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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
South London duo Carter USM combined an every-man appeal and a political idealism reminiscent of The Clash with a seamless cohesion of synthesised percussion, roaring post-punk riffs and razor-sharp, pun-drenched lyrics and 30 Something is their ultimate statement. As vocalist Jim Bob's fiery social conscience gets to grips with such burning issues as racial prejudice in the armed forces ("Bloodsport For All") and spousal abuse ("Sealed With A Glasgow Kiss"), Fruitbat's digitised wall-of-sound and heroic guitar assaults mercilessly steamroller the listener into submission. But the quality that most endeared Carter to their enormous UK fan-base was their uncanny ability to reflect the punch-drunk melancholia of the urban underdog. The bittersweet wallowing of "A Prince In A Pauper's Grave", the sorrowful regret of "Falling On A Bruise" and the ultimate dejection of "The Final Comedown" are quite simply towering, evocative genius. Way beyond essential, 30 Something is a 24-carat masterpiece. --Ian Fortnam
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The thing with Carter was you either loved them or you hated them. They had the odds stacked against them in the world of pop-music; for most of their existence the band was just two 30-something blokes with keyboards, a guitar and a drum machine. Many people were put off their music because it attracted a lot of beered-up, violent hooligans. Funny when you think about it because it was exactly these kind of people that Carter lampooned. Their music was rousing, sometimes even aggressive, but it was aimed at encouraging the meek to shake off their inhibitions and fears, get merry and "dance to the music that nobody likes!".
30 Something is probably the best LP Carter recorded. It seemed to sum up everything they were about in one 40 minute burst. It opens with a quote from Rimmer of Red Dwarf describing one of the most worrying signs of realising you're not a kid anymore, then grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until Mssrs Morrison and Carter have bellowed a few home truths. Second track "My Second To Last Will And Testament" is a Carter classic - Fruitbat's upbeat, unstoppable guitar riffs and computer beats hitting you thick and fast, and Jimbob's vocals laced with a sense of humour so black you could make priests' socks out of it. Every song here is infused with so much passion and energy it's impossible to get bored. I defy anyone to say they don't feel the urge to start dancing once the bassline on "Shoppers' Paradise" kicks in. "Billy's Smart Circus" is like listening to a drunken Travis Bickle finally pouring his heart out, and is almost frightening by the time you hear the ominous last line. Then you get "Bloodsport For All", a single that attacked army life and the problems therein so caustically that it got banned on release (this was round the time of the Gulf War - the first one, not the Hollywood sequel we had last year). "Sealed With A Glasgow Kiss" again features the relentless music and vocals, but is almost unique in it's ability to be both rousing and chilling. For me, the centrepiece is without a doubt the heartbreaking "Falling On A Bruise", a perfect fusion of hangdog melody and lyrics from a man taking stock of his existence, before describing life in all it's poignant hollowness - this song is truly a masterpiece. The album ends not on a bang but more like a ghostly whisper with the etheral "The Final Comedown", again showing that behind all the puns there is a serious point. It may be over a decade old now, but this record is still as cutting today as it was back in '91. Jim and Fruity always had something interesting to say, and 30 Something perfectly sums up everything they stand for. If you're even slightly curious about this record, give it a try and you'll understand why the singer refers to himself as James Robert Injustice.
For anyone interested and / or new to Carter, you should also look at Jim and Fruity's recent solo work (Jimbob / Jim's Super Stereoworld and Abdoujaparov respectively), guaranteed to strike a chord with cynics who can smile.
30 Something is probably the best LP Carter recorded. It seemed to sum up everything they were about in one 40 minute burst. It opens with a quote from Rimmer of Red Dwarf describing one of the most worrying signs of realising you're not a kid anymore, then grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until Mssrs Morrison and Carter have bellowed a few home truths. Second track "My Second To Last Will And Testament" is a Carter classic - Fruitbat's upbeat, unstoppable guitar riffs and computer beats hitting you thick and fast, and Jimbob's vocals laced with a sense of humour so black you could make priests' socks out of it. Every song here is infused with so much passion and energy it's impossible to get bored. I defy anyone to say they don't feel the urge to start dancing once the bassline on "Shoppers' Paradise" kicks in. "Billy's Smart Circus" is like listening to a drunken Travis Bickle finally pouring his heart out, and is almost frightening by the time you hear the ominous last line. Then you get "Bloodsport For All", a single that attacked army life and the problems therein so caustically that it got banned on release (this was round the time of the Gulf War - the first one, not the Hollywood sequel we had last year). "Sealed With A Glasgow Kiss" again features the relentless music and vocals, but is almost unique in it's ability to be both rousing and chilling. For me, the centrepiece is without a doubt the heartbreaking "Falling On A Bruise", a perfect fusion of hangdog melody and lyrics from a man taking stock of his existence, before describing life in all it's poignant hollowness - this song is truly a masterpiece. The album ends not on a bang but more like a ghostly whisper with the etheral "The Final Comedown", again showing that behind all the puns there is a serious point. It may be over a decade old now, but this record is still as cutting today as it was back in '91. Jim and Fruity always had something interesting to say, and 30 Something perfectly sums up everything they stand for. If you're even slightly curious about this record, give it a try and you'll understand why the singer refers to himself as James Robert Injustice.
For anyone interested and / or new to Carter, you should also look at Jim and Fruity's recent solo work (Jimbob / Jim's Super Stereoworld and Abdoujaparov respectively), guaranteed to strike a chord with cynics who can smile.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Of all the Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine albums this is probably the best. Every track is an anthem. I can honestly say this album contributed to making me the man i am today. Not so much a cynical protest against the establishment but a pun sprinkled sarcastic piss-take of everyday living in Britain when your not one of the chosen few.
Everything is covered from wife beating to alcholism and racial bullying in the armed forces to inner city poverty.
The lyrics are amusing, thought provoking and, if you know your 80s TV adverts and large companys, very satisfying (a nod and a wink towards Martini and nestle powdered milk!).
How they were only sued once by the Rolling Stones is a wonder. These guys a working class heros. Thanks Jim-Bob and Fruitbat XXX
Everything is covered from wife beating to alcholism and racial bullying in the armed forces to inner city poverty.
The lyrics are amusing, thought provoking and, if you know your 80s TV adverts and large companys, very satisfying (a nod and a wink towards Martini and nestle powdered milk!).
How they were only sued once by the Rolling Stones is a wonder. These guys a working class heros. Thanks Jim-Bob and Fruitbat XXX
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
CARTER USM were, for me at least, one of the great unsung bands of the 90s. Superb lyrics combine with catchy (often anthemic) tracks, driven along by strong guitar and synth melodies that'll have you singin along and dancing around like you were 17 again.
The CD starts with Surfin' USM featuring a sample of Rimmer from Red Dwarf and chants of "YOU FAT B*ST*RD" - it's these chants that immediately take me back to the heady days of my youth standing chanting that very same phrase waiting for Jim Bob and Fruit Bat to appear on Stage.
From there on in it's classic after classic for Carter fans:
Second to Last Will and Testament - opening with yet another sample this time from Michael Cane
Shoppers Paradise with it's distinctive synth horns and a hook that'll have anyone dancing & jumping up and down like a nutter
I could go on and on...Bloodspart for All, Sealed With a Glasgow Kiss, the Final Comedown.
The CD starts with Surfin' USM featuring a sample of Rimmer from Red Dwarf and chants of "YOU FAT B*ST*RD" - it's these chants that immediately take me back to the heady days of my youth standing chanting that very same phrase waiting for Jim Bob and Fruit Bat to appear on Stage.
From there on in it's classic after classic for Carter fans:
Second to Last Will and Testament - opening with yet another sample this time from Michael Cane
Shoppers Paradise with it's distinctive synth horns and a hook that'll have anyone dancing & jumping up and down like a nutter
I could go on and on...Bloodspart for All, Sealed With a Glasgow Kiss, the Final Comedown.
AN ABSOLUTE GEM!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic Carter
The seminal album by the best band there never was. If you already know Carter then I'm preaching to the converted, if you don't then why not try something new? Read more
Published 6 months ago by The Rapier Nit
Bliss
I have cast off the old...the old worn out cassette has finally given up the ghost... but amazon to the rescue with a bargain price replacement 30 Something, probably the best... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Parm
Still sounds fantastic - on your hi-fi or live!
They were extraordinarily exciting, loud and snarky back in the early 1990s and again at their phenomenal farewell Brixton gig last week. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2007 by V. Delrieu
The best album ever, full stop
10 years after it's original release, I can STILL find something new in the lyrics of "Billy's Smart Circus". Read more
Published on 6 May 2001
A bright, shining moment
Well, what words can be used to best describe Carter USM's 30 Something? Eponymous? Groundbreaking? Revolutionary even? Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2000
Carter USM at their best!
Carter were THE band of the early 1990's. They had tons of mad fans, sell out gigs and even a number one album (the follow-up to this release)! Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2000
Brilliant, under-reated lyricists, and strong tunes to boot.
I bought this album when I was about 18 and sort of forgot about it until I listened to it again recently (I'm now 26). The music is simple but very energetic and effective. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2000
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