Album Description

More than 30 minutes of previously unreleased material.This CD single includes a reprint of the original 1968liner notes for Kick Out The Jams. Cool artwork. AliveRecords. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Long, heavy Jams
This is longer than the average EP. "I'm Mad Like Elderidge Cleaver" starts out with audience interaction, moves to an updated & psychedelisized take on "I'm Bad Like Jesse James" from John Lee Hooker, then degenerates into some of the ugliest heavy electric guitar noises and vocal grunts imaginable and hangs out in that musical netherworld for one hell of a long time, ending with a slight wind down, then a SCREAM! This is the real deal if you are into free-form/metal/punk/ unclassifiable beautifully horrible music (?), and if you're a fan of the 5, there at least a 50/50 chance this is your thing. "Ice Pick Slim" is more reserved (well, you could say that about most any other music), but still long and plenty of jamming. I've heard it's based on the Instrumental "Tunji" by John Coltrane, but the 5 really make it their own. Flute solo in the middle, great sound (as with the entire EP), and this one is wild but maybe not so angry as "Mad like Eldridge".

MC5 previously unreleased Live Gold
Three tracks clocking in at a total of 40+ minutes, the "Ice Pick Slim" EP is the MC5 at the absolute height of their abilities. Capturing some of the "ferocious five's" most inspired live performances, the raw power contained within this single CD not only overcomes the confines of the studio, but also forcefully breaks down the very barriers of rock music itself. While most punk acts in the 60s had embraced the noble crusade of returning rock to its primordial, abrasive, fuzzed-out roots, the MC5, like the Velvet Underground, chose to use the wild energy of punk to aggressively innovate the stale state of popular music, not only shock. This unique goal of innovation has never been better represented than on the wildly original "Ice Pick Slim" mini-album. Surpassing rock, abandoning punk, and leaving the world of traditional music behind, this EP dives headfirst into a jarring collage of Sun Ra free jazz and Jimi Hendrix accelerated blues. Robin Tyner's horrifically anguished wails and the dueling guitars' rabid lust for mayhem are fueled by Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson's propulsive rhythms, raging ahead in an uncontrollable orgasm of adrenaline. Tyner's surprisingly melodic flute playing and John Sinclair's opposing tenor sax blats only add to the confusion, while the songs' stews of improvisation and rehearsed riffs swell to gigantic proportions which are no longer under the five's loose control. In every way, these two tracks are exactly how improvisational pieces and extended jams ought to be played. Referencing one idea after the next as each musician fights to prolong a groove for as long as it'll hold, The MC5 treats music as a living, breathing entity that can be shaped and changed at will. In fact, the title track and "Mad Like Eldridge Cleaver" push so far over the edge that they not only change the definition of rock, but actually redefine the entire approach to its creation. Simply a musical translation of the MC5's inborn abilities, "Ice Pick Slim" is less a musical end product than a true experience that the listener has been granted the privilege of sharing. The perfect compliment to the MC5's renowned live masterpiece "Kick Out the Jams," "Ice Pick Slim" completes the band's expansive vision, finally providing a full picture of the group's visionary 1968 sound.

mc5 alive
well this is one for collectors, 3 live tracks the last two being very long jams, its pretty cool, the covers nice too! I don't have the disc with me at the moment (I am at work getting out of doing anything!) but I think the disc is about 35 mins or so...the motor city 5 will rock yo' ass!!

Proto-Punk
The Mc5 paved the way for punk bands. Back in 1968 they shocked even the most liberal listeners. Pacaked with the punch of The White Panthers led by John Sinclair, anything by the 5 is worth a listenn. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Pointless But Fun Romp Through The Velvets' Songbook
Pop Kulcher Review: Just as every lame high school cover band has to get its start by making a stab at "Louie Louie" or "Twist & Shout," every alternative band (at least since the rise of R.E.M.) has to have an obligatory Velvet Underground cover in their repertoire. In late 1997, Dutch alterna-grungesters Bettie Serveert took it a step further, going on a brief tour playing nothing but Velvet Underground songs. This disc is a nifty little souvenir from that tour, offering 10 VU tunes from a November 1997 gig in Amsterdam. Stretching beyond a single song works well, giving the band a shot to move beyond the obvious choices ("Rock & Roll," "Beginning to See the Light" and "What Goes On") to the noisier, more free-form elements of the VU songbook ("Venus in Furs," "European Son," "Black Angel's Death Song"). The latter tunes fare best, giving the band a chance to stretch its Crazy Horse-like distortion workouts beyond the confines of the band's own, poppier songs. Also nice are a rollicking "I Can't Stand It" and a touching "Stephanie Says." The only downside is the length of the disc; while it clocks in at a respectable 60 minutes, the setlist illustrated in the liner notes shows that 6 songs got cut. But that's a minor gripe; all in all, this is a terrific gesture, giving fans who couldn't quite make it to Holland for the concert a chance to hear the show.

For fans only
An easy album to sum up: If you like Bettie Serveert, the Dutch alt-rockers with the sweet female vocals backed by a noisy Dinosaur Jr./Neil Young-influenced guitar sound, you'll enjoy this album, just for the novelty of hearing them perform cover songs by a very different (darker, more experimental) kind of band. If you're a Velvet Underground fan, you might enjoy hearing an slightly odd spin on the favorites you've heard a million times.

An essentially friendly, upbeat band with a female lead singer like the Betties is not the obvious choice to cover "Black Angel's Death Song," "Venus In Furs," or "European Son." The band's musical chops are up to it, but Carol van Dijk's unnaturally low vocals are occasionally laughable in her attempt to sound menacing. The later-period Velvets songs like "Beginning to See the Light" and "What Goes On" are a less awkward fit. At times, the tempos and vocal phrasing are slavish imitations; it would have been nice if the group had reworked the arrangements a bit more. Still, one could argue Bettie Serveert does at least as good a job with these songs as the VU did during its brief reunion for a '93 European tour.

Not essential listening, but it's fun, and worth seeking out for the diehards. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Treasure to Keep
A live performance by one of the most renowned bands in the "alternative to alternative", Durutti Column endulges the listener with a variety of outstanding music. Vini Reilly's creativity will simply mesmerize whomever buys this little jewel ... Read more

Album Details

Japanese Exclusive Version featuring Original Artwork. ... Read more

Album Description

2000 release for Tokyo based rockabilly/punk trio. Limited eeition double gatefold digipak. 18 tracks on two CDs including a special CD single featuring a Digital Hardcore remix of 'Jet Virus' produced and engineered by Alec Empire. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Rock 'n Roll music!!
This is one of the greatest Rock n Roll band on this planet!! Guitar wolf,from Japan, they are always 100% serious for Rock n Roll,and this CD will let you know the energy of their Great live concert.Only thing they care about is to play rock n roll as loud as possible,and they are more rock n roll or punk than any other bands you can watch on MTV. If you like type of music like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion!, you might enjoy it.it is worth to buy this Live album,and it is their best!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Laibach's "hits" live
Well, this ain't a bad Cd at all, although some would find it too "commercial" for Laibach standards. The sound is quite good and the Video is interesting to watch, although I expected (I don't know why) something more spectacular (too used to Rammstein's "Live in Berlin" video?). The only problem is that this Cd is a kinda collection of other bands' hits as versioned by Laibach taken from former Laibach's Cds, with only a couple of compositions of their own. But anyway, I would recommend this Cd plus video pack to every Laibach fan and to those who want to introduce themselves into this Slovenian band style. Not a bad choice at all. Buy it, you won't regreit it... ... Read more