Billy Bragg - Between The Wars (Go! Discs)

A low price EP of four songs showing the man with the large nose at his most potent and lyrical. Billy 'pulls no punches', the thing beginning with "Between The Wars", an anti union-bashing song and ending on a new, slower version of "It Says Here" attacking the Tory press. You could argue that blatant political commentary alienates and ends up preaching only to the converted. Yet subtlety never works either. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, March 16, 1985)

With just his trusty guitar and a swagbag of modern folk songs Spiced with the acid wit of punk, Billy Bragg has confounded all those who've said such antics had no place in 1985. Neil Kinnock's fave pop person (after Trace of course) has now released his first ever 7-inch single. It has four tracks that highlight Billy's mastery of investing simple songs with a sense of defiance and humanity. At £1.25, you can't go wrong. (Adrian Tierney-Jones, No 1, March 9, 1985)

Oh dear, I hate this man and his music. I've heard this on Whistle Test and hated it – my opinion hasn't changed. It's got the same monotonous tune all the way through and he can't sing to save his life. Why don't you just leave the music business, Billy? (Marshall O'Leary, Smash Hits, March 14, 1985)

The Bathers - Fancy Dress (Go! Discs)

This lot are from the same stable as The Housemartins and Billy Bragg. Singer Chris Thomson used to be in the Scottish band Friends Again who I used to really, really like, but success always eluded them for some reason. This is great, but what's interesting is that the rest of Friends Again are now Love And Money so the race is on to see who can chart first. Love the moody guitar. (Gary Crowley, No 1, April 25, 1987)

Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears (Go! Discs)

For a long time, Billy Bragg has been about the only politically motivated English singer not to trip over a soapbox every time he opens his mouth. And all he's ever needed is his voice and a guitar. But here he has added some percussion, keyboards, a bit of harmony and some "production" - and (hey presto!) the coarse strength of his old approach is gone. It seems a shame, especially as his gruff old voice is a bit swallowed up, but the words and subject matter (about the lead singer of the Four Tops) are not as strong as usual anyway. Oh dear. (Duncan Wright, Smash Hits, June 18, 1986)

I've always believed that anyone who has to through life looking like me or Billy Bragg deserves fame and fortune as compensation. "Levi Stubbs' Tears" succeeds on the title alone for me: standard Bragg with a story to tell. (Gary Crowley, Record Mirror, June 21, 1986)

The Housemartins - Me And The Farmer (Go! Discs)

I love The Hooses! They're Britain's Brightest Pop Group and this is their greatest blustering pop wheeze since "Happy Hour" except it's even better. This one's something to do with God not being very chuffed with a farmer for growing parsnips in his gumboot. No it's not, it's about something far more significant (though I haven't quite worked out what yet) and it sounds exactly like something else (though I haven't quite worked out what yet. Probably another Hooses song. Oh well...) This single proves - once and for all! - that The Housemartins have wit, intelligence, brevity, humour and the sparkliest, nippy pop tunes ever created. PS. And Stan is extremely good-looking in my "opinion". A bit. (Sylvia Patterson, Smash Hits, August 26, 1987)

Less overtly whimsical than "Five Bonk Like Crazy In Dorset", The Housemartins are in danger of trivialising the very thing that initially won them respect. Housemartins records are like toffee apples: short, sweet and ultimately sickly. (Chris Twomey, Record Mirror, August 29, 1987)

The Housemartins - Happy Hour (Go! Discs)

What endearing souls these Housemartins are. The sort of boys who probably wet their knickers in the school playground, wore shorts after everyone else had moved into long trousers and always, but always, look into their hankies after blowing their noses. Nice, normal chaps making the chirpiest, most heart-tingling records this side of St Winfrid's School Choir (well, maybe not that chirpy). "Happy Hour" is like Bob's Full House or Blue Peter set to music. Sublime. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, May 31, 1986)

The Housemartins are, as they say themselves, "quite good", but this jangly little romp isn't a patch on their two previous singles, "Flag Day" and "Sheep". The lyrics appear to advocate taking one's clothes off in the kitchen sink, which doesn't sound very hygienic at all. On the back of the sleeve there's a little form to fill out which says 'I like this record because. . .(Answer in not more than ten words)'. Well, I like this record because its catalogue number is GOD 11, which is extremely cosmic. (Vici MacDonald, Smash Hits, June 4, 1986)