Sprung from the same UK punk scene as the Clash, the Slits are more often lumped in with all-female groups like Switzerland’s Liliput. It's a logical impulse, but the truth--as ever--is more complicated. For one thing, they weren't all female after Palmolive left to join the Raincoats and Budgie (Siouxsie and the Banshees) stepped in as drummer. Then there's the unclassifiable musical concoction reggae producer Dennis Bovell helped them create. It's punk, it's no wave, it's dub--and ultimately has more in common with the post-punk of PiL or the Pop Group. Met with critical accolades, Cut failed to ignite the charts and was their only recording for Island (they broke up two years later). This welcome reissue features revealing liner notes--in both senses of the word--and two bonus tracks, an off-kilter "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and an extended version of "Love Und Romance." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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