Strawberries (Deluxe Edition)

The Black Album staked out further territory for what was once a punk band. Captain Sensible was showing signs of a solo career and would leave the group before the next album, the Dave Vanian–dominated Phantasmagoria. Strawberries is The Damned's most expansive work to date, throwing together its early aggression into the opening cut, "Ignite," but quickly coloring in new shades for the keyboard-dappled beauty of "Generals," where Vanian shows his vocals were always too posh for punk. "Stranger on the Town" captures more of a '80s feel, with a marching chorus and a grand production worthy of the tune. "Bad Time for Bonzo" shows that The Dammed was paying attention to America, with a jab at then-president Ronald Reagan. At more than seven minutes, "The Dog" plays like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Sensible grabs the lead vocals for the touching "Life Goes On" and the in-jest "Don't Bother Me." The deluxe edition adds nine cuts from the era, including the blazing "I Think I'm Wonderful" and Sensible's plea for vegetarianism "Torture Me."