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Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)
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I hate listening to this CD, for it only reminds me of how stupid I am for not catching murder city’s last show. I didn’t even do anything exciting, I went to a different show or something silly like that. I was planning to go to it, too! Even worse – the openers were BOTCH (missed their last show as well) and AMERICAN STEEL. Ah, well. It’s ironic because I still have the show poster.

This CD completely kicks my ass. If you are planning to hear The Murder City Devil’s for the first time, I suggest that you buy one of their 3 albums (their EP, Thelema, isn’t the right place to start, either. It's a much more experienced and mature mcd. Their albums, however, are much more rock and exciting). Murder city is definitely an something to experience live. Spencer’s infectious moves and the charisma of the rest of the band is just stunning. However, they do not sound exactly like recordings. Bluntly: This CD is completely raw. If you’ve never seen the Devils live this is what you can expect of them – rowdy, eager, and not to mention drunk. Unlike typical pop punk bands, you won’t be hearing the same as on their record, they bring more to the stage. Spencer fucks up the lyrics a lot, and Coady misses a few beats, but that's what makes this cd better. This is the closest thing to seeing the Murder City Devils live, because it is not a practiced or recorded mcd, it is all of the energy and love that the Devils have brought to the stage over the years. Yeah, i'm reitterating the same point over and over. However, there is not much else to say. This CD is just astonishing. Because, hey, it's like the Devils live, and they were incredible live.

Also, if in fact you have NEVER heard the Murder City Devils before, I'll give you a quick run down. Basically, fast rock and roll with INCREDIBLE vocals. I can't explain the way that Spencers voice sounds - but it is nothing short of amazing. Most of their songs have something to do with a.) cowboys b.) truckers, or c.) sailors. It's very hard to think of bands that sound similar to them.. I've been listening to them for a while and I honestly cannot think of any other performers to compare them with. So just think fast rock and roll, amazing vocals, and fun lyrics.

There are two unreleased songs on this CD, Waltz (track 8) and Grace That Saves (track 19). While Waltz was an alright song, Grace That Saves is just PHENOMINAL. Towards the end it is mostly just Spencer and guitar distortion, and even though it was a new song it was definitely a great way to end the amazing career of The Murder City Devils.

Listen to this album twice through and you’ll be completely hooked. I promise.

Guest Highlights:
Idle Hands (track 11) - Some of the members of Botch sing along.
Boom Swagger (track 12) – Andrea Zollo sings along, like on the CD.
Kathleen Wilson of the Stranger writes the commentary inside the booklet.



People who liked this also liked:
Converge - Jane DoeRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeDropkick Murphys - Do Or DieSwingin' Utters - Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and BonesWeezer - The Blue AlbumWeezer - PinkertonOperation Ivy - Operation IvyPelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the ThawHot Water Music - Forever and CountingNOFX - Punk In Drublic



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    Posted by pdcrak on 2005-06-23 23:40:31

    this band fucking rips

    Posted by subi on 2003-04-28 03:56:00
    My Score:

    no, botch's last show was on june 15th(16th?) 2002, at the showbox in seattle.

    they played at murder citys last show, which was october 31st, 2001.

    ALSO: for clarification, i verified that on idle hands, it is indeed john pettibone (exbotch) that sings, not botchs actual singer, dave.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2003-04-27 14:19:28
    My Score:

    When the hell was this show with Botch you guys are talking about? Because I fucking love Botch, but I could've sworn they broke up. Can anyone clue me in as to what the hell's going on here? Are they still together?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 26, 2003 at 10:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Wow...there's a lot of context to this CD:

    http://www.thestranger.com/current/music.html

    I had no idea that MCD were pissed about the release of this CD.

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-04-24 02:15:18
    My Score:

    well, wyzo, lets see the goddamn photo already.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at 4:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Essential Clash purchaser... Just buy their first three albums. And if you like those, buy their last two. 'Cut the Crap' doesn't count- it's the Clash without Topper or Mick Jones...

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at 3:38 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    you're better off with their proper albums

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at 2:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I decided to buy the new Essential Clash CD instead of this. It was the best thing i ever did. This CD doesnt compare to 40 kickass songs by The Clash.

    -RaNcId PuNx

    Posted by travis on 2003-04-23 13:10:41
    My Score:

    kill sadie was at that show? i dodnt remember that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at 8:11 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    in iowa city, during grace that saves, when the band members leave one by one, the drummer was the first to go, grabbing the bars in the ceiling of gabes oasis, and using them like monkey bars over his drums, over spencer and dan, and on till the middle of the crowd, where people made way, and I snapped a photo with him in midair 2 feet from me, no one around him, spencer on the right edge of the photo screaming into the mike, dan just about to get off the stage. It was a murder city devils moneyshot. Best photo ive ever taken, total happenstance no looking in the lense. i sound like a music nerd. but it was a great show, so fuck off.
    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at 1:00 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Of the MCD songs I've heard (and I've only heard two of their albums), "I Drank the Wine" takes the cake--great opening, lurid fucking tale of alcohol and heartbreak, and a great dark organ part.

    "I'll never trust myself, I'll never trust myself again."

    "We made a deal in the car: you stay angry, I'll feel nothing at all."

    Classic.

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-04-23 00:36:04
    My Score:

    organing is more efficient

    Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2003-04-22 20:45:01
    My Score:

    Soulbleed brings up an interesting point. The Grace That Saves: Best Murder City Devils song ever? I say yes. What say you? Although I remember the line "This is a fucking valentine" repeated along with "This is a love letter" when they played that song in Minneapolis on the last tour. (PS that was totally the best way to end the set. Each band member walked offstage as they were finished with the song eventually leaving Spencer alone (no feedback or krazy organeering) with a spotlight repeating "This is a love letter" before walking off alone. Beautiful.) (PPS I just made up the word "organeering." I think that's a good way to say "sounds made with an organ," don't you?)

    Posted by soulbleed on 2003-04-22 20:38:50
    My Score:

    i love this cd. the new tracks are badass

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-04-22 20:18:22
    My Score:

    good too

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-04-22 20:17:56
    My Score:

    why does this band rock so hard?

    jesus christ, goos stuff

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 8:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    'Spencer's voice is a hybrid between Glenn Danzig and Jim Morrison (the Doors). Easiest way to explain it.

    --Cos'

    thank you for saying that, I was just about to write that MCD always has reminded me of the Doors, but darker and, well, harder, since the doors represented the 60s i guess. MCD rocks and Idle hands and I drink the wine are good songs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 6:10 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Rum For Whiskey is one of the cooler songs Ive ever heard. I would have killed someone to have gone to the last show. Id trade going to see the Kid D reunion show for this.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 6:09 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Why does everyone keep forgetting Killsadie? Huh? It was Killsadie's last show too! Goddamnit!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 4:10 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Spencer's voice is a hybrid between Glenn Danzig and Jim Morrison (the Doors). Easiest way to explain it.

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 2:14 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Im gonna have to be the first person not giving this album a 10. Its a great band and a great CD and they kickass live but this CD just isnt a 5 star CD. I like how its kinda dark and sad. It makes it a muy bien CD.

    -RaNcId PuNx

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 12:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    ya, one thing I would never say about MCD is that they have fun lyrics. Most are pretty gloomy and dark. But ya, I saw them a few night before this in San Diego and man Spencer was gone. He said, this next song is called Press Gang, and I hate this song. I was bummed cause he fucked up like half the words. But oh well, their morale seemed pretty low that night. Hopefully this show was better. Im gonna buy this either way.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 9:11 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    don't forget grade. they killed grade too, but that was probably a mercy killing. their last album was pure garbage.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 8:51 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    rocket from the crypt put out a live album?!?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 4:06 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'm really looking forward for actual studio work from dead low tide to be released, the 7 inch was good but definately left you hanging.

    This record is great, spencer is spencer, and they have a really good setlist on here despite not having a couple i would have liked to hear, overall its a decent setlist and the two new ones rock, grace that saves, what a way to end your band, play an amazing new song as the last song you'll play, with the last words MCD will ever say live being "this is a love letter" over and over on top of feedback.

    Anyone notice how this last tour killed every band that was on it? (am. steel, botch, MCD)

    wyzo

    Posted by jheisel on 2003-04-22 03:13:34
    My Score:

    spencer fucking up the lyrics? what a shock! i saw them on their last tour and it seemed like spencer forgot half the words he was so drunk. guess i'll have to pick this up.

    Posted by subi on 2003-04-22 02:03:44
    My Score:

    dead low tide officially broke up, again. they're finishing their album and it'll be releasd on tiger style records.

    the john and spencer booze explosion cd already came out. it's just a cd of covers, but if you liked the later mcd days and spencers vocals ala the "i'll come running" cover, you'll like it.

    also, spencers old band, (with derek and andrea) the hookers, released their recorded songs on cd. it's some pre-mcd songs which are stripped down. try www.coldcrushrecords.com

    and: i'm not going to justify that i think no one else sounds like the murder city devils. so shut up.

    Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2003-04-22 01:58:04
    My Score:

    Why would you go get something to eat even though there's only about a thirty minute break between bands? Idiot. You're almost as dumb as this reviewer, although for completely different reasons. Plus, on their last show in Minneapolis, they played for well over an hour. So that means that it must have taken you well over an hour to eat your meal. Nice job. Anyways, this CD rocks but you'd never know based on this review. No one sounds like the Murder City Devils? Man, I'm glad I don't have your record collection. And the lyrics to songs like Press Gang, Rum to Whiskey and 364 Days are totally fun. When I think of death, loneliness and heartbreak, I think of fun.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 1:52 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    MCD was fucking nuts live. What's the deal with Dead Low Tide? I mean, I know the band stopped, but has the music been released yet? And has anybody heard the Jon and Spencer Booze Explosion or whatever that other project was called?

    Posted by travis on 2003-04-22 01:30:13
    My Score:

    I was at this show. They were pretty fucking on that night. Though I must say, Botch stole the night from them as they were on the top of their game.

    Posted by iowanick on 2003-04-22 00:59:33
    My Score:

    what's worse is actually going to a show on their last tour. seeing american steel, botch and then going to get somethin to eat quick and coming back and murder city devils are finished with their set. yeah, it hurt.