📚 Homework Alert: Lets Dig into Two Monkeys by Cock Sparrer!
Oi! You Listening? Spin Two Monkeys (1997) Before the Next Dig Me Out Episode Drops!
Alright class, settle down—this week’s Dig Me Out homework assignment is a deep dive into a band that’s been flying the flag for working-class punk anthems since the ‘70s. Thanks to DMO Union Member Eric Peterson, we’re heading into the late-’90s comeback of the one and only Cock Sparrer with their 1997 album, Two Monkeys.
If you’ve never spent time with Cock Sparrer, think of them as the tough, streetwise older brother of your favorite punk bands. They were there before The Clash or The Sex Pistols, helping to lay the foundation for Oi! punk—gritty, melodic, pub-friendly rock that’s as much about camaraderie as it is about rebellion. Their choruses are built to be shouted from the back of a bar with an arm around your mate’s shoulders, and Two Monkeys finds them doubling down on that spirit with big singalongs, sharp riffs, and a touch of seasoned reflection.
But here’s the kicker—Two Monkeys isn’t just another rowdy punk record. It’s a rare beast: a punk album released in the ‘90s by a band that started in the ‘70s. And instead of chasing trends, Cock Sparrer stuck to what they do best: stadium-sized gang vocals, foot-stomping rhythms, and lyrics that mix working-class grit with wry humor. It’s an album that asks, “What if you could bottle the spirit of a Saturday night at the pub with your oldest friends?”
🔥 Your Homework:
1️⃣ Listen to Two Monkeys – Fire it up and let us know: is this a hidden gem or just an echo of past glories? Does it hit as hard as their earlier classics like Shock Troops?
2️⃣ Do a little extra credit research – Check out the Cock Sparrer Wiki and get a feel for their long, underdog history. They’ve outlasted nearly everyone and kept their DIY spirit intact—why do you think that is?
3️⃣ Come prepared – What works on this album? What doesn’t? Is Two Monkeys a worthy album, a better EP, or just a decent single stretched too far? We want your takes when the episode drops!
Get ready for some old-school punk talk when the episode hits. Cheers! 🍻
