Absurd-Ditties
| Absurd-Ditties | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 1993 | |||
| Recorded | September 1992 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock, Oi! | |||
| Length | 36:46 | |||
| Label | Receiver Records | |||
| Producer | Michael Algar | |||
| Toy Dolls chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Gomez | (9/10)[2] |
Absurd-Ditties is the seventh full-length album by the punk rock band Toy Dolls, recorded in September 1992 and released in January 1993 by Receiver Records.[1] It is considered by many, including vocalist and guitarist Olga, to be one of the band's best albums.
The album title is a pun on the word "absurdities", merging "absurd", meaning "unreasonable or ridiculous in manner", with "ditties", meaning "short simple songs", which when combined to form Absurd-Ditties describe the album's songs itself as "absurd ditties".[3] Mark Brennan of Captain Oi! Records wrote album the album in the liner notes of its 2002 remastered edition.
In 2012, the website of music venue SO36 said that Absurd-Ditties, along with the band's first album Dig That Groove Baby (1983), are "recognized as [two] of the best punk albums of all time."[4] That same year, Olga was asked in an interview with For the Love of Punk "What is the favorite album you’ve done & why?," to which he replied "Absurd Ditties, best songs, best production!"[5] He then was asked "what’s been the most popular Toy Dolls album?," to which he said "Absurd Ditties! and Dig that Groove Baby."[5] He had been previously quoted as saying the album was his personal favourite, commenting "great songs, great production and a great guitar sound."[6] Ian Glasper also called the album "brilliant" in his 2004 book Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980–1984.[6]
Critical reception
Allmusic rated the album three stars out of five.[7]
Track listing
All songs written by Michael "Olga" Algar.
- "Absurd-Ditties" – 0:44
- "I'm a Telly Addict" – 2:48
- ""Terry Talking"" – 2:35
- "Ernie Had a Hernia" – 3:17
- "Toccata in Dm" – 2:37
- "My Wife's a Psycopath!" – 2:52
- "Sod the Neighbours" – 2:28
- "Melancholy Margaret" – 2:24
- "Drooling Banjos" – 3:53
- "Alecs Gone" – 2:59
- "When You're Jimmy Savile" – 3:07
- "Caught up the Reeperbahn!" – 3:19
- "Dez the Demon Decorator" – 2:57
- "Absurd-Ditties (End Bit)" – 0:46
Personnel
- Michael "Olga" Algar – Vocals, Guitar
- John "K'Cee" Casey – Bass, Vocals
- Martin "Marty" Yule – Drums, Vocals
References
- ^ a b https://www.allmusic.com/album/r181047 Album info and review
- ^ Absurd-Ditties | Pages of Fun
- ^ Liner notes
- ^ SO36 | The Toy Dolls – ACHTUNG: VERLEGT INS ASTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- ^ a b Interviews: A Little Q & A with Olga of the Toy Dolls - For the Love of Punk
- ^ a b Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980–1984 - Ian Glasper - Google Books
- ^ Absurd-Ditties - Toy Dolls | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic
