CARTER U.S.M / A World Without Dave (1997)

AWWD is a sombre mini-album from USM that lacks the anarchic spark of their early albums and the Pop assault of their middle years. The trio sound worn out by this stage, but oddly at peace with a resigned attitude. Their record label may not have wanted them (they wanted more rubbish Britpop) but the fans did, so if you're one of them, then it's worth tracking down. It can be hard to find, but if you go instead for the Brixton Mortars (2004) double album you'll get the extended version of Dave alongside its follow-up album, I Blame the Government (1998).

Songs of Note: Broken Down in Broken Town; Johnny Cash

3 community care programs out of 5

CARTER U.S.M / Doma Sportova... Live At Zagreb (1995)

If you were lucky enough to get the first edition of Worry Bomb, the one that had the live set from Zagreb (1994) included, then you'll already know how good it is. I'm giving it a separate entry because it absolutely deserves the attention. It's better than a 'bonus'; it deserved a standalone release with full liner notes.
Carter was one of the finest live acts I've ever seen. I even passed up a chance to see Carcass in order to see Carter a second time and have never regretted it!

Songs of Note: Re-educating Rita; The Only Living Boy in New Cross

4 scout masters out of 5

CARTER U.S.M / Worry Bomb (1995)

The worst album art in the history of Carter hides a collection of songs that aren't instantly likeable. It's a grower, though, like mildew on a student's windowsill. Half of the time it borders on Bubblegum Pop, while the other half has got its balls aggressively in your face. There's an overwhelming sense of lethargy creeping in on the slower tracks. If you hate it, try leaving it on your shelf for a year and then go back to it with fresh ears. It may surprise you then. It did, me.
Alas, it contains the worst song they ever recorded: Let's Get Tattoos. Despite my criticisms, it has enough of their usual attitude about it to keep me loving them.

Songs of Note: Cheap 'n' Cheesy; Senile Delinquent

3½ fully paid-up members out of 5

CARTER U.S.M / Starry Eyed and Bollock Naked (1994)

Carter often used the B-Sides of their singles to try new things. It made the 7" worth buying. Kids today think a 7" is a kind of sandwich, so give them this instead, it collects together most of the band's flip-sides and it'll shut the snotty little bastards up for longer than a fattening sarnie would. It's missing some covers they did, but the 18 tracks on offer are as good as anything on the regular albums. What the record company thought a waste of time has become my second favourite Carter album. If you like the band, you need Starry Eyed.

Songs of Note: Re-educating Rita; Alternative Alf Garnett *

5  keys behind the bar out of 5

* Those aren't the studio versions but it's all I could find on failtube.

CARTER U.S.M / Post Historic Monsters (1993)

PHM is the sound of a band bored with Pop music and unafraid to criticise the genre in which they exist. Much of it sounds tired, jaded and angry.
There's a lot of rehashed material from the glory days but it's too layered, cranked louder and much of it blends together into noise. The lyrics are still poetically criticising commercialism and the underlying problems of society in an entertaining way, but they're too often buried under the fuzz of the guitars. It's a less welcome side of Carter that we hadn't heard before.

Songs of Note: Lean on Me, I Won't Fall Over; Travis

3 (we know who Lenny and Terrence really are) out of 5

CARTER U.S.M / 1992 – The Love Album (1992)

The difficult third release got the duo a number one album but it wasn't as good as the previous one. Typical. It tries to sound more grown up by adding more layers to the musical formula, but it just draws more attention to the synth aspect instead. It has quiet piano moments, an accordion and some occasional strings. The lyrical content is as scathing and passionate as anything they had belted out before. It's still a great album despite its flaws. It even has a kind of ballad, Carter style.

Songs of Note: Suppose You Gave a Funeral and Nobody Came; Skywest and Crooked

3½ teacups in a storm out of 5

CARTER U.S.M / 30 Something (1991)

Jim Bob and Fruitbat did it again with their second album, only they did it even better. It's the BEST Carter album, by far. In fact, it's one of the best early 90s Pop-punk albums, period. Recorded in twenty days on an old 8-track, it's still just a programmed drum machine and sequenced backing tracks, with the two guys on guitar, but when it's this good, who cares! They played almost all of the album the first time I saw them live and I loved it like Elvis loved a burger.

Songs of Note: Surfin' USM; Billy's Smart Circus

5 bunnies, strays and misfits out of 5

CARTER U.S.M / 101 Damnations (1989)

Carter U.S.M. were two people, a drum machine and a synthesiser. It's a late 80s alternative synth punk fusion that appealed to a new generation of discontented young voters. They were the poets of the working class in 1990s Britain. They sang odes to the underdog and the socially inept. They gave a voice to the losers in crappy accommodation and the homeless bums that lurked around the rear of the local student union building. In short, they were what Britain needed at that time. 101 Damnations may sound dated now, but the lyrics are as relevant as ever.

Songs of Note: 24 Minutes From Tulse Hill; Sheriff Fatman

3½ teeth as deposit out of 5