Search - Wildhearts :: Geordie in Wonderland

Not the best of The Wildhearts, but better than most other b

James B. Thomas | Sacramento, California USA | 11/09/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Good to see this lineup together again for a gig (and this live album); too bad it wasn't permanent (Danny is out again, and Ginger is mostly doing solo stuff). Anyway, although I love everything these guys have done, this is definitely not their best live work. Good song selection, although any real fan has heard all these tunes before, and done better. It sounds like the band had some technical issues (guitars cutting out on Love you til I don't, CJ's guitar barely being audible during the whole set, background vocals barely audible), and they also sounded like they were not very tight, although they were not really even playing as a band for quite some time before this concert. Ginger's voice was very rough, much worse than I have ever heard it. I have to say that although I will buy anything from these guys, this album was really only for the diehard fans. For live albums, try The Wildhearts Strike Back. Although Danny isn't there on bass, Random does a great job, and there are some songs on there that the band has rarely performed live.



All in all, Geordie In Wonderland isn't really representative of the band. Not a fitting Swansong, so hopefully we will hear more from them, but with The Wildhearts, who knows?"

No Wildhearts Strike Back or Tokyo Suits Me

Total_13 | 11/28/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The ever-volatile Wildhearts return (well, not really, it was recorded a year ago in Sept, 2005) for a stellar set at England's Scarborough Castle and most of the classics are here in their raucous glory. But that's just the problem.



The Wildhearts Strike Back at least offered fans live gems that have been rarely released or performed (Caprice, Girlfriend's Clothes, Beautiful Thing You, etc.), and Tokyo Suits Me allowed for a virtually flawless performance amid an amazing atmosphere. Unfortunately, you are left with neither of those treats on Geordie In Wonderland.



Aside from the title track being completely sung by the crowd (save for the first line), quite well I might add, there are no rarities or surprises here. The biggest surprise is that the musical delivery is quite questionable at times: missed notes, wrong chords, guitars completely missing at times, a fairly lackluster crowd... you catch my drift. I'm sure many Wildhearts fans have played better versions in their bedrooms or practice spaces, and there are better live versions of these songs (aside from the title track and Stormy In The North, which make their first official live appearance here) in existence between their other live discs.



In all reality, this release deserves less than 3 stars but when you possess the quality of songwriting and sheer rock prowess that The Wildhearts do, it's hard to rate anything lower - I'd even rate Landmines And Pantomimes as 3 out of 5.



As a side note: if I'm not mistaken, the legendary Hanoi Rocks was also on this evening's bill. I remember thinking that if the Backyard Babies were also playing that I'd so be there. In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't buy that plane ticket based on the results of this release.



PS: The tracklisting is incorrect. Insert Everlone as track 8."