No ringing endorsement here for this two-headed oddity
loce_the_wizard | Lilburn, GA USA | 07/12/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This strange conjoined CD combines the separate Streetwalker's releases "Red Card" and "Vicious But Fair" and has actually been around in one form or another on various European labels for several years, but at a high cost. Maybe this latest official release is the result of lawyers muddying things up, and one wonders about why these are paired together because "Red Card" has been available as a CD on another label for several years.
Here, tracks 1-8 are from "Red Card" and 9-16 from "Vicious But Fair." Missing here is the very good bonus track Hole in My Pocket that is included in the standalone release of "Red Card." Hence, that version of Red Card, not this one, is what Chapman-Whitney aficionados should seek.
The Streetwalkers brain trust of Roger Chapman (vocal and tambourine) and Charlie Whitney (guitars), plus holdover Bob Tench on guitars and vocals, for some reason jettisoned their earlier---and in my opinion better---rhythm section of John Plotel and Nico. The new lineup on board for the band's final studio session "Vicious But Fair" featured David Dowle on drums; Michael Feat on bass and a full-time keyboardist, Brian Johnstone.
Chapman's vocals are in typical manic form, Whitney rips off some decent riffs, but Tench seems relegated to a supporting role. The overall results, however, are decidedly mixed, and at time down right dreadful.
Can't Come In with the great interplay between Whitney and Tench; the epic Diceman, an overlooked gem from this time, and Sam (Maybe He Can Come to Some Arrangement) featuring some great second vocals by Bob Tench, approach the level of the songs found on the earlier Streetwalker's CDs.
The less said the better about the remaining tracks from "Vicious But Fair" but most lack any real firepower, many are misogynist, and some sound down right tired, as if the band had lost its way or perhaps couldn't figure out how to focus its energy in this expanded lineup or summon the enthusiam to fire off a few salvos in the direction of the punk rock scene.
(Rather than rehash what I or others have already posted at Red Card, I would instead refer you to the reviews for that CD.)
I think the cuts from "Red Card" merit four stars, but the inconsistent songs on "Vicious But Fair" deserve only a pair of stars. Hence, no ringing endorsement here for this two-headed oddity, though this may be the only chance hard core fans have to get "Vicious But Fair" on CD.
"
An excellent double cd
Right Stuff | Boston, MA | 02/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having bought the original Vicious But Fair LP I am very impressed with the cd edition. While there is a different flow to both albums I think it works fine in this format. This cd rocks. The songs are solid, the band rocks, and Chapman's voice is in fine form! A must for any Chapman fan."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1