Tired baby all the time
02 Jun 2000

As The Regulars count down the days to the release of their debut single, unexpected praise has poured forth for their last studio venture - two summers ago.

The Tired All The Time demo tape - recorded in August 1998 - has been awarded the coveted three and a half hearts rating in local (ish) fanzine My Little Empire - half a heart less than alleged Regulars copyists The Smiths, but half a heart more than celebrated multi-platinum S&M enthusiast Britney Spears.

Reviewer Cat - though decidedly unimpressed with the production job - singles out University of Rain as the 'best song I've heard on a demo in a long time'. Above the party is described as 'escapist & soft'; while the understated introductory guitar riff and vocals of 35 hours 'make me want to melt'.

Possible explanations for the Regs' warm reception in My Little Empire emerge elsewhere in the fanzine - in a section headed DESTROY WORK. Here, Cat's co-editor Anna observes: 'all I want to do when I get back from work is sleep', concluding: 'I don't like work. Can you tell? It's just a useless fucking waste of time, space and energy.'

The vision and passion that inform this analysis - which finds considerable resonance on Planet Regular - appear to drive My Little Empire in its entirety. Largely a Manic Street Preachers fanzine, it nonetheless contrives to be accessible, thought-provoking and entertaining for non-MSP devotees alike.

Issue 3 of My Little Empire is available from 16 Warbank Close, Alvechurch, Birmingham B48 7PA for £2 and an a4 SAE. The three tracks from Tired All The Time are available on the downloads section of this site.

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