Sunday, September 28, 2008
I.C.H. - You Won't Like It - REVIEWED!
Anyone who's read my blogs or anything over the years will probably know that I'm a big ICH fan and have been mates with Ed for a fair while too. To do a fair review I'm going to try and treat it as if I'd never met him, or better still, like he's a total cunt. Easy done. Still, the long-awaited album is frankly fucking blistering.
Opening with The Cunts and the anthemic Smells Like Community Spirit, You Won't Like It carries us through a variety of styles and sounds all equally hard and equally satisfying. Political without being preachy, fun without being silly and offensive in all the fine ways and none of the ignorant ones, a lyrically great album that reminds me a lot of TV Smith or Crass, but with the wry wit of a band not taking themselves too seriously.
From the personal (Oi Tune, Time Time Time) to the political (My First Political Song, Big Yellow Taxi) and the downright fun (Oooh Goergeous, Punch The Taxman) You Won't Like It offers something for every mood and listener, so avoids the pitfall of being a one trick pony with ease and grace. The choice of sample (The Network, "I'm mad as hell...") fits the album's mood and specifically I Won't Pay perfectly, and justifiably asks the question – Why aren't we all much more angry than we are? As a final track it makes sure we put the album down with a bitter taste in our mouths. This isn't wordless rage though, it's furiously eloquent, which makes it a lot more dangerous.
I do love sloppy-style punk production, but at the same time I get a bit frustrated with the tinny sound you get on old punk 7s. In my ideal world, we'd capture the raw-as-fuck old school sound but keep the newer better sounding clunky bass-end. You Won't Like It has that exact mix of raw and clunky but professional production throughout the album. It also doesn't fall into the trap of being a mere collection of tracks, it flows very nicely in the way a classic album should.
I think this album can go exactly as far as the boys want it to. It's would happily sit in place alongside any major label punk effort of recent years, it's witty and hardworking, it's very emotive too.
Suffice to say, you won't like it...you'll probably fucking love it.
Alex (Mulluk) Paige.
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Dear All
I have been sent "You won' like it" by I.C.H, available thru ALL AGES RECORDS - and its totally amazing, brilliant, pure magic One of the best punk albums I have ever heard - get yourself a copy of this cos at a mere fiver its a steal.
Contact: myspacecom/ichcolchesterpunx
Just gutted they live so far from me, so my chances of seeing them live is slim.
Cheers
Neil
ISSUE..PUNKZ..INE--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review - ICH "you won't like it" CD Fast 'n' angry pop punk here on this full length CD. Going by the song titles i feared it was all going to be a bit wacky for me, but the lyrics are actually pretty smart, and spat out with some real venom, sounding Conflict like in places (this is a very good thing!). Bit of a ska vibe going on as well, without it being remotely ska if that makes any sense? Yeah, i like it.
£5 or trades from 6 Chestnut Terrace, Hall Street, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9JE, England or check out www.myspace.com/ichcolchesterpunx
Credit to Jon - You can't say no to hope fanzine. Thanks Jon!
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YOU WON'T LIKE IT
I.C.H
I Guess you can call the title of this record ironic - because if you like your punk rock, you'll be sure to fall in love with this gem. It's raw, almost snotty but all mixed together to form some great songs that will get any pit swinging into full circle mode. Lovely little walking basslines (ala Rancid) are scattered inbetween some well thought out riffs that range from ska through to straight up punk. Funny enough Iit was just the other day that I was wondering if there are any good punk bands from the Colchester area - Ladies and gentle. check this guys out!
Tim Drunk (Distorted Webzine.)
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I.C.H 'You Won't Like It. Self released C.D
How wrong could an album title be? They had me within two songs, no had me after the first song - hell any song that kicks of an album with "...You fuckin' cunts!!!" has me sold. This is old school pure and simple, but delivered with a modern feel and urgency. There is no pretence in the songs, they come across as 100% genuine. Fast, catchy as fuck and powerfull enough to suck the soul right out of your chest and set it soaring high. I am listening to it for the third time straight in a row, but I am gonna have to force myself to take it off the player, it is really addictive. [It] not only has the power, but inteligent material, smart lyrics [and] sensible use of expletives for maximum effect. Reminds me why I got into punk in the first place. Best punk album I've heard in a long time - highly recommended. Just gutted that they are based so far away from Hampshire and so seeing them live is problematic.
Taken from Issue Punk zine (39)
Cheers Neil.
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I.C.H
YOU WON'T LIKE IT.
"Goths on the streets of Sudbury/ 8 year olds in slipknot tops/ rebelling against what?" Bawls 'Ed Ache' on 'Smells Like Community Spirit'. The same could be asked of his Suffolk punk quartet, who don't seem to have any particular gripe but, in true soap punk style, will rally and make a racket over anything that enters their line of vision, be it metal kids, tax returns ('Punch the Taxman') , or indeed any final demand ('I wont pay'). What does set them apart from the many po-faced Crass lovers with political activist aspirations to be found populating genteel towns like Sudbury is that they're fully aware that they're not doing anything that radical and aren't above having a good laugh about it. 'My first political song (Early learning centre style) is just that, 'Another song about eating shit and enjoying it' an honest assessment of the three chord noise that follows. What's more, in odd moments where they slow the pace and lean more to an early Levellers brand of cider fueled righteous indignation (For instance 'Look Ma' I Got My Shitkickers on') I.C.H suggest that in time they could have more to offer than the Early Learning Centre level outrage that dominates 'You Won't Like It.'.
Alison B (Bubblegum Slut Zine)
[Finally a bad review! Ed]
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I.C.H - You won't like it.
At first glance I would summise that I.C.H are an Essex based pop punk outfit, that I probably won't like very much. 'The stencil' font used for the tracklist seems pretty cliched, and the front cover seems to be showing a page of the jobs section from the east anglian daily times. On closer inspection however the case is full of little wins. The inner booklet turns into a minature 'cut-out-and-tag' stencil, and the C.D serial reads FUCKCOLDPLAY001 which indicates a fun loving cheekyness not apparent imediately. This is confirmed by song titles such as 'The Cunts', and 'Look Ma' I got my shitkickers on', featuring lyrical gems such as 'I have no intention of getting my head kicked in tonight', and 'AND SIMON FULLERS A FUCKING WANKER!'. Overall I would suspect that this group is terrific live, but the only reason to buy the c.d is to learn the words so you can swear along when you see them.
Taken from Gashzine (Judging things by their covers since 2006)
Thanks Tom.
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I.C.H -You won't like it
Fuckcoldplay -2008
The album may have taken them three years to release since recording it, but I can tell you now, it was totaly worth the wait. I.C.H, From Colchester, are just fucking amazing - alright, it's pretty old -school sounding on the first listen, but it's weirdly poppy and tuneful the more you listen to the album, and that's what really sets this band apart from many ageing and stagnant sounding punk bands that are still about. The vocals are quite ranty and Conflict sounding, but with lots of singalong chorus' so you can join in. It's all high tempo without sounding like it'srunning off too fast, and the recording and production is top class, especially as it is 100% D.I.Y. There are some proper class tunes on here - The Cunts, Big Yellow Taxi, Ooooh Gorgeous, Oi Tune, Oh god, you're all so ugly are just a few stand out tracks. For a band with such hippy haircuts, they are more punk than a lot of bands with mohicans, yep, a top class band now with a top class album. Check them out fools.
Taken from Mild Peril Zine # 12- Cherers Pete
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I.C.H. – “You wont like it” review
There is little that can be said about I.C.H that doesn’t sound like a brown nose as they are just plain and simply an amazing UK punk band. The Colchester-based punks are possibly one of the best punk acts in the UK at the moment and have rightly been offered a spot to play the prestigious 'Rebellion' punk festival 2009 in August! I have been to many of the Cambridge shows, and one that will always stick in my mind and the minds of many others was where they, for some reason or another found themselves without their drummer. Undaunted, they decided to play an acoustic set and still managed to have the entire venue bouncing (not too mention stage diving.) I don’t think many people can think of shows they have been to where the entire crowd was stage diving and starting circle pits to 3 guys with acoustic guitars!
The long awaited album, “You Wont Like It” was finally released in 2008 and I couldn’t wait to get hold of a copy and took it upon myself to sell some copies in the shop I work in (Billys, which can be found on Burleigh street, Cambridge) In fact it was pointed out to me by a colleague at work that the album or certainly most of its tracks have been played at work every day since I got my grubby mitts on a copy. Not to mention that a certain member of CRUCIAL was seen at a punk show, hosted by the legendary local promoters Last Gang In Town, purchasing a number of copies and handing them out to people while shouting in a drunken rage “You need this record in your lives!”
The album is 16 tracks (say Ed, what did happen to the other 2.5 tracks?) of unadulterated, in your face, British punk. I’ve toyed with the idea of a “favorite track” and its not so much that I cant choose one, more that it just changes all the time. There are the edgy political tracks such as “Big Yellow Taxi” and “My First Political Song” for when you want to hate on “the man” and “rebel rebel fuck the system”. “Oh God Your All So Ugly” and “Oooh Gorgeous” whilst at first listen come across as comical are steeped in social awareness and commentary. I mean we’ve all met that irritating hot slag who just knows it and you honestly do think “for crying out loud, FUCK OFF!” While writing songs of this sort of caliber, they still manage to throw in some plain old angry punk tunes like “The Cunts” and possibly my favourite (of today) “I Wont Pay”. The latter containing some of my favourite lyrics off the album; “The Mickey Mouse heads of state in a world of junk food culture.” And “So we put a cheesy restaurant in every Americanised mall, but what the sell as fast food isn’t fast or food at all, it’s fucking shit!” Bang on the money, people should sit up and take notice!
Oh and if any of you still don’t have a copy shame on you! There are still copies available from Billys bikes in Cambridge, their myspace page www.myspace.com/ichcolchesterpunx. All ages records in Camden and of course from the band themselves at their live shows.
Taken from Crucial Zine (#2)
Cheers Dom!
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I.C.H You Won't like it (C.D Album.)
What's with all theses bands telling me what I'll like/what to do before I've even treated my ears to their sounds this issue? Colchester punks I.C.H (Featuring members of ace Ska act the New Town Kings) have a suitably subversive title for their debut C.D - a 16 track opus beginning with a lovely little ditty entitled 'The Cunts'. Oh I.C.H, you have to do better than that to put this listener off! The black and white grainy packaging and liberal scattering of swear words might make this release look like something culled from the Crass back catalogue, but this band manage to cram in a melody every so often, resulting in a breakneck, singalong set of tunes that it is perfectly possible to like. We like it. We like it lots. Also, the lyrics in the accompanying booklet are designed in such a way that you can cut them out and make a stencil of the band's logo yourself - a nice touch.
Taken from Noisy! fanzine, issue 8. (Reviewer unknown! Thanks all the same.)
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I.C.H - You Won't like it C.D Album.
DIY Snotty punk from this Colchester band. their 1st album and yours for a fiver from Ed at 6 Chestnut Terrace, Hall Street, Long Melford Sudbury Suffolk CO10 9JE. Check them out at Myspace.com/ichcolchesterpunx, 16 tracks starting with the delightfully titled 'The Cunts' - There you go! But no it aint just basic there's some politics, animal welfare and social comment in there too. They sound like? Well............ a punk band ya twats, you get the drift, this aint the N.M.E. A PUNK BAND!!! O.K.
Taken from Barbies Dead Fanzine. Cheers Alex.
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I.C.H, "You Won't Like It". FUCKCOLDPLAYCD001...
I Thought this cd was going to be a crap crust noise cd like 1000s of other bands. But No. This band are going to be one of the best anarcho bands of today, well sussed songs, great tunes. It's hard to put a sound to them as they have their own sound, but mix Rancid with Conflict, the anger of Crass and a hint of ska, with a bit of subhumans. Great songs like 'Smells like Community Spirit' 'Girl in the dole office' 'Oh God you're all so ugly' 'Punch the Taxman' 'My first Political song' Look Ma' I got my shitkickers on'. 16 tracks for £5.00.. Bargain or wot??? The band are from East Anglia & I hope someone books them to play in the South/West. When in 20 years Ian Glasper writes 'A History of Anarcho Punk Vol. 2' about todays bands I.C.H will be in there...
MYSPACE.COM/ICHCOLCHESTERPUNX
e-mail DR.ED@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
Taken From Fast and Loud Fanzine - Cheers to John.
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I C.H - You Won't Like It CD
[Contact details Blah Blah Blah]
You Won't Like It? Wrong. It's pretty good.There's loads of fucking bastard swearing, loads of working class anthems of fast street punk songs - so of course I fucking like it you cunts. The cover is almost crassesque - the music isn't. Titles like girl in the dole office, Oi Tune and Punch the Taxman should tell you what to expect.
Lifted from INITONIT fanzine Cheers to Paul for the review
[And thanks to Andrew Culture for sending the review my way.]
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I.C.H You Won't Like It (Self released)
What a misleading title, I like it a lot. Let's set the scene here. KO & I are in the car driving up to Yorkshire with this in the player and we're on the third run throurgh now. It's reached track 4 and KO insists we play it again as the lyrics speak to him. We laugh along. These songs are all about things happening to them & what's going on around them, very real, and the music is tight as a nut, crusty punk rock with great production on it, especially when reading it was recorded in a barn. The vocal delivery is also worth a mention here with the lead being very gravelly with a blatant Essex accent - such a breath of fresh air from hearing countless bands pretend they're from the states. In places the the harmonies are spot on too, particularly on "Not Indestructible" and "Corporation" and the piece de resistance has to be a 70 second blast called "Ooh Gorgeous" of which I want the chorus as my ringtone. And at 16 songs and over 40 mins, you can't really complain. In a year perilously short of quality releases I have to say 10/10 to I.C.H for this and recomend getting hold of it.
Taken from Lights Go Out Fanzine issue 4. Cheers to Gudz.
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I.C.H You Won't Like It CDLP - Self released.
Sometimes we hear a band that is just great, it's a challenge to say exactly why it's great, it just is by it's very nature. This applies wholeheartedly to I.C.H. They're fast tuneful punk, which of course we love. They're lyrically dextrose and clever, which we like a lot. They're cheery but have plenty to say for themselves, which we admire greatly. Live they engage with the room in a very matey way, and not with that heinous 'them and us' siege mentality that almost every band in the planet seems to give off as some sort of gnarly self defense against being disliked. The majority of truly great punk bands don't form to be liked, they form because they have to, if they didn't have a musical outlet they'd paint, or write or take photos. I.C.H are very much one of these bands. If you love I.C.H they'll be chuffed, if you hate them then I doubt very much that they'll hold it against you! Hell this review is getting tough, I want to just tell you that this album is GREAT, but that word has become so overused in reviews that it's almost lost meaning, clear your head for a moment, meditate on the true meaning of the word GREAT, now listen to I.C.H. This album took bloody ages to put together, and I think it's all the better for it. The time and care put into this album is symbolized by the foldout artwork, the lyrics are printed in the shape of the band's logo, which is big enough that you could cut out said shape and make a stencil with it! How fucken cool is that! Also, a band with a proper logo rather than just a font or unintelligible scribble, remember when bands gave enough of a shit to actually have a cool logo? Bands like fucking I.C.H! I told myself I wouldn't mention the astounding amount of hair this band has, but hell, there are so many dreadlocks in this band it would be a shame not to mention it! Hair everywhere, in fact I think it's kinda adds to the live show! it must make singer Ed Ache a bit weak when reviews mention that the bulk of the band is formed by members of the New Town Kings, but it gives you an idea of the caliber we're dealing with here! Ed Ache also wanders around the country like a dreadlocked minstrel playing shows with his ukulele, and I'm sure he was doing it before every fucker thought it was cool! It's worth checking out Ed's (I hesitate to call it 'solo') stuff, it swerves between being absolutely fucking hilarious and elbow grabbingly thought provoking, a true showman!
Taken from Beat Mote Issue 9. Cheers to Andrew for the Review.
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I.C.H You Won't like it. (Fuckcoldplay)
This is a really cool c.d of high octane punk with brawn and brains. If Propagandhi came from England this is what they would sound like. This band is a rare breed indeed, fiercely political yet with a wicked sense of humor. The lyrics on this c.d are brilliant, but the music kicks Ass as well. All 16 tracks are amazing, but the stand outs for me are "Smells like community spirt", Girl in the dole office" (Which is about a girl who works for the (D)SS but wears Conflict tops at the weekend and contains the classic line "How can you work for the system and still claim to be against the system unless you fight the system from the inside"), the folky punk of Look Ma' I've got my shit kickers on (Which sounds kinda like a more punky Levellers), "Another song about being fed shit and liking it" (I've got Bernard Mathews reprocessed meats, There's Salmonella in the Chicken and madness in the beef") and "My first political song" (Which if this is true, Biafra and Lucas better watch out). Check out lines like "Is the war on drugs just a way to sell more drugs to morons? and the war on terror more terrifying than the terrorists were before?". Get this c.d, this is what punk should be about, having a laugh and having something to say.
Review taken from Runnin' Feart Zine, Cheers to Baz for the nice review!
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I.C.H - You Won't Like It. CD
The fonts, songs called 'Punch the taxman' Crass-style logos - I'm preparing to loathe this. It's definitely not anything I'd go and see or buy, but it's not entirely unlistenable. The lyrics are your standard anarcho fare, but they're delivered with a bit of flare, which makes a change from the bland, humorless 'don't follow rules; except ours' sloganeering these kind of bands tend to rely on. However the music is uninspired to say the least, treading an already well worn groove (Knock off SUBHUMANS) with nothing of interest happening outside of that. Of course you could say the same about my pop punk records, but I like them, and this gave me a headache after the third song (of sixteen). It's not terrible, and I bet loads of people love it, but for me the title is bang on.
SELF RELEASED
Taken from Jerk store (Formerly black lesbian president) fanzine Cheers Alex.
And again, thanks to Andrew Culture for bringing it to my attention.
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I.C.H. - You Won’t Like It {Fuckcoldplay}
Hailing from Essex UK, I.C.H. has spat out what is possibly the most
impressive debut UK Punk album since ‘Snuff Said’. The band certainly
appears to draw huge influence from the politics, diversity and
belligerence of the 80s UK Anarcho scene as both CONFLICT and, more
specifically, the SUBHUMANS influences abound. Add on the jaunty
sing-a-long cockiness of THE ‘TONE and the bashful charm of NEW MODEL
ARMY (check out ‘Look Ma I Got My Shitkickers On’) and you’re in the
area. As you can judge from those references, the band is decidedly
British - there ain’t no pseudo-American accents here! Highlights
include the local observations of ‘Smells Like Community Spirit’, the
mid-paced, anthemic ‘My First Political Song’ and the rage against
consumptive corporate capitalism that is ‘Another Song About Eating
Shit And Enjoying It’. The band - like Dick Lucas - injects razor-sharp
wit into its socio-political observations as ‘Girl In The Dole Office’
proves. Stylistically, the packaging appears to be influenced by 80s
Anarcho while the music itself is produced with enough edge to cut the
throat of the staunchest Tory. If ‘The Ungovernable Force’ means
anything to you, then you should be checking this out now.
Taken from Scanner webzine. Cheers to Steve.
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