Mike TV: Sausage Hospital

Artist: Mike TV
Title: Sausage Hospital
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 7th July 2014
Reviewed By: Dan Stoten

Without a doubt one of the most bizarrely titled albums we'll ever review here at The Punk Archive is Mike TV's third full length, Sausage Hospital. If you've managed to contain your chuckles (as myself and Millie most certainly didn't when discussing the record on Krystal Radio earlier this week: http://jonjocosgrove.podomatic.com/) then this is an eighteen-track album well worth picking up.

Mike TV (formerly Pickled Dick) have always been further towards the 'jokey' end of the pop-punk spectrum. That's not to say, however, that they don't have a knack for writing a simple, catchy and addictive pop-punk track, as efforts from Panda-monium in particular highlight. To be totally honest, I wasn't expecting anything different here, and I'm pleased to say that my expectations were correct. Sausage Hospital keeps that fun, light-hearted, upbeat and catchy pop-punk vibe Mike TV have made their own.

Although being eighteen songs in length, the record is a bit misleading in that first track Welcome and closing track Farewell are choral fillers. The other sixteen tracks are kicked off with an instant winner. Letting Go is a perfect start, the pace frenetic but not out of control, Domb's vocal sounding perfectly pitched above the head-bopping chorus. Influences of classic 90's Green Day are clear here; and it's this basic simplicity
which adds real enjoyment to the track.

Dear Bill Hicks is the next stand-out song for me. Again, that tried-and-tested formula of driving guitar and fast-paced guitar settles nicely, it's familiarity welcome and comfortable-feeling. In this track, however, there's an extra sprinkling of a more melodic chorus than may usually be the case with this UK four-piece. It fits well here, showing the strength of the band as a vocal unit. Add in some noteworthy and pointed lyrics and you've got another excellent song.

Fade In Blue stands out, too, as it's a bit of a slower track, much more laid-back. It keeps the old-school feel to it, though, the revs and double-beats on the snare brilliantly classic. It's never really struck me before when listening to the band their vocal abilities: I'm usually too caught up in the whirling eddies of the guitar and drums: but here, it really stands out. A nice guitar solo rounds Fade In Blue off perfectly. Variety, but not too much of it!

Let Down comes next, one of the sharper and more edgy tracks on the record, giving the listener a jarring comparison with the previous track. Again, far from complex, it's easy listening and simple to pick up the lyrics. 90's Teenager reminds us of the glory days of the 90's, and again delivers a joyful slice of simple, basic, old-school pop-punk.

I could go on about this record, but I would likely be repeating similar things about each track. What we have here is a record by a band who know what they are and what they do, and are entirely comfortable in that. If you don't like it, you don't like it: they're not going to change their style. That's refreshing enough, let alone the fact that they do it excellently.

Sausage Hospital is a simple, catchy, fun, and downright addictive record. It's old-school, basic, and unashamed of that. Look past the comedy title and you'll find a hidden gem.