Ginger Wildheart reworked some of The Wildhearts’ back catalogue a couple of years ago, calling the endeavour “Acoustic Albums Are Shit”. They’re not (unless it’s the godawful one that Bon Jovi put out), so it is that Pet Needs are here with “Kind Of Acoustic”.
Basically, twelve of their songs (four from each of their records)done as if they were Billy Bragg in the mid-80s, it showcases the lyrical genius (word chosen deliberately) of the band.
Take this from “Outline”—the first song here, as if it were on their debut—”And drinking real ale doesn’t make you a connoisseur, more of an arrogant piss-artist who’s assigning higher worth to his destruction.” That stuff lends itself to this format.
The different textures come out well. “Scratch Card” has more than tinges of Skinny Lister, while somehow the anxiety of “Fingernails” sounds even more desperate than it did on last year’s “Intermittent Fast Living”.
The band seem to be having fun here; “Ibiza In Winter” seems typical, as they’re dealing with some weighty subjects in a jaunty way, and when this works best—like on “The Burning Building”—bands like Ferocious Dog and The Levellers are casting envious glances.
“Fear For The Whole Damn World” is built around a mournful piano—something like the last Beans On Toast record—but this is still punk rock when it wants to be, as “Lost Again” reminds you.
One of the standout cuts on “…Living”, “The Age That You Were” is another that confirms my theory that a great song adapts to any format; likewise, the insanely catchy “Self Restraint” (which had me singing “I wish I had as much self-restraint as my little dog” at work again, despite not owning any pets).
“Get On The Roof” doesn’t half sound like Frank Turner here, and one of the videos they put out before the album came out, “Punk Isn’t Dead (It’s Just Up For Sale),” even has a guitar solo like Slash on Guns N’ Roses’ “Lies”.
“Overcompensating” has a real gang feel to bring it to a close, and as it does, you reflect on the fact that Pet Needs are not quite like other bands.
And “Kind Of Acoustic” isn’t quite like other acoustic records either. Indeed, even if in years gone by these might have been B-sides on their latest smash-hit single, just be glad they’ve seen the light of day somehow.
Rating 8.5/10
REVIEW: PET NEEDS – KIND OF ACOUSTIC (2025)
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