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| Eddie Shambles and the Shambles - The Spaghetti Incident Incident? To fans, it was as disappointing as a plate of cold mackerel. To critics, it was the ultimate in postmodern hubris. Surely nothing could surpass the self-indulgence displayed by Guns N Roses, whose stock couldn't be higher after the success of the Use Your Illusion albums, when they released - after a four-year (count 'em) gap - nothing more than a collection of lukewarm covers of bad 70s punk songs. It was one thing to proclaim Axl Rose as the voice of a generation. It was quite another when that voice put on a cockney accent and started singing about living "down on the farm". If it were possible for an album to be less relevant than The Spaghetti Incident? it would have to plumb some serious depths. Astoundingly, Eddie Shambles and the Shambles have donned their scuba gear and achieved it. How? A tribute to a tribute album. A tribute to the Spaghetti Incident? But wait - it gets better. While GnR made passable attempts at recreating the sound of their idols (THAT cockney accent notwithstanding), the Shambles don't use any instruments. Read that again. To call it a cappella would be to bestow it with an undeserved grace. Three drunk blokes in a Leeds flat belting out the tunes - get this - with the Guns N Roses album in the background as a "guide". The Spaghetti Incident Incident (sic) is that most outdated of things - a grower. The rugged charm of the vocals starts to shine through the shockingly ropey tape quality, and after about 30 straight listens, you'll never want to hear the original version of Human Being ever again. An unusual choice, a brave choice - the most relevant choice of 2006. Not one for the family picnic, but a stone-cold classic, as any discerning listener will tell you. ----- Michael Fuque |