5 comments about Live Alone! Discovering Japan.

1. Graham Parker live solo acoustic a a small club in Tokyo. Obvious highlight: "Discovering Japan." Hard to understand the cover choices. Unlikely to win any new converts with this one.



2. It's certainly worth owning this disc, and fascinating to see how Graham Parker simplifies his songs in a solo setting, but giving this five stars is absurd. Parker is good, but not at his best solo. That said, there are many fine things about this project. A couple songs from slick studio albums might actually have benefited from the solo format. Parker's cover of Billy Idol's "Sweet 16" is a stroke of genius and the best thing on the album. But don't look for revelations and don't believe all those five-star reviews.



3. A great live album in that you have a gifted performer, singing tremendous songs, in a setting that makes feel like you are there. Perfect companion to Live! Alone In America.



4. Ignore the aptly titled "dirty linen" review above. This cd is stripped down and raw in the best sense. Graham has the voice, the songs and the intensity to pull this off and that's exactly what he does. This cd and Acid Bubblegum are essential for all Graham Parker fans.



5. some great solo acoustic versions of songs from "Burning Questions" are here...

   But then again, I prefer the solo versions of most of Graham's songs.

   "Struck by Lightning" and "12 Haunted Episodes" are also super...

5 comments about Metallic K.O..

1. Performance art at its most decadent, the 2-CD set chronicles the destruction of The Stooges and the fall of Iggy (Pop) Stooge from personal demons.
   
   Bolstered with additional material, this infamous live "bootleg" from more than 30 years ago was initially only available as an import album.
   
   The two concerts chronicled - October 1973 and the band's final gig in February 1974 - is a sonic implosion due to any number of issues. The end is near, as a crazed Iggy implores the raucous crowd to throw more ice, eggs, beer bottles and jelly beans. The band limps along with muzak, sounding the closing chords for a wild ride that had gone so wrong.
   
   This is all too real....and dangerous when breaking glass is the soundscape.



2. The band is killing it and Iggy's between song banter is hilarious. This kinda stuff just doesn't happen at shows anymore.
   
   Unless, of course, it's a Mighty High show. Check out Mighty High...In Drug City.



3. It's fun to hear the Spinal Tap moments where he baits the crowd (once), but this was a so-so night for Iggy and Co. After slogging through a half a dozen similar CD's, it's clear that these guys got a lot of help in the studio.People who like the legendary rep of this disc would do better to just buy the tee shirt.



4. This is basically a legitimized bootleg album so the sound quality isn't the best. It is however, a landmark in Rock 'n' Roll/Punk history. The Ig did in fact issue a public challenge to a local M/C club, but it was the Scorpions and not the Angels. Turns out that one of the Scorpions jumped on stage at the Rock 'n' Roll Farm the week before and punched Iggy in the face, but enough of that. This is history, if you're a collector and a punk, get this 'cause you'll dig it. Cut it a little slack and remember the times (and the old Michigan Palace...what a great place to see a show that was). This isn't a listen to all the time type of recording, it's a historical document that needs to be appreciated for what it is. If you are the type that can't do this, this one's not for you. If you're from Detroit and you don't have it...I think it may be a felony. All others check local laws before ordering.



5. I have only been listening to the Stooges for maybe 4 or 5 months. I first purchased Raw Power and then The Stooges and Funhouse. This band is great and I was looking for more to listen to so I turned to this. When I first heard this yesterday, I was blown away. Though the mix is God awful, the energy and power that made the studio albums so great is definatly present in this. If you LOVE the Stooges and Iggy Pop and you are looking for more, I recommend this, but only if you REALLY want more. If your not that into the Stooges than this is NOT for you. O and if you only like The Stooges and Funhouse and don't like Raw Power (because the music is a little different), then you probably won't like this.
   
   And Iggy's comments are funny.

No comments about Sunglasses After Dark.

5 comments about 29/6/00 - Spectrum, Oslo, Norway.

1. Disclaimer: Owner of all 72 official PJ bootlegs. This show in Oslo has not garnered much attention from collectors of the Pearl Jam bootleg series, but I feel that this one is a little underrated and is actually a surprisingly good performance if you sit back and let it sink in. Stone Gossard and Mike McCready are both in especially prime form tonight, working perfectly in unison and delivering slamming versions of the heavy rockers "Hail Hail," "Spin the Black Circle," and "Last Exit." Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron add an unexpectedly funky groove to the inevitable jam sessions in "Daughter" and "Porch." Another advantage for this show is a rather unusual set list, starting off with the quiet but effective "Sometimes," and adding the rarities "Evacuation," "Sleight of Hand," a grandiose "Immortality" and an incredible "Red Mosquito" in which Mike's slide solos are extra mindbending. Eddie Vedder talks about The La's to the uncomprehending Norwegians before the band launches into its sparkling cover of "Timeless Melody." The only unfortunate aspect of this bootleg is the feeling you get about the tragedy that would occur at the very next gig in Denmark, where nine fans would die.



2. I just want to say that Pearl Jam is amazing on this records, they are still one of the best live groups around, this CD has a good set and very good new versions of old songs like immortality, but especially Daughter when Eddie shows the crowd that he is a great singer, also has a good version of Timeless Melody. The band show that they are better musicians than before, Mike is playing incredibly well, and Matt is really a good drummer I guess that the best Pj. ever had. I just hope that one day Pearl Jam visit Costa Rica, i really love that to happen.



3. I was present when Pearl Jam kicked off in Oslo. I was very exited, FINALLY I got to see Pearl Jam live! They have not been to Norway since 1993, 7 years. The concert was incredible! The sound, the mood, Pearl Jam gave 9000 norwegian fans a fantastic show. It is very nice to see that PJ still can hit life into their old hits. Also, to see them playing their song, the way they put energy and soul into them. It becomes magical. I have bought all of the 25 albums. "Rolling stones" rated Oslo 21. I believe it decerves better. The version of "Immortality" is the highlight of the setlist. "Daughter" was also very good. Ed brought the croud into the song.. Best concert : Fila Forum. It contains songs like "State of love and trust", "Garden" and "Jeremy", personal favorites. Thank you Pearl Jam, for giving us the opportunity to keep all the memories from a great show. I Thank you!



4. I was one of the 8500 people who got to see Pearl jam in Oslo Spectrum this night. I have no doubt in my mind, this is the best live show i have ever been to. The whole set is brilliant, "Corduroy", "Breakerfall", "Daughter", "Alive", they all sound brilliant. BUY NOW!!!!



5. THis is the best of the bootlegs i've heard. Especially the version of SPIN THE BLACK CIRCLE

2 comments about Live.

1. this is not the same TSOL out on the road and active.they broke up after like 3 or 4 lp's. after jack and todd left a guy name joe woods took over vocals and played a little guitar.the new drummer escapes me mitch dean maybe.they made 2 good lp's(change today and revenge}and 1 decent lp(hit n run)and 1 kinda bad(strange love) with this new line up.most die hard fans did not like this stuff.i like it a lot but would agree it is not true TSOL.its good and if you know this stuff like i do grab it up. if anybody reading who knows what joe woods is doin email me at jse420@yahoo.com. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR STUFF BY THE REUNITED ORIGINAL TSOL TRY LIVE 91.IT HAS ALL THE TRUE CLASSICS.



2. This CD is one of the best put out by TSOL. It has all the best songs that they have done and it is a really good live recording. The best songs are "Sixteen" and "Red Shadows". The band and the CD are the best!

2 comments about Live At The BBC: Complete Radio One Recordings.

1. I love it when obscure recordings are made available. While I do enjoy all things Adam (even the modern pop stuff), I still have a strong affinity to the early years. So to acquire this recording of this date was exciting to say the least.
   
   If you enjoy early Ant Music, this you need to own this classic, raw release of great British new wave/punk as only Adam can do it. Grab a cop before it disappears forever.
   
   My only wish is for a good DVD release of a concert from this era.



2. A very good CD with rare recordings. Some different versions of the songs we love.

5 comments about The Horrible Truth About Burma.

1. Don't let any negative reviews scare you away: If you really want to know what Mission of Burma were about Back In The Day, look no further: The Horrible Truth perfectly captures the brilliant, brutal fury of this hugely influential band at their very peak.
   
   Guitarist Roger Miller often said that the reason Vs., Burma's widely acclaimed studio masterpiece, so eclipsed their earlier studio efforts was the fact that Vs. was essentially recorded live in the studio. By extrapolation then, "The Horrible Truth" is an even more significant recording than Vs., because it captures all the immediacy and rawness of Burma in an actual live setting.
   
   That Burma was/is really a live band, and not creatures of the studio, is an important point. Every twist and wierd effect you hear on Vs. can be -- and was in fact intended to be -- reproduced in real time in a live setting. If you have been lucky enough to catch Burma live, you will know I do not exaggerate when I say that their live shows blow away anything they've recorded in the studio -- with perhaps the exception of The Horrible Truth.
   
   So what you get here are roaring, sizzling, edgy performances -- especially "Tremelo", "1970" and the jaw-dropping Pere Ubu cover, "Heart Of Darkness" -- albeit with a slightly less refined mix than what one would expect from a studio recording like Vs. But make no mistake: this is essential Burma.



2. Mission of Burma were a classic indie rock band. Unfortunately, though their songs are excellent, thought provoking pieces of material, their producer never quite got their sound right so that the live experience was never fully captured. This documents them on their farewell tour. I saw them live on their reunion tour and this really lives up to the Mission of Burma experience. All of the songs are filled with the raw energy and sincerity that was supposed to be there on the studio versions but is somehow lacking. This is a great album to start with.



3. This album is a real nostalgia trip for me. I became aquainted with Mission of Burma as a student in Boston in 1979. It was a time of great creative ferment in the avant-garde scene, both in jazz and in rock. MOB blew me away when I first heard Revolver on WBCN. I followed the band as much as I could at the time, and continued to be interested in Roger Miller's followup band Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. But MOB had it all. It had the raw rage of British punk, but the experimental attitude of other avant-rock groups like Pere Ubu, who are their most clear forebears. And the lyrics were smart...this was college student's punk.

   This album captures much of the energy of that period. The cuts include the biggest hit, Revolver, along with numbers from Vs., MOB's strongest work, and other cuts that never made it to wax during the band's lifetime. The playing on the album is white hot, and Mike Swope's tape loop work is even more creative than on the studio work. And the more atmospheric work is prescient of the electronic ambient music of the later 80s and 90s. And though there is the requiset thrash and slash on the album, the writing and playing is excellent. These aren't guys who just learned to play their instruments, they are true creative musicians.

   One big problem with the album however is the recorded sound. Though not bad for music recorded in small bars around the country, it is still kind of muddy and at times, the instruments overpower the singing. MOB shouted with the best of the punkers, but you could usually hear them over the din. That's not always the case here and you loose something by not hearing all the lyrics.

   All in all though, this is one of the best underground bands of the early 80s. It amazes me that it still sounds fresh, even after 20 years (though I suppose I shouldn't be amazed since the Velvet Underground still sounds fresh as well and it's been 40 years for them!) So many bands in the late 90s and today seem to think that they've invented punk attitude. MOB has them all down cold.




4. First, I implore you to ignore abrasive, mediocre reviews. This, a document of the final tour by a band gone WAY before their time, is wonderful.
   A live album can be a tricky thing, but Burma delivered onstage & that is captured to good effect here. Cover songs are monsters (Stooges & Pere Ubu) and originals are given that extra kick (Peking Spring ROCKS). Martin Swope in particular is revealed here as a fuller collaborator that on the studio albums, tweaking, spindling, folding & mutilating chunks of the band' playing & sending them back though the sound system in realtime via analog tape loops, way before any samplers were around. Fine stuff from a band having one last blast of decibels before hanging it up.



5. Abrasive, mediocre live recording by the band that cut the brilliant "Vs.".

5 comments about Live Tracks.

1. Every once in a while you get in a performer the ability to write and sing good counrty music. And that's what you get with Tony Villanueva and the Derailers. It just doesn't get any better than this. The Derailers make music here that far exceeds most anything that has come out of country music since those who invented it. Straight forward and to the point. Two-steppin', tear-jerkin', beer drinkin', live country music the way it was supposed to be. I could almost taste the cold beer and feel the hips of the sweet hillbilly girls I danced with at their shows every time I listen to this cd. And now that Tony has left the band, I guess thats it. To bad.



2. I bought this after reading an article in the newspaper on them and I like it. It's simple straight ahead country. It is a live-in-the-studio (radio station) album so it's not polished or professional, but that adds to the feeling.
   Highlights are the lead off track "Big City Blues", the joyful "Jackpot", "I'll Catch You When You Fall" and the rockabilly-ish "Just One More Time."



3. Music with heart, a bass line hits deep in the heart, and a rythem you can't keep your feet from moving to. This is the type of music I remember growing up with... Not a bunch of glitz with no heart but something you can listen to over and over to. A friend of mine bought "full western dress" as a birthday present for me when he saw them at Houston's Continental Club. I couldn't stop listening to it and had to pick up my bass to play a few licks. Listening to Lover's Lie, Lost and Found,etc.. and you'll know what I mean. Hey Steel Guitar still lives in Texas thanks to these guys!!!!!!!!! I'm putting this review on every cd because after hearing them on "Full Western Dress" I bought everything else they had on here and was not dissappointed.



4. This is REAL country. The harmonies are wonderful, the lyrics are amazing, and the music is easy to dance to. What's really amazing about this CD is it's live. These guys are so smooth, you'd think it was recorded in a studio. I have listened to this CD hundreds of times and love it just as much as I did the first time I heard it.



5. An interesting artifact for gung-ho fans of this honky-tonk outfit (like me), but if you're a new Derailers listener/fan, stick with the studio LPs. Suffers from fidelity problems - muddy mix, inaudible (at times) vocals.

   Serves best as a change of pace when rotating frequently between Jackpot, Reverb Deluxe, and Full Western Dress.

   On the up side, there are a few songs here not found anywhere else and as the Derailers ascent continues this may become a valuable rarity.

5 comments about LLMF (Live Like a Mutherfucker).

1. He has to be cool...I mean he has played with Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, Henry Rollins and GG Allin...I wish I could say the same.



2. Title is supposed to stand for 'Live Like A Motherf***er!!'Makes perfect sense.Tunes I thought showed some promise were the opener "Bad Seed",the total ass-kicking "It's Never Enough","Down To The Ground","Poison",the MC 5 classic "Kick Out The Jams" and "Count Time",where Kramer shows off his bluesy side.The former MC 5 guitarist now tours with a trio.Some very basic old school all American rock&roll.Nothing really outstanding here,but pretty decent.



3. Absolutely essential listening!!

   How many rock artists do you know today that play "take-no-prisoners"-style hard-rocking guitar music with intelligent, inciteful, adult lyrics along with exploratory improvisational finesse and instrumental acumen? None that I can think of - at least none that do it anywhere near as well as Brother Wayne!!

   Here it is captured white-hot, live and transcendent... direct to tape with no studio touch-ups... just 3 guys playing rock like their lives depend on it... and in Waynes case... IT PROBABLY DOES!!

   I can't say enough good things about this artist or this CD in particular.




4. They just don't make albums/CD's like this anymore. This is what rock music should be. High energy, great material, and fantastic playing. I can't recommend this CD enough. It's meant to be played loud and it'll get your blood flowing. Buy this, you can't go wrong.



5. They just don't make albums/CD's like this anymore. This is what rock music should be. High energy, great material, and fantastic playing. I can't recommend this CD enough. It's meant to be played loud and it'll get your blood flowing. Buy this, you can't go wrong.

1 comments about Live.

1. This a great compalation of the northern pikes songs. If you are a fan you will appreciate this album. The record has songs that have not been released.