One of the most exciting British musical movements of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s was the short-lived mod revival. While
the Jam may be credited with kick-starting the movement, it's bands like
Secret Affair,
the Chords,
Squire, and
the Lambrettas that are most closely associated with all things mod. The closest musical equivalent to mod was the power pop scene that was sweeping the U.S. at the same time (
the Knack,
20/20,
Paul Collins' Beat,
the Plimsouls, etc). Of all the mod bands that emerged from the U.K.,
the Lambrettas were easily the most commercially accessible and should have easily transcended and outlived the mod revival tag, but it was not to be. With more hooks than a fisherman's warehouse, their 1981 debut album,
Beat Boys in the Jet Age, was an amazing collection of great songs and remains one of the most underappreciated albums of the ‘80s. While
Peter Collins' polished production may not have showcased the grit and grime of their live sound, it is the infectious energy and classic British songwriting that make this album a real treat. From start to finish, top to bottom,
Beat Boys in the Jet Age is every bit the "classic" album and deserves to be heard by anyone with a passion for power pop, jangle pop, mod, and new wave.