Because apparently retirement is just a suggestion, The Proclaimers are back with a new album, because who needs a break when you can just keep on proclaiming? Their 13th studio album, You May Offend, is a celebration of their unique blend of pop, folk, new wave, and punk, which has been entertaining fans since 1987. And by entertaining, I mean making them sing along at the top of their lungs while enjoying a wee dram of whisky. The Proclaimers have carved a niche for themselves where emotional honesty, political fire, wit, and sing-along raucousness collide, like a beautiful train wreck that you can’t look away from.
The Proclaimers’ music is a time capsule of their careers, with each album a testament to their ability to craft songs that are both punchy and punky, rousing and carousing, tender and tough. You May Offend is no exception, with 12 tracks that were written in Edinburgh and recorded at Monmouth’s legendary Rockfield Studios in a mere 19 days. Yes, you read that right, 19 days! That’s like the blink of an eye in music industry terms, where some bands take longer than that to decide on a font for their album cover.
The Making of a Masterpiece
The Proclaimers’ new album was produced by Dave Eringa, with their crack live band – Steven Christie (keyboards), Garry John Kane (bass), Zac Ware (guitars), and Clive Jenner (drums) – and frequent guest guitarist, Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield. The result is an album that is concise, incisive, and pushing the boundaries of what we’ve come to expect from The Proclaimers. The title track and first single, You May Offend, is a lament for the state of free speech, with Charlie Reid noting that the title can be taken two ways: “As in: ‘Look, careful what you do, you may offend someone.’ Or: ‘OK children, you may now offend.’ Is it an instruction or an invitation? Or a warning?” Ah, the eternal question: how do we balance free speech with not being a complete arse?
A Video to Match the Music
To celebrate the release of You May Offend, The Proclaimers have shared a surreal video created by Emmy & BAFTA award winners, director Douglas Mackinnon in partnership with Peter Anderson Animation. The video is about fear, surveillance, free speech, and tolerance, and is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good dose of social commentary with their music. And by must-watch, I mean you should totally watch it, but only after you’ve finished reading this article, because let’s be real, you’re not going anywhere until you’ve finished reading about The Proclaimers.
The Remaster Economy Remains Undefeated
Somewhere, a record label executive felt a disturbance in the royalties, because The Proclaimers’ back catalog is about to get a whole lot more relevant. You May Offend is a testament to the fact that The Proclaimers are still a force to be reckoned with, even after all these years. And let’s be real, with the farewell tour count officially entering scientific notation, it’s a miracle they’ve managed to squeeze in another album. The Proclaimers are the gift that keeps on giving, and we’re not complaining. In fact, we’re celebrating with a vinyl pressing plant somewhere, which is no doubt bursting into tears of joy at the prospect of producing yet another Proclaimers album.
Music Historians Rejoice
Music historians are no doubt preparing fresh shelves for the box set, because You May Offend is an album that will be remembered for years to come. It’s a time capsule of The Proclaimers’ careers, a reminder of their unique sound and style, and a testament to their enduring legacy. And who knows, maybe in 40 years, we’ll get a 40th-anniversary edition of You May Offend, complete with bonus tracks, remixes, and a signed poster of The Proclaimers looking suitably rugged. A boy can dream, right? Nature is healing, and another deluxe edition has appeared, because that’s just what the world needs: more Proclaimers music to add to our ever-growing collections.
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
