We've updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Nine By Nine (Expanded Edition)

by The Fletcher Pratt

supported by
tomdeja
tomdeja thumbnail
number6mi
number6mi thumbnail
declanmacmanus
declanmacmanus thumbnail
superman
superman thumbnail
Jeff Jotz
Jeff Jotz thumbnail
Gary Lisker
Gary Lisker thumbnail
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown thumbnail
jettster
jettster thumbnail
enniss
enniss thumbnail
hermanator1964
hermanator1964 thumbnail
eijanaika
eijanaika thumbnail
RJ Kirkevold
RJ Kirkevold thumbnail
Doughboyz
Doughboyz thumbnail
Chas on Tour
Chas on Tour thumbnail
Michael Polkabla
Michael Polkabla thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD

     

1.
Electrocute! 02:02
2.
Spin Label 03:38
3.
Satellite 02:30
4.
Living In the House 04:05
5.
Change 02:52
6.
16 Days (Unsteady) 03:37
7.
Million Miles 03:04
8.
Listen As It Fades 03:36
9.
Letters 03:38
10.
Lucy and the Train Back 03:10
11.
Sugar Won't Let You Sleep 03:03
12.
Long Medley a) Take It Away from Us 02:31
13.
b) Taxday 04:16
14.
c) Liberated 03:26
15.
d) Rings True 01:48
16.
Rocksteady 02:09
info
17.
Electrocute! 01:58
info
18.
Sugar Won't Let You Sleep 02:59
info
19.
Satellite 04:01
info
20.
Pussycat 03:30
info
21.
Change 03:02
info
22.
Kids in 1965 02:35
info
23.
Queen's Crown 02:30
info

about

Includes entire "Slumber Party Highs" EP.

Although casual observers will understandably deem this Detroit quartet power pop, The Fletcher Pratt upheld its city's gritty heritage by not being saccharine dinks. The marshmallow sweets on Nine by Nine (which retrieves some of the eight songs from the brief 1999 mini-album) come wrapped around a craggy rock that leaves bloody scratches rather than a throbbing tooth. Guitarists George Dubber (urgent, keening voice with a bit of a Marc Bolan wiggle) and Stephen Palmer (more of a gruff Paul Weller bawler) write and sing diverse tunes that balance sardonic wit with sweet sentimentality and infuse the whole shebang with breathless energy that positively kicks melodic ass. They each sing lead, but share refrains and choruses to fine effect, egging each other on with skilled abandon.

Suspended in the ether between '60s British Invasion and '80s post-punk aggro, Nine by Nine is a gem made all the more potent by the band's audible enthusiasm, countless bits of inventive business (tremolo and chukka-chukka guitar accents on "Spin Label"; an Elvis Costello coda on "Living in the House"; a Beatle lick on "16 Days (Unsteady)") and Al Sutton's rough'n'tumble production. "Electrocute" is a roaring joy that opens the album with the quizzical triplet "Electrocute my mind/Take away my time/Do just what you want to" and contains a gorgeous bridge; "Spin Label" stomps like a bull with a hotfoot; the charming "Satellite" breaks up a dinky three-chord romance (complete with handclaps) that wouldn't challenge the skills of a Trio cover band by inserting a tricky bridge that turns the song inside out, leaving the verses and chorus as the light relief, not the heavy lifters. It goes on like that for three-quarters of an hour, exceeding expectations at every turn. A stupendous debut that ended the band's recording career. Ira Robbins Trouser Press


The Fletcher Pratt's Nine by Nine album is one of the best retro power pop albums. The Detroit band exhibited a fine grasp of the proper ratio of power to pop, crafted winning melodies and laid them down with all the confidence of a band on top of the world. Pity that nobody was listening. Double pity that the group broke up soon after the release. If you dug that record you will want to try to track down their Slumber Party Highs. It came out a year before Nine by Nine and shares three songs: "Electrocute!," "Sugar Won't Let You Sleep," and "Satellite." On this E.P., their sound is not as sharp and tough. The guitars don't leap out and grab you by the throat, and the drums lack power. (This difference in sound is especially apparent on "Electrocute!" which is a screaming rock classic on Nine by Nine, but here has electric piano and 12-string guitar involved. It is still a great song, but the band sure did improve it.) Despite this, Slumber Party Highs is still quite enjoyable; singers George Dubber and Stephen Palmer are rock and roll tough, and pop tender, and the songs that don't appear on Nine by Nine are all top-notch. "Pussycat" is a fine beat ballad with an early Elvis Costello feeling, "Rocksteady" is a nicely bopping rocker with a boss hook, and "Queen's Crown" captures the feel of mid-'60s Kinks without aping their sound. Slumber Party Highs is loads of fun, and a vital piece in the Fletcher Pratt puzzle. Good luck finding it! Tim Sendra - All Music Guide

credits

released August 3, 2012

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Futureman Records image

Futureman Records Detroit, Michigan

The Futureman only finds and releases the most vital and raw recordings from the field. He asks for no thanks or special notice. However, tip your hats or raise your glasses their way: Futureman Records, The Vanguard of the People.

discography

contact / help

Contact Futureman Records

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Futureman Records recommends:

If you like Nine By Nine (Expanded Edition), you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Nubya Garcia chats about the supergroup London Brew, and Don from A Certain Ratio talks 1982.

 listen now