VIVE LE ROCK! (A Compilation CD)

This great 14 track compilation came free with the first issue of music mag Vive Le Rock, and a right little stonker it is to! Starts on a bit of a low point with Adam Ant’s Vive Le Rock, but there are some standout tracks from Electric River and Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg. New tunes from Spear Of Destiny and Killing Joke show there’s still life in the old dogs, I dunno about Vice Squad though the words: past, sell, by and date spring to mind, unlike former Meteors front man P.Paul Fenech who still sounds as psychotic as he did 20+ years ago but relevant to the now. The Urban Voodoo Machine are what the tin says they are, and jolly good fun it is. Department S who I never much cared for turn in a top tune, and Andy J Gallagher could be one to watch. The Creepshow, Volbeat and The Zero Point tracks do nothing for me except making me reach for the fast forward button where GoldBlade round off the proceedings in righteous fashion. Anyway don’t take my words for it check 'em all out here. As for the mag….Well, the first issue was a jolly good read features/articles/interviews on/with The Ramones, Manic Street Preachers, The Ruts, Motorhead, Killing Joke, Crass, The Pogues, The Sweet plus loads of other stuff, the whole thing is like a cross between Mojo and Kerrang, cover price of £4.99 seems a bit steep, but all in all I reckon it’s quite good value, especially with the freebie CD.