National Album Day 2019: the B52’s by The B52s

I like a challenge in life. I like to push my comfort zone a little further everyday and I never stand defeated. But when we were asked to get involved with National Album Day 2019 and write about one album we don’t skip and enjoy from start to finish, I started getting cold sweats. Panic, horror… I sit here, with an empty page, and this is scarier than anything Stephen King could have imagined. Which album was I going to pick?

I could have taken the easy way out. Blood Sugar Sex Magik plays a very important part in my life. I was always obsessed by the early Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or I could have picked Mother’s Milk. But I also love The Clash, and London Calling is the second most important soundtrack of my life. Or anything by The Hives, The Rolling Stones, The Cramps, New Bomb Turks,… Then, it came, as an epiphany! I could pick an album I thoroughly enjoy and that I think is painfully underrated by the masses. So, on this National Album Day, let’s take a trip to Athens. Not the one in Greece. We’re going to Georgia. Turn on the lava lights, it’s about to get groovy.

One album I’ve always loved from start to finish is the first album of The B52s, titled “B52’s”. When I discovered the band as a teenager in 2005 or 2006, I thought they were the quintessential of cool. Whether it was the beehives, their unique sound or the beautiful harmonies of Kate and Cindy, I was struck. It’s up there in my top 5 favourite albums of all time.

B52’s came out in 1978. The bizarre Planet Claire, with its outer-dimensional vibe and the “Peter Gunn” styling, is the opening track and definitely builds up the tension. Punk influences show in 52 Girls and Dance This Mess Around. Rock Lobster is a world of its own, written by guitarist Ricky Wilson who turned up at band practice saying “I’ve just written the stupidest guitar line you’ve ever heard”. Little did he know, this was going to become one of the best songs of the century.

The rest of the album is interesting. While the band keeps their post-punk influences obvious, Lava has a psychedelic vibe, while Hero Worship is considered to be one of the first Riot Grrrl songs ever written. 6060-842 is an energetic track, perfect for parties and easy to sing along to.

Downtown closes the album. It is a cover the 1964 anthem by Petula Clark that they managed to turn around and make their own. This album came out 41 years ago, and since then, nothing as weird and peculiar has come out. This is a perfect party album, but it’s also worth to stop and give it a proper listen just to catch every little element that built the special sound of a very special band.

Don’t (ever) Skip B52’s

the B52’s by The B52s, 1978, is chosen by rock music photographer Pauline Di Silvestro

Karin Ann Teams Up With Suki Waterhouse For Heart-Stirring New Single ‘i was never yours’

Slovak singer-songwriter Karin Ann has unveiled her stunning new single, i was never yours, marking an evolution in sound and storytelling for the rapidly rising artist. The track — co-written with Suki Waterhouse and Harrison Whitford (Phoebe Bridgers) and produced by Benjamin Lazar Davis (Maya Hawke) — finds Karin blending folk, country, and indie rock into a sound that feels both intimate and cinematic.

Amy Macdonald Shares Empowering New Single ‘I’m Done (Games That You Play)’

Amy Macdonald continues her remarkable run as one of the UK’s most enduring singer-songwriters with the release of her...

Blair Davie Unveil Deeply Personal New EP ‘First And Last’

Scottish singer-songwriter Blair Davie has released their highly anticipated new EP, First And Last, via Giant Music —...

Joyce Manor Announce New Album ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’ Alongside Lead Single ‘Well, Whatever It Was’

California punk favourites Joyce Manor have announced details of their upcoming album I Used To Go To This Bar, due for release on 30th January 2026 via Epitaph Records. The band have also shared the lead single Well, Whatever It Was, accompanied by a chaotic and comedic Lance Bangs–directed music video that riffs on The Great British Bake Off, featuring cameos from comedians and musicians playing UK rock icons.

Third Eye Blind @ Islington Assembly Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

Third Eye Blind Bring Chaos, Charm And Catharsis To London’s Islington Assembly Hall

An ominous, synth-driven hum filled the room at Islington Assembly Hall, a restless Thursday night crowd buzzing beneath it. Then — silence. A heartbeat later, the guitars of Thanks A Lot burst to life as Stephen Jenkins strode onto the stage in crisp white trousers and a beanie, his guitar hung low, his every movement theatrical. The room erupted. Without a word, Third Eye Blind were off and running — all muscle, melody and memory.

Darius Rucker @ Utilita Arena Birmingham (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Country Spirit Soars As Darius Rucker Brings Nashville Energy To Birmingham

It was a night of country music highs at the Utilita Arena Birmingham as Darius Rucker brought his unmistakable voice and charisma to the city. The South Carolina-born star has long been a bridge between country traditions and mainstream appeal, and his stop in Birmingham underlined why he remains one of the genre’s most enduring figures. Before the headline act took the stage, the crowd was treated to a journey through some of country’s brightest stars, each setting the mood in their own way.

Fickle Friends (Daniel Alexander Harris)

Fickle Friends Bottle The Chaos Of New Love On Single ‘Joe’ Ahead Of Self-Titled Album

Brighton indie-pop favourites Fickle Friends have unveiled their latest single Joe, a bold and chaotic anthem that...

W.A.S.P. @ Hammersmith Apollo (Louise Phillips)

Blackie Lawless Reigns Supreme: W.A.S.P. Ignite Eventim Apollo With Shock-Rock Fury

Blackie Lawless is to Rock what the Milky Bar Kid is to chocolate, an unforgettable icon with a legendary status who seems to defy the normal rules of ageing! And tonight at the packed Eventim Apollo he is a man clearly intent on giving the audience a night that they will never forget.