THE BLASTERS
Testament (WB/Rhino/Slash)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Few cases of brotherly friction can match the sparks when Phil and Dave Alvin take the stage. The love/hate tension makes for great music though. All three studio records, along with the kicking live EP, some rarities and a bunch of previously unreleased tracks, are lovingly collected in this fancy foldout two disc collection. The folks at Rhino sure know how to gift wrap a record. The music speaks for itself. The Blasters are one of the best reasons to crank the volume. "Marie Marie," "American Music," "Border Radio," "Long White Cadillac," "Colored Lights;" these are standards folks. Bluesy, countrified rockabilly was way out of fashion back in the eighties, and still struggles to find an audience today. There's no denying the injustice to this primo band which deserved so much more than mere critical praise.

© 2002 - John Sekerka