Compilations,
Soundtracks, re-issues and re-mixes:
Another few weeks, and a bunch more compilations, soundtracks,
tributes and re-issues. Where to start? How about with Guns
N’ Roses? Yep, Axl may not have a new album or band, but
Live Era ‘98-’93, a two CD live set is out on Geffen.
All the hits are here like Paradise City, Knockin’ on Heaven’s
Door (That’s a cover if you didn’t know), Sweet Child,
Welcome to The Jungle and lots more. ¶ Speaking of major
rock stars who should have a good 10 year plan, Marilyn Manson
has a video compilation, God is in the TV, on Nothing Records,
which has 13 of the bands videos as well as uncensored footage
from The Dope Show and a whole hour of live concert and backstage
footage from the Rock is Dead tour. You can also get Marilyn’s
The Last Tour on Earth live CD on Nothing Records. ¶ Perry
Farrell fans need to buy Rev, a best of on Warner Bros. that
encompasses his work with Jane’s Addiction and Porno For
Pyros along with two new solo songs. Jane Says, Been Caught
Stealing, Pets, it’s all here. ¶ Anthrax has a best
of too, Return of the Killer B’s A’s on BMG with 16
of the band’s best, including of course Bring The Noise
with PE. ¶ In a quieter mood? Then find acclaimed songwriter
Richard Buckner’s Bloomed CD on Ryko, a re-issue of his
first 1994 album, which has been out of print for the last few
years. ¶ Also on Ryko is Medeski, Martin & Wood’s
Last Chance To Dance (Perhaps), Best of (1991-1996). Does the
title mean anything? Hopefully not. ¶ We hardly ever get
the really pricey box sets sent to Heckler, but for some reason
we got the Alice In Chains box set, Music Bank, on Columbia.
I doubt I would have forked out the money for this, but it’s
pretty cool for free. It’s a four CD set with just about
everything they ever recorded including some demos and alternate
versions. The packaging is super deluxe and the liner notes
have a detailed history of the band as well as song by song
notes by Jerry Cantrell. If you’re a hardcore fan, you’ll
want this for sure. ¶ Mudhoney has a two CD set, March
to Fuzz, out on Sub Pop that’s a comp of greatest hits,
b-sides and rarities. 52 rocking tracks all in all! ¶ The
Jesus Lizard is no longer with us, but Touch & Go has just
released Bang, a 20 song CD with lots of 7 inch tracks as well
as some alternate versions and un-released material. ¶
Viva Wisconsin is a 20 song Live CD from the Violent Femmes
on Beyond/BMG that is also a ‘best of’ since they
put their ‘best songs, raw and intimate’ on here.
Recorded from 10-25 through 10-31, 1998. ¶ Blondie also
has a similar product on Beyond, titled simply Live with 17
tracks recorded in the last two years. ¶ Ditto Motley Crue
with a two CD set with all the monster hits like Shout At The
Devil, Helter Skelter, Smokin In The Boys Room, Girls, Girls,
Girls and more. ¶ Rock’s only Banjo player, Béla
Fleck also has a greatest hits CD, out on Warner Bros. ¶
Fuck Censorship is a cool comp put together by Howie Klein,
the president of Reprise Records. Klein who founded one of the
earliest successful indie labels, 415 Records (Romeo Void, Translator,
etc), is not your average major label suit, and this isn’t
your average major label comp either. This is a worthy comp
that benefits People for The American Way, an organization that
seeks to protect freedom of speech and rallies against the Tipper
Gores, Rudy Giuilanis and Pat Robertsons of the world. The songs
follow this theme and are mostly bands I’ve never heard
of, but Shootyz Groove, Filter, Orgy, Penelope Houston and Lou
Reed all make appearances. ¶ Metal and punk rock finally
come together on Triple Crown’s I Love Metal comp, with
bands like Less Than Jake covering We’re Not Gonna Take
It, Avail does Iron Fist, The Get Up Kids do On With The Show
and 9 more headbanging mosh tracks. MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch
comp on Interscope has tracks by Marilyn Manson, Eminem, Powerman
5000, Canibus w/ Rakim, Sevendust, Bif Naked, Kool Kieth, Rob
Zombie, Primus, Lit and more. ¶ Friends Again is the second
soundtrack from the TV show, Friends on Reprise with tracks
by Smashmouth covering Mitch Easter, Semisonic, Robbie Williams,
Lisa Loeb, Duncan Shiek, and a collaboration between Billie
Joe Armstrong and Penelope Houston and some annoying sound bites
between songs. I can’t really imagine buying this although
there are a few moments on it. ¶ Volume II of the BYO Split
Series is pretty cool, with six tracks each by Youth Brigade
and Swingin Utters. Look for a full review next ish. ¶
World Championship Wrestling’s Mayhem: The Music is out
on Tommy Boy and has some fuckin’ burly mat slammin tracks
by Insane Clown Posse, Slayer, Megadeth, Kid Rock, Metallica,
Limp Bizkit w/Everlast, Hulk Hogan, Ruff Ryders, Cypress Hill
w/Defari and more. ¶ Welcome To Santa Barbara Now Go Home
is a 27 comp of bands and labels from Santa Barbara on Fishbowl
records with bands like Riverfenix, Whippersnapper, Slimer,
RX Bandits, Ill Repute, Speed Racer, No Motiv, Mad Caddies and
lots more. ¶ Straight Outta Burbank is a 25 year anniversary
comp from Bomp/Voxx/Alive/Total Energy records. This is a fat
two CD comp with tracks from the Dead Boys, Brian Jonestown
Massacre, Iggy & The Stooges, Germs, Dils, Flesheaters,
Lazy Cowgirls, Jeff Dahl, Swell Maps, Davie Allan & the
Arrows, Streetwalkin Cheetahs, US Bombs, The Silencers, MC5,
Sun Ra and lots more. ¶ Another cool comp on the electro
tip is Terra Musica, Global Explorer II, a two CD set from M21
with contributions from Tranquillity Bass, Fatboy Slim, Asian
Dub Foundation, DJ Die, Loop Guru, Transglobal Underground,
The Dub Factory and lots more. ¶ The last comp we got this
issue is pretty cool, The Rebirth of Hardcore: 1999 on Supersoul
with tracks by Shelter, Fastbreak, Where Fear & Weapons
Meet and lots of up and comers from around the globe. ¶
First up in the pretty slow this month Soundtrack dept. is the
new Arnold Schwarzenegger flick, End Of Days, in which he does
battle with Satan on Geffen. He’s back, and befitting such
a battle is some heavy fuckin tunes by rockers like Korn, Everlast,
Limp Bizkit, Guns & Roses, Rob Zombie, Prodigy, Eminem,
Powerman 5000, Sonic Youth, Creed and more. ¶ The King
Of The Hill OST on Elektra is a lotta’ bit country with
a little bit alternative rock and roll and features Travis Tritt,
George Thorogood, Barenaked Ladies, The Mavericks, Sheryl Crow,
Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Tonic, Deana Carter, Willie Nelson
w/ Mark McGrath, the Old 97’s, the Refreshments and more.
–JB
Inch By Inch: A collection of seven 7”s by Isacto
Lagwagon A Feedbag Of Truckstop Poetry Fat Wreck Chords Yeah!,
Lagwagon comes out with 3 new songs, really good songs. A melodic
punk ballad almost, and a impressive cover of Jawbreaker’s
Want. Super good, I like Joey. • Jejune / Lazycain The
Smiths Tribute Big Wheel 2 Smiths covers on this one, done very
well, not one of those covers where they wreck the song cuz
I think they really pay tribute here. I would have to say that
the Jejune cover is the best. I see Jejune doing a lot of covers
recently, luckily they have a split 7” of their own song
in the next review. • Jejune / Dignity For All Two good
songs from both bands. Really glad to know I like Jejune’s
songwriting as much as I do all their covers. I would really
like to hear more from both bands, but if they were girls and
this were a date I would go out with them again and I think
I might try for first base.• The Anniversary / Get Up Kids
Vagrant Goodie, a new one from the Kids. Unreleased too. If
you have heard Something To Write Home About you know how good
these guys are. If you don’t, Kevin will say “Fuck
You”. The Anniversary is super goddamn good rock. Subscribe
this issue and find out just how good when you get their CD
for free.• Braid Please Drive Faster Polyvinyl Braid is
one of those bands I had never heard before, but now I am fucking
in love. I hear they are broken up now, which is typical of
every band you get into, break up is immanent. anyway 2 song
7” that is very Promise Ringish, highly recommended. •
Icarus Line / Ink & Dagger New American Dream Icarus Line
reminds me of a way-punk version of Nirvana. Which I think is
good, Joe may disagree but look at Kurt now, oops bad example.
Ink & Dagger just cannot be described. I will say this,
they are powerful. Beautiful picture disc 7” also. •
Geoff Farina Steely Dan Southern This guy is from the band Karate.
This is some real mellow guitar music, good rainy day laying
on the couch thinking bout what the future might hold for you
music. I think of Elliot Smith when I hear this, he relaxes
me too. I am pleasantly surprised, but I think he should have
named it Tai Chi, a more mellow version of Karate.
