Grotesque (After the Gramme) (1980)

Now this is The Fall! Grotesque (After the Gramme) is the first album featuring the full Riley, Scanlon, Hanley, and Hanley line-up that would remain through Room to Live (and without Riley through The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall) and define the Fall's classic sound in the first half of the eighties. This album features many of the band's trademarks fully intact for the first time, such as Mark E. Smith's ironic, sometimes confusing but almost great lyrics, delivered rambling and barely on beat, the cheesy keyboard presets that sit on the line between sincerity and parody, and the tight rhythm section of riff-delivering bass and guitar and perfectly on beat drums that someone manage to hold the band together. On top of finally developing the sound of The Fall, Grotesque also features some of Mark E. Smith's best songs, such as "New Face in Hell", which I can only imagine Stephen Malkmus listened to a dozen times before writing "Conduit for Sale!".

With only four bonus tracks, less than most of the other reissues, it is mainly the original album you're buying here, and it's a great one, The Fall finally coming into their own as a band with a unmatched, unique style.

Grotesque (After the Gramme) - B+

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