Category: ザ・ウィラード

The Willard released this 12“ in 1987 on Eastworld, part of Toshiba EMI. The ep has one track off their 3^rd album „The Legend Of Silver Guns“ plus two non-album tracks. While I found „Who Sings A Gloria?“, The Willard’s first album on a major, still pretty much comparable to their indie releases, by the time Silly Games the music does sound somewhat changed. This may be due to the fatter and very clean production, though; „Silly Games“ and „Searching For Your Eyes“ (I really dig the organ solo!) are still fast-paced and melodic punk songs, but they sound a bit tamer to my ears than their previous output. „You’re Lost Little Girl“ on the other hand IS a pretty clean ballad.

Anyway, this is still a very cool 12“ and it’s very much worth checking out!

So, check it out!

The Willard released their Run “Cindy” Run 12“ in 1986. To my ears this ep sounds a lot cleaner, less punk, and more new wave rock when compared to their earlier output. I don’t listen to it as often as I do to their punkier stuff, but this 12“ is still cool stuff, it’s just a bit different in style.

Get it!

The second album by the masters of glamorous melodic punk rock, released in 1986 on EMI subsidiary Eastworld. Musically it’s not that different from their wonderful debut album, but I listen to it less often than I listen to Good Evening Wonderful Friend. The songs are about as good, but it kind of lacks the great stand out hits like Vanguard. Jolly Rogers or Nightmare (damn, I love that song!). Still, a great album by a great band, with lots of melodic bombs!

Punks sing a gloria, that’s who!

The Willard’s 2nd 7“, released in 1983. All in all, it is still a bit rougher than their later, anthemic „The Damned go Japan“ style, but the direction is already there. On Side A the opener Soldier Song is fast paced but catchy, while Cos I Live is an aggressive, pounding mid-tempo number with melodic choruses and cool guitar harmonies, and Suicide Romance is quite hardcore in style. Side B opens with their anthem „Punx Sing A Gloria“ and closes with the catchy and melodic Voices. Afaik my version is a bootleg.

Sing A Gloria if you’re a punk!

The Willard released their classic debut album Good Evening Wonderful Friend in 1985 after a string of 7“es. It’s a treasure chest of melodic bombs like Jolly Rogers or Vanguard; especially Nightmare is such an incredibly beautiful, dark and melodic song it’s almost supernatural. If you don’t love it, you’ve got no heart!

No heart, you hear me?

According to discogs this flexi 7“ was a giveaway at the release show for Good Evening Wonderful Friend in 1985. It came in blue and red versions, my 7“ is a red one. Two tracks (3 Years and D-Day Or Lost Day) are re-recorded versions of songs on their first 7“ from 1982, La Caduta Degli Dei. The new recordings are a bit faster (of course) and the sound is a bit cleaner compared to the old 7“. The last track, Winter Song, is an instrumental which starts out slow and contemplative (or so), gets louder and faster before its noisy finale.

D-Day. Definitely.

Although three of four songs (two studio and two live) on this double 7“ were also released elsewhere, this record is definitely recommended. The title track was also on The Willard’s 2nd LP, Punx Sing A Gloria and Outlaw were both released as studio versions on the eponymous 7“es. Especially the (as far as I know) otherwise unreleased song Untouchable is a true killer track with awesome synth melodies, I was completely floored when I listened to it the first time!

We’re the lightning, go west!