Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols Review: The Sound of British Punk Exploding
9/10 — Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)
Pros
- Snarling energy
- Catchy anthems
- Defining punk attitude
Cons
- Repetitive
- Limited variety
Never Mind the Bollocks was released in the UK in 1977 amid scandal and controversy, with the band banned from radio and TV. It is the defining British punk record.
What works
Steve Jones’s wall-of-sound guitars and Johnny Rotten’s sneering vocals deliver ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’, ‘God Save the Queen’ and ‘Holidays in the Sun’ with real venom. The tunes are surprisingly catchy and the production is thick and powerful.
Where it falters
At 38 minutes, it’s quite repetitive, and its attitude is stronger than its variety.
Verdict
A raw, rousing and historically vital punk statement.
