The Saints were an Australian band, based in Brisbane that formed after finding living in Brisbane under the Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson Country Party state government regime boring and dead. If the Sex Pistols were to the UK and the Ramones were to the USA in relation to the development of Punk Rock, then The Saints were to Australia’s own Punk Rock scene. After the release of two singles, (I’m) Stranded and Erotic Neurotic on the band’s own self-made record label, The Saints were signed to EMI from London and recorded the album in two days in 1976, being released on 21 February 1977. Although it was neither a big seller nor received much praise from critics at the time, this album is now seen as a genuine groundbreaking classic album and a key development in the Punk scene of the late 1970s. Produced by Mark Moffatt and Rod Coe, this album is just over half an hour in length, which is fairly short for an album released back in 1977. The Saints were: Chris Bailey (vocals); Kym Bradshaw (bass guitar); Ivor Hay (drums) and Ed Kuepper (guitars). Let’s jump in and take a listen to this classic album, and we hope it has aged well.

1. (I’m) Stranded begins with roaring guitars and drums, which sound really excellent. This is a menacing listen that is instantly impressive. Chris Bailey sings in a pseudo-ambivalent voice but puts 100% into the song. This is better than expected. The Saints Rock hard and sound top notch too. A simple, energetic music punch-in-your-face, this is a complete winner throughout. A glorious three-minute long tune that leaves a great impression on the listener, this sounds really awesome. The lyrics are about being caught up in difficult situations by oneself. All in all, this tune is a reason to listen to The Saints alone. It is also very catchy. It seemed that, back in 1977, both the Sex Pistols and The Clash had genuine competition in the genre of Punk Music. The guitar playing is very Ramones-like and this simple music sounds awesome. It slows down at the end and stops nicely. Good tune.

2. One Way Street begins with some dirty and feedback-laden guitars, quickly launching into another punchy and powerful song that matters. There is plenty of social commentary in the lyrics and this tune sounds mighty and fine throughout. The Saints had a sort of unmatched energy in their music, and this sounds extremely cool to listen to. A joyous and Punk-based glory in a song. This music does have magic, although some might say that it is too simple for them. This isn’t the case here, this music is immortal and fantastic to listen to. An energetic and fun listen, this has some top-notch and fast music to blow away your mind. This tune wraps up just before three minutes in length. Awesome.

3. Wild About You begins with some dirty and overdriven guitars, quickly launching into a fantastic song that is impressive, aggressive and great to listen to. This music is short, sweet and super fast. A rip-roaring guitar solo is present on this tune, and the guitars perfectly complement Chris Bailey’s vocals. A really sweet and awesome tune that introduces a newer, rawer and more aggressive form of music to the world of 1977. The guitar solos in the second half are absolutely insanely good. An awesome tune, and top-notch music for your enjoyment. This concludes with screamed vocals and a sweet conclusion, again less than three minutes long. Awesome.

4. Messin’ With The Kid is a longer tune that begins with some loud and overdriven guitar arpeggios, which sound great. Soon enough, Chris Bailey sings in a deep and emotional voice to capture your attention. The drumming sounds somewhat (oddly enough) like Nick Mason of Pink Floyd on this track, which is a bit strange. Still, the tune is another solid gold winner and has more of a ballad feel to it. After years of Progressive Rock Music, Punk had arrived to tear it all down, with The Saints being one of the main bands to do so. This mellow song is a great one, and it has melancholy within it. This song further cements this album as a classic album that must be heard. No doubt that many bands in the late 1970s used this album as a template for their own inspiration in music. There is a dramatic change near the midsection, with some cool drumming and guitar riffing. A really top and glorious tune to listen to and enjoy, this sounds absolutely wonderful to hear. If you want Punk Rock with some real and genuine emotion, this is your song. Chris Bailey sounds somewhat like Bob Dylan on this song with his vocals, but the intention is completely different throughout. The song continues towards the end with an impressive instrumental section that will blow your mind away. Some soloing is overdubbed right towards the end, and this piece gradually reaches the end of it all. A very, very good song to listen to. Worth it for every moment, all the way through to the fade out.

5. Erotic Neurotic begins with some rip-roaring guitars and super fast drumming. This is an instantly enjoyable song to listen to and experience. Chris Bailey sounds a bit like Mick Jagger on this song, but he delivers a snarling, sensational vocal over the great music. This sounds really fantastic to hear and to enjoy. A supercharged piece of legendary music, this is proof that the original Punk Rockers were revolutionary and important musically. A searing guitar solo is present near the midsection, and it fits the song perfectly. A really awesome and punchy tune that one would ideally put on repeat. This is a great listen and album from these guys, and The Saints had officially made a classic album by this point in time. The guitar playing is amazing, and the sound is borderline psychotic. In the second half, there are some awesome guitars and drums, as this piece gradually reaches a conclusion. Very awesome to hear. Wonderful.

6. No Time launches into some rusty-sounding overdriven guitar riffs and bursts into another super fast and awesome song to hear. The guitars and vocals perfectly complement each other on this song, and the music throughout is yet another absolute winner to listen to, experience and hear. This does sound tremendously cool, and is a lot better than anything Blur did, for the most part. If you need a literal punch-in-your-face in a music sense, this is a good place to start listening. A seriously awesome listen from start to finish, this is a very catchy song. Short, bitter and enjoyable, this is an album and song worth hearing. Uplifting aggressively, it makes sense that Johnny Rotten/John Lydon thinks that anger is an energy, particularly when it comes to music. It ends just before three minutes are up.

7. Kissin’ Cousins is kind of a bit of a gross title for a song. It begins with more Ramones-styled guitars and enters into a weird song about youth romance with your own cousin. This is rather gross and not very enjoyable lyrically, although the music is fantastic. Obviously, this song is intended to gross people out, but nonetheless, a very good listen once again. A two-minute-long music listening experience designed to put a Parental Advisory Explicit Content sticker on the album itself. A good but disgusting lyrical tune. It’s difficult to know whether to take this seriously or not at all.

8. Story Of Love begins with some loud and interesting guitar works, with choppy drum rolls and a sound that is overall brilliant to hear. Another solid tune with some great sounds and instrumentation throughout. The Saints articulate youthful angst and passion into this music, even when talking about love. A good but slower guitar solo is present on this tune, and it sounds extremely memorable to hear. A solidly cool listen, this music sounds very interesting to listen to. The music and mood are great to hear. This song is a brilliant tune that has some interesting guitar parts throughout. This finishes up with some good guitar riffs and solid drumming, which sounds a little like what The Offspring would do today. It fades out at the end.

9. Demolition Girl is a short song at one minute and forty seconds. It is a brutal music onslaught that sounds fast, furious and punchy. Enjoyable for its short length, it does sound uplifting, fantastic and very, very cool to hear. The Saints had power, energy and fury throughout all their songs. Very good to hear from start to finish. A real winner to hear. Powerful.

10. Nights In Venice begins with some awesome guitar riffing that is extremely memorable throughout. This is nearly six minutes long for a song of its sort, and it sounds absolutely fantastic. A rough, raw and ready piece of music that sounds extremely fun and interesting to listen to. Beware, this can induce headbanging. Nonetheless, an extremely joyous, wonderful and cool piece of music to listen to, time and time again. The riffing is unique and original but looks back to some great riff makers such as Black Sabbath. Extremely fun to listen to. Towards the midsection are some interesting changes in both melodic and rhythmic structure, as this leads into an extended and interesting jam. This is not unlike The Velvet Underground’s proto-Punk jams in a sense. Nonetheless, it works a real treat. A powerful and awesome tune to hear, this music is very uplifting for what it is. A really great and interesting tune, it is fairly clear that Joy Division was listening away to this track as well. Guitar feedback occurs and this piece returns to the song section at hand. Nonetheless, a very cool and amazing listen from start to finish. Very, very awesome. Worth your ears to listen to. The main guitar riff throughout is something to inspire young guitarists today. All in all, a great finish to a landmark album. Just gloriously wonderful.

This album is a lost treasure of the past. It is not as memorable or popular as Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols (1977) or The Clash’s self-titled debut album (also released in 1977). Still, anyone who loves music from a historical perspective, or any fan of abrasive Punk Music, particularly the first wave of Punk, must hear this album. It is consistent, edgy and above all exciting. Sadly, The Saints went rapidly downhill as a band after this album release, but the music is here. Should you listen to this album? If you like minimal Punk Music, go for it. Some music fans may find this a little bland, however.

A very good representation of Australian-based Punk Rock.

8/10