Throwback Thursday: The View 'Hats Off To The Buskers'

Ben Smith grabs a bottle of buckie and revisits The View's debut classic 'Hats Off To The Buskers' .

Ben Smith

Last updated: 19th Sep 2017

Image: The View (Credit)

Emerging out of the indie heatwave of the late noughties, The View hurtled straight out of high school and dethroned Amy Winehouse's Back To Black from the number one spot with the release of their debut LP Hats Off To The Buskers.

It strapped them with the tag of Scotland's answer to The Libertines, which was probably derived from their punk brushed indie pop and inherently British songwriting that regaled tales of teenage debauchery.

Oh, and the Scottish bit was something to do with the verse "Astedwae ittlae ejaysdae" in 'Wasted Little DJ's' and Kyle Falconer's vocal transmitting as equally satisfying as "Inverness Caledonian Thistle" rolling off Charlie Nicholas' tongue on Soccer Saturday.

It was more than a Libertines thing though, that was just a label. The View were turning out anthems like 'Superstar Tradesman' that ironically mapped out their perceived situation before the album was gulped down by the masses like bottle of 'buckie'.

Stereotype or not, we all know that particular tipple etched into the band's four day bender in one way or another on 'Same Jeans', without mention of the intermittent alcoholics anonymous meeting that casts in 'Don't Tell Me'.

The albums obvious reference point is 'Same Jeans', they could have annexed Scotland in last year's referendum, enforced a Bolshevik informed censorship of Scottish music in England and it'd still reverberate around Bierkellar in 30 years time. It's an undisputed anthem.

Nine times out of ten, an album would power out of that song into eventual obscurity like The Stone Roses' Second Coming. Unless you're a devout bucket hat wearing Manc, it pretty much ran off 'Begging You' and 'Ten Storey Love Song' but it'll never be remembered.

Find upcoming The View gigs

What we're saying is that a formidable band does not always equate to a formidable album, but The View conquered that formula. From the aforementioned buzz tracks to the daily musings of a baghead in 'Skag Trendy', reminiscing a proper childhood without the gaze of an iPad in 'The Don', or echoing "He watches Trainspotting fifteen times a week" - this record was fully fledged all rounder.

So go on, immerse yourself in your indie youth, imagine the sweet smell of Golden Virginia on your breathe while being constricted by your size zero skinny jeans. Every verse and crevice will come streaming back to your consciousness, and that ability to immediately transport you to a time and place defines every great album. Hats Off To The Buskers was utterly of its time, but consequently utterly timeless.

The View are currently touring to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Hats off to the Buskers, including a headline stint at Loopallu Festival. Grab The View tickets via the boxes below.

Foress - The Loft, Tuesday 19th September

Buy tickets: