Rattus Norvegicus cover

Rattus Norvegicus

Released

Proto-punk in the year that punk exploded, The Stranglers were as enigmatic as their album covers. Their focus on organ and bass almost made them feel like a Rough Trade version of The Doors (without Jim Morrison’s lizard king recitations, except on “Princess of the Streets”). “Sometimes” connects the Sex Pistols to London’s baroque pop past, “Peaches” foretells the genre’s flirtation with Caribbean rhythms, “Hanging Around” dabbles with post-punk repetition. Nobody really gives them enough credit but these sewer-dwellers shouldn’t be forgotten.

Jeff Treppel

Recommended by

Suggestions
A Flock of Seagulls cover

A Flock of Seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls
Shook cover

Shook

Algiers
Starfish cover

Starfish

The Church
Hearts of Oak cover

Hearts of Oak

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Treasure cover

Treasure

Cocteau Twins
The Monitor cover

The Monitor

Titus Andronicus
Remain in Light cover

Remain in Light

Talking Heads