Postindustrial Hometown Blues

Postindustrial Hometown Blues
Studio album by
Big Special
Released10 May 2024
StudioOX4 Sound (Oxford, England)
Genre
Length48:27
LabelSO
Producer
  • Michael Clarke
  • Big Special
Big Special chronology
Black Country Gothic
(2022) 		Postindustrial Hometown Blues
(2024) 		National Average
(2024)
Singles from Postindustrial Hometown Blues
  1. "Dust Off/Start Again"
    Released: 6 February 2024
  2. "Butcher's Bin"
    Released: 13 March 2024
  3. "Black Dog/White Horse"
    Released: 2 April 2024

Postindustrial Hometown Blues (stylised in all caps) is the debut studio album by the English punk duo Big Special. It was released on 10 May 2024 through SO Recordings and was produced by Michael Clarke and Big Special. The album received widespread critical acclaim upon release and reached no. 37 on the UK Albums Chart.

Background and recording

Much of the album consists of songs that had been previously released as singles.[4] After signing with SO Recordings, in May 2023 they released "Shithouse", which had previously appeared on their second EP Black Country Gothic (2022).[5] That year, predating the album's announcement,[6] three more singles followed: "This Here Ain't Water" in June,[7] "Desperate Breakfast" in September,[8] and "Trees" in December.[9]

Drum parts were recorded at OX4 Sound in Oxford, England.[10]

Promotion and singles

Coinciding with the announcement for the album, Postindustrial Hometown Blues was officially led with the single "Dust Off/Start Again" on 6 February 2024,[6] followed by "Butcher's Bin" on 13 March[11] and "Black Dog/White Horse" on 2 April.[12] The latter was provided a music video starring actress Kate Dickie on 25 April.[13]

Release

Postindustrial Hometown Blues was released on 10 May 2024 through SO Recordings.[2] It peaked at no. 37 on the UK Albums Chart.[14]

On 10 October, the duo released another single, "Stay Down, Lazarus". It is a collaboration with the American singer-songwriter John Grant, and was the first song Big Special had written.[15] Although not included as part of the original release of Postindustrial Hometown Blues, it was on the deluxe edition, released on 21 February 2025. Bonus tracks also included acoustic and live versions, demos, and remixes.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic86/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[4]
Classic Rock8/10[18]
Distorted Sound9/10[19]
DIY[20]
Dork5/5[21]
The Line of Best Fit9/10[1]
Louder Than War[2]
Mojo[22]
NME[3]
Uncut8/10[23]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Postindustrial Hometown Blues received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[17]

Year-end lists

Publication List Rank Ref.
Louder Than War Top 100 Albums of 2024 33 [24]
Rough Trade UK Albums of the Year 2024 12 [25]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Big Special.[10]

Postindustrial Hometown Blues track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Black Country Gothic"2:58
2."I Mock Joggers"2:03
3."Desperate Breakfast"3:11
4."Shithouse"4:49
5."This Here Ain't Water"3:22
6."My Shape (Blocking the Light)"3:22
7."Black Dog/White Horse"3:09
8."Broadcast: Time Away"2:31
9."Ill."3:09
10."Mongrel"1:30
11."Butcher's Bin"4:01
12."Dust Off/Start Again"3:44
13."Trees"2:52
14."For the Birds"2:03
15."Dig!"5:43
Total length:48:27
Deluxe edition bonus tracks[26]
No.TitleLength
16."Stay Down, Lazarus" (with John Grant)3:24
17."Black Dog/White Horse" (acoustic version)4:06
18."Trees" (acoustic demo 2022)2:45
19."This Here Ain't Water" (early demo)3:53
20."For the Birds" (Simon Scott Three Quarter Skies remix)6:47
21."My Shape (Blocking the Light)" (Andy Bell Glok remix)8:27
22."Black Dog/White Horse" (Sleaford Mods remix)3:09
23."Dust Off/Start Again" (Robbie Major Benefits remix)8:01
24."This Here Ain't Water" (Public Service Broadcasting remix)5:02
25."Shithouse" (live from King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, Scotland 10/5/2024)4:26
26."Dig!" (live from Espaco Unimed, São Paulo, Brazil 17/3/2024)6:10
Total length:104:37

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the LP liner notes.[10]

Musicians

  • Joe Hicklin – vocals[4]
  • Callum Moloney – drums[4]
  • Michael Clarke
  • Fraser Brown – trumpet on "Dig!"
  • Ronnie Clarke – additional vocals on "Dig!"

Technical and design

  • Michael Clarke – production, mixing, recording
  • Joe Hicklin – production, artwork, photographs
  • Callum Moloney – production
  • Vince Von Van – engineering of drums (except "Trees"), mixing assistance
  • Stu Macaulay – engineering of drums ("Trees")
  • Jason Mitchell – mastering at Loud Mastering
  • Isaac Watson, Billie Arnold – artwork, photographs

Charts

Chart performance for Postindustrial Hometown Blues
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 37
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] 2

References

  1. ^ a b Thomson, Alex Lee (9 May 2024). "Postindustrial Hometown Blues is an album of steel and soul from Big Special". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Carey, Wayne (5 May 2024). "Big Special: Postindustrial Hometown Blues – Review – Album of the Week!". Louder Than War. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (7 May 2024). "Big Special – 'Post Industrial Hometown Blues' review: a heady dose of heart and reality". NME. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Mason, Julia (8 May 2024). "Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues". Clash. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  5. ^ Wilson, Rich. Big Special Biography at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Damian (6 February 2024). "Big Special announce debut album and share brutal new single 'Dust Off / Start Again'". Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  7. ^ Murray, Robin (2 April 2024). "Big Special Share Powerful New Song 'Black Dog / White Horse'". Clash. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  8. ^ Carter, Daisy (20 September 2023). "Big Special release new single 'Desperate Breakfast'". DIY. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  9. ^ Carter, Daisy (6 December 2023). "Big Special drop brooding latest track 'Trees'". DIY. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  10. ^ a b c Big Special (2024). Postindustrial Hometown Blues (LP liner notes). SO Recordings. SOAKLPW493.
  11. ^ Reilly, Nick (13 March 2024). "Big Special share powerful new track 'Butcher's Bin'". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  12. ^ Murray, Robin (2 April 2024). "Big Special Share Powerful New Song 'Black Dog / White Horse'". Clash. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  13. ^ Carey, Wayne (25 April 2024). "Big Special unleash new video for Black Dog / White Horse". Louder Than War. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d "Big Special | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  15. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (10 October 2024). "Big Special link up with John Grant on new single, 'Stay Down, Lazarus'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  16. ^ Solomon-Brady, Harvey (21 February 2025). "Big Special expand Postindustrial Hometown Blues with remixes & live cuts". Whynow. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Postindustrial Hometown Blues by Big Special". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  18. ^ Jones, Damian (19 July 2024). "Reviews: Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues". Classic Rock. No. 330 (August 2024). Future. p. 71. ISSN 1464-7834.
  19. ^ Beales, Adam (10 May 2024). "Album Review: Postindustrial Hometown Blues – Big Special". Distorted Sound. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  20. ^ Butler-Terry, Jack (10 May 2024). "Album Review: Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues". DIY. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  21. ^ Picker, Ciaran (16 May 2024). "Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues". Dork. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  22. ^ Doyle, Tom (14 May 2024). "Filter Albums: Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues". Mojo. No. 368 (July 2024). London: H Bauer Publishing. p. 88. ISSN 1351-0193.
  23. ^ Dalton, Stephen (24 April 2024). "New Albums: Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues". Uncut. No. 326 (June 2024). Yalding, Kent, England: Kelsey Media. p. 29. ISSN 1368-0722.
  24. ^ Whittle, Nathan (4 December 2024). "Louder Than War Top 100 Albums of 2024". Louder Than War. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Albums of the Year 2024 | Rough Trade UK". Rough Trade UK. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Postindustrial Hometown Blues (Deluxe) / Big Special". Tidal. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
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