THE MEKONS
Heaven & Hell (Cooking Vinyl)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick

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Finally, the Mekons have at least a cursory overview of their remarkable and diverse musical career. Though not nearly enough for a band of their stature, the two-CD set manages to compile many of the highlights of the band's long career. The band got its start in working class Leeds, England and has over the decades seamlessly incorporated punk, country and folk in their music.

The Mekons' '80s hits are almost all here. For example, "Memphis Egypt,"Empire of the Senseless," and "Hello Cruel World" are included, as well as cool lesser known songs like the powerful a capella song "the Building." Plus, there are numerous songs from the '90s Quarterstick Records period.

Unfortunately, the record is short on their early punk output - which, no doubt, presented licensing problems. However, there are a few late '70s songs such as the searing cut "Never Been In a Riot," a satirical indictment of hip, impractical radical politics of the epoch, e.g. the Clash's "White Riot." The record would be even better with more of the early recordings, regardless of their quality. Hopefully, in the future the Mekons will receive a lengthy and thorough boxed retrospective of the band's career, but until than this record will serve as an excellent introduction.

© 2004 - Sherman Wick