Five Thirty - Bed (Expanded) (1991)

Five Thirty's Bed won't go down in history as a multi-platinum blockbuster, but those who were aware of the album found a lot to admire about it. Tough, gritty, and rockin', yet highly melodic, Five Thirty favored a punky, edgy Brit-pop/power pop approach that often inspired comparisons to the Jam and owed something to the Beatles and the Kinks as well. Indeed, infectious tracks like "Strange Kind of Urgency," "Junk Male," and "Mistress Daydream" do have a strong Jam influence like the Jam (or the Beatles and the Kinks), Five Thirty have a way with a hook. But the British combo offer an energy and a melodic aggression of its own; Five Thirty obviously appreciatethe Jam's late-'70s output a great deal, but appreciating a band doesn't have to mean becoming an outright clone or a carbon copy. Unfortunately, Bed didn't enjoy as much exposure as it deserved in the United States. But the album is worth searching for if one has a healthy appetite for invigorating Brit-pop and power pop.