HMHB grew out of the post-punk world of "it doesn't matter how good/bad you are at playing, just have a go". That has developed into "catchy" but basic tunes/riffs. Given that they are also lauded for being "contemporary folk" music, they also stick to very simple tunes in the way that much folk music is very simple, it doesn't make it bad.

They know they aren't musical geniuses - any band that releases an album "Look Dad, No Tunes" is aware of it - but they wouldn't be HMHB if they started adding brass, violins, or long guitar or keyboard solos..

Personally I haven't heard enough HMHB yet to venture a reliable opinion but it strikes me that there must be lots of bands we like in theory more than we like in reality.

For me, probably the best example is The Fall. Love many song titles and lyrics, and usually find Mark E Smith's views amusing, but while they've done some great tunes, I find much of their output very hard to listen too.

Similarly The Flaming Lips. Like 'em, but not as much as I'd like to.

Any other suggestions?

any better than The Amorous Hum, but I think the point is they keep it simple. It isn't down to the fact that they can't play. If you see them live, they're great, and surprisingly tight as a band.

Some of their earlier stuff circa Dickie Davies Eyes (eg I Left My Heart in Papworth General, Albert Hammond Bootleg etc) are musically genuinely enjoyable. Even the likes of Eno Collabaration is pretty decent.

They were vastly more sophisticated than the 3 barre chord punk by numbers they play now. I've seen them live and yes, they are pretty tight. Given the rudimentary nature of most of their music these days thats not all that great an acheivment.

dont get me wrong. Nigel Blackwell remains possibly the funniest man on the planet but its a shame his verbal brilliance gets backed by such plodding rubbish.

There's quite a lot of HMHB that I absolutely love, as songs, not just as brilliant titles - Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo, Light At The End Of The Tunnel, 24 Hour Garage People, We Built This Village On A Trad. Arr Tune - plenty more.

But for everyone great song, there's four that are great titles and stodgy music.

But I'm afraid that I have to agree. We all know about their great song titles, but they had completely passed me by until I sat and had a good look at their website, which is hilarious. I then bought a few albums and wish I liked them more. Still, their song titles alone put them above most bands.

I played them the HMHB track where the Pope goes 'who the F***** hell are Slipknot?' They loved it. Can't wait to interview Climie Fisher.

...it can get a bit pious and irritating at times.

the Referees Alphabet, Blue Badge Abuser, Bogus Official, the sentiment seems a bit pompous.

But "Took Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show" and the classic "Joy Division Ovengloves" rate high on my list!

My wife's American and when I first met her in New York, she owned several HMHB records. "How the hell can you understand all these lyrics about British daytime TV?" I asked her. "Oh I don't like them for the words, I like them for the music," she said. It was destiny, obviously.

I remember 20 years ago Simon Hoggart enraged review of Zappa's appearance on Radio 4's Midweek, "he think's he's a genius but he's yet to write a tune I can whistle to."

Good idea, intriguing image, unlistenable claptrap (until a few songs miraculously appeared towards the end of his recording career, sung rather than grunted. Is "This is the day" on Spotify? It should be. (I can't go there at work, for which small mercy the cover list should be grateful, tho' I think I have exhausted all available options, pending more sign-up iof artists and labels..........)

Anyone fancy posting a best of HMHB list? Been meaning to get some for ages and seem to have the complete works on Emusic but I doubt I need every single track. So if anyone could post a list of their 20/25 best songs it'd be much appreciated...

which vanished when I changed my PC, but the track listing was I think:

1. Joy Division Oven Gloves
2. We Built This Village (On a Trad.Arr Tune)
3. All I want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit
4. The Trumpton Riots
5. For What Is Chatteris?
6. Hair Like Brian May Blues
7. 24 Hour Garage People
8. The Light At The End of the Tunnel (is the light of an oncoming train)
9. Lark Descending
10. A Country Practice
11. Ballad of Climie Fisher
12. Four Skinny Indie Kids
13. Bottleneck at Capel Curig
14. Friday Night and The Gates Are Low
15. Lock Up Your Mountain Bikes
16. Outbreak of Vitas Gerulaitas
17. She's In Broadstairs
18. It's Cliched to Be Cynical at Christmas
19. The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman
20. Architecture and Morality and Ted and Alice

I'm sure others will have their favourites though, and I could add a few more.Track 9 in particular, though simple, gives the lie to the claim that they play "generic indie"

was Blue Badge Abuser from their very disappointing new album CSI: Ambleside. The only tracks from it I'd consider downloading are "National Shite Day" or "Lord Hereford's Knob". But there are better songs I've left off that list of 20...

was a bit of a let down after the quality of Achtung Bono.
Think the list above is pretty accurate, though I would have "Trad Arr Tune" at Number 1.
Altogether now....
"Act 1, Scene 1, Brenda Blethyn gets shot!"

What's the nearest HMHB have got to a hit? In either the singles or album charts? They used to get number ones in the indie chart, but how about the proper poppermost ones?

goes to HMHB.