Molly Halfhead - any good?

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This band was recommended to me recently, but I can only find a few unhelpful mentions of them online, which is almost shocking considering how much uselessly obscure music trivia you can find on the web. None of their records seem to be in print. So...what do they sound like? Are they still around? Worth seeking out?

― Justyn Dillingham, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

do you know someone called Dom, who lives/lived in Liverpool? because he was the only person in the entire world who actually liked Molly Halfhead

― gareth, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I suppose they were part of the NWOTW, so after baggy but before Britpop, contemporaries of S.M.A.S.H. and These Animal Men though not sounding especially like them. They're not still around, one of them subsequently joined a band called Wireless I believe. One track by Molly Half Head stands out, the single "Barney" (in 93 or possibly 94) which I thought was their best work, but they disappeared soon afterwards.

― MarkH, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Molly Half Head were a Manchester band with a pared-down guitar,bass and drums sound. The music veers towards minimal, but still packs a punch. Think of A Certain Ratio, New Fast Automatic Daffodils, King of the Slums and Dub Sex and you'll be on the right lines. Unusual vocal sound. In short they were fucking great. Find their records! They released two albums, both of which have been deleted. The first was called "Sulk", the second I can't remember because I can't find it right now. It was on Sony though. I wouldn't bother with Wireless if I were you.

― Eagles, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

four years pass...

Mollyhalfhead were fucking great. At the time that i first heard them I was really into hardcore punk and this band seemed to be one of the only things that were happening in this country with a hard sound with the usual British indie overtones. I first saw them at a University gig supporting the New Fast Automatic Daffodils. The best gig of theres that I saw was at the Blue lamp in Hull somewhere around the end of 95 or the start of 96. Their vocalist (Paul Bardsley?)had an amazing live presence, he seemed like the hardest bloke in the room, every time I saw them live he looked like he was going to jumpp in the audience to beat the hell out of someone. He seemed to hold your gaze with complete contempt, he terrified the shot ouyt of me. I thought this was really ironic when I actually met him after a gig and he was a charming bloke.

There sound was solid, inventive backed with some incredible lyrics that harked back to childhood nostalgia and insecurity due to adoption.

So your friend in Liverpool isn't the only person in the world that liked them. There were several of us that recognised that they were different to the manufactured Stone Roses wannabes that were spreading through the period like vermin.

Paul Bardsley, on the off chance that you read this I think you still owe me a beer!

― John Chadwick, Tuesday, 6 December 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

ISTR i have an album of theirs on tape - or a four-track promo sampler thing - and it was fucking brilliant.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

"Flirtin' with Disaster" is southern metal cla......oh Moly Halfhead. Never mind.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

Look on myspace - search for radiorii, thers a unreleased demo for molly half head

― Graham Atkinson, Sunday, 21 May 2006 22:13 (twenty years ago)

I had Sulk (debut album) for years and enjoyed until one day I put it on and it started to annoy me. It hasn't aged well. Sad to say I have since sold it and it is mostly likely still sitting in the 3 dollar bin at our local music store.

― auteur55, Sunday, 21 May 2006 23:52 (twenty years ago)

Anybody got the lyrics to Barny?Can't make them out, although if they're half as depressing as what i can make out it must be a morbid inspector morse-style quest.got this single in a charity shoppe for 25p.watch out for it on indierecord Bargain Hunt with Dave Gedge and that bloke out of ultra vivid scene wot had one hit.

― dorian gray, Wednesday, 24 May 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

I actually saw these guys in NYC in '93 - a buddy of mine was their guitar tech for a US tour. They didn't do too much for me - had a unique sound but not too compelling. Never really thought about them again until I saw this thread title...

― Edward III (edward iii), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 20:12 (twenty years ago)

There sound was solid, inventive backed with some incredible lyrics that harked back to childhood nostalgia and insecurity due to adoption.

Thomas Hardy shot yokels in the face for less than this.

― I Hate You Little Girls (noodle vague), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 20:22 (twenty years ago)

I think Molly Half Head are excellent. Part of the rougher Manchester sound obscured by The Stone Roses etc. I agree with Eagles, think Dub Sex, King of the Slums and early ACR.

The second album was called Dunce and is very good.
Wireless were fairly disappointing, although their album does have three or four very good tracks on it. I once saw Bardsley/Wireless looking very awkward on a kids TV show, promoting a single.

I was surprised they were swallowed up by Sony (and inevitably spat out). When you hear them, it's the last thing you'd think a major label would want.

― Johnny Jarvis, Thursday, 25 May 2006 09:24 (twenty years ago)

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