NOFX
Backstage Pass
Epitaph Records 4 out of 5 starsThis eight “episode” DVD, with lots of unaired footage, highlights Fuze TV’s rockumentary on punk rock band NOFX’s attempts to tour, lands seldom explored by bands with smaller sacks. The result is a shining exception to the basic rule that reality based TV is a boring endeavor.
Pearl Jam
Ten (Reissue)
Sony Legacy
3 out of 5 stars
After long begging to have their debut album remixed by original producer Brendan O’Brien, Pearl Jam got their wish. The set includes the original mix and a host of extras. It’s interesting to see how an album that helped change the course of music was also affected by it.
Loaded
Sick
Century Media Records
4 out of 5 stars
The most glaring fault with Axl Rose’s “new guns” is easily the exclusion of bassist Duff McKagen. His bass playing was really the secret weapon that gave GNR their “street cred“ and gutter sound. Here, with his long-standing band Loaded, you can hear McKagen’s undiluted punk ethos as he takes the lead, free from other influences.
Man, the reissue of Pearl Jam’s “Ten” gets 5-stars in my book. The Brendan remix is FAR superior to the original mix and the bonus tracks are raw and great. The raw Ten Sessions recording of “State Of Love & Trust” is great. Clearly tracked live in the studio. Also the bonus DVD on the upgraded package has the entire MTV Unplugged performance cleaned up, re-mixed and with performances cut from the original airing. If this isn’t candy for Pearl Jam fans, I don’t know what is. 5-Stars!
Just wasn’t that impotant an album for me. Much more impressed with “Vs.” than “Ten” Pearl Jam does put together a killer package though.