Absurd-Ditties | ||||
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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 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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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 play on the word "absurdities", as a description of the album's "absurd ditties". [3]
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]
All songs written by Michael "Olga" Algar.
Toy Dolls are an English punk rock band formed in 1979. Departing from the angry lyrics and music often associated with punk rock, the Toy Dolls worked within the aesthetics of punk to express a sense of fun, with songs such as "Yul Brynner Was a Skinhead", "My Girlfriend's Dad's a Vicar" and "James Bond Lives Down Our Street". There is often alliteration in their song titles. They are probably best known however for their sole UK hit, a punk-rock cover of "Nellie the Elephant".
Punk pathetique is a subgenre of British punk rock that involved humour and working-class cultural themes.
Dig That Groove Baby is the first full-length album by the Punk band Toy Dolls, released in 1983. It is considered by many fans to be the best work by the band and contains future live staples such as "Nellie the Elephant" and "Fiery Jack". The song "Dig That Groove Baby" is included in the 2002 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
A Far Out Disc is a full-length album by the punk band Toy Dolls. Song "Razzmatazz Intro." was the theme tune in several series of the British TV show Razzmatazz.
Idle Gossip is a full-length album by the punk band Toy Dolls.
Bare Faced Cheek is the fourth full-length album by the Punk band Toy Dolls.
Wakey Wakey is a full-length album by punk band Toy Dolls.
Fat Bob's Feet is a full-length album by the Punk band Toy Dolls. It is one of the more popular pieces recorded by the band and included such punk favourites as Bitten by a Bed Bug, The Sphinx Stinks and bonus single A-side Turtles Crazy! that wasn't included in original album track list. Kids In Tyne & Wear is the reworking of Kim Wilde classic Kids in America, one most often covered songs by the punk rock bands. 'Fat Bob's Feet is a rare late The Toy Dolls album that doesn't contain any classic/symphony instrumental adaptation.
Our Last Album? is a studio album by the punk band Toy Dolls. It is a loose concept album about the album being their last, until it is explained in "Our Last Outro?" that it isn't.
Barry "Baz" Warne is the current guitarist and vocalist of The Stranglers. Earlier in his career, he was the guitarist and frontman of numerous bands. His first recordings to be released were with the Sunderland punk band Toy Dolls, whom he joined as bassist in 1983. He toured extensively with them and recorded two singles before forming the Troubleshooters in 1985. The Troubleshooters released two singles before changing their name to the Smalltown Heroes in 1992. They released a number of singles including the world's first interactive CD-rom single, "Moral Judgement", which contained the band's history, the video for "Moral Judgement", and gig footage. "Moral Judgement" received the 'Single-of-the-Week' designation from Kerrang magazine on its release in 1994. It was followed in 1996 by their only album, Human Soup. In 1998, during the recording of what was planned as their second album, Atomic Cafe, their record company pulled the plug, announcing that they had no more money, causing the band to fold. In the summer of 1998, Warne formed a retro-rock cover band named Sun Devils.
Ten Years Of Toys is a compilation album by English punk-rock group, Toy Dolls, released in 1989. The cover image was designed and photographed by Tony Gray.
Foreign Legion is a punk band from South Wales.
Street punk is an urban working class-based subgenre of punk rock, which partly emerged as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punk emerged from the style of Oi! and hardcore punk bands. A key band in defining the aesthetic was the Exploited. Street punks generally have a much more ostentatious and flamboyant appearance than the working class or skinhead image cultivated by many Oi! groups. Street punks commonly sported multi-coloured hair, mohawks, tattoos, heavily studded vests and leather jackets, and clothing, especially plaids, adorned with political slogans, patches, and/or the names of punk bands. In the 1990s and 2000s, a street punk revival began with emerging street punk bands such as the Casualties.
The Outcasts are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland formed in 1977.
Orcastrated is a studio album by the English Punk rock band Toy Dolls, recorded in 1995. The band name is rendered as Toy Dollz on this album.
One More Megabyte is the ninth studio album by the English punk rock band Toy Dolls. After the release of Orcastrated (1995), the band's bassist John "K'Cee" Casey left the band and was replaced with Gary "Gary Fun" Dunn. The new line up of the band recorded One More Megabyte at Fairview Studios, Hull, in January 1997, with the band's lead singer and guitarist Michael "Olga" Algar producing the album. The album also contains backing vocals from members of other punk rock bands, including members of the Vibrators, The Lurkers, The Wildhearts, Sugar Snatch, and the Inmates.
On Stage in Stuttgart is a live album by the English Punk rock band Toy Dolls, recorded during their two concerts in 1999 in Stuttgart and Frankfurt, Germany.
Anniversary Anthems is a studio album by the English punk rock band Toy Dolls, recorded in 2000.
Twenty Two Tunes Live From Tokyo is a live album punk band Toy Dolls recorded during a concert in Tokyo in 1990.
Michael "Olga" Algar is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter who fronts the band Toy Dolls. Mainly a lead/rhythm guitarist, Olga is also a songwriter and record producer. Algar lived in the City of Sunderland during most of his life before moving to Tokyo, Japan, in 2000. He then moved to central London in 2002 where he has lived since.