Stop It - EP

Chronique

Radio Stars' second single and first EP was a four-track affair that, following hard on the heels of their debut, "Dirty Pictures," not only established the group's reputation for delightfully wry observation, it also confirmed their status as one of the most exciting bands around. Its immediate live popularity ensured that the opening number, "No Russians in Russia," remains one of Radio Stars' best-known numbers. A raucous slab of riff-heavy doggerel, it was built around one of President Ford's more regrettable verbal outbursts, but took his single slip of the tongue ("the Communists do not control the Soviet Union," or words to that effect) to even more absurd lengths, insisting that there are no turkeys in Turkey, no Yanks in L.A., no Arabs in Egypt, no Chinese in China, "I guess they all went away."
The lower-key "Box 29" and "Sorry I'm Tied Up" offered some respite from the panic-punning madness, although no Martin Gordon song can ever be accused of wholly succumbing to true love and sincerity. But, just in case the joke was lost on anyone, the near-metallic riffery of "Johnny Mekon" erupts with such force that the tragic tale of a fallen pop superstar might easily be an epitaph for an entire generation of pre-punk pop and prog noodle merchants. Plus, it packs such a scintillating guitar solo that even hardened punks couldn't resist a spot of air guitaring in concert. Stop It did not chart, but airplay and a memorable performance (of "Russians") on Marc Bolan's TV show surely laid the foundations for a breakthrough the next time around -- not to mention a new non-sequitur that became one of the era's most memorable chants.

© Dave Thompson /TiVo