W/e 18/07/25 - Autocamper, Barry Can't Swim, Public Enemy, Wet Leg, New Order

Congrats to Public Enemy and Barry Can’t Swim – both into our top 10 this year and overall top 100, the 2nd of course for PE who remain impressively at #7.

Wet Leg are down half a point and 140 places on their 2022 debut. Sam is their #1 fan in our class.

New Order land next to Bloc Party and JAMC on the classics.

Guy takes the 😀 with his 2nd best set of the year. Andy has a hatrick of ☹️

Andy

Autocamper - We’re finding a lot of derivative stuff these days aren’t we? I quite like this new take on C86 jingle jangle though 6.5

Barry Can’t Swim - I liked this a lot more than some other dancey stuff we’ve listened to as it had a bit of variety to it. Still not totally my cup of tea but at least half the tracks would probably prompt some strong head bobbing if they came on in the club 6.5

Public Enemy - This isn’t quite up with the PE classics or even there 2020 release but Chuck and Flav remain the GOATs. Cracking beats and thoughtful rhymes, wonderful stuff 8.5

Wet Leg - It’s not as bad as their debut as they’re leaning less on cheeky pop culture references but it’s still pretty annoying 3

TotW - The Hits Just Keep On Comin - PE

New Order - I don’t know if it’s Hooky loyalty but I’ve never listened to this. It’s pretty good if not prime New Order 7

Phil

Autocamper 7

What a shame Sarah records aren’t still going. It just seems like the natural home for these jangle-popsters. This isn’t a groundbreaking record and I don’t predict fame and fortune for the band but it’s impossible not to be uplifted by their relentless cheeriness.

Barry Can’t Swim 5.5

I can see why this bloke floats so many of y’all’s boats but it won’t surprise you to hear that it didn’t do a lot for me. It had its moments, to be fair, and would probably would sound OK over the PA in a beachside bar but that’s about it. And Barry? I can’t swim either, mate.

Public Enemy 7.8

I always did enjoy Public Enemy even when most other rap passed me by. It’s no surprise that they’re still angry, still inyerface and the only noticeable difference between their early albums and this is that’s a lot more rawk here. Excellent stuff.

Wet Leg 7.5

The only Wet Leg tune I knew before listening to this album was Chaise longue. Given that the lyrics of that ditty are full of double entendres, I was expecting more of the same. Did I get it? Not exactly. But any artist that can come up with these lines

When I dipped my dogs into the pond

Of your mind, I finally found God

is going to get the thumbs up from me. They can do heavy guitars too though the default setting is a sort of breezy folk. This really clicked with me on second listen although I’m still surprised that they got so big. 

TOTW – Public Enemy – Siick 

Classic

New Order 6

It won’t surprise anyone that knows my feelings about electronic dance music to learn that while I loved Joy Division, I did not love or much like New Order. A good half of this album follows their established blueprint, though I will just mention that Barney’s vocals have definitely improved over time. The second half is mostly guitar/bass/drums and is, for me, a considerable improvement.

Jim

Autocamper 6

OK indie pop, a little too light and fluffy for me. Enjoyed Proper, when it all went a bit Inspirals

Barry Can’t Swim 9

Wow, what a tasty smorgasbord of electronic treats. Had loads of listens this week. From the hip-hop backing track so start, to the lovely Jamie XX numbers at the end, with a mash up of Moby, Chems and Fred Again inspired numbers in-between.  Could have picked half a dozen for TOTW.  Him and Jamie have completely nailed this format of multi-style electronica that sounds super fresh despite the obvs influences. Had me pining for sunrise sesh on Space terrace. Bravo

Public Enemy 8

Another uber cool offering that keeps them on the top step. Doesn’t quite have big tunes of What You Gonna Do.. but still a very enjoyable and entertaining listen

Wet leg 7

Decent follow up with a few cracking tracks in the first half that had a bit of Franz Ferdinand about them, Catch These Fists for one.  Ran out of steam a little

TOTW: Bazza’s tremendous Like It’s Part of the Dance

New Order 8.5

Listened to this loads when it came out and this was a nice reminder that these guys can do no wrong in my book. A little clubbier than some of previous work maybe.   Singularity and Academic are up there with their best

Mark

Autocamper - pleasant winsome jingle jangle that you could imagine popping up in the lower reaches of the indie chart circa 1986, the kind of indie that doesn't really get made too much anymore - 6

Barry Can't Swim - lovely Jamie XX ish soulful stuff, ideally crafted for late afternoon / early evening festival sets, as we saw at Reading last summer - 7.5

Public Enemy - a band that can do little wrong in my eyes, and this didn't disappoint. Paved the way for rap acts headlining massive festivals around the world, still sounding like nobody else, slamming production, funky as hell, righteous lyrics, shredding guitars, what's not to like - 8.5

Wet Leg - it's a bit of a lean period for indie guitar bands at the moment so I guess this lot are about as good as it's going to get for the time being, even if it's just the new Sleeper / Lena Lovich. Musically I actually quite enjoyed this, although the singer always sounds a bit too pleased with herself - 7 

TOTW - Confusion, by Public Enemy

Simon

Autocamper: definitely has a Sarah Records vibe, although always found their output a bit dreary - fortunately this has a sunnier disposition and I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. 6.5

Barry Can't Swim: pretty decent, although don't think I was as taken with it as some of you, didn't think it did anything particularly interesting or exciting.  About To Begin is a banger though. 7.5

Public Enemy: PE have never been a go-to listen for me but you can't help admire their singlemindedness and perseverance in putting their message out there. Nothing groundbreaking here but I enjoyed it. 7.3

Wet Leg: obviously a marmite band as this group shows, but I liked their first album and this is more of the same - plenty of catchy, indie earworms here although I guess Rhian's vocals are a bit of an acquired taste. 8

New Order: I'd more or less written off New Order by the time this came out and was content with respins of Low Life et al, but it was a very pleasing return to form, the Technique-style opening few tracks in particular. Top stuff. 8.5

TotW: Barry Can't Swim - About to Begin

Guy

Autocamper: This is a full on C86 sound, 39 years later! And you won’t be surprised that I liked the classic JJ sound. Proper is a great tune and there were several others of a high quality - 7.8

Barry Can't Swim: Thoroughly enjoyable with some serious tunes on here. But I felt there were one or two fillers that just nudge the score down a bit. Wonderful summer stuff though - 8

Public Enemy: Not up to the standard of some of their other releases but you can rely on them to deliver a solid album - 7.5

Wet Leg: A much more sophisticated album than the debut with a variety of sounds. I have to say I prefer the rawness and energy of their previous release personally, but if this had been their only offering I’d still be raving about them - 7.9

New Order: You can’t go wrong with a bit of NO although this isn’t their best album in my view by some way. Academic is great but many of the others just don’t have the driving lead bass that Hooky offers - 7.6

TotW: Autocamper - Proper

Erol

Autocamper - 6

Barry Can’t Swim - 8.8

Public Enemy - 7.4

Wet Leg - 6.5

TOTW - About to Begin, Barry Can’t Swim

New Order - 8

Matt

Autocamper 6.8

Barry Can't Swim - 7.2

Public Enemy  - 7.6

Wet Leg - 6.9

TOTW - Public Enemy,  Sexegenarian Vape

Sam

Autocamper : fun jangly indie ! Esp enjoyed the Inspirals bits . 7 

Barry Can’t Swim: it’s good but not as ace as you all say ! Well made , clever in parts . Bit patchy at times . 7.5 

Public Enemy: they still pack a punch , and it’s pretty damn funky too . Funny to hear them moaning about age …. 7.9 

Wet Leg : this week’s winner with fresh , bouncy indie of the premier league. 8.5 

TOTW : CPR by Wet Leg 

New Order : I’ve never heard of this album ! It’s banging ! Nice one Netty . Thoroughly enjoyed the driving dance music . 8.5

Annette

Autocamper: 6.5

Barry Can't Swim: 8

Public Enemy: 7.5

Wet Leg: 7

TOTW: About to Begin by BCS 

Classic; New Order -8.5

Adam

Autocamper 6

Barry Can’t Swim 7

Public Enemy 6

Wet Leg 8

TOTW - Wet Leg - Davina McCall

Classic - 8