You wanna talk about “Dirty Disco Blues,” Bloater? Mate, you don’t know the half of it.
It’s 1999, and I’m in a club with people I worked with. I genuinely can’t remember why, but I’m guessing the girl I was having an unrequited love affair with was involved.
There was a girl who worked there (and who still lives just around the corner from me) who was famous for committing nefarious activities at a club called Key Largo in the second city.
Anyway, on this particular night, she says to me: “And, are you coming to Key Largo with me tonight?”
The next words out of my mouth still haunt me: “Oh, sorry, I’d love to, but I’m going to football early in the morning with my brother.”
We lost 2-0 to Blackpool.
So yeah, Big Boy, I understand your pain.
On his first album in ages, Bloater—who I saw many times—is not only a true one-man band but also spoke about his desire to have the album mirror an episode of Top of the Pops from the 1970s. And my goodness, it’s got the energy of a glitterball.
“Dirty Disco Blues” itself has that innate quality that Bloater always had. It just sounds filthy—like he’s gargled motor oil and had a sandpaper chaser.
But the song has a bit more funk than you might remember.
And for all the dirty guitar, there’s a dollop of soul to “Kensington Gore.” If—as it says—”The world’s a super scary place,” then this is its soundtrack.
“I Don’t Miss You As Much As I Thought I Would” is typical of the record. It could have been a conventional blues number, but where’s the fun in that, right?
BBB is a brilliant guitarist, and that will always be the case. His solos throughout this album are wonderful, but never better than on “The Devil Went Down to Rehab.”
There’s a garage rock feel to “Nasty Little Rash” (he got it from a dog …), and The Sonics would be proud of “Bomb Factory” too. I’m fairly sure I went out with her …
It’s a varied record, taking in so much over its 10 songs. Funky on “Banging My Head Against the Wall,” contented on the Latin-flavoured, summery “I’m a Lucky So and So,” and the complete opposite on “Shut Up!” when he gets all angry and primal.
It ends with the clever “Escape from the Planet of the Humans”—weird sounds, ska, and satire all combine.
Big Boy Bloater was never the most conventional. He was never one for perfect renditions of the classics—he was way too much fun for that.
And this journey of less than 40 minutes is almost like a compilation album, in that every song stands on its own two feet.
Essentially, “Dirty Disco Blues” is superb and innovative. As a comeback record, you couldn’t wish for anything better.
Rating: 8.5/10
REVIEW: BIG BOY BLOATER – DIRTY DISCO BLUES (2025)
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