Achtung Bono is the tenth album by UK indie rock band Half Man Half Biscuit, released in 2005.[4]

Achtung Bono
Studio album by
Released12 September 2005
RecordedFrog Studios, Warrington [1]
GenrePost-punk
Length40:34
LabelProbe Plus Probe 57
ProducerCarl Wark
Half Man Half Biscuit chronology
Saucy Haulage Ballads
(2003)
Achtung Bono
(2005)
CSI:Ambleside
(2008)
Dedicated to the memory of John Peel
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [2]
Stylus MagazineA− [3]

In 2010, a Facebook campaign was mounted with the aim of saving BBC 6 Music from threatened closure and, as a sign of protest, to get "Joy Division Oven Gloves" from Achtung Bono to No. 6 in the UK Singles Chart on 12 April 2010.[5][6] In the event, it entered the Singles Chart that week at No. 56 and the Independent Singles Chart at No. 3.[7][8] Whether or not the campaign was influential, BBC 6 Music was saved.

Critical reception edit

Reviews were generally favourable:

  • Stewart Mason, Allmusic: "One of their finest albums".[2]
  • Roger Holland, PopMatters: "Achtung Bono is a worthy addition to the HMHB canon".[9]
  • Ben Granger, Spike Magazine: "This is probably not one of Half Man Half Biscuit’s best albums. And yet its [sic] still fantastic".[10]
  • Dom Passantino, Stylus Magazine: "UK album of the year, by a landslide".[3]

Track listing edit

No.TitleLength
1."Restless Legs"1:53
2."Corgi Registered Friends"3:39
3."For What Is Chatteris..."2:05
4."Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo"2:41
5."Surging Out of Convalescence"3:38
6."Upon Westminster Bridge"2:45
7."Joy Division Oven Gloves"3:10
8."Mate of the Bloke"3:37
9."Asparagus Next Left"2:55
10."Depressed Beyond Tablets"3:00
11."Bogus Official"1:22
12."Letters Sent"2:38
13."Twydale's Lament"3:31
14."We Built This Village on a Trad. Arr. Tune"3:48

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Frog Recording Studios". Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Mason, Stewart. Achtung Bono at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Passantino, Dom (21 September 2005). "Half Man Half Biscuit: Achtung Bono". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  4. ^ Half Man Half Biscuit – Achtung Bono at Discogs
  5. ^ McCabe, Maisie (22 March 2010). "6 Music supporters push Half Man Half Biscuit song". mediaweek.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  6. ^ Plunkett, John (7 April 2010). "Campaign to save 6 Music takes the Biscuit". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 11 April 2010–17 April 2010". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50: 11 April 2010–17 April 2010". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b Holland, Roger. "Kicking Against The Pricks! An Interview with Half Man Half Biscuit". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 February 2016. Date c. 2005.
  10. ^ a b Granger, Ben (1 November 2005). "Half Man Half Biscuit : Achtung Bono". Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  11. ^ Stewart, Michael (24 November 2014). "URGE FOR NIGEL: an interview with Nigel Blackwell of Half Man Half Biscuit". Retrieved 26 February 2016.

External links edit

  • "Achtung Bono". Retrieved 26 February 2016. The oldest-established Half Man Half Biscuit fansite.
  • "Achtung Bono". Retrieved 26 February 2016. The Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project.