Happy About Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Ned’s Atomic Dustin- what kind of name is that? It sounds like the name of a one-hit wonder. They were a British band that got American airplay around 1991 and 1992. Their album “God Fodder”  a play on words, had three great songs.

“Kill Your Television” was one of the first releases. It’s loud and thrashy. It’s a minute of a three minute song before we get a vocal.

“Grey Cell Green” starts with bass. The vocals are cleaner and the drumming is fast but back in the mix. It’s a more radio friendly sound. Not pop radio, but American Rock and alternative. Not a lot of lyrics. It goes for sound and memorable lines to sing along to.

“Happy.” This isn’t one of those happy songs that actually annoy you and piss you off. We open with a guitar but with added effects. The drum is up front more and it creates  so much life in the song. It’s fast but not thrash. It slows and picks up again with a driving sound. I recently found a video of Ned’s Atomic Dustbin perform the song in 2024. The band members had to be in their 50s and yet when they get to this song, even they have to move and jump around. The song just pulls you into feeling young and free.

Ned’s had some minor songs on radio after these three killers and they disappeared from America by 1995. Most early alternative had slowed down or been pushed aside by this point. They broke up at the end of the 1990s and then reunited. They perform in small clubs in England.

Find a clip of the them back then and today. “Happy” looks like they don’t lose a step.