New Model Army: Masters of War (Radio Radio)

So many rocker dream of executing a perfect Dylan cover. And so many fail. But there's such electricity in the words, such elasticity in the melodies that often even the imperfect attempts (at least those not done merely to curry favour with Rolling Stone) can bear witness to the performer's own gifts. In 2003, in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, New Model Army's Justin Sullivan threw out a take on Dylan's "Masters of War" which showed off of his razor-edged voice and his almost Manson-esque intensity.

Radio Radio, the bootleg on which this cover appears, is billed as Justin Sullivan but seeing as he is the lead singer, guitarist, song-writer and sole permanent member of New Model Army (whose songs he performs in this set) it's not a distinction most fans need be overly concerned about. Perhaps that concern should be saved for the realization that Sullivan and NMA last exhumed the radical side of the sixties with Tom Jones (yes, that Tom Jones, pussycats) doing a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter"...(hold onto your jaws ladies and gentleman, the real action starts about two minutes in...)

For further cover madness, no more Dylan alas, don't miss this shaky-cam version of Ramones' "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" NMA did after Joey died and, to make matters weirder, check out Sepultura's (yes that Sepultura, bangers) version of NMA's "The Hunt".

Radio Radio link is in the comments

Speaking of comments, what do you make of these NMA cover songs?


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New Model Army: Like A Storm (Live '89)

Despite being in the thin of things in the isolated burg of Winnipeg, I managed to hear each of the New Model Army albums (roughly) as they came out. Each one grabbed me and shook me but 1989's Thunder and Consolation was utterly devastating.

New Model Army - Stupid Questions

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This bootleg from The Rock Cafe in Nottingham, is from the incredible Thunder and Consolation tour, which to my eternal joy, actually made it out to Winnipeg!

Like A Storm link is in the comments

Speaking of comments, What's your favourite NMA album?


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Folk-Punk: New Model Army - BBC Radio 1 Concert

Some people consider much of punk rock just cruder, less-developed heavy metal but to me a lot of the best punk sounds like amped-up, sped-up, riled-up folk music.

True, New Model Army did not begin as skiffle-revivalists or Irish-pub rockers, especially with that dominating post-punk bass sound and their almost Gothic image. However, with their rooted-in-history name (not to mention their lyrics) and their rustic melodies and Justin Sullivan's hard-strum acoustic guitar style, NMA have always been able to take shelter under the big, albeit ratty, folk-punk tent.

Justin Sullivan, sort of an intense, sinister cross between Lemmy and Bono, has led NMA and it's frenzied following for thirty years now. Over that time the band has unleashed a bewildering array of releases - live albums, rarities collections, radio sessions, demo versions, double-re-issues, abandoned tracks compilations not to mention singles comps and best-of's. So now MRML would like to make available this live BBC concert from 1990 (which unlike most of their catalog has fallen out-of-print) which shows the band near the pinnacle of their power.

BBC Radio 1 Concert link is in the comments.

Speaking of comments, leave us one with your view on New Model Army.

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