VIVE LE ROCK - Desolation Avenue (A Compilation)

Time for some music, courtesy of those good folks at Vive Le Rock Magazine, and their great free cover mounted CD's. Once again it's a great something for everyone compilation of all things Punk, New Wave and Beyond. THE DEAD BOYS kick this one off with a blistering live version of Sonic Reducer. MICHAEL MONROE continues with the Rock'n'Rolling with the rootsey glam punk tune Ballad of the Lower East Side, before CAROUSELS AND LIMOUSINES come over all Gaslight Anthem with One and Only. THE COFFINS are a growl from the garage Bible John sounds like the Jim Jones Revue on Valium. DYWD by MORNING SMOKE is a wired paranoid and pounding piece of post-punk. Undertow is another haunting lament from SPEAR OF DESTINY, while SECRET  AFFAIR provide  I Don't Need No Doctor a mammoth and marathon brass fuelled R'n'B soul stomper.  Renegade by DOUBLEBLACK is a neo-rockabilly fuzzed up foot tapper. God save THE DESTRUCTORS who punk out like it's 1982 again with Duty Unto Death, OVERSPILL continue in the same punk rock vein with their gravely growl of Let's Riot. THE HICKOIDS bring some Blue Grass country punk rawk to the party with TJ. The Curse of Captain Blood by EAST TOWN PIRATES is a storming and steaming punk sea shanty. THE SOLICITORS Pretty Penny is a shot of 1978 stylee New Wave, while VALENTINE take us back to the sound of 1990's indie/rock with Finch. THE SNAKES finish the show off with the alternative country of The Band Played On. Take a ride down Desolation Avenue here!

VIVE LE ROCK - Back In The Night (A Compilation)

It's been a while since I've posted any music, so here's a little something that's got a bit of everything for everyone who's a lover of all things Rock'n'Roll, Punk, New Wave and Beyond!

WILKO JOHNSON kicks the proceedings off with a reworking of the song he wrote for Dr Feelgood, Sneakin' Suspicion. KILLING JOKE show that they are still a force to be reckoned with, Corporate Effect takes the roof off. THE CHEATS turn in a cover of Demolition 23's (Mike Monroe from Hanoi Rocks band) Hammersmith Palais. THE DRESDENS Out On The Streets, is just that; a slice of Rock'n'Roll from the streets. RT-ZED were formed by Steve Gantley (SLF and The Alarm) as a vehicle for his rock out anthems like You Are Free. Celtic Folk Punkers SIR REG turn in the frantic violin drenched 'Til The Dead Come Alive. Veterans from the Californian Punk scene the SWINGIN' UTTERS have matured and evolved, as the semi-acoustic track Stuck In A Circle testifies. V8 WANKERS burn up the Rock'n'Roll highway with Road Hog. Hot on their heels are CIRCUIT 68 whose Perno Inferno channels 60's Psychedelia into something very 21^st Century. Hungarian Punkabilies THE SILVER SHINE leave the listener In The Middle Of Nowhere with their foot tapping. Rock'n'Roll. Los Angeles garage punks JJ&THE REAL JERKS keep the motor running on their Economy Class Ego Trip. New comers to the block BRAXTON HICKS provide a jaunty and jumpy little poppy and punky number called Never Kill Yourself. The brilliantly named THE MEN THAT WILL NOT BE BLAMED FOR NOTHING serve up Victoria's Secret a chunk of something they call 'Steam Punk' Bored To Death by MONGREL rawks out with righteous rage, as does South Karia Night by Finland’s REJECTED. Well.... there you have it....15 assorted tracks that smash their way into yer skull and crash round yer head. Another top notch freebie from Vive Le Rock, posted here with scant regard for copy write laws. Enjoy!  

VIVE LE ROCK - Death Or Glory (A Compilation)

Right then, as the new issue of Vive Le Rock has hit the newsagent stands, with Johnny Thunders on the cover, and a great feature inside on the man, the myth and the murder. (No free CD, but a free double sided Thunders / Adam Ant poster) It's time to post the previous issues free disc.

Some of the bands on this CD need no introduction, like the sleazy Rock'n'Roll splendour of THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH for example, who kick off this 14 track collection with a remastered version of Things Go Bump. I've reviewed both THE REVERENDS and THE NOVEMBER FIVE's albums elsewhere on this blog, both were bought on the strength of their tracks; Give It Up Son and Here We Come from this compilation. I would have also spent cash on the MARK VENNIS & DIFFERENT PLACE one, but didn't have enough to spare, their track Portsdown Hill is a beautiful cinematic power pop ballad about the freedom of growing up. The piano pounding JIM JONES REVUE need no descriptions, Never Let You Go gets yer speakers rattling. With just a guitar and his voice PATRIK FITZGERALD is one of Britain great lost songwriters, his track Ambition is a testimony to that fact. Testify by DYNAMITE PUSSY CLUB is a mighty blast of garage punk. FLIPRON's Round and Round The Sun is a pop punk 60's psychedelic influenced tune, produced by Rat Scabies. Fun Police by THE FUCKWITS is just that, a fun knock about punk anthem reminiscent of Stiff Little Fingers. THE DESTRUCTORS are the purveyors of the finest Punk/Metal racket and turn in another mighty row with The End of The World is Coming Today. Never Let You Down by PIPES AND PINTS sounds like The Clash meeting The Pogues. THE GO GO CULT's My Baby Drives A UFO is a B-Movie Rockabilly romp. CHRIS POPE was the former singer/guitarist in mod punkers The Chords and Mutiny On The Thames is a catchy saxophone laced protest song. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah by the BLACKBOMBERS is a blast of Blues and Soul tinged Rock'n'Roll. Once again there's something for everyone here. Enjoy!

VIVE LE ROCK - Music For Pleasure (A Compilation)

Here's some music for all you good people. AT LAST!.... I hear you cry.... ABOUT FUCKING TIME. Will it have been worth waiting for? Too fucking right it will have! Like all the previous Vive Le Rock compilations, there's something for everyone with a love of all things Punk and Beyond. Veteran and vintage Scandinavian rockers THE NOMADS kick things off with Miles Away. Ninetees indie rockers MIDWAY STILL return to 'the scene' with Seeing Red. CATCHER, are indeed catchy with a nice line of agit pop punk. Their track Tobacco and Slavery is a great piece of social commentary, about....well the title says it all. Hear Come The Drums by JAYA THE CAT is a punky reggae groove heavy number, guaranteed to get you skanking and swaying. URBAN DOGS Not In My Name is a great acoustic protest tune. THE ADOLESCENTS do what they do best, knock out a good tune American Dogs In Europe is no exception. A Rockabilly beat and a razor sharp guitar powers GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS We Wont Back Down. DRONGOS FOR EUROPE shout it from the streets like it's the 1980's again with their track Peace, as do fellow stalwarts and survivors of the 82 Punk scene THE DESTRUCTORS, who provide some political punk rawk shouting with Stop The War. Bitten and Twisted by BITEBACK is a fine piece of sing along punk rock clatter. Catching My Breath by KILTER is a sleazy rumble slightly reminiscent of Garbage, (that's the band, not a statement of what Kilter sound like.) THE APOSTATES finish the show with Divide Me, which sounds like stoner indie rockers Swervedriver. Like I said something for everyone. Grab it here!  

VIVE LE ROCK - cd (A Compilation)

Haven’t had much music here recently so I’m gonna put a stop to that with another one of Vive Le Rock magazines free cover mounted CD‘s. This one’s number six, even though the cover is a Public Image Ltd Pastiche, there’s not a PIL track on it?? But what you do get are 14 more tracks of Rock’nRoll, Punk, New Wave and Beyond! Starting off with some not so vintage FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM with a live version from 2008 of Moonchild, Carl McCoy’s growling rasping voice is enough to raise Satan. REBEL CITY RADIO follow with some melodic Rancid style punk rawk, before the legendary DEMENTED ARE GO give us a blast of their mutant psychedelic punk a billy. 
BLOOD ON WHEELS serve up a slice of chugging rock in the vein of Queens of The Stone Age.   MORGELLONS sound like a more up tempo Joy Division, before THE SKINTS provide a nice Dub Reggae break from the guitar onslaught. Veteran rockers THE DOGS return with a riff laden beast of a tune. TEMPLTON PEK have a post punk Echo And The Bunnymen vibe going on amongst their Rage Against The Machine isms. The tastefully named PINK CIGAR’s Next Generation is a punk glam stomper, while THE NO NAME JANES sound like The Clash being fed through a Green Day blender, THE ANGRY AGENDA and CRASHED OUT carry on with the spirit of 80’s Oi and veteran 1977 Southend Punkers THE MACHINES return with a newie Weekend all before Punk Rock Agents THE SHADOW sign things of with a catchy piece of Punk Rawk. Grab It Here! and Smash It Up!!

VIVE LE ROCK - Smash It Up! (A Compilation)

I'm a bit late posting this, as the latest issue has already hit the news stands, but I’ve been having problems with my CD drive….it’s fucked! But hey ho lets go. Once again those good Vive Le Rock folk have collected a selection of tracks from the old’n’new beyond punk rock’n’roll new wavers. Sandwiched between THE DAMNED and JOE STRUMMER, you’ll find some foot stomping bourbon soaked blues boogie from THE URBAN VOODO MACHINE, there’s THE BREAKDOWNS, who initially remind me of McFly and Busted, which is not good but end up sounding like The Starjets, which is far better. Better still in the power pop punk stakes is ROBBIE CROSS, with his chugging and catchy racket. There’s some ‘Militant Rock’n’Roll' from KING CHEETAH and their spiky cutting post punk guitars. For THE BRAM STOKERS think The Jam and Buzzcocks, and forget The Ordinary Boys. TAURUS TRAKKER are produced by Mick Jones and are reminiscent of both The Clash and Carbon/ Silicon. THE DYNAMITE PUSSY CLUB Get under the groove with their funk soul garage punk. STEVE HOOKER treats us to some Southend Delta Swamp Blues, and THE METEORS give us a blast of their mutant rockabilly which refuses to die. Spain’s ALVA veer towards the metal end of the scale. PUSSYCAT AND THE DIRTY JOHNSONS come from Basingstoke but sound like their from the streets of New York City and LOADED 44 serve up some glorious catch old school female fronted punk rawk. Once again there’s something for every one on this compilation. Smash It Up! Here!!

VIVE LE ROCK - Concrete Jungle (A Compilation)

It’s about that time. A new issue of Vive Le Rock hit’s the newsstands in a week, so here’s a copy of the Free CD that came with the last issue (#4) Once again it’s got a couple of classic bands (THE SPECIALS and SOCIAL DISTORTION) but like the previous ones it’s a good introduction, to some lesser known acts that you might never have heard of, or might never hear of were it not for their appearance on these compilations. As with previous ones there’s some good and bad but I’ll leave that down to individual taste to decide what’s what and what’s not. It’s a second appearance on one of these compilations for ELECTRIC RIVER, with their Clash influenced Ska Punk Boogie. BUBBLEGUM SCREW and THE HIP PRIESTS turn in a couple of Dolls/Stooges cock in yer pocket sleaze and roll. Then there’s some of blasts of old skool 80’s punk rock from HIFI SPITFIRES, EMERGENCY BITTER and THE SEPTIC PSYCHOS, some punky metal from GENTLEMANS PISTOLS and THE REILLY EXPRESS. There’s some Blues and Soul infused Rock from THE NOVEMBER FIVE and ON TRIAL UK, some weirdness from WHITE LORD JESUS and some sleazy sexiness from THE VULGARETTES. Whatever’s on yer musical plate, I’m pretty sure there’s gonna be something to yer taste on this fine and varied selection. Enjoy and Destroy!

VIVE LE ROCK - Down On The Street (A Compilation)

Here’s a bit of music for yer, the free CD with issue three of Vive Le Rock Magazine. It’s a case of something old, new, borrowed and blue, and in some cases the good the bad and the ugly on this compilation, which kicks off with IGGY POP delivering a blistering live version of I Wanna Be Your Dog, with added beef from ex Sex Pistol Steve Jones. WATTS rock out from the garage, while THE BERMONDSEY JOY RIDERS turn in their R’n’B soaked ode to The New York Dolls, Part Of My Problem. FACE TO FACE sound like Busted, or do Busted sound like Face To Face? MOTORPSYCHO provide a hard and heavy cover of Patrik Fitzgerald’s Punch, featuring guest vocalist Jello Biafra’s distinct delivery. HOOK-LINE RIOT sound like Green Day meeting The Gaslight Anthem at the skate park. The Damned’s RAT SCABIES and BRIAN JAMES re-unite for a high speed chase through The Pink Fairies Teenage Rebel. Time for another Patrik Fitzgerald cover, this time MILK KAN update Ragged Generation for the hip hop/rap generation. THE DESTRUCTORS, one of my favourites from the ’class of 1980’s Punk Rock’ deliver a brilliant knockabout slice of punk entitled Who Gives a Toss (About Jonathon Ross). SILVERY sound a lot like Punishment Of Luxury. THE SKUZZIES supply Hungry as a Hand, a track from their debut album out on Easy Action Records. THE ADJUSTERS, have a Dead Boys/Heartbreakers swagger and swing to their stride, I can't stop playing their track; Wrong Place, Wrong Time. BC give us a techno take on Ghost Riders In The Sky. The compilation comes to a close with the street punk of NOISE AGENTS, and some female fronted Punk Metal Pop from DRAGSTER. All in all this is well worth a click of yer mouse, and the new issue of Vive Le Rock is out in September, which is well worth the price of admission.

REVOLUTION ROCK - A Compilation CD

Today’s musical offering is a CD which was given away with issue two of Vive Le Rock magazine, which is a brilliant read, and the compilation is a great listen. If you didn’t get hold of a copy, I cant provide the words, but here’s the music. The UK SUBS need no introduction. Creation is one of the standout tracks of their new stand out album Work In Progress. THE SENDERS serve up a hefty, hearty slice of New Yawk Rhythm and Blues. MICHAEL MONROE disappeared from my radar after Hanoi Rocks called it a day, and he’s only re-surfaced on it after listening to the track on this CD. THE DUEL are chilling, sultry and haunting, like Penetration and Manufactured Romance. BRIJITTE WEST’S DESPERATE HOPEFULS travel a similar road. THE WOLFMEN feature Adam Ant’s former partner Marco Pironni, and turn out a Lou Reed/Roxy Music row. Then there’s some Punk’n’Roll from THE LOYALTIES, and a dose of Garage Pop Punk from THE SHOTGUN KILLERS. THE HUMPERS are definitely unsafe at any speed with their MC5, Heartbreakers infused Rock’n’Roll. THE EXPOSED and RANDOM HOLD both deliver some old skool melodic Punk Rock, then there’s the full blown Ska/Reggae dub street punk of ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS. So many labels…. when it’s only Rock’n’Roll. The new issue of Vive Le Rock is out on the 24th of this month.

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.