Cut by The Slits

Cut

by The Slits

Released: September 07, 1979

Post-punk, dub-reggae, art pop

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Debut Album.

01

The Album

"Cut" is the debut studio album by the English punk band the Slits, released on 7 September 1979. Cut features an innovative fusion of punk and reggae, incorporating restless and offbeat elements of art pop. Cut was originally released on 7 September 1979, on the Island Records label in the UK and Antilles in the US.

02

Inside the Recording

It was recorded at Ridge Farm Studios in Rusper and produced by Dennis Bovell.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

In 2004, it was ranked 58th in The…

In 2004, it was ranked 58th in The Observer's 100 Greatest British Albums list and was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

In 2020, Rolling Stone placed it at number…

In 2020, Rolling Stone placed it at number 260 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and "Typical Girls" was ranked 381st on the same list.

Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the album for…

Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the album for being "entirely fun and catchy" despite its "less-than-polished nature and street-tough ruggedness." Robert Christgau noted that it featured "a white reggae style that rivaled its models for weirdness and formal imagination." Cut has been recognized for its impact on various musical movements.

The Guardian's Lindesay Irvine highlighted its "adventurous" sound…

The Guardian's Lindesay Irvine highlighted its "adventurous" sound and "defiant" attitude, particularly its early and full embrace of Jamaican music influences.

PopMatters saw it as a key example of…

PopMatters saw it as a key example of post-punk's appropriation of dub and reggae, influencing later acts like Culture Club.

Then

Reception

It peaked at number 30 on the UK album charts.

Now

Legacy

The album's impact extended to the 1990s riot grrrl movement, with Rolling Stone noting its influence on bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Cut" is the debut studio album by the English punk band the Slits, released on 7 September 1979. It was recorded at Ridge Farm Studios in Rusper and produced by Dennis Bovell.

Cut features an innovative fusion of punk and reggae, incorporating restless and offbeat elements of art pop.

Cut was originally released on 7 September 1979, on the Island Records label in the UK and Antilles in the US. It peaked at number 30 on the UK album charts. In 2004, it was ranked 58th in The Observer's 100 Greatest British Albums list and was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2020, Rolling Stone placed it at number 260 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and "Typical Girls" was ranked 381st on the same list.

Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the album for being "entirely fun and catchy" despite its "less-than-polished nature and street-tough ruggedness." Robert Christgau noted that it featured "a white reggae style that rivaled its models for weirdness and formal imagination."

Cut has been recognized for its impact on various musical movements. The Guardian's Lindesay Irvine highlighted its "adventurous" sound and "defiant" attitude, particularly its early and full embrace of Jamaican music influences. PopMatters saw it as a key example of post-punk's appropriation of dub and reggae, influencing later acts like Culture Club. The album's impact extended to the 1990s riot grrrl movement, with Rolling Stone noting its influence on bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney.

Kurt Cobain expressed his appreciation for Cut in his posthumously released journals, listing it as one of his 50 favorite records of all time.

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