great upbeat punky pop that will have you tapping your toes and singing along in very short order. Play loud and enjoy being alive! The single takes a decidedly melancholy turn with the B-side "Baby She's Gone". Here Jeffery and company show that they can do soul-inspired pop with the best of 'em. I dig the piano and tender vocals, and all in all this one really tugs at the heartstrings. Even with this being such a bummer love song, I often find myself whistling that melody for hours on end. It's just a damn fine pop song. This is what The Style Council should have sounded like!

Smash Singles is exactly what it appears to be. It compiles all of the tracks from 2015's Smash The State (With Your Face) and Quit Looking At The Time, 2016's Subculture Suicide, and last year's Back In the Day. As a "bonus", you get the aforementioned "Baby She's Gone" and a (to my knowledge) previously unreleased number called "Weekend". The latter is not a cover of The Boys' power pop/punk classic, but it's very much in the same ballpark. Will Fashionism ever put out a "proper" album? As long as they keep producing such tremendous singles, I'd say a true LP is not even necessary. Smash Singles essentially plays like an all-killer, no-filler full-length. If you enjoy 1977-80 U.K. punk and power pop and are not yet familiar with Fashionism, this purchase is a no-brainer. As for the band's existing fans: you'll wanna get your mitts on "Come On My Baby" as soon as possible. And Smash Singles on dark green vinyl would sure be a neat thing to own! Fashionism record release day ought to be an international holiday. Let's all get dressed up in sharp outfits and go dancing in the town square!



-L.R.

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/come-on-my-baby-7 
https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/smash-singles-lp 
http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/615874-fashionism-come-on-my-baby-7-drunken-sailor-records-drunkensailor-093 
http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/615873-fashionism-smash-singles-lp-drunken-sailor-records-drunkensailor-092 
https://www.facebook.com/fashionishim/ 
https://fashionism.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords/