release date: Nov. 1983
format: vinyl ('first pressing' - MdLP 6163) / cd (1997 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: Chris Butler
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark
Tracklist: 1. "Abyss" (live) - 2. "White Shirt" - 3. "Excalibur" - 4. "Boy-Girl" (feat. Lydia Lunch) - 5. "Boy in the Fire" - 6. "Off Morning" - 7. "Written Story" - 8. "Stuck to My Gun" (3 / 5) - 9. "Framelding" - 10. "As She Weeps" (feat. Lydia Lunch)
3rd studio album by Sort Sol is released nearly 3½ years after the band's sophomore album, Under en sort sol (1980) - during that time, the band changed its name from Sods to Sort Sol without replacing any band members, so to speak of a debut is not easily defended, although, this is the first studio release by the band Sort Sol.
At the time, it was hard to understand the change of name but it makes a lot of sense. The name Sods is narrowly associated with the punk rock scene. However musically, Dagger & Guitar is just a mere progression from their second album. In fact, stylistically, this has so much more in common with its predecessor made more than three years earlier than the first two albums as Sods share with one another, although being only separated by a single year.
Dagger & Guitar is a strange album, though. It has both sweet, nice, harmonic acoustically-driven music as well as experimental art punk tracks, lingering like music of the past, and mildly suggesting very different intentions. After listening to this, you had absolutely no idea of what to expect from the band next. Back then, I would probably have rated this higher - it hasn't aged well though, and mostly quite clearly showcases the band's indecisiveness about musical direction.
The '97 re-issue is extended with four bonus tracks, which is equal to the 12'' single version of "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" from 1985. It consist of cover versions including "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by Bob Crowe and Bob Gaudio, and the title song by Mel Tillis, which became a small radio hit by Sort Sol.
[ collectors' item - 'vg+' 1st pressing - from ~ €40,- ]
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| 1997 bonus reissue | 1985 12'' single |
