AMG Review of Stranglers IV

Alex Ogg
All Music Guide

A stopgap American-only release that introduced the then-new song "Vietnamerica." No small irony there, given that the Stranglers never thought much of the U.S. (check out "Dead Loss Angeles" on The Raven or the later single "Big in America"). When they lost all of their equipment to New York thieves around this time, that just about set the seal on their contempt for the country. In addition to five tracks from 1979's superb The Raven plus recent singles, the album originally came with a free 7" EP (featuring Stranglers chestnuts "Choosey Suzie" and "Straighten Out," as well as one track each from the recent solo work of Burnel and Cornwell).