5 comments about In the City.

1. Weller 18 a 60s obsessed mod teen takes speed sees the Pistols live and combines his love for soul and R&B with the fire of the who and the emerging punk scene. Is it a great record?- no but its a vital energetic youthful stab of music that would begin the career of the Uk's best songwriter youth icon. Plus there are some great tunes In the City Away from the numbers etc. This is a snapshot of London circa 1977 and though never punk Weller was the essential rebel and no one looked better and more determined than Paul. The Jam were to become the essential British rock band outside of the Clash and weller has gone on to this very day to be one of the best songwriters of our Generation. And better still the Jams legacy is untarnished and still sounds refreshing today!!!



2. This is not a perfect album. Rather, it is an early one from a terrific, emerging band. They should have been bigger but (probably) they were too english. They were no punk band...they were a raw, muscular trio similar to the Who. The musicianship was talented, explosive and raw. Instead of distorted guitars they were real clean, yet real loud and trebly (is that a word?). The bass was mixed way up front and the drums were crashing.
   
   You cannot call this a 5 star or even a 4 star album because Paul Weller's songwriting skills would grow in leaps and bounds during their first 5 albums.
   
   All the songs are good, there is no filler. Some people would knock the Jam's decision to include a cover on each cd (Heatwave, David Watts, Batman) but I liked it. The covers were fun curved balls after listening to the serious toned lyrics.
   
   'Away from the numbers" "Art School" and "In the City" are standouts. "Batman" is such a strange cover, positioned in the middle but I love it.
   
   I saw the Jam live, circa 1979 in Chicago, and they were great!
   
   There are so many compilations and 2 fers for this band that this cd is really only for completists.



3. While the Jam would go on to produce some of the best later post-punk rock that you could find in the UK, this is not as strong a record as one could wish. The singing is not yet as developed as it would get on later releases and the playing has not reached the virtuoso heights that they would later achieve. OK it is still very much punk and mo-influenced.



4. A very high energy mod/punk album. Some of it almost seems to be retro early '60s, like early Stones or Beatles. Excellent songwriting by Paul Weller (see "I Changed my Address"). Good instrument playing by the band. Overall a solid debut.



5. An incredible debut album by The Jam--who churned out mod-inspired cuts that gave the youth a new outlet for punk/new wave. Five standout tracks emerge from this album: Art School, I've Changed My Address, I Got By In Time, Away From The Numbers, and In The City. Bricks and Mortar is a good track, as well as Non-Stop Dancing--but the other noted five are simply classic mood/period pieces. Considering Weller's tender age of 18 when he wrote this album, one can sense the greatness that was coming on latter albums like Sound Affects. This album is a look at life from a teenage and angst-ridden young song writer from the working class of the UK (Woking to be exact) that shows depth and understanding. The true shame of The Jam is how they never really caught on here in the United States. I would suggest that they be given some serious consideration now. I would suggest to most folks who love classic rock to give In The City a listen as well as Sound Affects, and Setting Sons. Then move on to the Box Set (it is worth the money) and enjoy one of the late 1970s best bands.

5 comments about Why Do Birds Sing?.

1. It would be hard to say that this is the best Violent Femms album. I think it's a three way tie, and I would include this album in the trio.
   
   There's a lot going on in this album, with little riffs here and there from assorted popular music. Very literate. The older I get, the more I appreciate it.



2. Easily one of the VF's best albums. A great pick for your next road trip. Too bad it never got the attention it deserved.



3. All i can say about this album is that it really grows on you. It's the kind of music you want to hear when you want to dance by yourself in the living room.
   If you are a Violent Femmes fan, buy this album... If you are looking for a starter, I'd recommend Add It Up, it covers more bases. This album is great.
   "American Music" gets tiring after a few times of hearing it, but the Boy George.. or was it Culture Club... cover of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" makes up for it.



4. ...considering the quality of the music they have shared with the world throughout the last 21 years or so.
   While not as urgent and raw as their masterpiece first album, Why Do Birds Sing? is their second best. I picked this up in June of 1991, after having heard their first album a few times while in high school a few years earlier and forgetting about them. What sold me on this album was the cover...for some reason, it was (and still is) one of my favorite album covers of all time.
   Of course, after unwrapping the cassette and popping it in, I realized it was much more than a nice package. "American Music" should have become an American anthem that summer (a summer when "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones just wouldn't go away), and "Out the Window" is very catchy (as well as disturbingly funny).
   One of my favorite tracks, and still one of the greatest cover tunes of all time, is the Femmes' remake of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" Gordan Gano changes the lyrics up a bit and makes it an achy, bittersweet tune, as opposed to the keyboarded stiffness of the original.
   The addition of strings makes "Used to Be" a little overproduced sounding, but it's a depressing song and the brushed snare drum (one of the Femmes' signature sounds) help make it work. Allow yourself into it for a lovely, melancholy few minutes.
   The album closes with "I'm Free," a sweet little ode to Gordan's own life. Almost a country song, it's a great way to finish the album.
   Overall, it's a great, great album, and it's shameful that it was so overlooked. Gordan Gano's amazing ability to sound both geniunely sad and geniunely insane at the same time is one of their unique characteristics, and the multi-talented Brian Ritchie brings all sorts of new and fresh musical expressions. As I mentioned earlier, this is their second best, behind their first, quintessential, self-titled album. If you consider yourself a Violent Femmes fan, or you've never heard anything by them, then this is a must have.



5. What a great album. Opens with the notorious "American Music", ends with the country inspired gem "I'm Free", and in between exhibits a vibrant variety of music, using elements of Pop, Folk, Country, Rock and Punk to generate a sort of "undressed new wave sound" that only the Violent Femmes could have the ingenuity to create. As with every Femmes album, "Why Do Birds Sing?" puts an interesting spin on the established Femmes sound. Keyboards and Organs play a previously nonresident role, and many instruments are introduced into the Femmes' musical vocabulary. Ukeleles, Conga Drums, Tambourines, Jaw Harps, Mellotrons, and drummer Victor Delorenzo's own invention, the "Tranceaphone" are among the interesting tools used to create the album. Though do not be fooled by the seemingly odd choice of instrumentation, the Violent Femmes are anything but some obscure emotionless act. Their unique sonances blend with accustomed Rock melodies to develop a very natural and pure sound, creating songs of exclusive charm.

   Gordon Gano, Singer/Guitarist, presents beautifully ambigious songwriting in a class of its own. The reason Femmes songs are loved so dearly by so many different types of people, is that they represent that which we can all relate to; the inevitable clash of venerating, joyous innocence, with dark, dolorous truths which will always haunt our psyche. Harsh realities affect our emotions in a way that nothing else can, and Gordon uses humour to deliver recollections of these disturbingly honest moments we all share. Using humour to describe sorrow, two emotions in such contrast to one another, harnesses a wide range of emotions, all meeting together at one moment; the end result being unsure of whether you should laugh, be confused, angry, or simply break down and cry. These moments of such emotionally plenary uncertainty strike us all in the same way, in the sense that we are all struck in different ways. So quite naturally, it is of impeccable appropriateness that "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" is covered on this album, a song dealing with these exact issues, seemingly written for Gordon's writing style.

   While I favor some songs over others, all are interesting in their own way. "Used To Be", perhaps my favorite track on the album, is sad to the point where hopelessness becomes beautiful. I love how well Victor's double snare fits the song, and the tone is Gordon's voice is in magical correspondance to the lyrics. The first 2 tracks, "American Music" and "Out The Window", both found on the "Add it Up" album, are classics. As the chorus of "American Music" sings, "Every time I look at that ugly lake it reminds of me." Brilliant line. Looking at a lake will show you your reflection, and if the lake is ugly and it reminds him of him, well, you get the idea. Gordon always amazes me with using such unique ways to bring up common ideas we all share. We can all relate to "Look Like That", or "Girl Trouble". The witty "Lack Of Knowledge" is a Punk Rock inspired tune about intelligence and confusion. It's impossible to not enjoy Gordon's clever anthem of revenge "More Money Tonight".

   Femmes fans who don't already own "Why Do Birds Sing?" must buy this majestic masterpiece for their own sake, as the benefits of this purchase extend far beyond the material world. As good as this album is, it is not the ideal place to start for listeners who haven't heard, or are new to the Violent Femmes. Acquire "Violent Femmes - Deluxe Edition", the highly distinguished self-titled album, first. I definitely recommend the Deluxe Edition as it contains a bonus disc that will reveal to you a whole nother aspect of their genius - the live act. Though the album "Viva Wiconsin" is definitely the ultimate document of the Femmes live, the bonus live disc is an interesting chronicle that you will thank yourself for later.

5 comments about Real Life.

1. Like Ultravox, Magazine drew heavily on the textures of Roxy Music and the paranoid space cadet ethos of Bowie. Real Life is the group's definitive work, featuring the propulsive "Shot by Both Sides" as well as Howard Devoto's stark visions of alienation and urban angst as vividly displayed in such songs as "Motorcade" and "The Light Pours out of Me." Fans of the aforementioned Ultravox, Tuxedomoon, Joy Division and Visage will certainly find Real Life a pleasure.



2. THE NEW REISSUES OVERALL:
   
   SOUND: The mastering job makes a noticeable difference. The mix remains true to the originals, but there's more definition around the edges of each part - resulting in more powerful dynamics and an overall clearer sound. They refrained from maxing out the volume, which also helps with the dynamics.
   
   MUSICAL CONTENT: They did it exactly right. Every non-album studio-recorded a-side and b-side has been slotted onto the ends of the appropriate albums. Previously, you had to buy the four albums, the non-album collection "Scree," and an additional disc to get the original a-side version of "Shot By Both Sides." (There was a great live 3-song b-side on an e.p., which is now only available on "Scree." Some alternate 2002 mixes of "Magic Murder and the Weather" songs are only available on the boxed set, "Maybe It's Right to be Nervous Now." The third disc of that box - the complete Peel Sessions - was released as a stand-alone cd in November, 2008.)
   
   PACKAGING UPSIDE: Magazine had great album covers, but the Virgin cds all printed a diagonal banner across them indicating that they were budget cds. So that has been rectified. Also, the new cds come in clear jewel boxes and have nice artwork adaptations beneath the cds (which also have album-specific graphics on them). Typography on the spines is also specific to the albums and their visual aesthetic.
   
   PACKAGING DOWNSIDE: The Virgin cds did a good job of adapting the back covers of the albums for the jewel box, and only the new "Correct Use of Soap" really tries to do that (poorly). The printing job is okay but not great. The typography on "Soap" and "Magic" is a little wonky, and the background color on "Soap" far more yellow than the original artwork/album. The Virgin cds also included the complete lyrics. The new cds do not have any lyrics. There's no additional graphic content either - photography, single covers, or anything else. Aside from the credits, all you get are mediocre essays that don't tell you much if you're already a Magazine fan.



3. There are some remasters that significantly improve the sound quality over the original CD's release (The Cure, Jesus & Mary Chain); some remasters actually sound worse than the originals (Siouxsie and Depeche Mode's immediately come to mind); and then there are some that are just unremarkable. Don't get me wrong: the Magazine remasters sound fine, the audio quality just isn't a huge leap forward from what was on the original CDs. On top of that, the bonus tracks that are offered are all available elsewhere.
   
   Bottom line: If you're a die-hard Magazine fan, you probably have all the tracks that are on here, and chances are slim you'll notice a difference in sound. If you're new to Magazine and are looking for a good place to start, don't think twice about picking this up.



4. In my view the standout here is "Shot By Both Sides", but that's because it was still co-written by Pete Shelley and might as well be a Buzzcocks song. The album is great though, and while I've not always been the biggest fan of synthesizers the band makes them work. So while this won't be on the top of my favorite albums very soon, it is very easy to see that this is where 80s post punk got it's start.



5. The first Magazine Cd or lp is essential,its also incredible beautifull with the great Howard devoto qand future Bad seed barry Adamson
   I saw Magazine Live once A true "beautifull but powerfull punkband
   live theyreinded me of Joy division
   Check out their next 2 albums too Second hand day light is simply ..incredible

5 comments about Boi-ngo.

1. If you are just getting to know Oingo Boingo, don't start with this album. It was a mid 80's attempt at a more commercial sound. Danny and Company had always used strong instrumental and unusual percussive sounds, including a heavy influence from their horns section. Boingo drew heavily from Danny's life experiences travelling in Africa and performing in Avant Garde street theater, this album, betrayed those roots and went for a synth-pop sound and does not represent the fantastic music that Oingo Boingo is known for.
   
   There are some things worth listening to on this album, but they would all have been better if they had been performed with less synthesizer, more guitar and horns, and lots of drums.
   
   If you are just cutting your teeth on Boingo, but want something that may not be as well known, try "Good For Your Soul" It has a great collection of songs that are unknown except to fans. "Sweat" for example has to be one of the top 10 Boingo Songs Ever.



2. An exceedingly good album, probably their 3rd best. Do yourself a favour- once you get one album, you'll get the lot!



3. Not a strong album from them. It is still unique in that it is Boingo.



4. "Boi-Ngo" was the second album of Oingo Boingo material I bought. The first was the compilation album "Skeletons in the Closet," which can give one a very specific idea of what Boingo's style is. But when I saw this album in stores and bought it without even thinking about it, I was completely enthralled by how much ground Danny Elfman had covered in style. So my ideas of Boingo are based on this album and "Skeletons in the Closet" mostly, because they were the first ones I ever heard. And the first Boingo song I heard was "We Close Our Eyes" which is Track 5 on this album. It hooked me in the first place, so I have a natural affinity for this particular album. However, of all of Boingo's stuff, this is the "sweetest" sounding, if that makes sense enough. The messages are no heavier or lighter than any of Elfman's earlier songs, like "Grey Matter" or "Only a Lad," but they resonate with more of a charm to them. It's unfortunate that present styles of punk and ska and all that has turned people against the cliche 80s sound that Boingo was one of the manufacturerers of.
   
   Track 7 "My Life" is the sweet part of this deal. It really is one of those songs that yanks my heart strings.
   
   Dance-friendly and usually catchy (although "New Generation" isn't really all that catchy), "Boi-Ngo" offers a very specific sound and feeling that you can't get anywhere else. One of my all-time favorites of Boingo, "Elevator Man" is featured Track 3. Listen if you want to enjoy yourself in this life! And might I suggest you really examine the lyrics and see if you can find the hidden meanings I did.
   
   Last of all, Track 9 "Pain" is probably the most musically appealing on this album, very much the familiar sardonic rock from earlier Boingo, but with a matured style. And a great ending to the album!



5. ... but Elfman makes up vocally and lyrically.
   Home Again-4.5 out of 5-The only reason I gave this such a great rating is because of the music. The music really sounds good on this song.

   Where Do All My Friends Go-4 out of 5-I really love the way this song begins, a capella. Sounds really good. Elfman is a really great singer.

   Elevator Man-4.5 out of 5-This one, also, has good music. A good dance song.

   New Generation-4 out of 5-This song is good. I really love the chorus. The vocals and the trumpets in it. Great one.

   We Close Our Eyes-4.5 out of 5-A suprisingly good song by OB. Really doesn't sound like them, but it's good. I can imagine this song playing over the credits or during a prom scene in an 80's movie.

   Not My Slave-4 out of 5-Another good dance song.

   My Life-3.5 out of 5-Not my personal favorite off the album(that would be Where Do All My Friends Go), but it's okay.

   Outrageous-4 out of 5-Good music. I really like the chorus.

   Pain-4 out of 5-Good music. Great vocals by Elfman. The fiddle sounds great.

   When I bought this album, I was expecting more from it, because I had gotten Only A Lad first, and was a little disappointed when I listened to it. But, it's still an okay listen.

5 comments about Duty Now for the Future.

1. One of the Penultimate creations of the Devo crew a must for everyone's cd collection. This album was way before its time (79! wow ) this sound could is still not dated today! The energy and creative genius is just oozing out of this album. A perfect mix of rocking giutar work , crazy pioneering electronic music and profoundly fun lyrics and vocals. Do yourself a favour and buy this album now !!!



2. Devo's second album is a slight step back from their first in terms of it's mass appeal. However it's packed with good performances and the production values are more in line with the Devo ethic than the first album. The song Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA sums up Devo perfectly. Wiggly World is a classic as is Strange Pursuit. The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize had a great promotional video. Secret Agent Man is an in concert fave sung by Bob 1.
   
   As I mentioned this is not Devo's most popular album. If You give it a sceond listen you'll find it's packed with gems.



3. This is by far one of Devo's strongest albums. A new wave/punk rock tour de force. If you like Devo, this is a must have.



4. This CD offers the casual devo-tee a chance to really understand the evolution of the de-evolution band. By sandwiching the immediate predecessor and immediate progeny of "Freedom of Choice," the listener can truly understand how Freedom Of Choice is the missing link between organic Devo (Duty Now for the Future) and synthetic Devo (New Traditionalists).
   
   "Duty Now For The Future" was Devo's apocalyptic warning against a wiggly world taken over by corporate culture; by the time "New Traditionalists" came out, the members of Devo had been fully re-programmed to trumpet the coming of a Brave New World.
   
   Or had they?
   
   Songs like "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA," "Devo Corporate Anthem," "Clockout" and "Blockhead" were harbingers of a "one-size-fits all" universe that came to fruition with "Freedom of Choice," though the spudboys by that time all chose to march in energy-dome topped-off lockstep.
   
   Their lockstep neck-salute anthem, "Triumph of the Will," is a dark synthetic foreshadowing of Things To Come. Or, is it? Is it prophecy, or retreading Leni Riefenstahl's utopian vision of Nazi Germany?
   
   But, there is a premonition of revolt in such songs from "New Traditionalists" as "Beautiful World" (for YOU; IT'S NOT FOR ME), "Through Being Cool" and "Going Under." "Working in a Coal Mine" was Devo's attempt at nostalgia as only they could understand it; disembodied computer-synth hu-boon vocals over steel guitar. It really takes a great swipe at all the MOR so-called "blues" artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton.
   
   Devo never sold out, they just constantly repackaged themselves.



5. There is no question in the power of Devo's music, philosophy or art (especially in "Duty For The Future"), however this edition of the recording is quite lackluster considering a previous version of "Duty" far out weighs it. The Infinite Zero label (reissue label ran by Henry Rollins) produced a quality re-mastered version sporting two great bonus tracks (Soo Bawls, Penetration In The Centerfold) with lyrics to boot. The release here features no extra tracks, on lyrics, and adding to the insult a weak re-mastering (if any at all). The CD sleeve itself consists of a single 4.75" X 4.75" paper square. The original vinyl gave you more than that.
   
   If you wonder why the album hasn't been repackaged by reissue titans at Rhino, consider the fact that the company who put this one together is actually a subsidiary of Rhino Records; Collectable recordings. Quite a shame, actually.
   
   My advice is that if you are new to this recording, pick it up because the price isn't that high for it. But if you'd like to have quality experience of a great work, seek out the Infinite Zero copy if you can find it (because it's out of print, of course). Or try purchasing the import version by Virgin records which has this album backed with another Devo classic "New Traditionalists".

2 comments about Starter for 10.

1. Starter for 10 soundtrack is a pleasant diversion into obscure (and not-so-obscure) 80's music.
   
   It's neat to remember back to when I was listening to this music for the first time. It finds a good spot in this movie, especially since the movie is from a British point of view.
   
   These weren't the usual songs I used to listen to, so they are not repeated in my CD collection as much as some other songs on other movie soundtracks.
   
   Nice compilation, well worth the listen. Enjoy!



2. The film adaptation of the book is lacking in that special "uumph" which makes for a dynamic movie, but James McAvoy does everything in his power to save it. Tom Hanks is one of the producers so it has some merit. If one wants a good romantic comedy, this one has real potential. McAvoy begins his college career with idealized ideas of what the college experience is supposed to include. When he "screws" up big time, he must learn what really counts in this world and what real love says to a person.

5 comments about Peepshow.

1. "Peepshow" is without a doubt the best and most fully-realized Banshees album. It is both deliciously wicked and surprisingly sensual - featuring perhaps the best vocal performances of Siouxsie's oeuvre including the GLORIOUS "The Last Beat of My Heart" and "Rhapsody."
   
   This album is MUST-own for Banshees fans and personally ties with "Boomerang" as being the greatest album that Siouxsie has ever been involved in.
   
   As a side note:
   
   Dear Siouxsie and Co.,
   
   PLEASE REMASTER THIS ALBUM!



2. to Siouxise and the Banshees. Lyrics are astounding. No better album has been arranged or produced in my view.



3. As good as it is in places, Peepshow has it's flaws. Some of the songs are fine but other songs fail to convince. The single "Peek-a-Boo" will probably win over mainstream audiences, but is out of place among the rest of the album. "The Killing Jar" is an eccentric stab at mainstream and "Ornaments of Gold" recites portions of the Koran.
   
   "Scarecrow", "Carousel" and "Rawhead & Bloodybones" conjure up childish nightmares, making a large portion of the album sounding very Dungeons & Dragons, but songs like "The Last Beat of My Heart" which shows a stripped down vulnerability set to a death march and "Turn to Stone" with it's flamenco guitar and gothic harmonies are on par with some of the Banshees best work. Not the Banshees finest hour, but worth making a part of your CD collection.



4. I'm not the most qualified Siouxsie head out there, having only turned on to them with Hyaena, but this is an incredible piece of music. I don't want to label it with goth or synth pop or whatever, because it doesn't do the album justice. Suffice it to say that this has some of the most memorable, tight, and powerful songs I've ever heard. Each one is a well crafted jewel with piercing sounds, haunting melodies, and Siouxsie's unique brand of vocals; breathy, snarling, foreboding, sexy, dreamy, and always hypnotic. There are mental images, ala Pink Floyd, that come with each song, as if each is a movie soundtrack unto itself. Music that conjures up visual images is a rare find and this album has them from start to finish. I have listened to this countless times for decades now and I still enjoy the hell out of it. It doesn't get old and it does not have the dated quality of much that surfaced in the 80s. It has been called one of the more approachable records by this unusual and sadly underrecognized band, but know that there is much to like for any fan of good melody, keen lyrics, and well produced musical vignettes.



5. This album sounds like it came out of a twisted alternate-reality world. It is one of the best albums I have ever heard. Credit goes to Siouxsie Sioux for providing her absolutely unearthly vocals and her excellent band. "Peek-A-Boo" is an extremely eccentric hip-hopesque track, even though it dosen't exactly fit in with the rest of the songs on the album. "The Killing Jar" suffers a bit from coming after "Peek-A-Boo", but it is an excellently dramatic song. The exceptional "Scarecrow" has an almost animalistic quality to it. "Carousel" sounds like a slightly psychotic version of the the theme park ride it refers to. "Burn-Up", one of the best songs on the album, sounds like a warped country line dance song. The shiniest song on the album is definetley "Ornaments of Gold". The song is about someone who is more comfortable with riches than the outside world. "Turn to Stone" has an eerie gothic quality to it, with the brilliantly used Latin gutair a pefect foil for it. "Rawhead and Bloody Bones" is the most nightmarish song I have ever heard. "The Last Beat Of My Heart" is an pure, unaldulterated love sng, and it is absolutely lovely. "Rhapsody" is the Banshees at their most dramatic, and it closes the album with a bang. This album is what really brought this band to prominence, and it is their best work ever

5 comments about The Edge of Christmas.

1. I'm always looking for modern/alternative holiday songs, and this CD contains a motherlode of great songs. The disc starts off with the two weakest tracks by Queen (kinda boring) and Pat Benetar (painful). Happily the remaining ten songs are all great. Contibutions by Kate Bush, The Smithereens, and The Payolas were new to me, and they are all excellent. The Ramones song doesn't appear on many compilations. The Cocteau Twins verison of "Winter Wonderland" is good, although not as good as their verison of "Frosty the Snowman" from The Coolest Christmas CD. The remaining tracks can be found on other several other compilations, but if you don't have "Fairytale of New York" or "Christmas Wrapping" on your holiday mix tape, buy this CD now!



2. 
   Ok, I've been browsing the site here for countless hours (seven minutes) looking for the perfect Christmas album to put my stamp of approval on. I had many things to consider, first.. Has to have CHRISTMAS WRAPPING by THE WAITRESSES. This in my book is the most important Christmas song ever recorded, any christmas collection without this gem is flawed. Second, it has to have nothing to do with the NOW THATS WHAT I CALL MUSIC series, at first I was a little nervous because, the NOW series was the only place where I could find The Waitresses. I refuse to give that industry a dime of my hard earned money. And thirdly, well I figured I'd leave it up to the mix. I expected there to be some Bing Crosby you know. Some Sinatra. Oh well, none of that here.. and I looked at this and I thought to myself "this is pretty rockin'!" Yeah that's what I thought. FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK is another biggy for me. It is truly a beautiful song, and I guarantee that you will agree. I love the accent on that girl who sings along with THE POGUES. Then you get THE RAMONES' MERRY CHRISTMAS-I DONT WANT TO FIGHT, I haven't heard it in years. THE SMITHEREENS come in and do a Rudolph. HEY! BING CROSBY is on here! all right, Grandma will be happy too! Not a bad traditional style LITTLE DRUMMER BOY even if it does have DAVID BOWIE on it. PAT BENATAR and THE PRETENDERS, I'm psyched.
   I get to play Christmas music for the family AND keep my dignity. Yeah. I wish it had FATHER CHRISTMAS by THE KINKS but I ain't complaining.



3. In terms of modern rock, this is the greatest Christmas cd ever recorded. While Queen's Thank God It's Christmas seems out of place here, every other song succeeds. Sure there are a few Christmas classics missing (Do They Know It's Christmas?, XTC's Thanks for Christmas, and Billy Squier's Christmas is the Time to Say I Love) but you'll want to play this cd year round, it's that good. Shane Mcgowan and Kirsty Macoll's Fairy Tale of New York is one of the most hilarious, scathing, yet beautiful Christmas songs ever made. Most songs are originals: The Pretenders' gorgeous 2000 Miles, Kate Bush's majestic December Will Be Magic Again, The Ramones (!) delightful Merry Christmas I Don't Want to Fight and the new wave classic Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses (my favorite Christmas song ever). However, there are brillant renditions of yuletide favorites too. Pat Benetar's bluesy, heart-aching Please Come Home for Christmas, the timeless duet of Bing Crosby and David Bowie on Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth, the dreamy Winter Wonderland by the Cocteau Twins are just a few highlights. The only downside besides not being able to listen year round as one user pointed out, is that there never were other installments of this excellent, most festive, compilation. This is a must own before it possibly goes out of print.



4. This is easily one of the better Christmas collections I've seen. Sure I'm a fan of most of the bands, but the songs are really good. Just look at the tracklist. It opens with three tracks from Queen, Pat Benetar, and a superb one from The Pretenders. Then, how cool is it to have Christmas songs from Kate Bush and The Cocteau Twins, not to mention the classic from Bing and Bowie. Also worth a mention are the tracks from The Smithereens, the infamous Ramones, and the must have "Christmas Wrapping" from The Waitresses. The rest is good as well. I also suggest "You Sleigh Me: Alternative Christmas Hits" and "A Very Special Christmas 3".



5. a good christmas cd to me has either 1) new songs with off-beat lyrics or 2) traditional songs updated, say, with a rock tempo. this cd delivers both. every cut has something going for it. the eerie first cut by 'queen,' which i had never heard before, had me hooked. the production quality of this album is superb. it will make good use of latest technology in speakers and headphones. you are gonna love this one!

5 comments about Denim and Leather.

1. We picked this up in Spain in the eighties and loved it after first listen. There are no virtuoso musicians here, but they way they pull off the songs is superb. This is pure rock and it is as accessible as the music of AC/DC. My favorite track is Denim and Leather, but the rest of the cuts are also good.
   
   If you are looking for some great solid hard rock, I highly recommend this album. A very underrated band.



2. 
   I'm partial to Saxon's third album "Strong Arm Of The Law". It has a pace and energy that highlighted the early part of this great band's career. A followup would be somewhat difficult, as it is any time a band creates a definitive work, but "Denim & Leather" isn't bad at all.
   The opening track "Princess Of The Night" is a Saxon staple. No, it isn't about hookers. Rather, the "Princess" is a fond look back at a famed steam locomotive. Biff Byford has always been able to write crowd pleaser lyrics, like "Play It Loud", with its distinctive AC/DC riff and the title track, but he also excels in more cerebral topics that helped give Saxon a unique place in classic metal. For my money, any rock and roll song about trains is a winner.
   The production could stand remastering, with more guitars up front, but since Saxon is not a world wide legend like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest, although they should be, such projects are probably too expensive.
   Nonetheless, classic metal heads can't go wrong with this album. Get "Wheels Of Steel/Strong Arm of the Law" on the double CD, too, while you're at it.



3. After two phenomenal albums in 1980, Saxon put out -Denim & Leather- in 1981 and countiued their streak of exellent albums.
   
   A reviewer could be easily fooled here, there are a mixed bag of postive and negative postings on this NWOBHM classic but don't be decived by those. True, this isn't as good as say -Wheels of Steel-,-Stong Arm of the Law- or even -Power and Glory-, you have to consider the fact that this album was predominantly written on the road. This is still a very good Saxon CD though, i find it to be my personal favorite mainly because of the "heavy metal rules, screw everything else" atmosphere that exudes from it.
   
   The production is pretty clear for a early 80's rock album, so it's got pretty good sound qaulity wise for a metal record. I find that even thought there are a couple fillers on this one, it's still pretty solid in material. "Princess of the Night", "Play It Loud", "And The Bands Played On", "Midnight Rider" and "Denim & Leather" are the best songs.
   
   I really love the song "Denim & Leather", it is one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever written. It is a tribute to the fans basically, which i like because shows how these guys loved and appreciated their fans.



4. First off, I'm a big fan of these guys so i don't want to come off as anti-Saxon or anything like that...
   
   This album is the weakest of the Saxon albums before they went pop after CRUSADER.The first Saxon song i ever heard was Denim&Leather and i loved it,made me a fan of Saxon in the first place.I could not find this album in the record store when i wanted a Saxon album so i picked up the lone import copy of WHEELS OF STEEL they had. After listening to WHEELS i finally got a copy of DENIM&LEATHER and i was greatly DISSAPOINTED by it. This album is not solid at all, most of the songs are forgettable and weak but ironically it has three of the best saxon songs on it which are "Princess of the Night" "Midnight Rider" and the title track,so it wasn't a complete loss i guess.Other then those hits, the rest of the songs on the album sound like weak b-sides and half done reject material. Songs like "Rough and Ready" "Out of Control" "Play it Loud" and "Never Surrender" sound like they were written by the local drunks at the irish pub. So there you have it, 3 exellent songs and 6 total crap songs, how do you really rate an album like that? I would not recommend this as a first album to get from saxon, it's just a limp,weak record. I would make WHEELS or STRONG ARM OF THE LAW the first ones to get if you want to start with a Saxon record, then after that their best album THE POWER AND THE GLORY and a little bit behind that CRUSADER, which are all stong albums with no weak songs.I think this album was so lacking in good material was because Saxon by this time was getting popular in the U.K. now and were constantly on the road with little down time to actually put real thought in the song writting process. You can tell by the lyrics in some of the songs that this album was rushed, there wasn't much going on in the songwritting department.Thank god they came back after this with the powerful POWER AND GLORY album.



5. Well, I was 5 in '79 but, later, when I first heard this 1981 release by Saxon, I understood why they hit it big and are still going strong (yet underrated). Saxon was part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that was unleashed on the world in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Formed in 1977, Saxon--as is announced in the track "Denim and Leather"--burst on the scene in 1979 while on tour with Motorhead. Denim and Leather was their 4th album in just three years of putting out studio releases. It starts with "Princess of the Night," an interesting and charming track about an old, obsolete steam locomotive that brought fond memories to one young admirer: "She used to be an iron horse, 20 years ago." It sounds like early Iron Maiden (another of the Brit Metal New Wavers). Although this track and others on here resemble the style of Paul Di'Anno era-Maiden, vocalist Biff Byford sounds so much like Bruce Dickinson on this first track, it's scary! "Princess..." is my favorite song on this album followed by "Out of Control" with its catchy guitar hooks.
   
   The rest of the album has a blue collar hard rock sound. Fans of early AC/DC and early '80s Judas Priest will like Saxon's rawness and aggression. The title track is an anthem to rock 'n roll that would fit nicely on any AC/DC album of that time. "Play It Loud" is another AC/DC-esque anthem. Saxon may have sounded blue collar, but they also paid attention to details. "Rough and Ready" has some nice vocal harmonizing. "Midnight Rider" is another favorite of mine. It reminds me of the catchy tracks off Judas Priest's Stained Class. There is nothing weak here; every track kicks! Recommended to fans of early 1980s metal during a time when metal was about to be accepted as cool by the record-buying public and well before pop metal bands began to swarm on the music world.

5 comments about Duran Duran - Live From London.

1. This review it's gonna be easy! You must have it! it's the best of Duran duran ever!!



2. One word - awesome! If you like Duran Duran, you'll love this! I've been a fan since 1982. So, it's great to see they still got it! In terms of receiving it - it was here in no time, and packaged very well. Definitely buy this!



3. Sure it looks good and sounds good; maybe too good! You see, this footage, especially the vocals have been pitched corrected beyond the beyond!
   And Simon's vocals are not even in sync. Either he re-recorded the vocals or the soundtrack was recorded on a different night than the video footage. Why don't they give us a real show with a few bad notes and all and the real sound coming out of their voices and guitars on the actual night??? It's too flawless! If you've seen other Duran videos or bootlegs, then you know that they aren't pitch perfect and really and truly, that rawness is what makes them as great as they are.
   PLUS, they only gave us the hits with only a two new songs thrown in.
   Give us the whole deal un-edited please!
   The documentary is nice and this out of sync thing isn't for every song, but it's painfully apparent on quite a number.
   Sorry boys...



4. 5 reasons why you should buy this awesome DVD :
   
   1- The audio and visual quality are absolutely amazing!
   
   2- The band has never sounded this good live.It's incredible to hear how they manage to sound even better than on their actual cd's,especially Simon Le Bon.
   
   3- They play their greatest hits and for the hardcore fans there are even songs like the chauffer,careless memories,planet earth..what a treat!!
   
   4- The stage,the huge screens and the audience participation are nothing short of breathtaking!
   
   5- They set the bar way too high for other bands as far as live shows go,proving us once more why they were one the greatest pop bands ever to come out of the wonderful 80's era.
   
   Just get it...YOU'LL LOVE IT!!



5. Always a fan of this group, I may be a bit prejudiced when I say this is an awesome CD. The young boys of "Rio" have turned into very handsome men. The band play off each other very well. Very tight. Simon wasn't as animated the first part of the concert, but warmed up as time went on. He is very good with his dance moves, I just wish there were more of them. :+) This CD also has a documentary in which the band members visit memories of their beginning. Very interesting. Well worth your money I'd say.