The latest releases reviewed
LESS THAN JAKE
The History of . . .
Cooking Vinyl
***
This Gainsville, Florida punk- ska band enjoy the kind
of rabid following that will always keep them in pocket money.
Raised on a musical diet of UK punk and Two-Tone (Buzzcocks,
Specials, UK Subs, The Beat), Less Than Jake hold hands with the
mainstream without going steady. This DVD establishes a strong
connection between the band and their fans via a series of
historical, episodic documentaries,
Jackass-style video clips, live shows, a photo gallery,
and general knockabout, beer-fuelled fun and games (the latter
gathered under the section Various Clips of Random Silliness).
Breathlessly entertaining and a little on the dumb side, yetalso an
insightful view of the way in which unoriginality coupled with
passion and irreverence can make you happy and rich.
www.lessthanjake.com
TONY CLAYTON-LEA
GENESIS
When in Rome
EMI
**
Perhaps the most positive thing you can say about this
release is that its impressive duration is the best thing about it.
Recorded last year in the Italian capital, this is a very well-made
effort that features near all the band's hits, plenty of extras and
a special fly on the wall documentary. It's just the music that
isn't up to much. No doubt Genesis's many fans will thoroughly
enjoy hits such as
Turn It On Again, I Can't Dance, Land of Confusionand
Hand on My Heart, but it all just seems to be an entirely
different musical world from the time when the band was fronted by
Peter Gabriel. There's a blandness here that certainly won't win
over any neutrals, but for die-hard fans it's quite a comprehensive
package and good value for money.
BRIAN BOYD
