My Top 1000 Songs #482: Back Of My Hand

[I've been writing up my Top 1000 songs on a daily basis--you can see them all in descending order by hitting the All My Favorite Songs tag.]

Another defining moment in late 70s/early 80s new wave-flavored power pop. The 1979 single from UK rockers the Jags, included on their 1980 debut LP Evening Standards, tends to be relegated to the one-hit-wonder bin (if remembered at all), though both the band's albums (most of which were pooled onto an excellent Best Of collection) were full of great tracks for fans of the genre.

Still, what a song. Punchy and treble-happy, with one of those power pop choruses you'll hear once and sing for a lifetime. Sure, it works best amongst a compilation of other like minded tunes (think early Joe Jackson/Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe, the Records, Bram Tchaikovsky, etc.), but the band deserves a second look. Even if I still can't understand most the damn lyrics.