|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About
LOTD
|
Stiv Bators:
Disconnected
Bators, Stiv Bators. It has a ring, dont it? From the still hot coals of the crumbling punk ruins, Stiv Bators steps out disconnected, disjointed from the destruction and rotting foundation of a floundering music mecca to find a way to keep his agitation alive and psychotically well. Originally released in 1980 (also by Greg Shaw and Bomp!), Stiv Bators first solo effort Disconnected, has been revamped, refurbished and remastered to see the light of day again, newly refreshed. As we all know, Mr. Bators was the man who destroyed Rocket from the Tombs, from which he hijacked half the members to found one of the most influential American punk bands to have existed, The Dead Boys. Now, unfortunately, we can rightly assume that this album will not be of the same caliber of Rocket or the Dead Boys, but then again, it cant really be compared. Stiv has turned in his broken teeth for a more power pop oriented solo career. This is not an album recorded by a has-been former punk idealist; instead its a true step forward into another unknown arena packing all the glare and attitude that remained from the last. The album kicks off with Evil Boy, which, for some reason, I was actually a bit disappointed with; I dont know why, but it didnt hit me. Naturally, I got nervous and started worrying the rest of the album would go downhill from here. I listened as the album slid into the second track and to my content, a surf beat kicked up with an equally surfy guitar line. Bad Luck Charm is a great track with full surf-tones and a great melody. By the end of this track, any ill thoughts of the first track where wiped out and forgotten. Heres what we were all expecting with this release. Number three, A Million Miles Away, comes across as a deranged Tom Petty, which I know seems an odd placement, but I couldnt get some of the vocal similarities out of my head. What great, thoughtful melody and presence. Sweet old rock. Swingin a Go-Go, yes indeed a bit of a Go-Go track thrown in for fun. Right in the middle of this album, Stiv shows his roots covering the Electric Prunes (I Had) Too Much to Dream Last Night, and does a dead on, flattering version. The last track that Ill lead you through hand-in-hand is The Last Year, a doo-wop dabbling dark and heart-rending with an electric swing about this being the last year of his life. Yes, perfectly tongue in cheek and brilliantly done. All tracks are great, but these are the ones that I had to mention. The actual album runs only nine cuts long with an additional five cuts following, alternate/live takes and a recorded phone prank on which to end. These mess up the flow and solidity of the album a bit, but the extra tracks are good archival material and essential for a more in-depth look from someone so influential. These tracks were donated from band member Frank Secich, as well as the lengthy history lesson liner notes (not meant as sarcasm theyre definitely worth the read and purchase). The liner notes were written at the time of the re-release (2004) and include follow-ups on the other band members and those involved in the process. This is a great album, definitely worth the buy for punks, power-poppers, and collectors alike. R.I.P. Stiv Bators and Greg Shaw. Thanks
About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
