November 2005
THERE’S SOMETHING about New York that seems to epitomise the very essence of punk rock. Anyone who’s ever stood outside CBGB’s and stared up at that famous awning will understand what it is. There’s a certain punk attitude that seems to emanate from the smoke that rises from the manholes of the city at night. Maybe it’s just a state of mind, a way of being that allows musicians, artists and misfits to prosper in the city’s unique hothouse
environment. Which ever way you look at it, for over 30 years New York has defined punk rock – from the Velvets and the Dolls onto the advent of The Ramones, Television, Blondie, through No Wave and on to hardcore. It’s a city whose very development has been soundtracked by the music of the street, be it punk or its hip hop equivalent. MOJO’s celebration of the New York punk scene and its influence is housed on this 15 track CD. Some of the recordings are intimate, raw and snotty, all of them say something about the New York scene during a particular time and place. Welcome to a New York state of mind…
Track 3 – BLONDIE
Rip Her To Shreds
Available on: Live By Request (COOKCD 332)
Formed in ’74, Blondie took the spirit of New York punk and seduced the pop world thanks to singer Debbie Harry’s obvious charms. Rip Her To Shreds, first on the band’s 1976 debut album, is included here in a live version from their new live set recorded last year. It underlines that Blondie remain more than just a nostalgia act. A full UK tour starts in November. Log on to www.mojo4music.com and click on the Now Booking icon to buy tickets for those shows.
FILTER ALBUMS
Blondie
***
Live By Request
COOKING VINYL
Soundtrack to their 2004 human jukebox TV show.
Last year Blondie (Debbie, Chris, Clem and sidemen) appeared on the US cable TV programme Live By Request, playing a setlist requested by viewers (including John Waters, who asked for Rip Her To Shreds). A DVD of the show was recently released and this is its soundtrack. It’s actually a vast improvement on the visuals – mostly since there are no breaks or annoying TV presenter. Burke’s drumming is joyfully ragged and clattery, Stein goes in for some metal guitar histrionics, and Harry is in fine voice, particularly on Rapture and Accidents Never Happen, avoiding the high notes on Call Me and doing a good job on the almost-Americana bonus song The Dream’s Lost On Me. Still, it does feel like a website buy geared at die-hard fans.
Sylvie Simmons
