THERAPY? / Suicide Pact - You First (1999)

An uncompromisingly dark and angry release, fuelled by burned-out drug abuse and label trouble. It lacks the radio-friendly riffs of the previous two albums; not because they failed to deliver them, but because they no longer wanted to.
Instead, they unleashed a fuzzy, noisy tirade that made them remember why they were Therapy? in the first place. It pleased many fans of the earlier albums and E.P.s but left almost everyone else cold.
Cradled within the noise is the magnificent Six Mile Water. It's a quiet track that gets under your skin in a similar way that the ballad from Nurse (1992) did.

Songs of Note: He's Not That Kind of Girl; Six Mile Water

3½ cups of poison joy out of 5

THERAPY? / A Brief Crack of Light (2012)

Therapy? did it again. They give an album of reinvention that sounds new but somehow remains unmistakably Therapy?. Beneath the experimentation is the jangly guitar, the infectious bass riff and 'that' drum sound that they're known for, but it's also bursting with outside influences. Pop sensibilities work in tandem with Post-punk ideals, not against it as you'd expect. It's a bleak listen at times, surprisingly heavy in others, occasionally upbeat (Marlow sounds odd placed where it is in the running order) but is without a doubt a rewarding listen and a triumphant return to form. I'm happy the guys are still belting stuff out.

Songs of Note: Living in the Shadow of the Terrible Thing; Why Turbulance

4 dead hands and treacle feet out of 5

THERAPY? / Nurse (1992)

The Therapy? sound is a love it or hate it, or love parts of it and hate parts of it, thing. After two experimental E.P.s their first album took the trio to new places. It's a blend of indie, punk and occasional industrial sounding guitar riffs. The guitar sound is full of antagonism and has a 'not caring if they're pleasing the listener' attitude. The drum sound can take a long time to appreciate, or at the very least tolerate; Fyfe Ewing was actually a damn good drummer, but the removal of the strands on the snare was something that many people hated. In the end it became the thing that defined them. Nurse needs to be pulled from the vaults and re-released with a fresh remaster so that people can hear Therapy? at their best.

Songs of Note: Nausea; Teethgrinder

4 thoughts rushing at full speed out of 5

THERAPY? / Troublegum (1994)

Therapy? should've been hugely successful, but something went wrong. After the success of the previous album, Nurse (1992), fans were hyped for a new release, myself included, because the live show for that album was fantastic.
What we got confused a lot of people. All the usual elements were in place: quick three-minute Punk-inspired songs, dark cynical lyrics, a sing-a-long chorus, and thick chuggy guitars, but it was… Power-pop? Whut? Initially I had mixed feelings about it, but revisiting it over the years, it's grown on me, like a lazy mold.
It's probably their most accessible release, and is perfect for hopping out of the shower and dancing around while trying to find your snuggie.

Songs of Note: Knives, Trigger Inside

3 power punk pop people out of 5