Not Like Everybody Else
2026 studio album by the Damned
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not Like Everybody Else is the thirteenth studio album by the English rock band the Damned, released on 23 January 2026 through earMusic and produced by Mikal Blue. It is a collection of cover songs made in tribute to the band's late guitarist Brian James.
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| Not Like Everybody Else | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 January 2026 | |||
| Recorded | 2025 | |||
| Studio | Revolver (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | Rock[1] | |||
| Length | 34:32 | |||
| Label | earMusic | |||
| Producer | Mikal Blue | |||
| The Damned chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Not Like Everybody Else | ||||
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Background and recording
In March 2025, founding member and guitarist Brian James died.[2] Later that year, in tribute of the late guitarist after the U.S. leg of a tour, the band recorded a series of cover songs that were favourites of his at Revolver Studios in Los Angeles,[3] finishing within five days. James posthumously features on the Rolling Stones cover "The Last Time", with guitar taken from his final live performances with the band in 2022 at the Hammersmith Apollo. The album also marks drummer Rat Scabies' first studio appearance with the Damned since his return in 2024.[4]
Singles and release
Alongside the announcement for Not Like Everybody Else, it was led with the single and R. Dean Taylor cover "There's a Ghost in My House" on 30 October 2025.[5] Two more singles were released in anticipation of the album:, the Pink Floyd cover "See Emily Play" on 4 December[6] and the Lovin' Spoonful cover "Summer in the City" on 16 January the following year.[7] Not Like Everybody Else was released on 23 January 2026 through the label Earmusic,[2] and it debuted on the UK Albums Chart at no. 23.[8]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 61/100[9] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 7.5/10[10] |
| Buzz Magazine |  [11] |
| Classic Pop |   [4] |
| Classic Rock | 7/10[12] |
| Mojo | [2] |
| Record Collector | [13] |
| Spectrum Culture | 68%[14] |
| Spill Magazine | [15] |
| Uncut | 6/10[1] |
| Under the Radar | 6.5/10[16] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Not Like Everybody Else received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "There's a Ghost in My House" | R. Dean Taylor | 3:02 | |
| 2. | "Summer in the City" | The Lovin' Spoonful | 3:32 | |
| 3. | "Making Time" | The Creation | 3:06 | |
| 4. | "Gimme Danger" | The Stooges | 4:06 | |
| 5. | "See Emily Play" | Syd Barrett | Pink Floyd | 3:08 |
| 6. | "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" | Raymond Douglas Davies | The Kinks | 3:39 |
| 7. | "Heart Full of Soul" | Graham Gouldman | The Yardbirds | 2:51 |
| 8. | "You Must Be a Witch" | Fred Cole | The Lollipop Shoppe | 2:37 |
| 9. | "When I Was Young" | Eric Burdon & the Animals | 4:33 | |
| 10. | "The Last Time" (feat. Brian James) | The Rolling Stones | 3:52 | |
| Total length: | 34:32 | |||
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the vinyl liner notes.[17]
The Damned
- Dave Vanian – vocals
- Captain Sensible – guitar, vocals
- Rat Scabies – drums
- Paul Gray – bass
- Monty Oxymoron – keyboards
- Brian James – featured guitar on "The Last Time"
Technical and design
- Mikal Blue – production, engineering, mastering
- Sebastian Martinez, Peter Weissman – engineering assistance
- Graham Humphreys – artwork
- Marek Świątek – additional layout design
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Physical Albums (SNEP)[18] | 94 |
| French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP)[19] | 22 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20] | 177 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[8] | 6 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[8] | 23 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[8] | 4 |
| US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[21] | 48 |