Shrag - Shrag (2009)

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Shrag have always been such a refreshingly great band. Refreshing, however, in an utterly, utterly unoriginal way. Shrag are a post-punk pop group and nothing else, what makes them such a consistent joy to listen to is their complete self-awareness. Mark E. Smith for example, doesn’t name drop some obscure late-eighties band only six bloggers have heard of. It just shouts “Mark E. Smith…is coming to town!” at you for two minutes while riotous guitars and synths carve a splinter of impossible-to-forget hooks into your grey matter.
This, their first full length, while dismissed by a few as being a lazy collection of previously released 7” singles, is a wonderful introduction to a band who are, simply, great fun.