Four Lads Who Shook the Wirral is the seventh album by Wirral-based UK rock band Half Man Half Biscuit (HMHB), released in June 1998.[4]
Critical reception
Stewart Mason, AllMusic: "Half Man Half Biscuit released this album within one calendar year of its predecessor, 1997's Voyage to the Bottom of the Road [...], and perhaps that accounts for the somewhat lackluster feel. [...] [T]here is enough of interest here to appeal to the converted, but newcomers should perhaps start elsewhere."[2]
Simon Williams, NME: "Chances of cracking open the notoriously fickle American market: slimmer than Lena Zavaroni's mop handle."[3]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Children of Apocalyptic Techstep"
2:51
2.
"Four Skinny Indie Kids"
2:35
3.
"You're Hard"
2:13
4.
"On Reaching the Wensum"
3:02
5.
"Moody Chops"
2:39
6.
"Turn a Blind Eye"
2:25
7.
"Split Single with Happy Lounge Labelmates"
2:11
8.
"A Country Practice"
6:34
9.
"Secret Gig"
3:06
10.
"Soft Verges"
5:37
11.
"Multitude"
2:46
12.
"Ready Steady Goa"
3:36
13.
"Keeping Two Chevrons Apart"
1:50
Notes
The album title is a parody of a phrase associated with The Beatles, "Four lads who shook the world", referring instead to the band's origin in Wirral.
Goa is a state located in the southwestern region of India, formerly a Portuguese colony, known as a destination for hippies.
"Keeping Two Chevrons Apart" refers to the official UK motorway road sign "Keep Apart 2 Chevrons", advising drivers of safe distances between vehicles;[5] the song title is quoted in "Lord Hereford's Knob" on the 2008 album CSI:Ambleside.
