What makes The Crack by The Ruts notable?

The Crack is significant for its reflection of the socio-political climate in late 1970s Britain, addressing themes like youth disenfranchisement and drug culture. It received positive critical reception, particularly from publications like NME, and has since influenced countless punk bands, marking it as a cornerstone of UK punk history. Released as The Ruts' debut album in January 1979, The Crack arrived during a moment of burgeoning British punk. The band was establishing its identity in a rapidly evolving music scene, marked by their distinct reggae influences alongside traditional punk elements. This album set the stage for their subsequent releases and showcased their ability to tackle social issues through music.

How many songs are on The Crack?

The Crack has 15 tracks, running approximately 54 minutes.

The Crack

The Ruts · 1979

54 min · 15 tracks · punk rock

A raw and energetic blend of punk rock infused with reggae rhythms, capturing the urgency of late 1970s Britain.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Babylon’s Burning — This opening track sets the tone with its driving energy and politically charged lyrics, encapsulating the band's ethos and urgency. Its infectious chorus and rhythmic intensity made it a staple of punk playlists.
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Jah War — Combining punk with reggae influences, this track addresses the harsh realities of war and conflict, demonstrating the band's unique sound and lyrical depth. Its extended runtime allows for an immersive exploration of its themes.
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Something That I Said — The song showcases a melodic twist that contrasts sharply with the rest of the album's intensity, highlighting the band's versatility while dealing with themes of miscommunication and misunderstanding in society.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The Ruts blend punk and reggae effectively while addressing relevant themes, making this debut distinct yet cohesive.

What we noticed

The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Babylon’s Burning', which sets a fast tempo that is maintained through the first half of the record.
Several tracks incorporate reggae rhythms, notably 'Jah War', which contrasts with the punk rock sound and adds a distinctive groove.
The lyrics address socio-political themes, such as youth disenfranchisement and drug culture, particularly evident in tracks like 'Dope for Guns' and 'Criminal Mind'.
The final track, 'The Crack', slows down the pace significantly, providing a reflective conclusion to the album.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Babylon’s Burning 2:37
2 Dope for Guns 2:13
3 S.U.S. 3:51
4 Something That I Said 3:55
5 You’re Just A… 2:57
6 It Was Cold 6:50
7 Savage Circle 3:07
8 Jah War 6:57
9 Criminal Mind 1:36
10 Backbiter 3:05
11 Out of Order 1:53
12 Human Punk 4:36
13 Give Youth a Chance 3:09
14 I Ain’t Sofisticated 2:18
15 The Crack 5:49

What to play next

Listen next

Grin & Bear It

1980

Go back to

The Peel Sessions

Full The Ruts discography Artists like The Ruts

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata