The Mekons
Punk Rock (Quarterstick) In late 2002/early 2003, the Mekons celebrated their 25th anniversary with a select tour of Europe and North America. The influential group stuffed their set list with some of the dusty punk anthems that launched this eclectic punk collective. Happy with the result, the Mekons decided that their next album would contain some of these early tunes – some recorded for the first time – along with new material, and live selections from that tour. Good idea. Too bad it didn’t work. The singing on studio cuts “What” and “This Sporting Life” leave much to be desired, even with the novel addition of banjo and kalimba thumb piano. Live cuts “Never Been in a Riot,” “Trevira Trousers,” and “Fight the Cuts” possess the dangerous, off-kilter energy they deserve, but sound like they were recorded with equipment from a 1978 Radio Shack catalog. Presumably, this proto-recording sound was used to imbue these tracks with nostalgia. Instead, the piss-poor recording quality submerges the intensity of these songs under misguided affectation. Yet not all is lost. After all, this is the Mekons. Still, numbers such as “Corporal Chalkie” and opener “Teeth” aren’t strong enough to save the day. This institution should have put its energy into a kick ass live album from their commemorative tour. Instead, the Mekons’ Punk Rock is a terrible album by a great band. (Friday, March 19, 1am @ Antone’s)
This article appears in March 19 • 2004.