United Colors of Blaggers ITA

Last updated
United Colours of Blaggers ITA
United Colors of Blaggers ITA.jpg
Studio album by
Blaggers ITA
ReleasedJanuary 18, 1993
RecordedSouthern Studios, London
Genre Punk rock, rapcore, ska, reggae, electronic
Length51:14
Label Words of Warning
Producer Blaggers ITA, Harvey Birrell, Paul Harding
Blaggers ITA chronology
God Save the Cockroach
(1992)		United Colours of Blaggers ITA
(1993)		 Bad Karma
(1994)

United Colors of Blaggers ITA is the first full-length studio album by British punk band Blaggers ITA. It was released on January 18, 1993, by independent label Words of Warning and marked a stylistic shift for the band, blending punk rock with rap, ska, reggae, and electronic music. [1] [2]

Contents

The cover artwork was a parody of the controversial "United Colors of Benetton" fashion advertising campaign. [3]

Background

Blaggers ITA, originally known as The Blaggers, were formed in London in 1988. The band was known for its militant anti-fascist stance and left-wing politics. The "ITA" suffix stands for "In The Area", reflecting their street-level activism and musical fusion. [4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Great Indie DiscographyStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
New Musical Express Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

The album was initially banned in Germany because of the photograph of the burning swastika on the front cover. [6] The band issued a statement including: "Your government believes you cannot distinguish between anti-fascist and fascist propaganda." [3]

A positive review in Melody Maker noted:

"...the Blaggers have the awareness and bravery to realise that something has to be said. This is a public service announcement with guitars. Happily, the Blaggers also realise that there's more to communication than impassioned ranting and make sure that the songs can be enjoyed as well as taken notice of. [...] bright horns, anthemic choruses and a series of well placed samples ensure that the sounds appeal to the body as well as the brain." [7]

Whereas John Harris writing for the New Musical Express was more critical, saying "They back their politicised shouting with a hackneyed pot-pourri of punk-isms, shoddy reggae and cod-ska..." [5] The following week the NME also described the album as a "refreshingly original combination of punk, ska, hip-hop, reggae, sampling and, most importantly in their scheme of things, radical anti-fascist politics." [8]

Profane Existence reviewed the album as

"an astonishingly well done slab of eclectic and powerful music. Mixing the classic sounds of U.K. ruts punk, in the vein of 999, the Clash, and the Lurkers, with a formidable ska beat brass section, and a funky rap overtone. These anarchist gangsters thrust a hot lead pipe of angry, anti-racist rhetoric straight up the ass of this nazi society..." [9]

In 2009, the album was reissued by Mad Butcher Records in its "Mad Butcher Classics" series. [10]

Track listing

All tracks written and performed by Blaggers ITA.

  1. "When the Gun Is Cocked" – 3:55
  2. "It's Up to You (Part II – Battle of Waterloo)" – 2:04
  3. "Search and Destroy" – 2:41
  4. "Wild Side (Ram-Ravers Mix)" – 3:18
  5. "That's Where It Ends" – 5:08
  6. "The Way We Operate (X-Tatic Mix)" – 5:05
  7. "Here's Johnny (Post Election Mix)" – 3:11
  8. "Before I Hang (Double Deckers Mix)" – 2:42
  9. "The Way to Die" – 2:21
  10. "United States of Devastation" – 3:54
  11. "Young Blaggers" – 1:21 *(CD bonus 1993)*
  12. "Pitbull Mentality" – 3:21 *(CD bonus 1993)*
  13. "Ten Men Dead" – 3:13 *(CD bonus 1993)*
  14. "Bastard Chillin'" – 3:25 *(CD bonus 1993)*
  15. "Emergency" – 5:57 *(CD bonus 1993)* [11]

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Strong, Martin (1999). The Great Alternative And Indie Discography. Canongate. p. 80. ISBN   9780862419134.
  2. ↑ "Fight The Power!". Melody Maker: 41. 30 January 1993.
  3. 1 2 Wright, Jonathan (26 February 1993). "UK Music News". The Hard Report (314): 62.
  4. ↑ "Dementlieu Punk Archive: Blaggers ITA" . Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 Harris, John (16 January 1993). "Review: Blaggers ITA - United Colours of Blaggers ITA". New Musical Express: 29.
  6. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. London: Muze UK Ltd. p. 577. ISBN   0-333-74134-X.
  7. ↑ Watson, Ian (16 January 1993). "Blaggers ITA: United Colours of Blaggers ITA". Melody Maker: 27.
  8. ↑ Cigarettes, Johnny (23 January 1993). "Blag Happy". New Musical Express: 7.
  9. ↑ Flaw, M (Summer 1993). "Noise Reviews". Profane Existence (19–20): 38.
  10. ↑ "New Releases". Official Blaggers ITA website (archived). Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "United Colors of Blaggers ITA". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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