#10 - Head! – Tales Of Ordinary Madness (1994)

Doing an A-Z of my collection had me in an AC/DC padded cell, and I was only three headbanging albums out of eight in... So I randomly picked out this one, having never played it before. 

Head! (from Bristol) released 'Tales Of Ordinary Madness' in 1994, and some years later it was picked up by myself from Cob Records in Bangor for £2.95, and to be honest, I feel short changed. 

Not even sure why I bought it. Maybe a punt as it was so cheap? Maybe because I knew Nick Sheppard was in the band; he had been in that semi-disastrous (Cut The) Crap version of The Clash (although he's not on this Head! album). Or I may have asked them to play me a track in Cob Records and I was allured to the Mike Patton-esq vocals? 

The striking sleeve is probably the best thing about it.

I've only played side one, and can't bring myself to flip it over for fear of launching either it, or myself out of the window.

What works against 'Tales Of Ordinary Madness' is it certainly failed to make a strong first impression. The sound sits firmly in the mid-’90s alternative moment: loose, trying to be overly clever, and more concerned with atmosphere than impact. Instead of sharp hooks or a sense of danger, the record trundles along at a low simmer, which can feel understated or simply flat depending on your patience (I've lost mine).

The songwriting isn’t actively poor, but it’s underdefined—tracks blur together, ideas arrive and move on without leaving much of a mark. Repeated listens may reveal a certain moody cohesion, yet the lack of standout moments makes it hard to fully invest. Time hasn’t been especially kind to the production either; some textures now feel dated rather than evocative.

Ultimately, side one comes across as a low-key, uneven record that rewards commitment more than curiosity, and I doubt side two, if I had the courage, would change my mind. It’s not without merit, but it asks a lot from the listener and doesn't really give anything back.

Here; try it out for yourself and let me know in the comments below...