Jsntgm 011 Four Letter Word – The Band That Time Forgot 12”

1. Rich White Ghetto 03:08
2. Call Off The Dogs 03:23
3. Fundamentally Flawed 02:01
4. Shelf Life 03:36
5. Who Decides (Spoken Word) 09:16
6. Someone Threw A Bottle 01:59
7. World Turned Upside Down 02:19

released April 23, 2001

REVIEWS

MAXIMUM ROCK’N’ROLL (AD)
As time goes by and the all around standard of punk music gets lower and lower, it’s a good thing that bands like this continue to exist, especially in parts of the world where you can still earn a beating (or simply be ignored) for looking And acting out of place. Welsh sheep – worriers FOUR LETTER WORD have been around for some time now (frontman Welly seems to have been around and active forever) playing thoughtful punk rock with smart and inspirational lyrics. Last year they got screwed out of the right to use their own name to some oozing scum boy-band from the USA who decided to call themselves “Four Letter Word”. (I shall now activate my teenage sleeper agents across the nation to track them down, night and day, through rain and snow, and shoot them down like rabid dogs. Fly my little ones.. ) This is a shame as it seems that even their older material (two great albums on BYO) now have to be removed from the shelves. Anyway this record is a kind of public service announcement by the band and their supporters at JSNTGM to get word out about the band’s plight and to arouse some concern about the increasing corporatisation of music. It contains the first EP from ’95, a couple of unreleased tracks, a lengthy spoken word about the aforementioned subject, and a lovely punk rock cover of Billy Bragg’s classic “World Turned Upside Down” all nice on day-glo green vinyl. The music is top notch melodic punk – think a political FACE TO FACE with balls. Hopefully the bullshit will only strengthen this great bands’ resolve and FOUR LETTER WORD will be around in some shape or form for another ten years. (AD)

FRACTURE #16
This is FOUR LETTER WORD’s first 7″ EP (from 1995) put onto 12″slab with added tracks (including a cool version of “World Turned Upside Down” (that was on their second demo tape) and a spoken word piece. This is basically Andy JSNTGM covering FLW’s legal case over the rights of their name in a well read and intelligent style. He also adds his own angle on the whole proceedings and just comes across like one sound guy who can also see the bigger picture, and lets us all know it. This is a solid 12″ that may end up rarity, so I’d think about picking it up for sure. (MD) JSNTGM, PO Box 1025, (Liver) Blackpool, FY3 0FA

SUSPECT DEVICE #36
Okay let’s get something straight from the beginning; this is pretty much essential. This is more than just another punk rock record, this is almost a political statement! Side one features the 4 songs that made up their awesome debut 7″, “Words That Burn”, re-mastered for extra power and still sounding damn fine some six years on. Side 2 starts with a rant from JSNTGM Records head honcho Andy Higgins about the copyright problems the band has had plus the wider state of the music industry, and the move away from true independent labels and shops. All this backed by sounds from the likes of Dead Kennedys, Jawbreaker and Promise Ring. After that you get a couple of songs from the “Words That Burn” session, the first is a fast little punk rock gem and the second a cool version of a song that Billy Bragg did with a fine job with, “World Turned Upside Down”. Phew, and all this on a lovely slab of green vinyl, encased in a sleeve featuring some excellent artwork. As if tht wasn’t enough, there’s more info. And opinion on the accompanying literature. Just super ! JSNTGM: PO BOX 1025, Blackpool, FY3 0FA

(SCANNER Fanzine #10)
If there was ever a band that deserved our support it’s FOUR LETTER WORD. The way they have been stuffed by that “other band” ids a crime & their strength through the whole situation only serves to feed the respect I have for Welly and co. This is a 12″ on lurid yellow vinyl of their now classic & long deleted debut 7″, “Words That Burn” + 2 unreleased tracks from the same session (including the awesome some one threw a bottle) & a totally engrossing spoken word piece from label head honcho Andy Higgins detailing the cause & the wider reaching consequences of FLW’s situation over a soundtrack of various tracks by JAWBREAKER, DEAD KENNEDYS, LEATHERFACE, PROMISE RING & more. Loads of inserts too all add to make this one essential purchase. You all should know how great FOUR LETTER WORD are, & here’s proof that they had it from the very start.

Tim – MASS MOVEMENT #13
Beautiful reissue of the “Words That Burn” EP, plus a couple of previously unreleased tracks and a spoken word track by a certain Mr. Andy Higgins (JSNTGM?), all packaged in lime green (yellow? Give me a break, I’m colour blind..) vinyl. I’ve always thought that Four Letter Word were one of the most under-rated bands in the UK, and it’s good to see these tracks available again, with the added extras being a nice bonus and all. After all the shit that these guys have been through in the last couple of years (man, they even took the majors on and played them at their own game – now that’s fuckin punk!), the least you can do is put your money where your mouth is and pick up on this. Better late than never right ? How do you get it ? Simple you switch yer computer on and follow the easy to read instructions. Now get typin’ ,TIM

DIRECT HIT #2
I’ve been following Welly and co since he sent me a demo tape, where some of their songs went on to be released as their first 7″ “Words That Burn”. From that they signed to the legendary BYO, correct me if I am wrong, but they were the first UK to do so. They released a 7″ (for FLW discography check out bands section) and two LP’s/CD’s, which are fucking classics. Then low and behold some US boy band’s manager sees them as a threat (and sues for use of the name under copyright). This 12″ documents the proceedings and with the release of this record it’s a reality wake up call, that FOUR LETTER WORD will not be messed with. Now, is this not what punk rock is all about. Letting the fuckers know that we will not be messed with ? Of course it fucking is. So the title is ironic and FLW are still kicking up a racket, see above CD review. I think “Rich White Ghetto”, “Call Off the Dogs” and “Fundamentally Flawed” are some of the best punk songs ever, great tuneage, lyrics and straight from the heart. The B side is JSNTGM main man Andy Higgins doing a passionate spoken word against corporations and pro DIY and the FLW cause. Of course there’s Welly’s awesome graphics, lots of inserts and beautiful bright greenish vinyl. Get this let them show we won’t be messed with.