To understand this, you really need to have a grounding in early-90's British sub-culture. Carter are one of the most-loved bands that ever existed. Les (Fruitbat) is one of the most beautiful, kind and generous people ever to have graced this earth.
Carter USM is such an underated band. Their lyrics are second to none.......The wordplay and puns are so so good. Just a sgood today as they were backi in 1989. BIG LOVE for this band!!!! They reccorded 30something for less than £4000!! 1992 Love Album is not their masterpiece for sure but still very cool.
@@JP-ve7or oh for sure...the intro lyrics in particular are wicked!!....jelly snakes and kids smoke crack on their morning breaks...Luv it! I've got young offenders mum on a pink vinyl and B side is the Trouble cover. B side is awesome!! Their covers are all so good. Pet Shop Boys, Smith's etc. I set my technics up a while ago and was going to play it first but then realized someone borrowed my cartridges for a rave and and cant remember who.
@@Mardenski100 I've not listened to it for ages but did quite like that album overall. No way as good as previous. Will put it on now as noones home next door so i can crank it right up. I brought a pair of JBL L100 Classics a while ago 2nd hand and have some very large speakers in a very small house. I dont think I've even played any Carter through them
For people of a certainly age, that’s my age, Carter were more often than not the first band we saw live. They toured relentlessly and their gigs were wild and loud. They’re very beloved in the U.K. among Gen X’ers. This song is about about the AIDS crisis as it unfolded. The fast bit reads as an obituary to all the people who were dying and the song is about a guy watching all these people dying and feeling like he’s the only person left. Carter are so very British. A lot of it would be lost on people outside of the U.K. (they were big outside the U.K., notably in Europe). In the U.K. they were often called the thinking (or drinking) man’s Petshop Boys.
Saw at Slims in SF and The Edge in Palo Alto for The Love Album and Post Historic Monsters respectively - insanely spirited and energy shows, two of the best I've seen. They didn't dissapoint.
The best band I never to see. 50 year old English bloke, living in China, just remeniscing. I was watching Flicking the V's when I noticed this channel.
In the early days, they didnt use their real names at all, it was "JimBob" and "Fuitbat". Later on it became more widely known what their real names were. For years, the "joke" was that in every interview they were asked who "Carter" was, and they came up with something different each time. In the mid 90s they got a drummer and a keyboard player and stopped using the drum machine, I personally preferred this sound (especially live). But they found 4 people hard to manage for tours/etc.. So now when they play reunions, its mainly as a 2 piece. The more you know (rainbow)
I really liked this song. As an American I don't get all the slang and references, but the general theme and feeling of the song comes through. Whoever suggested this, thanks for bringing something different to the table!
I saw them live, at Derby University once. Colin Cooper and Stuart Pearce standing about 15 feet away. (Pearce was known for playing punk on the coach, when Forest were travelling). The venue had a visual warning device, for noise levels. It never left the red! Great band, 30something was my personal favourite. Bloodsport for all. Although "A Prince In A Paupers Grave" is a mellow classic.
Saw at Slims in SF and The Edge in Palo Alto for The Love Album and Post Historic Monsters respectively - insanely spirited and energy shows, two of the best I've seen. They didn't dissapoint.
Stumbled upon this. One of my all time fave bands. They got massive on the UK indie scene in the late 80s and 90s. The Unstoppable Sex machine was the name they gave to the drum machine they had. The band was only Jim Bob and Fruitbat on guitars and a drum machine. Later they used or tried a drummer but it wast the same. I would request you to listen to Midnight on the Murder mile, i think lyrically its excellent, as one of my fave Carter songs. Also, as someone has said, Jim Bob is probably one of the best Lyricists ever.
No comment on the lyrics, really? This is CARTER - the band that puts the "pun" into "punk rock"! I still grin from ear to ear at the gag "fill another suitcase with another HAUL..."
Carter USM. Good memories. I saw them live at the Palace in Hollywood back in 92. They were amazing live and put on a damn good show. The light show was great. A lot of strobe lights. They were a two piece band originally and used a drum machine. By 94/95 they moved away from the drum machine and brought in a regular drummer and bass guitarist. They were a breath of fresh air in the era of grunge. They were once called "a punk rock pet shop boys" ( they were labelled a punk band when they first started out) and they were once managed by Simon Cowell. As a side note, New Cross is an area of London that I believe had a flourishing music scene at the time.
Glad you guys like ... Whenever i hear this reminds me of Newquay in Cornwall in a night club that once a week did indie/grunge music i asked the DJ if he had this song he played in 30 minutes later must of been 100 or more people on the dance floor going crazy dancing and jumping around always makes me smile. Seen them many time live at Shepherd's Bush Empire .. great venue .. great band.
'Carter' is a steal from Michael Cain's character in the movie Get Carter. They played Zabreb while the war was going on and it resulted in the most visceral and enjoyable live album I've ever heard, Worry Bomb/Sportiva Doma.. Totally full on power and glory. much heavier and in your face than the studio pop stuff. This song, sadly, is about people disappearing around him from Rock n Roll and AIDS.
I must have seen Carter USM about 20 times - it seemed like they played every other week at a club I worked at in 1990. Sheriff Fatman was on permanent repeat on the jukebox there. They weren't taken that seriously because of the pop culture references throughout a lot of their songs and the terrible puns. Much like Pop Will Eat Itself. But you can't deny the energy they bring and they certainly had their moment on the 1990's. Good recommendation.
Ita hard to put into words how much this band ment to the "outsiders" in the uk. They sold out Brixton academy more times than any other bands. They're treated like gods here, for a certain crowd theyre fairwell gig was pretty much the most emotional thing ive ever experienced. So many peoplenjuat in tears of the joy of the final comedown
Ir was the best gig i've ever been to..the atmosphere was absolutely electric..i left with no voice after singing my heart out to every single song...absolutely love em..
Hi guys! Stumbled across this looking for a good video of the song. I was living close to London in the early 80s, a little while before Carter USM broke and I love this tune. For me it encapsulates the spirit of the decade when people from many musical affiliations ("the greebos and the crusties and the goths" et al) would just get together at gigs and underground parties and just get down and get along in a spirit of love for the vibe and the music. I can neither confirm nor deny the freewheeling attitude to recreational soft drugs at the time might have had any bearing on this atmosphere. ;)
*Finally* got to see them on their honestly absolutely honest to god farewell tour in 2014 at Bearded Theory festival and they absolutely blew the roof off, or they would have done if it hadn't been outdoors. Up their with Half Man Half Biscuit for classic pop slice of life lyics.
"Eyes down, keep you up to date, two fat ladies, 1988" - that's a bingo reference. Eyes down for a full house on your bingo card at the beginning; and bingo callers have sayings for certain numbers like "two little ducks, 22", "top of the shop, 90"... and "two fat ladies, 88". The song was actually released in 1992, so maybe they sat on it for a few years.
At the risk of dating myself, the dude at Ticketmaster where I bought tickets to see Carter USM in the 90s was like, "USM? Is that . . . United States Marines?" 😂 Anyway, it's wild seeing literally ANYTHING about this band now. I'm 🇺🇸 so I only ever heard Carter on college radio, and finding their CDs was a chore. This song takes me way back. It IS the early 90s to me.
This was randomly played to me on Spotify, I had heard of them obviously but didn't have any idea who it was, I guessed The Frank and Walters so was a bit surprised when Shazam told me. Still think it sounds a bit like Frank and Walters. Very nice.
I've been a Carter fan for years, and this is the first time I've realised the similarity to Just Can't Get Enough, and the similarities to Robyn Hitchcock's voice, so good work!
I saw carter USM at princess Charlotte in Leicester great guys met them both .. inspired Me to make music .. carter USM comes from fruitbat punching a condom machine and endless condoms coming out ... The guitarist name is les carter .. hence
Try, Look Mum No Hands, off 1992 by Carter USM, or The Music that Nobody Likes off Post Historic Monsters, they used a lot of play on words lyrically, great band live for a duo. One of the gigs of the year at Cambridge Corn Exchange in the UK by NME.back in 1990.
Utterly wonderful. A great band with a unique attitude to the music scene of that time. From memory, the single came in a brown paper bag over cover, as the picture sleeve beneath was a 'Billy Boy' penis taken from a German condom manufacturer. Check out the b side to the single a cover of The Smiths 'Panic'.
Honest reaction, much appreciated! Not every song is a gem. I know the Fruitbats too, and prefer them over this, but as usual, tastes vary. Who's to say what's better. Keep up the good work..
Saw at Slims in SF and The Edge in Palo Alto for The Love Album and Post Historic Monsters respectively - insanely spirited and energy shows, two of the best I've seen. They didn't disappoint.
To understand this, you really need to have a grounding in early-90's British sub-culture. Carter are one of the most-loved bands that ever existed.
Les (Fruitbat) is one of the most beautiful, kind and generous people ever to have graced this earth.
Carter USM is such an underated band. Their lyrics are second to none.......The wordplay and puns are so so good. Just a sgood today as they were backi in 1989. BIG LOVE for this band!!!! They reccorded 30something for less than £4000!! 1992 Love Album is not their masterpiece for sure but still very cool.
Yeah aside from Only Living Boy I was very disappointed with 1992 after the two previous albums
@Mardenski100 .....We can agree on, Carter, brilliant. The Love album and Worry bomb, my favourites
I still have my 12 inch single of Rubbish that I got from a secondhand record store way back when. That damned song was so perfect.
@@JP-ve7or oh for sure...the intro lyrics in particular are wicked!!....jelly snakes and kids smoke crack on their morning breaks...Luv it! I've got young offenders mum on a pink vinyl and B side is the Trouble cover. B side is awesome!! Their covers are all so good. Pet Shop Boys, Smith's etc. I set my technics up a while ago and was going to play it first but then realized someone borrowed my cartridges for a rave and and cant remember who.
@@Mardenski100 I've not listened to it for ages but did quite like that album overall. No way as good as previous. Will put it on now as noones home next door so i can crank it right up. I brought a pair of JBL L100 Classics a while ago 2nd hand and have some very large speakers in a very small house. I dont think I've even played any Carter through them
For people of a certainly age, that’s my age, Carter were more often than not the first band we saw live. They toured relentlessly and their gigs were wild and loud. They’re very beloved in the U.K. among Gen X’ers.
This song is about about the AIDS crisis as it unfolded. The fast bit reads as an obituary to all the people who were dying and the song is about a guy watching all these people dying and feeling like he’s the only person left.
Carter are so very British. A lot of it would be lost on people outside of the U.K. (they were big outside the U.K., notably in Europe).
In the U.K. they were often called the thinking (or drinking) man’s Petshop Boys.
Magnificent band, Magnificent song.
Awesome live. Best British Songwriter since Ray Davies…there, I said it.
Wow. . .
I absolutely agree...incredible song writing..
Best live band I've seen. Carter USM had their day in the sun in the early 90s.
Saw at Slims in SF and The Edge in Palo Alto for The Love Album and Post Historic Monsters respectively - insanely spirited and energy shows, two of the best I've seen. They didn't dissapoint.
@@kimbaptempura4073 SF?
The best band I never to see. 50 year old English bloke, living in China, just remeniscing. I was watching Flicking the V's when I noticed this channel.
Very fond memories of this. 17, just passed my test, first car, scorching summer, girls.
Definitely encapsulates the times.
Rubbish!
Xx
Same. No car though 😂 I felt so edgy listening to this full blast
In the early days, they didnt use their real names at all, it was "JimBob" and "Fuitbat". Later on it became more widely known what their real names were. For years, the "joke" was that in every interview they were asked who "Carter" was, and they came up with something different each time. In the mid 90s they got a drummer and a keyboard player and stopped using the drum machine, I personally preferred this sound (especially live). But they found 4 people hard to manage for tours/etc.. So now when they play reunions, its mainly as a 2 piece.
The more you know (rainbow)
I really liked this song. As an American I don't get all the slang and references, but the general theme and feeling of the song comes through. Whoever suggested this, thanks for bringing something different to the table!
I saw them live, at Derby University once. Colin Cooper and Stuart Pearce standing about 15 feet away. (Pearce was known for playing punk on the coach, when Forest were travelling). The venue had a visual warning device, for noise levels. It never left the red! Great band, 30something was my personal favourite. Bloodsport for all. Although "A Prince In A Paupers Grave" is a mellow classic.
The best band ever. Really caught the mood of the 90s English sound. Jimbob does solo stuff now and Les does many things including his own band
Definitely the best kick ass band in the whole effing world.
Saw at Slims in SF and The Edge in Palo Alto for The Love Album and Post Historic Monsters respectively - insanely spirited and energy shows, two of the best I've seen. They didn't dissapoint.
THE greatest band ever to step on a stage...fuggin love em..
Depeche Mode? 😂
Try "Bloodsport For All" by Carter next.
Amazing live band. Seen them many many times and this always sounds amazing!
Singing along to this takes me back...
Stumbled upon this. One of my all time fave bands. They got massive on the UK indie scene in the late 80s and 90s. The Unstoppable Sex machine was the name they gave to the drum machine they had. The band was only Jim Bob and Fruitbat on guitars and a drum machine. Later they used or tried a drummer but it wast the same. I would request you to listen to Midnight on the Murder mile, i think lyrically its excellent, as one of my fave Carter songs. Also, as someone has said, Jim Bob is probably one of the best Lyricists ever.
Thanks for your reaction!! Please do more Carter USM
Every song is from the ❤and full of energy cusm 😊😊😊😊😊😊
No comment on the lyrics, really? This is CARTER - the band that puts the "pun" into "punk rock"! I still grin from ear to ear at the gag "fill another suitcase with another HAUL..."
Very 1990's sound and lyrics sung in a strong south (sarf) London accents.
Great band.
Carter USM. Good memories. I saw them live at the Palace in Hollywood back in 92. They were amazing live and put on a damn good show. The light show was great. A lot of strobe lights. They were a two piece band originally and used a drum machine. By 94/95 they moved away from the drum machine and brought in a regular drummer and bass guitarist. They were a breath of fresh air in the era of grunge. They were once called "a punk rock pet shop boys" ( they were labelled a punk band when they first started out) and they were once managed by Simon Cowell. As a side note, New Cross is an area of London that I believe had a flourishing music scene at the time.
The instrument was a drum machine with programmed bass and synth sounds I think....they were a two piece...2 guitars and backing tracks live
Thanks!
Glad you guys like ... Whenever i hear this reminds me of Newquay in Cornwall in a night club that once a week did indie/grunge music i asked the DJ if he had this song he played in 30 minutes later must of been 100 or more people on the dance floor going crazy dancing and jumping around always makes me smile. Seen them many time live at Shepherd's Bush Empire .. great venue .. great band.
'Carter' is a steal from Michael Cain's character in the movie Get Carter.
They played Zabreb while the war was going on and it resulted in the most visceral and enjoyable live album I've ever heard, Worry Bomb/Sportiva Doma.. Totally full on power and glory. much heavier and in your face than the studio pop stuff.
This song, sadly, is about people disappearing around him from Rock n Roll and AIDS.
Wow. . . I totally whiffed in getting the meaning of this song. Didn't realize the depth. Thanks for informing. - Greg
Eh? They're named after Les Carter (Fruiitbat)?
But yeah - the song is about HIV.
That album was unbelievably good..
I must have seen Carter USM about 20 times - it seemed like they played every other week at a club I worked at in 1990. Sheriff Fatman was on permanent repeat on the jukebox there. They weren't taken that seriously because of the pop culture references throughout a lot of their songs and the terrible puns. Much like Pop Will Eat Itself. But you can't deny the energy they bring and they certainly had their moment on the 1990's. Good recommendation.
Ita hard to put into words how much this band ment to the "outsiders" in the uk. They sold out Brixton academy more times than any other bands.
They're treated like gods here, for a certain crowd theyre fairwell gig was pretty much the most emotional thing ive ever experienced. So many peoplenjuat in tears of the joy of the final comedown
Ir was the best gig i've ever been to..the atmosphere was absolutely electric..i left with no voice after singing my heart out to every single song...absolutely love em..
Carter USM - what can I say? Always great word-play in their lyrics, I never saw a bad Carter USM gig, lovely people too!
Hi guys! Stumbled across this looking for a good video of the song. I was living close to London in the early 80s, a little while before Carter USM broke and I love this tune. For me it encapsulates the spirit of the decade when people from many musical affiliations ("the greebos and the crusties and the goths" et al) would just get together at gigs and underground parties and just get down and get along in a spirit of love for the vibe and the music.
I can neither confirm nor deny the freewheeling attitude to recreational soft drugs at the time might have had any bearing on this atmosphere. ;)
*Finally* got to see them on their honestly absolutely honest to god farewell tour in 2014 at Bearded Theory festival and they absolutely blew the roof off, or they would have done if it hadn't been outdoors. Up their with Half Man Half Biscuit for classic pop slice of life lyics.
Falling on a bruise or prince in a paupers grave are my favourite carter usm songs.
"Eyes down, keep you up to date, two fat ladies, 1988" - that's a bingo reference. Eyes down for a full house on your bingo card at the beginning; and bingo callers have sayings for certain numbers like "two little ducks, 22", "top of the shop, 90"... and "two fat ladies, 88". The song was actually released in 1992, so maybe they sat on it for a few years.
Saw these guys around 1990 with Senseless Things at ULU amazing gig..
At the risk of dating myself, the dude at Ticketmaster where I bought tickets to see Carter USM in the 90s was like, "USM? Is that . . . United States Marines?" 😂
Anyway, it's wild seeing literally ANYTHING about this band now. I'm 🇺🇸 so I only ever heard Carter on college radio, and finding their CDs was a chore. This song takes me way back. It IS the early 90s to me.
Jim Bob and Fruitbat were a play on words.Saw them Newcastle 1995 after they released Get Tattoos.101 Damnations is a cracking album
Love them , they were first signed band I ever saw
They were great to see live. Just talking about them yesterday
Great request!
This was randomly played to me on Spotify, I had heard of them obviously but didn't have any idea who it was, I guessed The Frank and Walters so was a bit surprised when Shazam told me. Still think it sounds a bit like Frank and Walters. Very nice.
Carter USM was called "the drinking man's depeche mode"
Punk pet shop boys.
I've been a Carter fan for years, and this is the first time I've realised the similarity to Just Can't Get Enough, and the similarities to Robyn Hitchcock's voice, so good work!
Jamie Wednesday
It's great that people overseas are enjoying Carter even if perhaps they don't get all the wordplay.
Yes some Carter!!
some top tracks today guys. try sheriff fatman by them. or try emf or jesus jones they were all out at the same time early 90's
Sheriff Fatman 😁 great song, takes me back to my teens 🤣
I saw carter USM at princess Charlotte in Leicester great guys met them both .. inspired Me to make music .. carter USM comes from fruitbat punching a condom machine and endless condoms coming out ... The guitarist name is les carter .. hence
Best live band. I can't believe that they've almost been forgotten.
Try, Look Mum No Hands, off 1992 by Carter USM, or The Music that Nobody Likes off Post Historic Monsters, they used a lot of play on words lyrically, great band live for a duo. One of the gigs of the year at Cambridge Corn Exchange in the UK by NME.back in 1990.
The former of those two songs was about the Warrington bombing. Very sad
I saw Jim Bob do an acoustic set in Manchester a few years ago.
Utterly wonderful. A great band with a unique attitude to the music scene of that time. From memory, the single came in a brown paper bag over cover, as the picture sleeve beneath was a 'Billy Boy' penis taken from a German condom manufacturer. Check out the b side to the single a cover of The Smiths 'Panic'.
at the time I followed Millwall for a bit.
Honest reaction, much appreciated! Not every song is a gem. I know the Fruitbats too, and prefer them over this, but as usual, tastes vary. Who's to say what's better. Keep up the good work..
Thanks, Phillip.
Punk Rock Pet Shop Boys.
This is probably the worst song from the album '1992'. Better ones are 'England' and 'Look Mum, No Hands'.
The worst song?? Seriously??
Saw at Slims in SF and The Edge in Palo Alto for The Love Album and Post Historic Monsters respectively - insanely spirited and energy shows, two of the best I've seen. They didn't disappoint.
Punk Shop Boys