A feast for the fans
Paul Minot | Waterville, ME United States | 01/07/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not often appreciative of these sorts of grab-bag selections, but this CD is an exception for a number of reasons. First is the fact that the Revillos were first and foremost about FUN, and fun oozes out of every cut here, whether well-done or bloody raw. Secondly, every track here has musical worth, simply because despite their devil-may-care persona the band was great and wrote really good songs. In particular the consistently great drumming of Rocky Rhythm drives each tune home, and the vocal and guitar performances shine as well. Thirdly, even the uncooked stuff here sounds pretty darn good--"Manhunt", for example, is described as a "bedroom rehearsal" tape, but the sound and mix is surprisingly good, actually better than a lot of vintage studio recordings miraculously enough.
Everything you could possibly want--a great B-side, great studio outtakes, great "lost recordings", great demos, and great live recordings (including three outstanding outtakes from their splendid "Live and On Fire in Japan" CD--can't figure why they were ever excluded in the original) are here for your enjoyment. It hangs together great as a CD from beginning to end, as the band pushes the envelope of their own vision and wins every time, in my opinion. It all ends with a primitive rehearsal tape of a song called "Tango", apparently recorded on an answering machine (!), and damned if it isn't one of the best cuts on the CD. The raw enthusiasm and uncut fun that is the Revillos cuts through the lo-fi like a ginsu knife, reminding me why I loved punk music in the first place.
This CD further vindicates the consideration of the Revillos as one of the great lost bands of all time, the spirit of rock and roll incarnate. This album is forever young, as the live Tokyo reunion CD also attests. LONG LIVE THE REVILLOS!!!"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1