Albania

  • Albania
  • Are You All Mine (UK Chiswick) 1981 
  • Life After Death Is Still on the Phone [DVD] (UK Ace) 1996 

Formed in Glasgow in late 1978, this quintet (whose lineup of Scottish, Irish and Lithuanian musicians hardly explains the name) specialized in prolix, engaging lyrics about winning and losing at romance, delivered over multinational-styled rock with guitars, keyboards and saxophone providing the basic sound and K-Y McKay’s songs and vocals adding personality. The album’s sound stretches from polka to punk — like Deaf School and other demi-theatrical outfits — but it’s really the words that made the band.

[Ira Robbins]