Album of the Day

The Stranglers may be less famous than some of their U.K. punk brethren, but they were there at the scene's beginning (the band opened at the first Ramones concert in England). Aging pub-rock types who actually knew how to play their instruments, The Stranglers didn't quite fit into the fast, roaring guitar mold that soon became punk orthodoxy. The quartet's debut, RATTUS NORVEGICUS, was released on this day in 1977 and included Doors-y keyboard work and even some prog rock touches on such grimy looks at London street life as “(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)” and the leering, bass-heavy hit “Peaches.”  This is what U.K. punk actually sounded like back in the day - when The Stranglers were outselling The Sex Pistols and The Clash.