Two Words, One Answer.
Sex Pistols
 The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle $11.98 The cover of "(I'm not your) Stepping Stone" is one of my favorite cover songs by anyone. I haven't listened to anything else on the album for several years. If you like Sid singing "My Way", then, fine, buy it for that, too. I don't care for it. The addition of Sid to the band wasn't a good thing as far as I'm concerned. The cover of "Roadrunner" is the second best song on the album, but you are better served by getting the Modern Lovers original.  Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols $11.98 There's little that can be said about this album that hasn't been said a million times over the past 32 years. It is the definitive punk album, even if it isn't the best punk album; occasionally the music plods and weighs itself down. Nevertheless, the historical and artistic importance of the record gives it a sense of militaristic power it wouldn't have from the music alone. This time around, "Bodies" was my favorite song. The song is, Christgau nailed it, "anti-abortion, anti-woman, and anti-sex," and I'm at least pro-choice, wholeheartedly pro-woman, and certainly pro-sex. I liked the song so much because I can seperate the bollocks from the music; the dangerousness of the album is that not everyone will be able to do that. The inherent purpose of rebellion is liberation, free and full living, as expressed through countless punk albums--I mean, that's the purpose of all music, I think--and that, true rebellion, should be championed, admired, and acknowledged. But when the purpose of rebellion becomes destruction for the sake of destroying, there's nothing good about it. "Never Mind the Bollocks" is one hell of an album, a heck of an important one, too. Just watch out for people who think the Sex Pistols were on the same mission as the Beats.  Kiss This: The Best of the Sex Pistols $12.98 The original version of the album featured a limited edition bonus disc - a July 1977 concert from Trondheim, Norway - and a poster, hence there may be confusion surrounding this standard release; it is the single disc issue, which features the songs from Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, along with other material that was mostly issued as B-sides. The interesting selections are B-sides Did You No Wrong, I Wanna Be Me, Satellite and No Fun; four very important songs, since they hint at the group's potential without the drama drummed up by Malcolm McLaren, which ultimately led to style over substance and the departure of John Lydon. Besides delving into demos, alternate takes and concert releases (bootlegs and official bootlegs), this CD gives a full picture of Lydon as lead vocalist, which is all one really needs to know about the band. |
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