Ian Dury
's music always bordered on the functional, since it was used as a backdrop for his wry vignettes and stories, but on his second album,
Do It Yourself
, that aspect came to the fore. Largely abandoning the punk inflections that were scattered throughout
New Boots and Panties!
,
is a record of midtempo pub rock disco -- competently played, but rarely engaging.
Dury
's stories are all wonderful, filled with humor and penetrating detail, but only a handful of tracks, such as the terrific "Inbetweenies," are married to actual hooks, and by the end of the record, the steady disco throb has become a little numbing. Even with these faults,
remains one of
's very best records, since his lyrical facility throughout the album is simply amazing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine