This is the third single to be lifted from Liverpool boy wonder Eugene
McGuinness’ self-titled debut album from 2008, and easily the best. For
those who have some catching up to do, it starts off gently enough with some
simple strumming and that distinctive voice, which reminds of Ray Davies or
even John Lennon. The song swells up sweetly like a love-bite before the
surprising conclusion: “I’m a fucked up little sub-zero psycho, I know.”
More surprises abound on the b-sides. First up is an indie-tastic cover of
the Ramones’ ‘Judy is a Punk’, which will have adults old enough to know
better bopping round their living rooms like kids at a disco. To round
things off he moves down a couple of gears to cover The Coral’s ‘Jacqueline’
with just an acoustic guitar.
Overall, then, an enjoyably varied display of Eugene¹s different hats, all
worn with style.
Words: Joe Downie