3 comments about Stage Diving to the Oldies.

1. This is a good CD for a few classic punk rock songs. Not every single song is good, one or two suck, but overall its good. Its almost got the exact same songs as on Old School Punk, a couple of the songs are different, but for the most part, they're the same. Anyway, point is, its a good CD, I enjoy it, brings back lots of memories



2. This is what punk is all about: a bunch of kids with more enthusiasm than skill getting up and kicking tuckus left right and center. From social commentary to humour to ballads, every track on this album rocks. This was my first introduction to South Cal punk, and it has remained one of my favorite disks ever since.
   So if you think you like punk because of the stuff you hear on the radio these days, you owe it to yourself to listen to this album and hear what punk's all about.



3. This is what punk is all about: a bunch of kids with a lot more enthusiasm than talent stepping up and kicking arse left right and center. This disk was my introduction to south cal punk, and it remains one of my favorites to this day. From social commentary to punk ballads to just straight up crazy stuff, this disk rocks from start to finish.

5 comments about Live '84.

1. When this stuff....My War, Slip It In, and Live '84....cam out, I was one of those "punk rockers" who thought that Black Flag (and hell, ANY band that really learned how to play) had "sold out". Greg Ginn is the type of musician that could not simply keep on playing minimalistic chords, over-and-over, like the classic Jealous Agaim e.p. He had chops, man, and when My War came out, I listened to the album (um, it was actually on vynil) and I thought side one was decent enough, what with all of the paranoid/insane screaming on the song "My War" and the emotional agony expressed on "Can't Decide"...but then it got real, real SLOW (and slow was a "sin" back in the early 80's M.D.C./Verbal Abuse speed/hardcore/punk time), and well, the songs were all over 1:25 minutes long. Man, this just sucked, or so I thought. So I grabbed ahold of my old Black Flag albums, along with D.R.I. (before they became a metal band), Wasted Youth, Verbal Abuse, M.D.C., Free Beer, etc.
   
   But NOW I realize that the mid-80's era Black Flag was actually brilliant, and Live '84 showcases a band that was way ahead of it's time in a lot of ways. You have it all here; the punk rock of "Nervous Breakdown", the sexual twistedness of "Slip It In", the suffocating atmosphere of "Black Coffee"....man, this cd has it all.
   
   The sound quality is good too.
   
   If you want to experience a band that was highly misunderstood within the confines of the hardcore punk scene in the mid-80's, then by all means, buy this! This is a soundtrack to the emotional state of most of us at the time, and byt the way, for those of you who are young; it "rocks"
   
   Thanks!



2. I love Black Flag and "Live 84'" is a great live album by them. It is filled with songs that have been classics from previouse albums. Just great stuff. Not much more to say about it but awesome!



3. By far, this is Black Flag's best. They never were much of a studio group, but once the songs found their way onto the stage, Ginn & Co. would mangle them into pure, raw musical terror. I survived two Black Flag shows, including one in '84, and this CD, especially the first six tracks, captures the amazing power that this group wielded. Hard to believe twenty years have passed since this recording, and it's even harder to believe that anyone could take "punk" or any other purportedly "hardcore" group seriously after listening to "Live '84."



4. HENRY ROLLINS AND GREG GINN LIVE AND RAW, ENOUGH SAID! Everybody says oh Damaged was Black Flag's greatest record, but I don't think so. This record really showcases the ax precision of Mr. Greg Ginn, and it shows the hardcore lyrical talent of Mr. Henry Rollins. This is an amazing album to say the least. If you like punk and hardcore you should definitly pick this cd up, you will not be dissapointed.



5. I love it! Nice to see some people here who think along the lines I do, bringing up for comparison "Ascension" from Coltrane's late period, and the guitarist Derek Bailey who collaborated with jazz avant-gardist Anthony Braxton. I was lucky enough to attend numerous Flag concerts, and '84 was the year they attained their technical, musical, and philosophical maturity. Sadly, it was the year the band peaked, as drivel like "Loose Nut" attests. But in their concerts and three 1984 releases, Black Flag forged a devastating meld of punk, metal, and free jazz, and articulated a rage against society, nature, consciousness, you name it. There is a paranoia in the closing three songs of "My War," for instance, that is not only interpersonal but metaphysical; if you don't believe me, listen to the words for yourself. Later I came to believe that what Werner Herzog undertook in his films, Black Flag tried to do in its music, to resist all the pressures and influences surrounding your life, to arrive at whatever genuine existence you have. Even if this project was flawed by circuitous reasoning from the start, there was a nobility in the effort.

   This live album has the most of Greg Ginn, a supreme guitarist who got buzzes and pierces from his instrument like no one else I've heard. It has enough of Henry Rollins without too much, thank goodness, and the rhythm section of Kira Roessler and Bill Stevenson was the tightest the band ever had and played off Ginn the best. The album has a raw feel, and the songs simply feel less scripted than on their studio versions. It may be an unlikely candidate, but "Live '84" is probably Black Flag's shining moment of darkness. Glad to see it's on CD; it was first released on cassette only, and I've been hanging onto my tape, trying to preserve it for all these years!

5 comments about Live at Max's Kansas City '79.

1. The album has it's flaws, it's not their best performance, but it's still very good. The band is trashy, not as much as their Speakeasy performance, but they're also in shape and in tune. If your looking for some good, trashy punk-rock, pick this up, and if your a Thunder's fan it's pretty much essential.



2. Sadly, the destruction from personal demons of Johnny Thunders played out under the spotlight of pop culture and oftentimes to the delight of a mob who would celebrate the carnage from accidents on a freeway.
   
   When lucid, Thunders and his three-chord rock-n-roll harkened back to the days of Eddie Cochran. But too many times Thunders was an absolute pathetic figure on stage, stumbling through a "performance" before staggering off stage.
   
   The expanded CD is the best and worst, with the initial dozen numbers recorded during a hot reunion set for the Heartbreakers at the legendary club. Thunders powers through Chinese Rocks, Get Off The Phone, One Track Mind and Do You Love Me. It may not be rock at its most dangerous - but it is nighclubbing with a punkish hilarity - when Thunders snaps at the audience that they should go to sleep after he fails to get them to turn over all the tables and chairs.
   
   The five bonus cuts are from a follow-up gig, where Thunders is a mess and the band is finished well before stomping off stage. One number - Too Much Junkie Business - unfortunately sums everything up.
   
   
   



3. There are several Johnny Thunders live albums out there. This is one he made with Walter Lure under the rubric "Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers."

   Johnny was a brilliant performer, even though he was pretty erratic. (And so was/is Walter Lure.) The sound is pretty good on this disc (originally recorded at Max's in NY City, not longer after he and Walter Lure lost the Heartbreakers' record deal), the low points aren't as low as usual, and the high points aren't as high. Jerry Nolan is missing from this particular edition of the band, but Billy Rath is present. The later recordings from the 1980s are generally more interesting (albeit much less professional than this effort.)

   One good thing about this live set is that he isn't constantly stopping the show to tell the soundman to turn the ****ing PA up. (Why was Johnny always hassling the soundmen? I wonder if he was suffering from hearing loss? It's possible...) Another good thing is that most of his best tunes are present.




4. The Heartbreakers just might have been the best band in the world in the late 1970's. Unfortunately, they were shunned by record companies and were never widely known. Today, they are almost forgotten. You can hear them here at their best, in front of a delirious home-town Max's Kansas City crowd. Scorching Johnny Thunders-Walter Lure guitar duels are punctuated with hilarious lewd banter. This CD release includes tracks with Jerry Nolan and a truly heartbreaking version of So Alone. Absolutely essential for the Johnny Thunders enthusiast, and a warning for the uninitiated: The Heartbreakers might change your world.



5. This in my opinion is the best live album of Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers. Wild and intense, in the same time vulnerable and melodious, really far out. It also doesn't disturb that much, when the beginning of a song doesn't work out and they need a second start. My favorite songs are „Chinese Rocks", „Get Off Of The Phone", „One Track Mind", „Can't Keep My Eyes On You" and „I Wanna Be Loved".

No comments about Peel Sessions.

1 comments about Sham's Last Stand.

1. AWESOME CD Love it!
   This CD kicks @$$ Not like that Good Charolotte stuff Lol. British Punk heh, sounds like your in the concert awesome Must have!

3 comments about Live at the Nashville 1979.

1. Made in UK in 1997, Serial# CDPUNK-93, Playing Time 43:16

   Release #16 from the band, but recorded way back in 1979 at The Nashville in London for the "The Biggest Prize in Sport" tour, called "The Biggest TOUR in Sport".

   Since releasing the "Face To Face" album back in 1985, there has been 4 other live albums ("Lust Power And Money", "Live And Loud!!", "The Cellblock Tapes" and "Live In L.A. 1991"), as well as the compilation "Scandal In The City"; basically, not much new stuff besides their "You Us It!" album from 1993.

   The recording quality here is fair, with the bass up-front (for once!). The renditions are honest, and were recorded during what I consider to be their peak.

   Of the tracks contained here, 3 deserve a special mention: "Brent Cross", a never-before released song, while "Lie Lie Lie" and "Ain't Gonna Tell Ya" were already released as b-sides.

   Out of their numerous live albums, this one's my favorite because of the era and the material included, a "best of live" of sorts.

   Not spectacular, but a good introduction to the band if you're unfamiliar with their stuff.




2. the cd is not worth [the price]. the vocals break up and the tape drags. the cd was made from a 20 year old amateurish tape and sounds like the quality of a worn cassete but it is clear. [....] if you can handle [inferior] sounding cds the content is good. i cant.



3. This disc will not convert the unbelievers, but if you are already a fan of 999's particular blend of rock and roll you will enjoy this one. The sound quality is ok..., it sounds like the tape is running a bit slow, and is a bit muddy. The song selection is cool though, with more uncommon songs like QUITE DISSAPOINTING, BRENT CROSS, TROUBLE, and BIGGEST PRIZE IN SPORT included. The best live 999 recording remains the vinyl ep "the biggest tour in sport," but this disc is a most adequate picture of the band at one of thier creative and popular high points.

5 comments about Live 1977.

1. Hearing these versions of Token Of Your Love and Teenage Dream makes you wish there were more "live" T. Rex available from this era. These two songs alone are worth the price. A video of this gig would have been great to see.



2. Interesting capture of T Rex live, with mediocre sound quality. Often times the crowd overpowers Marc and the band, but great song selection and energy overcomes some of this. Good addition for folks who already own most of the catalogue.



3. While these live shows do not represent T. Rex at its 1971-1973 peak, the disc is a great piece of history--1) it is one of Marc Bolan's only live discs 2) the main CD is of the final tour of Marc's life, while his career was finally on the upswing again and he was sounding great, just months before the fatal car crash. Docked one star simply because the sound has a few glitches. Had he lived, Bolan would have made far more of an impact in the U.S. than he did. This release shows he had assembled a great group of musicians again (some who had played with Bowie) and still had the genius songwriting spark.



4. Nothing can top hearing Marc Bolan & T.Rex live, except that is... Marc Bolan & T.Rex LIVE!
   But as that (sadly) is never to be again, the next best thing is LIVE recordings of the King of Glam/Bopping Elf/Godfather of Punk.
   This Cd ROCKS! Great quality, when you think that in 1977 the technical equipment was NOTHING like it is today!
   Bolan's unique (and very often COPIED vocal style - Bono:U2 amongst them), reverberates deliciously thru both discs.
   The music is pure Bolan Boogie/Bop/Rock.
   Its very easy to see the Legacy Bolan has imprinted on Popular music, as even today his style has transgressed time and space. His original sound, as is proved by the countless covers, is as actual now as it was in the 70's. Check out the recent & excellent "(Bang A Gong)Get It On" covers by the likes of LONDON BUS STOP or NATURAL BORN HIPPIES, garanteed to get your bones shakin'!
   T.REX fan or not, "Marc Bolan & T.Rex Live 1977" is NOT just a Blast From The Past, but a Top actual account of how Timeless-Music should be played!!!
   Go out & buy this one, and let your kids hear it too!
   Allan-Michael



5. This Live T Rex CD must rate at one of the worst live performances ever recorded. All the eliments people love about Bolan and T Rex are missing. The nice guitar riffs are lost and the Bolan voice is particularly not good . I even asked myself if it was really him singing. No, he didn't try too hard that night,did he? He couldn't have known he was being recorded and that it was going to be released. He would never have alowed it out.A total [upset]. Save your money and buy some of his studio material

5 comments about Radio One.

1. This is a great CD for those into the early Stranglers stuff.
   I saw them live back in the 70's & this CD brought back the memory of those cookin' shows. Excellent versions of all the classics especially "Burning Up Time". A must for fans of the early Stranglers pre "la Folie" LP.



2. Probably the best bit of these sessions is the marriage of Nuclear Device and Genetix. But I have to say, these aren't nearly as good as the studio versions (especially Goodbye Toulouse). One the other hand, the liner notes do put the sessions in an interesting context about what they were trying to convey on John Peel's show. Still, I would suggest looking at the songs listed here and getting the studio albums on which they originally appear.



3. I've had this for years, and thought it was good all the way through, but I've recently become more drawn to the '82 session tracks i.e. the final three. The Nuclear Device / Genetix medley works OK, but if you have "Rattus Norvegicus" or any live album with "Down in the Sewer" in it, then get this. You will not hear a sweeter, cleaner version of this song anywhere else, so far as I know. The instruments are almost perfectly balanced, and Jet's drumming is beautiful in it's simplicity, but Hugh's guitar gets washed out a bit somehow.



4. The Stranglers a name that put fear and loathing to the GLC.A band that,fired the nation into punk.4 guys a chemist,icecream salesman,a musian,and a student,The Stranglers.
   This cd shows off the band to their best.11 tracks ranging from thier first album,to their last(at that time La Foile).
   The best of the tracks are Wog,No More Heroes,Sewer.
   This cd shows how the band sounded when Hugh and JJ were working togthere,not pulling each other a part,an excellent cd a must for those who love the band,a must for those who like The Stranglers,a must for those who want to hear how the band sounded in the good old days.



5. THe stranglers have always been sort-of outsiders. From the very early days they were the first punk band to incorporate a keybord, and their lyrics always took on deeper, sleazier, darker, yet still good humoured topics. In all honesty, I believe that the stranglers are perhaps one of best alltime punk rock bands to ever have graced sound systems. This recording is a collection of some of their best and catchiest songs done live in a studio. All the songs are tight and clear, and every instrument sounds superb. Infact, if I didn't know any better I would have thought this to be a plain old studion album. You can tell the difference by the following: in this album the bass is thumpier and smoother-as opposed to their other studio works where the bass is growly and slightly distorted-and there is much more guitar, that is, the guitar is more audible, whereas regular stranglers records have a predominant keybord sound. ALso, the backing vocals are much more noticeable than on the regular recordings. These are nit-picky details, but in some cases add an improvement, but frankly if you want a nut-shell reasoning, the overall recording is just cleaner than regular stranglers' records. Other bands to whatch out for in this vain of punk rock would be the Jam, Radiobirdman, and the much newer fore-runners of the current punk rock scene, The International Noise Conspiracy. Forget blink-182, sum-41 and newfound glory. If you are looking for some real punk rock with cathcy melodies and humorously ingenious lyrics, then buy this album.

3 comments about Live at the Nashville 1979.

1. Made in UK in 1997, Serial# CDPUNK-93, Playing Time 43:16

   Release #16 from the band, but recorded way back in 1979 at The Nashville in London for the "The Biggest Prize in Sport" tour, called "The Biggest TOUR in Sport".

   Since releasing the "Face To Face" album back in 1985, there has been 4 other live albums ("Lust Power And Money", "Live And Loud!!", "The Cellblock Tapes" and "Live In L.A. 1991"), as well as the compilation "Scandal In The City"; basically, not much new stuff besides their "You Us It!" album from 1993.

   The recording quality here is fair, with the bass up-front (for once!). The renditions are honest, and were recorded during what I consider to be their peak.

   Of the tracks contained here, 3 deserve a special mention: "Brent Cross", a never-before released song, while "Lie Lie Lie" and "Ain't Gonna Tell Ya" were already released as b-sides.

   Out of their numerous live albums, this one's my favorite because of the era and the material included, a "best of live" of sorts.

   Not spectacular, but a good introduction to the band if you're unfamiliar with their stuff.




2. the cd is not worth [the price]. the vocals break up and the tape drags. the cd was made from a 20 year old amateurish tape and sounds like the quality of a worn cassete but it is clear. [....] if you can handle [inferior] sounding cds the content is good. i cant.



3. This disc will not convert the unbelievers, but if you are already a fan of 999's particular blend of rock and roll you will enjoy this one. The sound quality is ok..., it sounds like the tape is running a bit slow, and is a bit muddy. The song selection is cool though, with more uncommon songs like QUITE DISSAPOINTING, BRENT CROSS, TROUBLE, and BIGGEST PRIZE IN SPORT included. The best live 999 recording remains the vinyl ep "the biggest tour in sport," but this disc is a most adequate picture of the band at one of thier creative and popular high points.

No comments about Live.