Well it's not been a very long since the "Strawberries" remaster was released, but this time it gets the packaging it deserves. Not only the original LP artwork has been restored but you also get the integral of the corresponding b-sides. Althought not as much as you might think since "Rat vs The Omni", "Citadel Zombies" and the Bimbo Jingle were originally just one track on the "Generals" single. And also if I may make a minor complaint... Their is typo in the track listing. I won't commit the offence of telling you what it is.

Anyway, enough moaning... It's nice to finally hear "The Missing Link" in its own induvidual track because it is such a beautiful piece of music.

Moving on to the album, it was the Damned's most sophisticated recording at that point. It had a well balanced mix of punk, rock, new wave, goth and also had an industrial sound to it. It was the last one with Captain Sensible before he left for a very long time but it was also the first to feature Roman Jugg who latter became a full time member of the band.

I suppose their best effort on this album is "The Dog" which is rather a forecast of the sound they were going to adopt ("Phantasmagoria" and "Anything"). "Ignite" is the ultimate hit on the album and is a crowd favorite.

So here it is... The Damned's finest in all it's glory and splendour. Get it now.

This is a pop album by a punk band, retaining the energy of their previous releases while adding hooks and harmonies. It even has dynamics, with the mellowness of "Under the Floor Again" to the rapidity of "Ignite". A must buy.

If you came looking for punk, this album is NOT for you. If you want a band that was musically broadening their horizons through experimentation, then get this album. When I got this album I was expecting a rocking punk LP, but I was disappointed. Strawberries marks the point where The Damned decided to leave the punk scene in favor of Goth/New Order. Some call them sell-outs for it and in a strictly punk sense they are. But the music is solid. No one can ever say that The Damned made bad music.

I'm not partial to this genre and would've liked to hear another album like Machine Gun Etiquette.

After this it was pretty much downhill for the damned with Captain Sensible leaving for a very brief successful solo career. But Strawberries remains a very good record that took the eperimentation of the black album abit further on tracks like Under the floor again and life goes on- both haunting and moody rock numbers with pronounced basslines ala New Order. Here the damned showed their love of 60's pyschedelia with very british backing vocals crisp guitar lines and the crooning of deepvoiced Vanian. There still was some of the old punk damned left- especially on the opener Ignite which sounds like something from Machine gun ettiquette. On Stranger on the town theres a motown beat and horn section and this showcased the damneds improved songwriting skills and search for something beyond punk. THeres energy and hooks there just less obvious. The songs are longer and have alot of backing instruments- especially the organ which the damned have always used to good effect. This is one of their more diverse records and sits well with the Black album in feel and style. For 1982 this a very good record from one of the more original bands of the past 30 years. I have the original cd without the bonus material which i prefer because the extra tracks take away the vibe of the original album. The bonus stuff is always interesting and sometimes very good but loses steam and drags it down. If you can find the original big beat releases or the reissues of the damned with just the original tracks i recommend you pick up DAMNED DAMNED DAMNED- MGE- BLACK ALBUM AND STRAWBERRIES.

This is my favourite Damned album. I have everything they ever released(apart from New Rose on Stiff)and I bought them when they were released. I've still got Strawberries on vinyl and yes the strawberry smelling lyric sheet still smells. This album featured probably the best Damned line-up in Vanian, sensible, Scabies and Gray and the tour for this album featured the singing nuns!!

Anyway, on this album Vanians oice was never better and standout tracks are Stranger On The Town, Ignite and Generals.

If you can find it also pick up Live at Newcastle and Machine Gun Etiquette as they are also cracking.