Subway Sect

Much like Mark Perry in Alternative TV, Vic Godard's career has gone on much longer than his limited talent warrants. But despite being part of the early days of English punk rock, he's still recording (albeit infrequently), and still must have fans -- somewhere. Godard's best moments were with his punk-era band Subway Sect, and are available in a fine anthology which provides the average music lover all the Godard (with or without the Sect) they're likely to need. True to the time of its recording, it's loaded with punk aggro that's a tad more expansive musically than the average fast-guitar band, occasionally wandering into dissonant guitar noise à la the Mekons and Gang of Four. Despite his punk pedigree, Godard -- in a move that anticipated Tony Bennett's MTV credibility by nearly 15 years -- was singing Cole Porter songs in 1982 on Songs for Sale. It was a daring move, and he sings OK, but it's hardly an essential record. Godard broke up and reformed Subway Sect three or four times between 1976 and 1980. After the last breakup in 1980, the band got sick of being jerked around and became the lamentable, cartoon funk/pop band the Joboxers. Godard sallied forth as a solo act, working with Edwyn Collins (ex-Orange Juice) as a more traditional, pop/rock singer/songwriter. ~ John Dougan, All Music Guide