In 1991, Pauline reformed the band with original guitarist and songwriter Neol Davies and former members of another second wave UK ska band, Bad Manners. Taking advantage of popularity of the third wave of ska in the United States, The Selecter played a one off tour of the USA. They went on to tour Europe and Japan, and record a live album in 1992. Pauline has continued to find a backing band to support her ever since. She has recorded several other albums under the name of The Selecter and has continued to tour. This has included touring in support of Gwen Stefani’s band, No Doubt, who name The Selecter as one of their musical influences.

Secret Films released this DVD in 2004, and it was distributed in the USA by Music Video Distributors (MVD) in 2005. The film is from a London, England concert at Dingwall’s from February 24, 2002. It was digitally filmed in Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Running time is slightly more than 1.5 hours. In addition to the concert, the DVD contains a brief textual history of the band, as well as, a short interview with Pauline Black. You can play the entire show straight through, or you can choose the menu option to select individual tracks. This is a pro shot concert with multiple cameras – straight front, behind the band, from both sides. At times the lighting is a little too low and the vocals “soft”, but overall this is pretty good quality sound and video.

They open the show with the band’s first 2 Tone single, “The Selecter.” This is followed by yet another 2 Tone single, “Three Minute Hero.” Pauline shows that she still has one of the best female voices in music. The set list continues through more singles and tracks from their first album release, “Too Much Pressure”. Almost all of the tracks are from their 2 Tone era. Three of the last four songs feature former hits of The Selecter – “On My Radio”, “Too Much Pressure”, and “Carry Go Bring Home.” The crowd appears to get more into the show as the hits keep coming. In fact during “Too Much Pressure”, four or five members of the crowd jump up on stage a dance along to the song.

The band does not have the energy or raw sound of the original lineup during the 2 Tone ska era. They came off as too much of a studio band. None the less, I am sure I would head out to see them play live if they showed up in my area. This show may not been from The Selecter hayday of 1979-1982, but it is still a quality performance. Many thanks to Pauline for continuing to tour and play the original hits from the 2 Tone period. (LD)

They released their first single in 1979 on the famous 2 Tone label of The Specials. After that they recorded for Go Feet in the UK and IRS in the USA. After 3 albums and 13 singles, the band broke up in 1983, and formed other well known, successful bands that performed hits of the new wave 80’s and other reincarnations of The Beat. Wakeling and Ranking Roger went on to form General Public before disbanding in 1996. Cox and Steele joined up with front man Roland Gift to form the Fine Young Cannibals. Saxa and Morton went on to form the International Beat, and released two live albums. Lastly, Ranking Roger formed The Special Beat with members of The Specials, Fun Boy Three, General Public, and the Fine Young Cannibals. They, too, released two live albums.

Some may remember the attempt by VH-1’s “Bands Reunited” series to reunite The English Beat. While not entirely successful, 2/3’s of the band reunited (Cox and Steele declined involvement) in February 2003 for a mini-tour of the UK. It is from this tour, that this DVD was recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The concert was digitally recorded in Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (the DVD can also be played in 2.0 Stereo mode) and runs for slightly more than two hours.

Starting off the concert is “Ranking Full Stop”, the AA side of their 1979 2 Tone single. Right from the beginning, Ranking Roger sets the tone with his excitement and jumping around on the stage throughout the song. By the third track, the upbeat “Noise in This World”, the crowd begins to stand on their feet and get into the performance. The band plays the first album, I Just Can’t Stop It, almost in its entirety. They throw in a few tracks from the second album, Wha’ppen, and a few from their final release, Special Beat Service. Additionally, single only tracks “Tears of a Clown” (a Smokey Robinson cover), “Stand Down Margaret” (from their anti nuclear benefit single), and “Jackpot”. My personal favorites “Hands Off She’s Mine”, “Mirror in the Bathroom”, and “Save It for Later” are also included. I could have done without the saxophone solo instrumental, “Stranger on the Shore”, by Saxa, but I guess the old-timer deserves some spotlight, too.

Secret Records released this DVD in 2004, and it was distributed in the USA by Music Video Distributors (MVD) in 2005. In addition to the concert, the DVD also includes a brief history of the band, a gallery of still shots from the show, and an interview with Everett Morton and Ranking Roger. The interview took place approximately a year after the Royal Festival Hall show. Ranking Roger discusses how Mojo Magazine requested the band to play the show, and how they went about getting band members together. They also discuss the continued touring by parts of the band throughout 2004.

The video quality of this show is top notch. There are at least five or six different cameras shooting the concert from various angles which at times include all seven members of the band on the same shot. Additionally, there is plenty of light on this big stage to be able to see the band clearly at all times. Also, the audio is mixed very well. While the vocals come over the top, there is plenty of room left for the keyboards and sax to come through. It sounds more like a studio release than a live release.

I wish I could have been at this show. The set included a great song selection, and the band played very tight. I am not sure the audio could have been recorded any better. If you get a chance to see The English Beat (with both Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling) playing on stage in a town near you, you should go check it out. You will not be disappointed. Or, you could buy this DVD, and jump around your house for two hours “Ranking Full Stop”. (LD)

This DVD is a live musical retrospective that was filmed in 2003 in Austria and her band consisted of Nels Cline, Norman Westberg, Algis Kyzis, and Vinnie Signorelli, which are all quite talented and accomplished underground musicians from such bands as Unsane, Swans, and others. It is a pro-shot affair on multiple cameras. The set list spanned her entire career, starting with my favorite Teenage Jesus song, "Orphans" and following through her solo material including the legendary song, "Stinkfist" which was a record she did with Clint Ruin of Foetus back in the late 1980s. The songs sound great, and Lydia puts on a good performance, despite the fact that at times it appeared to me that she doesn't really seem that interested in being there. It just looked almost like she was a little bored, or angry up there on the stage. Maybe a better description would be not very energetic, but that didn't hinder her performance at all, plus she is older now and that tends to slow people down a little . Perhaps that is just her gimmick when she plays live, I don't know because I never got to see her do a musical show, I only saw a spoken word performance in 1987 or 1988 (I forget when it was now), back when I had the hots for her in a big way in my late teenage years. The selection of songs was excellent, and musically it was a really good show. During the performance, there was films playing on a screen in the background which made for a nice effect, but also means the lighting was pretty low on stage.

Visually it looks very well, but as I mentioned with the films playing in the background on stage, there was low stage lighting so sometimes things can be a little hard to see. The audio sounds excellent and is mixed quite well. The disc is an hour long and sadly there is no extra, you just get the show. Despite the lack of extras, the low price tag and the fact that you can't go out and see Lydia Lunch play all the time (especially in the US it seems) makes this a worthwhile purchase for anyone who has been a fan of her work over the years. (MXV)

Skinny Puppy
The Greater Wrong of the Right - DVD
SPV Records
For a band that is such a visual one with their elaborate stage shows, it is surprising and also a crime that it has been 18 years since they last had a video document of one of their shows made available for commercial release. You'd have thought it would have been a no-brainer for them to have released a video from every tour they did because of each having its own very unique stage show that no doubt left its impression on countless fans (myself included), but for some reason, it never happened.

Nine years after the band called it quits, and after the tragic passing of Dwayne Goettel, surviving members (and Skinny Puppy founders) Nivek Ogre and Cevin Key worked out their past differences and united to reform Skinny Puppy. It was no small task, the band has quite a legacy and to be able to recreate it, or simply to just continue it was not going to be easy but I am happy to report that they pulled it off remarkably well. At first, the new album was shocking to me because it didn't sound exactly like the Skinny Puppy I know and love from the past, but in hindsight (and after the album really grew on me) they took the right approach and not only preserved their legacy, but are adding to it.

This DVD was recorded on their second North American tour in the fall of 2004 in Toronto (the city their only other live video, Ain't it Dead Yet was shot in) and Montreal in their former home of Canada. It is a full-on pro affair with lots of different cameras and the camera work is top-notch. Shooting Skinny Puppy live can not be an easy task since they tend to keep things very dark, partly to showcase the video running behind them which is an integral part of their stage show.

The image quality could not have been better, it simply looks amazing and is in anamorphic widescreen. There is two options for the sound, you can have straight stereo, or you can have 5.1 surround. Both sound stunning, though the 5.1 was a little light in the low-end of the audio spectrum, but made up for it with its filling of the room and the cool little effects that showcase the surround technology. A perfect example of a song that sounded pretty amazing in 5.1 was "God's Gift (Maggot)" which is my absolute favorite song to see the band play live. Throughout the film, it not only shows the action on stage with nice, clean edits and great focus on the props and mannerisms of Ogre, but it also occasionally cuts to the images that are being displayed on the numerous video monitors on stage. The effect to me was very similar to how I watched the shows when I attended them, watching the band and Ogre for awhile, then glancing at the video screens and soaking in some of that for a bit, and then back to the action. Occasionally they also overlay the imagery on top of the live action which was another effect that added another cool element to the experience.

The live show was around 100 minutes long and contains 19 songs, which was the longest they've ever played (they used to average 80 minutes a show in the old days) and the set they did on that tour did a very good job covering their career. The first four songs were all from the new album, The Greater Wrong of the Right, after that they play a fair mix of stuff from almost every record they ever released (only playing "Convulsion" from Too Dark Park in an encore and an altered version of "Reclamation" as the main set's closer seemed odd as that is one of their strongest records which should have been better represented) with some surprising inclusions. I mean who would have guessed they'd play "Human Disease" from the Vivisect VI album ever again after that album's tour, and it is another one of my all-time favorites!

The second disc on here contains the extra features and while the list may be short on paper, don't let it fool you, there is some prime stuff included on it. First is Information Warfare, a little mini-documentary on the current war in Iraq that further proves just how fucked up it is and the harm is is doing to the soldiers being sent over there. It is 32 minutes long and could perhaps be almost as much of an eye-opener as Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911. It really leaves you with a bad feeling about just how wrong the whole thing is and how the government mistreat the soldiers they ship over to war. Eurotrauma is a documentary shot on a video camera by the late Dwayne Goettel (and sometimes others in the band/crew as he handed the camera to them), and edited by Ogre. It showcases the band on their 1988 "Head Trauma" tour. It is a nice glimpse into the life of the band on the road. You get to see their problem with promoters not paying, some poor clubs they had to play in, the hash bars in Amsterdam, people they met, and even some occasional footage from those shows. It is really cool to see how that stage show was similar to what became the Vivisect VI tour with Chud the dog, the torturing of Ogre, etc. but with some different songs being played. Its hard to believe that was 17 years ago now! The footage obviously is of VHS quality since it was not shot on a pro camera, but it held up well and was a really great inclusion on what is already a nice package. The disc closes with some footage from the Too Dark Park and Last Rights tours. Both videos are a collage of footage from the particular tour set to one of the songs off the respective album. It does a great job highlighting what those tours were all about, and was a nice trip down memory lane for those of us who were at those shows. My only wish that there was more of it! The total time of disc two is 72 minutes.

Overall, a really excellent package from top to bottom with very little to complain about. The live disc does not allow you to change audio options during the feature. You have to choose your option before you start watching it and the only way to change it would be to stop the disc, and start over. In order for me to compare the audio tracks side by side, I had to pick a song and watch it one way, go back to the main menu to change the audio and then start the feature again. The other one is that since this was shot at two different shows and edited together, sometimes what you are hearing and seeing on screen do not jive up. For example you'll see footage of ogre singing or speaking something however in the audio it isn't there because the footage being shown is from the other show. You'll occasionally see what looks like odd movement on Ogre's part because you were watching footage from one show, then it edits to another where he was moving differently. These are pretty minor though and don't really detract from the enjoyment of the disc at all. A casual viewer will likely not notice it.

If you are a Skinny Puppy fan either of the hardcore or casual variety, this DVD is a mandatory purchase. It does a wonderful job of documenting last year's tour and is a perfect souvenir, or something to get to see what you missed if you weren't there. It also would make a great introduction to someone who hasn't heard or seen the band before as you get to see and hear what they are all about on a pair of discs. William Morrison and crew should be commended for a job very well done. Hopefully this will inspire them to dig through the vault and release some more discs of past tours. I for one would love to see the show recorded 10/20/88 in Chicago, filmed by Dead Battery Productions, finally see the light of day. Since they are a band that should definitely be seen as well as heard, it is about time something like this DVD was released. Thank you! This is going to be getting a lot of repeat viewings over here at Combustion Manor. (MXV)

On August 17, 1980, these mad scientists from Akron, OH arrived at the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, CA to put on a show to a packed house. At this time they were just starting to garner some success with the release of that aforementioned "Whip It" single and Target Video had the good sense to film the event. As far as target videos go, this easily has the best sound and video quality of anything from them I have seen before. It really is a top-notch presentation, especially by 1980 standards.

The DVD is 1 hour and 15 minutes long and features a ton of songs. All their "hits" they are well known for such as "Whip It", "Satisfaction", and my personal favorite, "Uncontrollable Urge" are played to perfection along with quite a bit of more obscure tracks that only a die-hard fan would be familiar with. At the start of each song, the title is printed at the bottom of the screen which is something I appreciated because sadly The Punk Vault is lacking in Devo Records.

Devo was a band I knew of, and I bought that "Whip It" 7" back in 1980 when I was a little kid but as I got into more hardcore punk, I turned my back on such things because they didn't fit in with the soundtrack of my young angry teen angst. As I got older I came to appreciate them more and what they contributed to the world of music. After watching this DVD, it really made me want to go back and pick up those records that I don't currently own. This DVD, because of the wide variety of their material that is covered, would also be a good place for a beginner to start, not just for the visuals, but for the fact that if you flip the disc over, it is an audio CD of the performance, so you automatically now have a Devo album in your possession that contains “all the hits” and then some.

As I stated before the video is top-notch and is the best Target Video I've seen in terms of quality. There is two audio options; straight stereo, and 5.1 surround that does a great job of filing the room and really sounds good (and was the option I preferred after sampling them both). There is two packaging options as well, you can get either a jewel case packaged like a CD, or a Amary keepcase like a standard DVD. There was a bonus clip of Devo playing as Dove - The Band of Love from some show in 1980 and a trailer for another Devo DVD that was recorded recently overseas.

If you are a Devo fan, this would find itself a happy home in your collection and if you are curious about the band but didn't know where to start, this is as good a place as any, especially for the very affordable price. (MXV)

Curl Up And Die
The One Above All, The End of All That Is - CD
Revelation Records
A couple years ago, I received a review copy of this band's last album (and first for Revelation Records) titled Unfortunately We're Not Robots and it was the first I'd ever heard of them. The packaging and imagery were pretty cool and the song titles really stood out as entertaining. I gave it a spin and my first thoughts were that most songs sounded the same, it would be good in short doses, I bet they are good live, and that the singer must eat a bowl of glass for breakfast every day. I was about ready to dismiss the album as just average for the genre when I got to the song called "You'd Be Cuter If I Shot You in the Face", upon which I was blown away. It was the only song on that record that didn't sound like the others, it was really long, had tempo changes and was just amazing. I played that song over and over and thought if this was any indication of the direction they are headed, they are going to be something pretty special. I also particularly enjoyed the crazy song titles and the fact they had little to do with the really good lyrics contained in these songs.

Fast forward to later that year and I go and see them live and they were amazing, and they played some new songs that, while still fast and powerful, contained more emotion and had some nice changes. I couldn't wait to see them again, and I longed for new recordings. Their next EP, We May be Through With the Past, was released, and the first two songs were the standouts, mixing the old with the new direction perfectly and I damn near burned holes in the CD from it being set to repeat constantly.

At the end of that same year, another EP, But the Past Isn't Through with Us, came out with similar results. They mixed the hardcore metallic blasts with slower tempo changes and added variations to Mike's vocals where he would speak or sing softly parts, as well as screaming others with his trademark "throat of glass" vocals. The first song, "Nuclear Waste, Bring That Shit On" was a perfect blend of their new direction while still retaining what brought them to the dance in the first place and again, all I wanted was more, and for them to tour again.

Finally the wait is over and the long awaited full-length is here, and I can tell you it was worth the wait. This album continues the tradition of their branching out their sound, without ignoring the past. While some of the song titles aren't quite as clever as the past, the songs themselves are top notch and the lyrics are as good as ever. Mike Minnick must be either as much of a miserable bastard as me and has had bad experiences with the ladies, or he can at least really relate to them. There are many subjects and feelings expressed in these lyrics that really hit close to home in my own past experiences.

The album opens with "An Uncomfortable Routine" which shows off a bit of a slower side to the band and is a pretty good example of their new sound. Call it "post-hardcore with personal lyrics" if you wish, or perhaps "real man's emo" as they aren't a bunch of whiny sissies wearing ladies clothes and bandannas and can spin a tale of woe behind a whirlwind of power. Just when you think that they have forged ahead without looking back, next comes "Antidepressants Are Depressing" and "Ultra Carb Diet Carpooling Stupid Fucking Life" which proves they haven't forgotten straight up hardcore, short, fast and to the point.

Its when we get to "Instrumental" where the band really shines. This is easily the standout on the album. Slower than their older material, but still packs a wallop and also features some of my favorite lyrics on the album. "She kisses like cough syrup when I have a cold/We're not in love, we're just alone/like a drug company's overdose/trying to replace our heads with holes. we're missing days and spending weeks/only passing through looking for company." The song really shows off the different tempos and emotions the band has been dabbling with in recent past and leaves me really excited with the new direction.

From that point on, the album is nearly perfect. I much prefer the newer sound over the straight-up hardcore songs as it really helps separate the band from the pack. This thing has been on repeat ever since it arrived and I can't get enough of it. Their live show is not to be missed either, I give both my highest recommendation. There isn't a lot of new bands that really get me excited, my being a somewhat jaded old punker, but Curl Up and Die are easily in that elite few that do in a big way. (MXV)

Going Underground: American Punk 1979 - 1992 - Book
By George Hurchalla
Zuo Press
There's been a few different books about punk rock and its history, but not that many that really cover the hardcore years that were post-1980. The most notable one to cover this era is the American Hardcore book by Steven Blush, which while having some interesting information, was inherently flawed by the author spending too much time trying to put himself over, and trying to get across his agenda that punk died on a certain date and was full of scandal. It tainted what would have otherwise been a fantastic book.

That is where George Hurchalla comes in. George, only a few years older than me, has a great passion for punk rock even to this day. His only agenda was to share stories and history with interested people who might want to learn more about a very special time and a very special world that was the punk rock scene in American in the 1980s. It was fascinating to read the stories on how he came to discover punk and the various bands, venues, etc. Many of his stories were very similar to my own experiences back then, except unlike me, George traveled the country and experienced punk scenes in many different places in the US.

The book reads almost like a tour, Hurchalla does a wonderful job of weaving stories together that focus on different regions of the country. The information was culled from countless hours of reading old interviews, speaking to various band members from that time, and even from websites such as this one and the Spontaneous Combustion site! I was flattered to see my sites listed as a source of information.

Every scene touched on in this book was done justice and I learned a bunch of things about various bands and scenes that I didn't know before reading this book! I was particularly fond of the stuff on Husker Du, the Chicago scene, and the less recognized bands such as Electric Love Muffin from Philly. Unlike the "other hardcore book" there is no embellished drama and scandal, it just reports the facts, intertwined with Hurchalla's stories of how he came to discover the various bands and scenes. There is a good amount of pictures of bands, records and old flyers sprinkled in the book as well.

Weighing in at a little over 300 pages and the large size make it a book you wont finish in one sitting. The one fault of the book, if you could call it a fault, is that there wasn't more. I only say that because I found it so hard to put down, I was hooked and just kept reading and reading until my eyes couldn't take it anymore. When I was done, I was yearning for just a few more chapters, it was that good of a read.

As a person who was there for a good chunk of the time period this book covers, it was not only a wonderful trip down memory lane, but also served as an enhancement to my "punk rock education" as there was plenty of stories I've never heard before, and information I wasn't aware of. If someone who wasn't there at the time were to read this, they'd come out of it with a great understanding of what the world of punk rock was like back then and will hopefully appreciate it and respect it as much as the author, who's passion for the old punk scene never seemed to fade or sour like some people. I can't recommend this book enough, and hopefully there is more like it to come in the future.(MXV)

MC5 - Kick Out the Jams - DVD
Music Video Distributors
For many punks older than me, their road to the promised land (the punk rock scene) was first paved by such unorthodox bands such as The Stooges and MC5. Now referred to as pre-punk, these bands bucked tradition and did their own thing with no regards to commercial success. A blueprint that would be followed years later by the first generation of punk bands.

The MC5 only lasted a few years and put out like three albums but they certainly made an impression on the generations of music fans who followed. This DVD is a collection of live footage and various images of the band, and other things, all woven together to make a 30 minute long music video and peek into what the MC5 looked like live. Visually it is what you'd expect for something of this nature, a visual acid trip and probably a perfect thing to have on while indulging in your favorite chemical substance or smoking plants. I imagine said items were consumed in great quantities by the two people responsible for this DVD.

While the performances don't match up with the music on the screen most of the time, it still makes for an interesting thing to watch while listening to the great selection of MC5 songs featured on this DVD. Since footage of the band playing is pretty rare, as in the 1960s, video cameras weren't something everyone could just run to the store and buy, this is about as good as it gets as far as seeing what it was like back then. I myself was born a few years too late to have "been there", so as someone who came to discover the band many years later while investigating the roots of the punk rock I hold so dear, I appreciate the ability to see what it was I missed.

Aside from the film, which clocks in at just over a half an hour, there is also an interview with John Sinclair that was filmed a few years ago. Unfortunately, someone thought it would be a good idea to have some music/poetry playing in the background during this and because it was mixed so high, it is really hard to make out a lot of what the soft spoken (and quite old at this point) Sinclair is talking about. I'd have preferred to have the interview be untainted by that so I could hear what he had to say. The interview is about a half hour long as well. Sadly that is all in the way of extras, so the total run time of the disc is about an hour, however it is an hour more than I had before this DVD was released. (MXV)

At their peak, Public Enemy were a force to be reckoned with. Not content to just sing about themselves and how they were the best rappers on their block (though their early material does cover some of that standard territory), Public Enemy had a message and wanted to shake things up and make people think. Their lyrics were thought provoking, and encouraged people to embrace their heritage, and stand up and make a difference.

The band also had a unique, militaristic visual to their stage show with Professor Griff and the S1W's (Security of the First World) flaking the stage, marching around in their camouflage Military outfits, it was quite the spectacle that couldn't help but command your attention. Chuck D was the prophet, spewing forth his words of wisdom trying to wake people up and Flavor Flav was there to encourage him, but also not let him forget to have fun at the same time. It was a unique dynamic of clown and commander that has never been duplicated.

This video was originally released in the late 1980s on VHS and has been out of print and near forgotten until now with this DVD reissue. It was shot on the big Def Jam tour in 1987 that also had featured LL Cool J. Erik B and Rakim, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and others. The visual quality is that of a VHS tape, it doesn't appear to have been restored at all and perhaps the tapes weren't in the best shape. The picture is a bit dark and not the sharpest, but it is still decent. The audio comes in three flavors: stereo, 5.1 surround, and a commentary track. The stereo track sounded the best in this case as the surround mode just ended up sounding a little echoey, though it was louder. The commentary track was pretty cool and was done recently by Chuck D, so you got his perspective of how things were back then. The audio is of average quality, not that of CD quality. This thing must have been a low budget at the time, or done on inferior equipment as the overall quality is not up to today's standards, and while this was done 18 years ago, there was ample technology at the time to have made it sound and look a bit better than it does.

The biggest negative of this, and this isn't limited to only this band or time period, is more often than not, a "live performance" of a rap band equates to the band singing over their records pretty much verbatim. So you hear the music and pre-recorded vocals in the background, while there is live singing over it. As someone who grew up going to shows where everything is 100 percent live, it is kind of a letdown as it is supposed to be a live show, but it isn't really live, its more of a performance done over a LP playing in the background. The performance was high energy though and the crowd seemed to be really into it. These gripes aside, it is a nice look back at Public Enemy at their prime.

The DVD features some bonus footage that was a lot more recent of the band playing live (and really playing!) in Australia that looks and sounds excellent. There is a photo gallery of some great vintage photos and there is a bonus audio CD that features the concert plus some extra remixes. While the quality of the concert is obviously the exact same as on the DVD, the remixes are a very nice bonus, and I didn't own any of them previously on any format in my collection.

Overall this DVD isn't bad, but really only mandatory for a hardcore fan or someone who is curious to see how things were nearly two decades ago. I wouldn't recommend it for someone who isn't already a big fan as it isn't the best way to be introduced to the band's music. As a long-time fan of Public Enemy, I was glad to see this was made available again though, with a few neat extras.(mxv)

Einsturzende Neubauten - 1/2 Mensch DVD
Music Video Distributors
There has never been a band like Einsturzende Neubauten before, and there will never be one like them in the future. They are perhaps the most unique band ever to exist and they were one of the main pioneers in the genre of music that became known as Industrial Music. Neubauten aren't just a band, they are artists who can find beauty and sound out of items others discarded in a junkyard. In fact, it is an old junkyard, or warehouse that most of this DVD was recorded.

The band seldom ever used traditional instruments, instead they would craft their own out of shopping carts, sheet metal, plastic jugs, jackhammers, sanders, etc. The lengths they would go to just to create specific sounds for their songs could almost be diagnosed as obsessive compulsive disorder. Its an amazing process that they go through to make these songs and it is quite a site to witness.

This DVD was originally recorded and released in Japan in 1985. Nearly every song on here is from their now-classic "Halber Mensch" album, which was definitely a high point in their lengthy career. That album was the middle ground between the early chaos and cacophony of their early works, and the more traditional musical structure that would follow (while never letting go of what made them so special in the first place).

More than half of this DVD is a live performance, the other is like performance art set to studio tracks. The sound is phenomenal throughout and visually it is top-notch. It really does their live show justice with the camera work and editing, you get to see every gimmick they made to create their songs up close, so close you can almost feel the sparks hit your clothes. This type of video is exactly the sort of thing you'd see up on the TV screen while visiting Wax Trax Records back in the day.

While the band continues on even today, sadly they sound nothing like they did on this DVD, nor are many of the members still part of the band. This disc features the original lineup, the combination of which made something magical that is never going to be duplicated, and the current remains of the band will never top. If you are a fan and own their albums, this is a perfect companion piece. If you are curious about the band and wanted to check them out for the first time, I couldn't recommend a better introduction to their early works than this. (mxv)

Government Issue - Live 1985 DVD
Music Video Distributors
I think anyone who knows even only a little about me knows what a huge Government Issue fan I am. I put out one of their records even! I am also a huge fan of Flipside fanzine, and all things associated with it, including their videos, which this was once a part of. So in one fell swoop, I hold in my hands a document of not one, but two things of my punk rock past, GI and Flipside Video.

In 1985 Government Issue flew out to California on Mystic Records' tab and played a handful of shows out there while recording some studio tracks at Mystic Studios for what became the Give Us Stabb or Give Us Death EP. Flipside filmed a couple of the shows they played out there and compiled it together which has now been preserved on DVD.

The first show was from June 3, 1985 at Fender's. While the quality certainly isn't up to today's standards, back in 1985 Flipside put out some nice amateurish videos that were certainly well above the quality of a guy taking his mom's video camera to a show. There is a couple of glitches in the video likely due to the age of the source tape but it is pretty minor. The sound is rather vocal heavy, but it still sounds pretty good and is certainly enjoyable. The show itself was your standard GI fare, which if you never got a chance to see them, was always top notch. Stabb is a charismatic front man and also one of the nicest guys in punk rock and would keep the crowd entertained with his between song banter. There is 10 songs in the set they played, mostly from Joyride and The Fun Just Never Ends.

The second show was recorded a couple months later at the Olympic Auditorium on August 9, 1985. For those who may not know, the Olympic was/is a 10,000 seat venue that used to do large concerts and wrestling shows for years. The place is still there, though I'm not sure they are still doing concerts anymore, or wrestling for that matter. Back in the mid 80's, Goldenvoice Productions, then led by Gary Tovar, used to book these huge hardcore shows with a ton of bands and they'd pack the place. This show was one of those affairs and was the biggest size show GI ever played. Stabb mentions in the liner notes feeling a bit out of place on such a huge stage but you'd be hard pressed to notice watching this video. It didn't stop them from delivering the goods. The video and sound quality are a bit better for this show, especially in the sound department where it is a much more even mix. They also played a longer set at this show as well.

Sadly there are no extras on the disc, but I chalk that up to the lack of material available as there must not have been many videos and video interviews shot back in those days, or if there was it wasn't made available. A modern-day interview would have been cool with the ex-members. It is no deterrent from owning this however as this is really all about a document of a great band whose time is long over and I for one am ecstatic to see this not only being preserved on a format that won't rot or fall apart, but made available to people like me who want another souvenir of those days, or for someone who wasn't there at the time and wants to see what he/she missed. (mxv)

Iggy Pop - Live San Fran 1981 DVD
Music Video Distributors
Ah yes, yet another Target Video release from the archives has been reissued in digital glory. I'm really glad to see them continue to re-release this old stuff as all of it certainly deserves to be preserved and this is no exception. On November 25, 1981 Iggy Pop was touring in support of his Party album and he played a show in San Francisco to a packed and enthusiastic crowd. Iggy is one of the most influential and charismatic (as evidenced by his stage attire consisting of a leather jacket, mini skirt and stockings) front men in rock history and he never fails to deliver the goods live. The show spans 60 minutes and contains 12 songs, mostly stuff from his solo career as well as a couple of Stooges songs ("TV Eye" and a great rendition of "1969"). The lineup on this tour included Clem Burke from Blondie playing drums as well!

Visually it is a multi camera recording and if you have ever watched a Target production before you will know what to expect. Keep in mind this is 1981 punk rock technology, however for the time and budget, Target really did a fine job on their recordings and this one is one of the better ones. I noticed no technical glitches so the master tape must have been in good shape. There are two choices for audio, stereo and 5.1 surround. The surround, while certainly not containing any gimmicks and effects, does a great job of filling your room if you have the setup.

If there is any negative to this disc it is the lack of extras. The only extra on here is a trailer for the DVD of the Stooges reunion and that's it. I would have loved for some more random clips from other Target Videos like on some of the other DVDs that have come out recently. Overall this is a pretty nice thing to a have if you are an Iggy Pop fan. (mxv)

Adolescents
The Complete Demos 1980 - 1986 - CD
Frontier Records
The Adolescents first, self-titled album (aka: the blue album) is among the all time hardcore greats. It came out over two decades ago, and is still as crucial a record as the day it was released. The band went on to record a few more records after it that were good, but they were never quite able to fill the giant shoes of that first album. Like most bands, the Adolescents recorded a slew of demo tapes over the years that never saw a proper release. However, unlike most bands, the band and Frontier Records (the label responsible for releasing that classic first album) have decided to celebrate the band's silver anniversary (25th) by releasing the complete demos from the first 6 years of the band's existence!

When I opened up the package in the mail, it was a most pleasant surprise to find this in there as it is something I would have run out and bought on the concept alone without even having heard these tapes before. The CD is comprised of 16 tracks with only one song appearing on here twice ("Wrecking Crew", which is among their best songs and has two different versions on the disc back to back). The first four songs are the most difficult to listen as the sound quality is pretty poor. This is because it was originally recorded on a Radio Shack mono tape recorder. While these four tracks won't earn repeat listens due to the archaic nature of the source, it was a welcome move to have them included for historical purposes. They represent the band at its very infancy in 1980 and even then you can see that they were oozing with talent pretty much from day one. The next four tracks were recorded a couple months later and feature different versions of tracks that would appear on the blue album. Some songs are faster, some have slightly different lyrics, all are rawer versions obviously, and the sound quality is quite good. If these were released on an EP back then, it would have been quite a popular record. The version of "Wrecking Crew is the best of the bunch, but they all warrant many repeat listens.

The next group of five songs were recorded two months following the previous group and were culled from collector's tapes as the original master tapes were lost. The sound obviously isn't as good as it should be but it is better than nothing and it is still very listenable. Included in this is a raw version of the classic, "Amoeba" that features slightly different lyrics than what would appear on the two well recognized versions of the song. Track 14 is one that you may have heard of before, "Richard Hung Himself". I did not know that it was originally an Adolescents song recorded at the same time as the classic Welcome to Reality EP. Musically it is similar to what D.I. did with it, but the lyrics are very different. While the D.I. version is a classic that can't be bested, it is very cool to see the origin of this song. The final two tracks were recorded in 1986. This would have been shortly before the Brats in Battalions album would be recorded. The sound quality is excellent. The artwork is similar to that of the blue album, except this is black and red (as you can see in the picture). So I guess this will get nicknamed "the black album". There are lyrics and some great liner notes from three of the band members inside. This thing has been on repeat since I received it and I have not grown tired of it yet. It is a pretty crucial piece of punk history that was thankfully preserved and released to the world. If you are a fan of the first album, it is a no-brainer that you should have this to go along with it. (mxv)

Skulls
Night of the Living Skulls - DVD/CD
Finger Records
I was at the show this DVD was filmed it, which was 12/5/03 at the El Rey in Los Angeles, where The Skulls opened for the reformed Weiros ine what was one of the best shows I've seen in years. I took a ton of photos at this show, and a couple months after this show, Skulls singer Billy Bones asked me for copies of the photos because they wanted to use some for the cover art of this DVD. I went to the trouble of burning the hi-res images on a cd and leaving them for him at his friend's record store when I was out in LA. Well, I don't know what the hell he did with them because instead of using my photos for the cover, they used some bad, lo-res screen captures from the video that look horrible. The cover art is really poor release. Luckily you can't judge a book by its cover (or in this case a DVD) because the live show itself and extras are well worth the price of admission. This was pro-shot on multiple cameras and has great sound as well. The full hour-long set is contained on here, and I even saw myself in the crowd, taking said pictures, multiple times throughout the thing which of course put a smile on my face. On top of the concert there is bonus footage of interviews and the band playing a backyard party. Also contained is a CD with the audio of the show so you can play it in your car. Cover art aside, its a great package that is well worth multiple viewings/listens and a nice document of a band that continues to kick ass today. (mxv)

Rellik – Heritage of Abomination, CD
United Guttural
I love hearing a band that can make death metal sound fresh again. Very few modern death metal groups use pure chops to get their music noticed, because usually it's some kind of studio trickery or weird gimmick that makes people take notice. This five-piece from the Chicago area are definitely in the "chops" category. It's not an obsession with Egypt or 3000 riffs per song that really makes Heritage of Abomination so fucking good, it's the quality of the songs. The brutality of it all. Rellik has everything that's made death metal so popular with people like me and so unpopular with mainstream music fans. They're the type of band that your average rock fan is into until they hear the vocals. And what vocals they are! The deep growls and the mid-pitched scream are both prevalent throughout, as are many black metal-inspired riffs, superhuman blasting, and double bass insanity. I could easily see these guys fitting in on a Hate Eternal and Krisiun with no problem. The overall package of this record is greater than any one part it consists of, though. I love hearing a death metal record that is just that: straight up blasting death metal. There's enough tempo changes to keep things interesting, but never does it even approach accessible levels for your non-hardcore death metal fan. Slipknot fans just won't get it, and that's fine with me. (dh)

Dope Guns and Fucking Up Your Video Deck - DVD
Music Video Distributors
Back in the very early 1990's, the Daves and I went to see the Melvins play at a little place called Edge of the Looking Glass and a then-unknown band named Helmet opened for them. I was so blown away by this band that I bought the records they were selling (the Helmet first 7" and a compilation 7" called Dope Guns and Fucking in the Streets) which turned me on to a whole slew of new bands. That was my first exposure to a label called Amphetamine Reptile, and at the time they were putting out some amazing noise rock records at a time when that style of music was new and exciting. I snapped up every release there was and I was always ordering their records through the mail and eagerly awaiting new releases, especially the 7"s. In my eyes they were the best label around at the time and could do no wrong.

At their height, they started releasing these videotapes that were collections of music videos featuring their great roster of bands. The tapes were hosted by the odd Dr. Sphincter, who was a total nerd but somewhat amusing. In the time the label was active, they released three volumes of the series, and they are all compiled here on this DVD. From the disturbing images of Lubricated Goat playing nude, to the dementia of The Cows, to the sheer greatness of Helmet in their early stages, it is all here in full color and 5.1 sound, that looks and sounds better than the original VHS releases.

As a bonus, the DVD contains all the videos that were going to comprise a fourth volume of the series that never saw the light of day. As time wore on, I lost interest in the label as the newer things they were releasing just didn't do much for me so a handful of the bonus videos are bands I am not hearing for the first time. Sadly, Amphetamine Reptile Records ceased operations a few years ago and all we have left is a website with some history and insanely priced leftovers that eclipse what the records fetch on ebay, and now this excellent video document of a time now gone. If you were a fan of this stuff, it's a great couple hours of nostalgia to sit down and watch this stuff, or would make for something cool to have on at your next party. (mxv)

The Slog Movie - DVD
Music Video Distributors
An old "fanzine on film" by Dave Markey of We Got Power fame. This was made between 1981-1982 and features interviews and live footage of Circle One, Symbol Six, Wasted Youth, Red Cross, TSOL, The Cheifs, Sin 34, Fear, Circle Jerks, and lots more. This is a who's-who of old SoCal hardcore and is a nice little document of a time long gone. My only complaint is that they didn't put any text on the screen indicating what band you are watching at the time. This can be figured out by going into the menu and selecting the bands from a list and watching their part in the film, but it would have been nice of them to add the text on screen while watching the actual film. That aside, this is a welcome addition to your own punk vault and is worth picking up based on the historical merit. (mxv)

Skulls
The Golden Age of Piracy - CD
Dr. Strange Records
The sophomore album from the newly reformed Skulls does not at all suffer from Sophmore Jinx. Fronted by Original Skull, Billy Bones, The Skulls pick up where they left off with the last album and go full steam ahead with 14 tracks that blend 70s style punk that was the sound of the original lineup, and blending it with modern day pop punk which results in sing-a-long tunes that will get stuck in your head for days. I found myself singing the songs while driving home after listening to this thing at work, it just snuck into my head and wouldn't leave! This is easily as good as their last album, if not better for they are a bit tighter having been playing together a year longer now. It really shows through in their songs too that they enjoy what they are doing. Watch for a limited edition vinyl version of this coming soon. (mxv)

Mad Parade
Bombs and the Bible - CD
Dr. Strange Records
You can't escape change, unless your name is Mad Parade, and avoiding change is to their benefit. Mad Parade have been around since the early 80s and were one of the pioneers of the pop punk sound that has since been stolen, borrowed, watered down, blasphemed, etc and they never seemed to get the proper credit. If you have ever heard Mad Parade before, you know what to expect and you will not be disappointed in this outing. 12 songs that contain more hooks than a meathouse and not a bad song in the bunch. It's nice to see that after all these years, they still have it, now if they'd only get the recognition they deserve! (mxv)

"Get in that vocal booth!"

Icons of Filth
Nostradamnedus - CD
Go Kart Records
A UK punk band from back in the day return with all new material. This was recorded in late 2001, why it took so long to be released is a mystery to me but I'm glad it was. The band seems to almost seamlessly pick up where it left off with their classic releases. Old-school UK punk, no metal, no frills, no nonsense and no filler. I was pleasantly surprised that they sounded this good still, a lot of bands will reform to the dismay of their fans when they end up sucking, but such is not the case here. (mxv)

Since By Man
We Sing the Body Electric - CD
Revelation Records/PO Box 5232/Huntington Beach, CA 92615-5232
Wow! I've never heard these guys before, but I am damn sure glad I have now as this CD really impressed me. Since by Man are like a muscial blender, they mix hard hitting modern hardcore with experimental sounds, a tiny bit of screamo, and even some melodic hooks and the result is just pure aural pleasure. Even when they slow thigns down, they don't lose the passion or intensity, or even fail to sound powerful. I can't wait to hear more by this band, and I'm damn sure going to go check them out next time they play here. I can't recommend this enough, this is easily the best album to come out this year! (mxv)

Snowdogs
Deep Cuts, Fast Remedies - CD
Victory Records
Pretty straight-forward melodic pop punk. Lots of harmonies and such, and at times you are reminded of Samiam, The Offspring and Shudder to Think. The lyrics run the gamut of growing up, relationships, etc. (mxv)

Toxic Narcotic
We're All Doomed - CD
Go Kart Records
These guys have been around for awhile but this is the first time I've actually heard them. The music is fast hardcore with a bit of a metallic tinge to the guitars and throaty vocals that would make John Brannon of Negative Approach proud. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that this came out in the late 80's as it is obviously influced by the bands from that era. Well done. (mxv)

Somehow Hollow
Busted Wings & Rusted Halos - CD
Victory Records
It seems that Victory is fast straying from hardcore and concentrating on emo/pop punk bands. Somehow Hollow fit that typical melodic punk mold, and while they are quite competent, there really isn't anything to make them stand out among the many other bands in the genre. If you can't get enough of this stuff, you could do a lot worse than this one. (mxv)

Daycare Swindlers
Heathen Radio - CD
Go Kart Records
Energetic, fast melodic hardcore. I'd like to tell you what the lyrics are about but there was no lyrics included. The vocals remind me a bit of FOD in parts and Samiam in others. I'd like to see these guys sometime, I bet their energy comes across even better live and I'd like to hear more from these guys. Nice cover of a DC Youth Brigade song too!(mxv)

Cradle of Filth
From the Cradle to the Grave - DVD
Music Video Distributors
This is a 75 minute documentary on what is perhaps the most famous black metal band of all time. Features interviews with past band members, some of the current band, and others associated with the band including the head of their original record label. This is one of those"unauthorized" deals which unfortunately means that there is none of the band's music, nor any live footage of them playing contained on this disc. Upon learning that from reading the disclaimer at the start of the feature, I was taken aback thinking this was going to be cheesy. It turns out that the material was enough that I didn't need the missing music and footage. It deals mostly with how they got started and how they came up with their imagery. I was especially fascinated by the interviews with the man responsible for their cover art, and the label head as their interviews were quite informative. Being a fan of this band, but not having read many articles on them, it was really interesting to see how they got their start and how they got to where they are today (which as good as I think their music is, it was their cool and offensive t-shirts that really put them on the map), and it worthwhile viewing for anyone who considers themself a fan of the band. (mxv)

Various Artists
Toxic Shock Records Four Old Seven Inches - CD
Dr. Strange Records
When I was a freshman in high school, I discovered Toxic Shock's mail order thru having a catalog passed to me from a friend. Inside was a goldmine of all this great music I have never been able to find at local stores in my area. That catalog was my bible and Whenever I could scrape together money, I'd place an order. The store also had a label and that label put out, among others, a single by this great band called Peace Corpse. That single was such an essential part of our little punk rock crew's existence. People painted the logo on their leather jackets and we couldn't get enough of that great record. It turned out that the owner of Toxic Shock was the singer in that band. They also put out a really great compilation single titled Noise From Nowhere that I damn near wore out my first copy of. Well, Toxic Shock moved, changed its name to Westworld for the label, then Toxic Ranch for the store and these singles, along with 2 others went out of print and I feared forgotten. Until now that is! Here is a reissue of the first four releases and it is about time! Not only have they been reissued, but in the case of Noise From Nowhere, they sound BETTER! It is a rare day that I'll say I prefer a CD over the vinyl but that comp was originally mastered so poorly that the sound really suffered and now it sounds so much more full! Nice liner notes inside from Dr. Strange and Bill of Toxic Shock. My only complaint was the original inserts weren't reproduced inside, but a minor gripe as now a lot of the younger generation can hear what they may have missed, and I can listen to them in the car! (mxv)

Various Artists
Barricaded Suspects - CD
Dr. Strange Records
Another old Toxic Shock Records reissue by the Doc. This comp came out way back in the day and at the time was a lot of people's first exposure to some really cool hardcore bands. Housed inside the Pushead cover art, you'll find a piece of history pressed on plastic that includes Peace Corpse, Red Tide, Septic Death (their first output on vinyl!), Massacre Guys, Decry, Roach Motel, Mad Parade (this comp exposed me to this really great band back then!) and a hell of a lot more. Included are 4 bonus tracks from Peace Corpse (from the Budget Ranch Box), The Dull (from their single), Pillsbury Hardcore (from the Budget Ranch Box), and Zimbo Chimps (from their single). This is a pretty essential piece of early hardcore and is well worth seeking out whether you own the vinyl and just want to listen to it on the go, or if you weren't there at the time and are looking for a good history lesson. (mxv)

The Skulls
Therapy for the Shy - LP/CD
Dr. Strange Records
Wow, The Skulls! For those not in the know, The Skulls were among the first wave of LA area punk bands. Their recorded output was limited to one song on the What? Records compilation 7" and then on the What It Is LP (same song plus one other). After that, like a lot of bands from that time, they called it quits. Early this year, original singer Billy Bones resurrected The Skulls with some new members and picks up nearly where the band left off over 20 years ago. Straight forward old school punk rock with a slight modern edge. They definitely have the So Cal punk sound, melodic and energetic and easy to sing along too without being wimpy or light. They even do a new rendition of "Victims" from the What? Records compilation. The vinyl is a limited edition of 498 with silk screened covers and colored vinyl (and there were 3 cover variations) and it a nice little package worth picking up if you are a collector, for the rest of you, grab the CD and start jumping around the room. Now if I can only find a way to get these guys to tour through Chicago! (mxv)

Channel 3
Self Titled - LP/CD
Dr. Strange Records
What is going on around L.A.?! Is there something in the air or the drinking water that is making these old bands reform and not only just get back together, but to get back together and still be good?! Ch3 return after a long hiatus (not as long as The Skulls however) and put out a album of new material that rivals much of their later output after leaving Posh Boy! The material on this could easily have been released after "After the Lights Go Out". It is nice to see some things stay constant, like their apparent appreciation for drinking, Ch3 are the best punk bar band, and I mean that to be complimentary. Much like The Skulls LP, the vinyl version of this is also limited to 498 copies with 2 different silkscreen covers and it's on colored vinyl. (mxv)

GBH
Ha Ha - CD
Go Kart Records
GBH have been at it longer than any other UK punk band that I can think of. I have to admit, I stopped following them a long time ago when they were doing records for Combat and they went metal. Well, it seems that was a passing fad and they are back to their punk roots. While they'll likely never live up to the high expectations of "City Baby Attacked by Rats" and their earlier singles, this stands up alright on its own with it's rockin' punk. (mxv)

Blank Generation/Dancing Barefoot - DVD
Music Video Distributors
This DVD features 2 separate documentaries, both about the early NYC punk scene which centered around the infamous CBGB. Blank Generation is really just a big collage of great footage of bands such as Patti Smith, Ramones, Television, Talking Heads and others from that time, all in black and white. The footage is set to portions of the bands music, while it is spliced together almost haphazardly and the song's fade in and out between each other, it works quite well and adds to the early art punk feel of the material being presented. This would be something perfect to have on at a party, and I will likely be doing just that the next time I have one. Dancing Barefoot is a documentary on Ivan Kral, who played in a whole ton of bands but started early on with Patti Smith Group. Not knowing too much about Patti Smith Group other than what I have read and never having have heard of this fellow didn't matter. I lear