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THE ANGELS
Greatest Hits - The Mushroom Years (Mushroom)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
For those of us who were living in the States in 1980--and I'm specifically talking about people who loved a good power chord--The Angels didn't exist. However, Angel City did. Some other band in the US already had rights to the name The Angels, so the Australian hard rock band had to use a different name here. Small detail, because with the tough-as-nails twin guitar attack of the Brewster brothers and the "am I a disciple or the devil himself" persona of vocalist Doc Neeson, they could have sold records as The Wimps. Hotrodded rockers like "Take A Long Line," "I Can't Shake It," "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again," "Shadow Boxer," "No Secrets," "After The Rain," "Fashion and Fame," "No Exit,".... Well, ya see? The Angels are clearly the Lays Potato Chips of rock: betcha can't mention just one.
In 1984, The Angels switched to Mushroom Records, released one album (Two Minute Warning) and pretty much vanished from US radio. Thing is, the music on Two Minute Warning was as hot as anything they'd done before, and "The Underground" may even be their most perfectly developed example of their dark-but-explosive style. Too bad radio was switching to safer music. Meanwhile, back in Australia, The Angels never went out of style and have continued to make fist-pumping rock and roll all along. Until 1995, it was all on Mushroom Records, and this 2-CD set showcases a healthy portion of the best moments.
The track list is well-selected, mixing studio nitrobombs like "Rhythm Rude Girl," "The Underground," "Dogs Are Talking," and "Small Price," with live favorites such as "Love Takes Care" (which is performed as a combined piece with "Be With You") and their half-poppy but still rockin' cover of The Animals' "We've Got To Get Out Of This Place." This is an absolute must-have for everyone who loves powerhouse rock and roll, and especially for one-time fans who figured The Angels ran out of gas somewhere between the USA and the great Down Under. The final few tracks ignite with the same intense flame as the first few, and that could-be-evil vibe never lost a single watt (check out "Blood On The Moon" for proof).
Their early CDs are readily available, so I suggest picking this up along with Face To Face (the Aussie version that includes "Mr. Damage"), Darkroom, and Night Attack. They should be shuffled, not listened to in clumps--this band is so consistent there's no combination of songs that lacks flow. Flow as in the blood from your nose after a good overhand right. Rock on, mate.
© 2000 - DJ Johnson