Goffam by Jim Bob of Carter USM reviewed

Jim Bob came to fame as one half of Carter (Unstoppable Sex Machine), an act that had a string of hit singles and albums. He went on to a solo career performing his quirky songs.

Jim Bob calls for a superhero for Goffam
Singer-songwriter Jim Bob, formerly of Carter USM, has a new album out entitled Goffam and a new masked man superhero image to go with it too in his current publicity. His lyrics are just as excellent as they were back in the days of past hits like Sheriff Fatman and The Only Living Boy in New Cross, and provide a cynical but at times darkly humorous and always well-observed social commentary on the modern world.

Dystopian world of Goffam

A concept album

Jim Bob is a master at mixing genres and combines elements of punk, electronics, acoustic rock, punk, pop and music hall even. The 12 songs on the album Goffam are very varied but held together by his very distinctive Cockney voice.

Jim Bob's new album is a concept album and is set in the dystopian world of Goffam, an obvious play on Gotham, where the shopkeeper sells "glue in a bag" and "individual fags" to the young kids. A city suburb where the residents are forced to "hear the neighbours fighting" through "paper-thin" walls, and "lonely old dears" try to enjoy what's left of their "golden years".

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Orwellian

Inner city nightmare

This could be any run-down inner-city estate in modern Britain as it becomes more Orwellian by the day. This is a community in dire need of a superhero, and a world where its troubled people faced with nightmare housing conditions might well ask: "Architect architect where do you live?"

The decadent and dark world of Goffam that Jim Bob describes desperately needs a crime-fighter with super powers to sort out it's problems. One solution offered is to "Support the Goffam cops."

Song titles include: Goffam's Secret Millionaire, The Man Behind the Counter of the Science Fiction Superstore, One Small Step For Man, Lonely Cop and Superhero Midlife Crisis.

Jim Bob , the man behind the counter march 09 - soho

Live in London

Fruitbat

Les Carter

Jim Bob is supported in his efforts in recording this album by the equally talented but not so well-known singer-songwriter Chris T-T, and Les "Fruitbat" Carter, the other half of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine is credited on the album notes as well.

Goffam is released on The Ten Forty Sound label and comes with an insert comic. If you were a fan of Carter USM or have appreciated Jim Bob's other solo work since then you should also enjoy Goffam.

It may not be like some of the magnificent vinyl LPs of the '60s and '70s that came with pull-out gatefold sleeves featuring incredible artwork and lyric sheets too, but Jim Bob proves that the concept album is still very much alive today. And I think most of us have had a superhero!

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