1 x (Go-Betweens) + 0.5 x (Birthday Party) = Tuff Monks. Two of my favourite groups, one of them including Rowland S. Howard, so why don't i like this more? Why don't i absolutely love it? The A side, After the Fireworks, is actually quite good, even if it meanders around a little in a dirgy kind of way, i still sometimes find myself humming it in the strangest of places. Three guitarists are credited, but all i hear is Rowland, Rowland, Rowland - add some dinky piano from Mick and Lindy at her best (which is average) and its sounds quite catchy in an off-kilter kind of way. The opening lyrics are almost poetic - "a-hahahaha ohh hoh / a-hahahaha a-hahahaha / a-hahahaha ohh hoh / (repeat) / just because i haven't spoken / to the enemy that i've forgotten / it's not a bad thing" The next verses about waterworks and fireworks are a touch obscure. Despite all this, the A side gets a big tick. I think the problem lies within the B side. Obviously they only had one song, but the dilemma is that a single (normally) has two sides. The solution was finally found in Jamaica - do a "version" and strip the song of some vocal and guitar, get Tony to twiddle a few knobs and call it After After the Fireworks. Well at least they didn't call it After the Fireworks Dub. There was of course the mono / stereo option or they could have done an extended mix and released it as a 12 inch and included a "bonus" radio edit. I'm shuddering at the possibility. Sometimes I think i actually prefer the B side which complicates my whole argument.The cover art is pretty cool and i can imagine those guys playing this kind of music.