I was a massive Skids fan. I was 15 and had never really fell for Punk, I mean I'd been listening largely to Prog for the previous 12 months. So Punk passed me by through my own disinterest, but New Wave got me on track as did Skids. The band made me feel a little Punk, even though they were never really that.
It was really anthemic stuff and Richard Jobson made you feel that you were being educated, whilst Stuart Adamson's Guitar riffs just completely hooked me completely. I followed Adamson into Big Country and it sort of the compensated for Skids being no more.
I still listen to Days In Europa regularly, my love of the band and Be Bop Deluxe insists on that album being my favourite, but The Absolute Game is just as great. What amazes me with Destination Dusseldorf is how much like those two albums it sounds.
Indeed, the riff of Circus Games even briefly appears on Tidal Wave. With there being, sadly, no Stuart Adamson, the best best thing is his Big Country Guitar partner, Bruce Watson and you have to say that Watson takes on the Adamson Skids role wonderfully, at times it could be Stuart playing.
Yet, on hearing the opener, Open Your Eyes, you would get a completely different feel. It is a great song, but very commercial Pop Rock, anthemic yes, but not really Skids sounding. That's not a criticism in any way, it is a great song, but it certainly surprised me.
Fear not though, the album then gets into Classic Skids mode. Jobson's chops are in fine form and all the riffs sound like it is 1979 again. There's even Yankee Dollar Whoa - Ohs at one stage. Songs are splendidly up and at 'em riffaholic affairs.
When the Skids script is deviated from on Wings Of Desire, it sounds so like The Academy Show, fantastically so. Then there's the sort of Story of Skids on Things We've Seen with Jobson relating it as only he can in the style of Peaceful Times.
Sadly, the 9th track is only on the CD version. Probably not on the vinyl editions due to time constraints. It is a real shame, because Great Prize is a crackerjack of a song with a top notch vocal arrangement. An understated brooding joy with a similarly understated guitar solo.
Destination Dusseldorf will delight long time Skids fans, it is both original and nostalgia. However the hope is that new fans will come along for the ride and love this and discover the back catalogue. Special mention too to Last Night From Glasgow, a label that is doing great things for both old and new Scottish artists.
You can listen to the album here. You can buy the album from everywhere. Last Night From Glasgow's own site is best as they have all the formats and different coloured vinyl versions. You can find that site here.
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