It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything from The Damned and so when this dropped in my lap I was more than a tad surprised. Cue a frenzy of research and discovering that, much like my love life, there’d been something Darkadelic in April 2023, but before that, only two releases of note in terms of studio albums since 2008.
“So what have we here then?” I pondered. Well, the first thing that struck me was only one track of the ten managed to clock in at over four minutes, so this was more than likely going to be a compilation of short sharp musical jabs to the ribs. Interesting. Then I spied a couple of the titles and my soon-to-be 52 years old brain kicked me! It’s a covers album! Interesting x2!
The Damned have always had their own sound, but they’ve certainly not been averse to a cover in their time either! “Black Night” by Deep Purple got their treatment 40 years ago, as did Motorhead with “Overkill”, and so I’m curious as to what I’ll find here. In fact, what I discover is an eclectic mix, from Joe Cocker and Pink Floyd to The Kinks and The Yard Birds, The Rolling Stones and Iggy Pop & The Stooges.
Curiously, for me, the standout track for me is a song by none of the above! Instead, it’s “When I was Young”, originally by The Animals, but delivered here with a grit and anger which properly pressed my buttons, and a guitar which matches the mood. Having not been familiar with it perhaps made it more interesting than tracks like “See Emily Play”, which in itself is covered well but without the “Ohh!” factor.
Because most of the tracks on the album are things most of us of a certain age will be familiar with it’s a really easy listen. “Summer in the City” and “There’s a Ghost in My House” are delivered with vim and vigour, vocals crisp and musically interesting enough to enable multiple listens to not become tiresome. The vocal on “Gimme Danger” is especially noteworthy, Dave Vanian excelling in drizzling the lyrics with a doom infested nuance.
If the whole album is a nod to the recent passing of The Damned’s original guitarist Brain James, I guess “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” isn’t a bad way to pay tribute. It’s how I’d like to be remembered, and the tititular (sic!) track, originally by the Kinks captures the mood well. It’s a curious title for a covers album though, something of an Oxymoron perhaps? Although I guess the Damned were never likely to captain sensible as an approach! They’d rather, I suspect, catch scabies than be thought of like that, especially so nowadays where we’re all a lot more gray! Enough with the name puns Wiseman!
Essentially here what you have is 35 minutes of entertainment you’ll be happy to visit and revisit, quite possibly all in one sitting each time. There’s more than enough to keep your attention, and certainly enough of a difference in interpretations to add a feeling of freshness to the whole thing while maintaining the familiarity of the band, and the bands they’re covering. As endorsements go, I’m not sure there can be a much better one, given all of those involved already iconic statuses. Enjoy!
THE DAMNED Not Like Everybody Else Album Release: 23rd January 2026 There’s A Ghost In My House Single Release: 30th October 2025 Formats: CD Digipak 1LP Gatefold (black, 180g) Ltd. Rainbow Sparkle 1LP Gatefold (180g) Tracklisting CD/LP: Side A:
1. There’s A Ghost In My House
2. Summer In The City
3. Making Time
4. Gimme Danger
5. See Emily Play Side B:
6. I’m Not Like Everybody Else
7. Heart Full Of Soul
8. You Must Be A Witch
9. When I Was Young
10. The Last Time
