30 Century Man

AMG Review of 30 Century Man

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

Released on New Year's Eve 1992, 30 Century Man was a major turning point for Catherine Wheel, despite three of its four tracks being covers. One could say that this was the band's way of demonstrating wider-ranging influences than the endless Ride and House of Love comparisons the British press were lofting at them. Recent tours with the underrated God Machine and angst merchants Smashing Pumpkins might have aided in the toughening of their sound, and it appears that this is the first sign of them translating their live edge to tape. Furthermore, Rob Dickinson sounds like a much more confident singer here, witnessed to great extent on the lone group-penned track, "Free of Mind." The song would mark the direction they would head in on 1993's Chrome; they would retain their sense of melody, dynamics, and tension, but aggression would come into use more prominently. The title track is a Scott Walker song, which they transform from a brief, sparse tune into a raging five-minute anthem. This certainly wasn't one of their brightest moments, but interesting nonetheless. They throw it into overdrive on Mission of Burma's "That's When I Reach for My Revolver," with Dickinson adding even more intensity to Clint Conley's post-punk classic. The EP closes in equally intense fashion with a storming version of Hüsker Dü's "Don't Want to Know if You Are Lonely" that is nearly a note-for-note rendition, but still a moment not be missed. Snap this one up if you ever see it, as it's the Holy Grail of Catherine Wheel rarities (5,000 pressed total -- half vinyl, half CD).