Even Serpents Shine
Studio album by
Released9 March 1979 (UK)
GenrePunk rock, rock[1]
Length35:11
LabelColumbia
Producer
The Only Ones chronology
The Only Ones
(1978)
Even Serpents Shine
(1979)
Special View
(1979)

Even Serpents Shine is the second studio album by English band the Only Ones, released in 1979 by Columbia Records.[2] It was produced by Peter Perrett and Alan Mair.

The album was re-released in the United Kingdom in 2009 on Sony Music Entertainment, featuring bonus content. The reissue was a CD which comprises 14-tracks. It includes the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; alongside three bonus tracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Irish Times[3]
Record Collector[4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[5]

The album has consistently been praised by critics. In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic Mark Deming wrote that "Even Serpents Shine doesn't boast an out-of-the-box classic tune along the lines of 'Another Girl, Another Planet' from the self-titled debut, but in many respects, this is the more consistent album, achieving a similar degree of thematic and melodic variety while generating a more coherent sound and feeling," adding that "they were one of the very few bands of their time and place who inarguably beat the sophomore slump."[1]

Reviewing the album for BBC Music, Chris Jones wrote, "Musically the band were always a step ahead of the pack. Mike Kellie and Alan Mair – both seasoned pros on drums and bass – never falter, allowing John Perry's guitar to fly; while John 'Rabbit' Bundrick's organ adds just the right dollop of Al Kooper-isms."[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Peter Perrett

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."From Here to Eternity"3:07
2."Flaming Torch"2:21
3."You've Got to Pay"2:49
4."No Solution"2:27
5."In Betweens"3:57
6."Out There in the Night"3:02
Side two
No.TitleLength
7."Curtains for You"4:18
8."Programme"2:11
9."Someone Who Cares"3:11
10."Miles from Nowhere"3:45
11."Instrumental"4:03
Total length:35:11
2009 remastered version bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Special View"2:51
13."Oh No"2:20
14."This Ain't All (It's Made to Be)"3:45

Personnel

The Only Ones
Session musicians
Production

Charts

Chart (1979) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 42

References

  1. 1 2 3 Deming, Mark. "Even Serpents Shine – The Only Ones". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  2. The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. 1999. p. 710.
  3. Clayton-Lea, Tony (14 August 2015). "The Only Ones: Even Serpents Shine | Album Review". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  4. Peacock, Tim (October 2015). "The Only Ones – Even Serpents Shine". Record Collector. No. 445. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. Walsh, Jim (1995). "Only Ones". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 280–81. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  6. Jones, Chris (30 January 2009). "The Only Ones Even Serpents Shine Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  7. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
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