It's about damn time!
Johnny Roulette | 12/21/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Beasts Of Bourbon at their best is like choking on the best piece of steak you;ve ever had & shunning all attempts to save you, so that you can savor it. Given the difficulty, in the US anyway, obtaining their releases & the high prices, this cd is a must. From the moment they debuted with Axeman's Jazz in the early 80's, this band has rarely dissapointed. That's quite an accomplishment, given their incredible diversity. You will be sold from the first song, Psycho, on through to the end. The numerous line up changes over the years have done little to compromise the overall effect of The Beasts. No one would agree on twenty songs for a Beasts compilation, but this is a nice one. The only glaring omissions are Love & Death(Axeman's Jazz), The Hate Inside(Sour Mash), & Ride On(The Low Road). A decade and a half of brilliance is captured here. From punk to funk to blues to straight up rock to just plain bizarre, all of the elements that made Tex & co. so inimitable are running rampant throughout. If you have nothing on cd, this is the place to start. If you are fortunate enough to own all their discs, then this is still a must. Their are albums are so different from one another that this is the only collection that can satisfy any mood. Highlights include Psycho(The Axeman's Jazz), Hard For You/ Door To Your Soul(Sour Mash), Cool Fire/Words From A Woman To Her Man/Execution Day(Black Milk), Low Road/Can't Say No/Goodbye Friends(The Low Road),& Saturated(Gone). I don't know why Axeman's Jazz isn't properly represented, but the oversight is certainly forgivable. The live 5-song bonus disc isn't much more than a novelty. They didn't need to throw in any extras to satisfy me, but it's a cool addition to any Beasts collection. The liner notes and many photos complete an already wonderful package. After your Beasts collection is complete, go find Tex, Don & Charlie's MONDAY MORNING COMING DAY & The Cruel Sea's THE HONEYMOON IS OVER. Tex Perkins' solo album, FAR BE IT FROM ME, is also great. This band is incredible. How many underground punk bands had the guts to cover Merle Haggard? Get your fix ASAP, as their cds don't stay in circulation long. Beasts Of Bourbon are truly Australia's greatest export!"
Beasts of Brilliance
steve j spears | aldinga beach, sa, australia | 01/12/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"do yourself a favour. discover beasts of bourbon. start with this collecion, then go nuts and get yourself the compleat collection of a band with balls, brilliance, f--k you attitude and more musical chops than the ealy (and late) Stones.steve."
