That Petrol Emotion

Trackimage Playbut Trackname Playbut Trackname
It's A Good Thing 02:31 Tools
Big Decision 02:42 Tools
Stories of the Street 04:58 Tools
Hey Venus 03:18 Tools
Can't Stop 02:51 Tools
Fleshprint 02:26 Tools
Swamp 03:22 Tools
Sensitize 04:04 Tools
Natural Kind Of Joy 02:44 Tools
V2 02:44 Tools
Abandon 06:36 Tools
Big Decision (Extended Version) 04:38 Tools
Spin Cycle 02:06 Tools
Lifeblood 03:50 Tools
Lettuce 02:25 Tools
Circusville 04:05 Tools
Mouth Crazy 03:05 Tools
A Million Miles Away 02:20 Tools
For What It's Worth 03:50 Tools
Cellophane 02:48 Tools
Static 03:36 Tools
Tightlipped 03:05 Tools
Blue To Black 03:46 Tools
Creeping To The Cross 04:42 Tools
Split! 01:39 Tools
Belly Bugs 02:43 Tools
Cheapskate 03:42 Tools
Inside 04:12 Tools
Mess Of Words 03:35 Tools
Detonate My Dreams 04:43 Tools
In The Playpen 02:32 Tools
Tingle 03:31 Tools
Another Day 03:51 Tools
Sweet Shiver Burn 03:24 Tools
Blindspot 04:18 Tools
Compulsion 02:22 Tools
Jesus Says 02:27 Tools
Gnaw Mark 04:12 Tools
Candy Love Satellite 02:23 Tools
Head Staggered 04:00 Tools
Mine 03:38 Tools
Scum Surfin' 04:30 Tools
Sooner Or Later 04:24 Tools
Big Decision - 7" Version 02:44 Tools
Dance Your Ass Off 03:08 Tools
The Deadbeat 02:51 Tools
Groove Check 04:49 Tools
Every Little Bit 03:22 Tools
Catch a Fire 04:29 Tools
Here It Is... Take It! 04:39 Tools
Under The Sky 04:37 Tools
Soul Deep 02:44 Tools
The Price Of My Soul 03:00 Tools
Chester Burnette 02:41 Tools
It’s a Good Thing 02:34 Tools
Tension 03:51 Tools
The Bottom Line 04:04 Tools
Tired Shattered Man 04:00 Tools
Goggle Box 03:16 Tools
Non-Alignment Pact 02:55 Tools
Chester Burnett 02:41 Tools
Candy Loves Satellite 02:23 Tools
Infinite Thrill 04:27 Tools
Last of the True Believers 05:06 Tools
Shangri-La 03:50 Tools
Too Late Blues 03:47 Tools
7th Wave 03:12 Tools
Hot Head 03:05 Tools
Speed of Light 03:59 Tools
Metal Mystery 04:07 Tools
Heartbeat Mosaic 04:10 Tools
Keen 03:11 Tools
Genius Move 04:45 Tools
Big decision - extended version 04:38 Tools
Genius Move - Live 03:30 Tools
Swamp (Extended Mix) 03:58 Tools
Creeping To The Cross (7" Edit) 02:38 Tools
Blind Spot 04:16 Tools
Big Decision - Live 03:21 Tools
Abandon [Boys Own Remix] 04:00 Tools
VP 04:15 Tools
Abandon (Boys Own Mix) 06:41 Tools
Abandon (Boys Own Remix) 03:59 Tools
Abandon - Boys Own Remix 03:06 Tools
Swamp - Extended Remix 03:58 Tools
Creeping To The Cross - 7" Edit 02:39 Tools
Hey Venus (Mad Thatcher Disease Mix) 04:00 Tools
Swamp (Extended Remix) 03:58 Tools
Chemicrazy 06:45 Tools
Tight Lipped 03:06 Tools
Hey Venus (Mad Thatcher Disease Mix - Edit) 03:56 Tools
08 - Tightlipped 02:39 Tools
Everlasting Breath 04:39 Tools
Helter Skelter / Loose - Live 06:36 Tools
Groove Check (Check This Groove Out) 06:58 Tools
V2 [*] 00:00 Tools
Catch a Fire - Live 05:21 Tools
Cheapskates 00:00 Tools
Light & Shade 03:06 Tools
jewel 04:38 Tools
Big Decision (Extended) 04:38 Tools
It's a Good Thing - Live 02:32 Tools
Hey Venus (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Mix) 06:22 Tools
Scumsurfin' 08:09 Tools
Genius Move (Live) 03:29 Tools
Fat mouth creed 02:13 Tools
Bid Decision (Extended Version) 06:22 Tools
Tingle (Hard Boppin' mix) 06:39 Tools
Party Games 03:26 Tools
Hey Venus - Live 03:22 Tools
12 - Blindspot 05:21 Tools
Big Decision [Extended] 04:36 Tools
Last of the True Believers - Live 05:12 Tools
Infinite Thrill - Live 04:22 Tools
Sensitize - Live 04:07 Tools
Catch a Fire (mix 1) 04:32 Tools
Big Decision (Live) 03:20 Tools
abandon - boys own mix 06:39 Tools
Shangri-La - Live 03:27 Tools
Tingle - Live 03:42 Tools
Creeping To The Cross (Shorter & Better) 02:38 Tools
Abandon (Boy's Own Mix) 06:41 Tools
Here It Is...Take It! 04:22 Tools
Swamp - Live 05:08 Tools
Hey Bulldog (live) 02:44 Tools
Creeping to the Cross - Live 02:46 Tools
For What It’s Worth 03:51 Tools
Creeping To The Cross (7' Edit) 05:12 Tools
Big Decision (Promo) 04:05 Tools
Happiness Drives Me Round The Bend 02:18 Tools
Too Late Blues - Live 03:43 Tools
Sensitize (Live) 04:05 Tools
Head Staggered - Live 04:24 Tools
Chemicrazy - Live 07:37 Tools
Last Of The True Believers - Alternate Version 04:45 Tools
think of a woman 03:11 Tools
The Gonest Thing 02:30 Tools
Abandon - Live 06:52 Tools
Hey Venus (Live) 03:21 Tools
Groove Check (The Stoli Mix) 00:00 Tools
Shangri-la - Alternate Version 04:42 Tools
Sweet Shiver Burn - Live 06:04 Tools
Swamp (Extended) 00:00 Tools
Catch a Fire (Live) 03:11 Tools
Creeping to the Cross (Live) 02:45 Tools
It's a Good Thing (Live) 02:31 Tools
Non-Alignment Pact [Live] 03:21 Tools
Swamp (Live) 05:07 Tools
Blue To Black (remix) 05:48 Tools
Detonate My Dreams - Alternate Version 04:46 Tools
Speed Of Light - Alternate Version 04:03 Tools
Abandon (Live) 06:50 Tools
Detonate My Dreams - Live 04:55 Tools
Mouth Crazy - Live 04:01 Tools
Shangri-La (Live) 03:26 Tools
Scumsurfin' - Live 08:27 Tools
Blue to Black - Live 03:52 Tools
Last of the True Believers (Live) 03:55 Tools
Helter Skelter / Loose 03:11 Tools
Chemicrazy (Revitalized) 06:18 Tools
Chemicrazy (Live) 07:35 Tools
A Great Depression on a Slum Night 03:26 Tools
Sweet Shiver Burn (Live) 04:28 Tools
Infinite Thrill (Live) 04:28 Tools
Blue to Black (Live) 03:51 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Can't Stop 02:47 Tools
Detonate My Dreams (Live) 03:51 Tools
Mouthcrazy (live) 03:55 Tools
Big Decision (7" Version) 02:44 Tools
Scumsurfin' (Live) 02:47 Tools
Tingle (Live) 04:46 Tools
That Petrol Emotion - Babble - 04 - Big Decision (Extended Version) 03:26 Tools
Big Decision (Album Version) 02:42 Tools
Cinnamon girl 03:10 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Fleshprint 02:25 Tools
Sensitise (Sensi Mix) 04:28 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Natural Kind Of Joy 02:43 Tools
Zig Zag Wanderer 04:13 Tools
Genius Move (BBC Live Recording, Reading University, 16 Oct 1990) 03:57 Tools
Chrome 03:50 Tools
Swamp [Extended Remix][Version] 04:00 Tools
Gnaw Mark 04:13 Tools
Creeping to the Cross (7" Radio Edit) 03:51 Tools
Mine [*] 04:28 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Lifeblood 03:48 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / It's A Good Thing 02:31 Tools
Dance Your Ass Off [*] 03:50 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Circusville 04:01 Tools
Soul Deep [*] 02:47 Tools
Head Staggered (Live) 06:39 Tools
It's A Good Thing (BBC Live Recording, Reading University, 16 Oct 1990) 04:44 Tools
Cinnamon Girl [Live] 03:50 Tools
Big Human Thing (Demo) 03:57 Tools
Mouth Crazy (Live) 04:58 Tools
Swamp (Remix) 06:39 Tools
Tingle (Hard Boppin' Instrumental) 06:39 Tools
Creeping to the Cross (Shorter and Better) [7" Edit] 06:39 Tools
Fun Time 02:45 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Tightlipped 03:02 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Cheapskate 03:49 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Mouth Crazy 03:05 Tools
Too Late Blues (Live) 04:58 Tools
Little Big Man 04:21 Tools
Its a Good Thing 03:50 Tools
Abandon (Boy's Own Remix) 06:41 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / A Million Miles Away 02:24 Tools
That Petrol Emotion / Blindspot 04:04 Tools
Helter Skelter / Loose (Live) 03:37 Tools
Swamp (John Peel session 16th Dec 1986) 03:05 Tools
Speed of Light (Alternate Version) 04:01 Tools
Big Decision (John Peel session 16th Dec 1986) 04:01 Tools
Its a good thing 03:58 Tools
Hey Venus (Mad Thatcher Disease Mix Edit) 03:02 Tools
Big Decision (Jet Fuel Mix) 06:35 Tools
Babble 03:48 Tools
Sensitize - Sensi Mix 03:48 Tools
A Natural Kind of Joy 02:45 Tools
It's A Good Thing [Clean] 03:06 Tools
The Petrol Emotion 04:38 Tools
Non-Alignment Pact (Live) 03:57 Tools
Creeping To The Cross (BBC Live Recording, Reading University, 16 Oct 1990) 03:57 Tools
Inside (John Peel session 16th Dec 1986) 03:57 Tools
Shangri-La (Alternate Version) 04:44 Tools
Swamp [Extended Remix] 03:58 Tools
Sensitize (Sensi Mix) 02:38 Tools
Under the Sky (live) 03:37 Tools
Groove Check (10") 02:38 Tools
Big Decision (Jet Fuel Dub) 04:00 Tools
Lettuce [peel sessions] 02:38 Tools
Stories Of The Street (Leonard Cohen Cover) 04:58 Tools
Mouthcrazy 03:06 Tools
Big Decision (BBC Live Recording, Reading University, 16 Oct 1990) 03:06 Tools
Detonate My Dreams (Alternate Version) 04:44 Tools
Chester Burnett (John Peel session 16th Dec 1986) 04:44 Tools
That Petrol Emotion- Stories O 04:44 Tools
V2 - That Petrol Emotion 03:55 Tools
Big Decision (bonus 12 mix) 03:55 Tools
Tension (Live) 03:48 Tools
Stories 02:38 Tools
It's A Good Thing - Reading University 1990 03:55 Tools
Circusville [peel sessions] 02:38 Tools
Catch A Fire (remix) 03:48 Tools
circus vilie 04:05 Tools
Here It Is. Take It! 02:38 Tools
Tingle - Reading University 1990 03:37 Tools
Can't Stop [peel sessions] 03:06 Tools
Last of the True Believers (Alternate Version) 03:06 Tools
Creeping To The Cross (Shorter and Better) (7" Edit) 02:38 Tools
04 Natural Kind Of Joy 02:38 Tools
Big Decision (12" mix) 02:38 Tools
That Petrol Emotion - Big Decision 02:38 Tools
V2 [peel sessions] 03:48 Tools
Sensitive 02:38 Tools
Scum Surfin 03:48 Tools
Party Games (Radio 1 Session, 26 Apr 1987) 03:48 Tools
Me And Baby Brother (Radio 1 Session, 26 Apr 1987) 03:48 Tools
Genius Move (Radio 1 Session, 26 Apr 1987) 03:48 Tools
Here It Is Take It ! (Radio 1 Session, 26 Apr 1987) 03:48 Tools
V2 (Peel Session 1985) 02:38 Tools
It‚s A Good Thing 02:38 Tools
Big Decision (Original Extended Version) 03:06 Tools
The Bottome Line 03:48 Tools
Big decision (7 version) 03:06 Tools
Cheapskate [peel sessions] 03:06 Tools
Swamp [version] 03:06 Tools
Everybody's Goin' Triple Bad Acid Yeah! 03:48 Tools
Mouth Crazy [peel sessions] 03:48 Tools
Swamp (Album Version) 03:06 Tools
Cellophane (Promo) 03:48 Tools
Big Human Thing (Demo Version) 03:06 Tools
Good thing 03:06 Tools
Hey Bulldog 03:06 Tools
Creeping to the Cross (Shorter and Better) 03:06 Tools
05 It's A Good Thing 03:06 Tools
Stories Of The Street ( Leonard Cohen) 03:06 Tools
Tingle (Serious Bleep Vibe) 03:06 Tools
03 Mess of words 03:06 Tools
Dance Your A*s Off 03:08 Tools
02 Can't Stop 03:06 Tools
09 Tingle 03:48 Tools
Big Decision [7" Version] 03:48 Tools
Sensitize - Reading University 1990 03:48 Tools
Big Decision & Swamp 03:48 Tools
Creeping To The Cross - Reading University 1990 03:48 Tools
Blind Spot [peel sessions] 03:48 Tools
That Petrol Emotion - Babble - 01 - Swamp 03:48 Tools
Creeping To The Cross (Album Version) 03:48 Tools
Swamp ( Extended Remix) 03:48 Tools
Big Decison 7' 03:48 Tools
06 Gnaw Mark 03:48 Tools
Here It Is...take It 03:48 Tools
Swamp (12" mix) 03:48 Tools
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  • 199314
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That Petrol Emotion originally formed in 1984 from the ashes of the Derry Hitmakers, Bam Bam and the Calling and The Undertones. It was formed by guitarist John O'Neill and second guitarist Raymond Gorman who DJ'd together at the Derry 'Left Bank' club. Drummer and friend Ciaran McLaughlin joined next after having relocated from Derry to London, followed by John's brother and Undertones lead guitarist Damian O'Neill who played bass from 1985 until 1988 upon John's departure. He then took up guitar duties from 1988-1994 and 2008-present. Charismatic American singer Steve Mack, who was on a year out working in a pizzeria in London at the time, finished off the line up. Two more bassists played in the band after John O'Neill left: John Marchini (1988-1991) then Brendan Kelly (1991-1994 and 2008-present). That Petrol Emotion's influences encompassed artists as diverse as The Beatles, Afrika Bambaataa, Television, Sly & the Family Stone, Captain Beefheart and Can. The group released their debut single "Keen" in 1985 which immediately severed all musical links with the Undertones with its darker more edgy sound. Indeed That Petrol Emotion themselves were also far more political and outspoken than the Undertones. This statement of intent in the guise of Keen was followed by their debut album "Manic Pop Thrill", released in 1986 on Demon Records and charting at number 1 in the UK Indie Chart. It was received with rave reviews from the critics, especially by Undertones champion John Peel. Around this time That Petrol Emotion were also quickly making their name as a devastating live act of tight musicianship and intense playing. Indeed they were described by Rolling Stone magazine as "The Clash crossed with Creedence", and the New York Times described them in 1987 as "a youthful Rolling Stones" mixed with a "revved-up Television". Their second album (and major label debut) Babble released in 1987 on Polydor broke into the UK Top 40 album chart and won universal acclaim; just some of the accolades being that it was voted as one of the albums of the year by Rolling Stone magazine critics and receiving an A- 'grade' from the legendary Robert Christgau. In the UK, the single "Big Decision" was released in 1987 which narrowly missed a place in the coveted Top 40, charting at number 42. Whether this was to do with the fact that the back sleeve contained text decrying the use of plastic bullets by the British Army in Northern Ireland remains to be seen. Either way the band unfortunately never gained a higher chart position than on this first hit. Suspiciously enough their next single, "Genius Move" (also 1987) was banned from being aired by the BBC. On the eve of the recording sessions for their third album "End of the Millenium Psychosis Blues" (Virgin records, 1988), John O'Neill announced his imminent departure from the band. The resulting sessions were thus fraught with tension and foreboding and the album itself upon release was greeted with confusion by critics and fans alike. It was meant to emulate the eclectic mixtapes the band listened to and loved on their tourbus but this dance and sample experimentation ("Groove Check", "Here it is...Take it!", "Tension") mixed with heavy alt rock ("Under the Sky"), celtic balladeering ("Cellophane") and good old indie ("Sooner or Later", "Every Little Bit") proved too disjointed and diverse to break into the mainstream at the time. However, reappraisal of this album whilst seeing many critics and fans admitting that this diversity in style did alienate people in the contemporary scene, also sees in retrospect that That Petrol Emotion were very much before their time and trailblazers for the Britpop and Madchester indie-dance scene due to their early experiments mixing up indie with funk and dance. Indeed they were posthumously described as having perfected "the art of the scuzzed up alternative pop song" during the 80s. After John O'Neill left the band, a re-shuffle took place in That Petrol Emotion. Drummer Ciaran McLaughlin and guitarist Raymond Gorman picked up major songwriting duties; blossoming as writers in the process whilst new bassist John Marchini joined to allow Damian O'Neill to take up the guitar alongside Gorman. This new dynamic of musicians and songsmiths led to the 1990 album Chemicrazy, again for Virgin records. "Chemicrazy" had a more alt rock style than before; hinted at on the final track of the previous album "Under the Sky". However whilst being more intense than before, "Chemicrazy" also maintained a pure pop heart, exemplified by singles "Sensitize", "Tingle" and "Hey Venus". Frustratingly for the band however the massive predicted sales for "Chemicrazy" never came. Dropped from Virgin, That Petrol Emotion's fifth and final album "Fireproof" (1993), released on their own label, Koogat, saw Marchini leave and Belfast born Brendan Kelly take up the bass in his place. Kelly's tight and heavy playing pushed That Petrol Emotion towards their heaviest, most riff-laden album to date which, just like their first album, reached number 1 in the UK Indie Chart. However, despite the great press and the loyal fan base they garnered over the ten years and five albums of their career, That Petrol Emotion never attained the level of commercial success or fame enjoyed by their contemporaries (e.g. My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth). As a result the band amicably split in 1994. Still, their body of work remains to be critically acclaimed within the music press and it is widely agreed that whilst being very underrated, That Petrol Emotion greatly influenced the Britpop movement and bands such as The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Manic Street Preachers, Blur and Radiohead. That Petrol Emotion reformed in 2008 and continue to play sporadically. Updates can be found at their official site http://www.thatpetrolemotion.com. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.