Believe it or not the three topless women on the cover art are the same women who created the groundbreaking punk/reggae album
Cut. Known for their interesting rhythmic style and fusion of classic-punk, dub, ska, and reggae the Slits were one of the most unique female trios to come out of the late 70's punk explosion. Landmark records such as
London Calling,
Entertainment , and
Unkown Pleasures were released in 1979,
Cut ranks up there with every single one of them.
Musically
Cut blends soothing reggae beats with bouncy guitar lines and angst-ridden vocals. The energy provided by lead vocalist Viv Albertine gives the music a slight punk influence and when you combine that with reggae the music sounds like a female version of Peter Tosh or UB40. Strange isn’t it? On the contrary
Cut doesn’t seem like that groundbreaking of a record upon first listen however once you invest some time with it you’ll being to realize why the album is so critically acclaimed. Tracks range from the chilled out, Jamaica influenced
Instant Hit to the erratic rhythms and bouncy melodies found on
Shoplifting. Moods change rapidly from song to song and that’s what makes
Cut such a loveable album, one song will be a laid-back reggae jam and the next will be an upbeat new-wave anthem.
As far as musicianship goes The Slits consisted of a bassist, vocalist, drummer, and guitarist. Most of the albums catchy grooves and melodies are jazzy reggae riffs provided by the guitar. Although there isn’t a ton of musical variation featured on
Cut it doesn’t matter because every single song is addicting and insanely catchy. The hooks and grooves will be stuck in your head for days whether it’s the backing vocals on
So Tough or the quick paced jazz guitar found on
Ping Pong Affair. It’s difficult to dislike The Slits because their music is flooding with energy yet it has this laid-back atmosphere that’s hard to pinpoint.
Influenced by groups such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash it’s quite obvious that The Slits aren’t exactly music virtuosos. That being said
Cut is a memorable listening experience due to it’s vibrant hooks and unique blend of reggae, new-wave, dub, and punk. Every song has something to offer and even though they may sound similar at first once you give
Cut a couple of spins you’ll be singing along to every single track on the album. Influential, genre blending, simple, and irresistibly catchy.
Cut is a must have for fans of classic punk, new-wave, and reggae.
