AMG Review of Down on the Farm: A Collection of the Less Obvious

Ron DePasquale
All Music Guide

What could be more raw and grating than a collection of classic and obscure recordings by U.K. Subs? Charlie Harper's vocals don't exactly come shining through, but the band's sense of alienation and despair does on songs like the title track, "Down on the Farm" (later covered by Guns N' Roses), from the 1980 album Endangered Species; "Limo Life"; and "Party in Paris." There are also songs that are more fun and offbeat, like the police brutality tale of "New York State Police" and the glam rock "Countdown."