THE WRETCHED ONES
Less Is More (TKO)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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Subtitled "18 blistering non-LP tracks," this is a great collection of rare stuff by this long-running Oi!/Streetpunk band. Fueled by singer Pit's gravelly, venom-spitting vocals, thick guitar and a great bottom-end, these guys are masters at this sort of stuff. It's basic, no-frills punk, built on good riffs and sarcastic and smart lyrics. It covers 18 years of recordings that sound like they could've been recorded all on the same day, since it was all recorded in guitarist BT's basement studio. Great sing-a-long anthems like "Nice Guys Finish Last," "America's Most Wanted," "Cell Block 66," "Wretched Girl" and "Don't Need No Love." Also included are two songs they worked out from the "punk" episode of Quincy: "Choked" and "Schaffer Theme," the latter of which I don't recall being in the show and sounds like a vintage beer ad from the original run of the show! The CD would end off with a hilarious "Christmas Song," except that there are a slew of covers following it as the band takes on songs by the Standells ("Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White"), Johnny Thunders ("Pirate Love"), the Stranglers ("No More Heroes"), Connie Francis via the Saints ("Lipstick On Your Collar"), AC/DC ("Livewire") and "America The Beautiful." A great collection!

© 2004 - Alan Wright