Call This A Nation – A Raw Punk Gem That Still Stings (1990)
Released in 1990 by the UK-based band Call This A Nation, their self-titled debut album Call This A Nation is a punchy, unfiltered dive into punk rock at its most authentic. Self-released under "Not On Label," this record doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not—it’s raw, gritty, and full of attitude. With Steve Taylor pulling double duty as both producer and engineer, the sound stays stripped-down yet sharp, letting the energy of tracks like “Daddy, Daddy” and “When I Was Young I Used To Love To Climb Trees, But No-One Gave Me A Job As A Squirrel” shine through without overproduction.
Let’s talk about those two tracks for a sec. “Daddy, Daddy” hits hard right outta the gate with Pete Garner Jones’ snarling vocals backed by Wak’s jagged guitar riffs. It’s one of those songs that grabs you by the collar and shakes some sense into ya. The lyrics are biting, almost confrontational—like they’re daring you to sit there and take it all in. Meanwhile, bassist John Roberts keeps things grounded with a driving rhythm that makes your chest vibrate if you crank up the volume. You don’t forget a track like this because it feels personal, like someone yelling their truth straight into your face.
Then there’s “When I Used To Love To Climb Trees…”—yeah, yeah, long title, we get it—but damn, what a standout. This one takes a slightly different tone, mixing nostalgia with frustration. The melody has an almost playful edge, but the words cut deep, talking about lost dreams and missed opportunities. It’s kinda funny how relatable it feels—even though climbing trees probably wasn’t on my career path either. There’s something oddly comforting about hearing someone else vent about life not turning out quite the way they imagined.
What really sticks with me about Call This A Nation is its refusal to polish off the rough edges. In today’s world of auto-tuned perfection, this album reminds us why punk mattered—and still does. Sure, it’s messy, maybe even a little chaotic, but isn’t that the whole point? These guys weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they just wanted to make noise and tell their story. And honestly, who can blame them?
Funny thing is, listening to this now feels kinda bittersweet. Punk from the '90s had this weird mix of hopelessness and rebellion, like screaming into the void but hoping someone might hear you. If anything, Call This A Nation proves that sometimes screaming is enough. Who knew squirrels could teach us so much about life?
