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LIB 2119CD
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"After releasing two strong albums for Slash, the Blasters had plenty of critical acclaim and a sizable hometown following, but they hadn't come especially close to landing a hit record, and on the 1985 album Hard Line, they overhauled their approach in the studio in hopes of creating something that sounded more contemporary. Producer Jeff Eyrich pumped up the sound of Bill Bateman's drums (and for a few tracks replaced him with Stan Lynch of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Dave Alvin's guitar tone got thicker and harder and the emphasis was put squarely on new songs. 'Trouble Bound' and 'Help You Dream' showed Dave Alvin's gift for writing in traditional styles was as strong as ever. Alvin's songs took on a darker tone on Hard Line, especially the tale of a small town lynching, 'Dark Night,' the anti-Reagan rant 'Common Man,' and the busted romance of 'Just Another Sunday,' while the fiddle-led acoustic arrangement of 'Little Honey' serves the tune far better than the version X recorded on Ain't Love Grand (with co-author John Doe on vocals). Phil Alvin rarely had a better run as a singer as he did on this album, which finds him better controlled but just as impassioned and expressive as ever. And the closing track, the rollicking 'Rock and Roll Will Stand,' is a darkly funny appraisal of the music biz that shows the Blasters knew just what they were getting into by trying to scale the charts, and were prepared for the consequences. Hard Line proved to be the Blasters' final studio album with their original lineup, and while it sounds like an experiment that only partially succeeded, the best moments revealed they could move forward without losing what made them special, they held on to their principles far better than the vast majority of roots rock bands who figured a different producer might get them on the radio."
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LIB 2111LP
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LP version. "After releasing two strong albums for Slash, the Blasters had plenty of critical acclaim and a sizable hometown following, but they hadn't come especially close to landing a hit record, and on the 1985 album Hard Line, they overhauled their approach in the studio in hopes of creating something that sounded more contemporary. Producer Jeff Eyrich pumped up the sound of Bill Bateman's drums (and for a few tracks replaced him with Stan Lynch of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Dave Alvin's guitar tone got thicker and harder and the emphasis was put squarely on new songs. 'Trouble Bound' and 'Help You Dream' showed Dave Alvin's gift for writing in traditional styles was as strong as ever. Alvin's songs took on a darker tone on Hard Line, especially the tale of a small town lynching, 'Dark Night,' the anti-Reagan rant 'Common Man,' and the busted romance of 'Just Another Sunday,' while the fiddle-led acoustic arrangement of 'Little Honey' serves the tune far better than the version X recorded on Ain't Love Grand (with co-author John Doe on vocals). Phil Alvin rarely had a better run as a singer as he did on this album, which finds him better controlled but just as impassioned and expressive as ever. And the closing track, the rollicking 'Rock and Roll Will Stand,' is a darkly funny appraisal of the music biz that shows the Blasters knew just what they were getting into by trying to scale the charts, and were prepared for the consequences. Hard Line proved to be the Blasters' final studio album with their original lineup, and while it sounds like an experiment that only partially succeeded, the best moments revealed they could move forward without losing what made them special, they held on to their principles far better than the vast majority of roots rock bands who figured a different producer might get them on the radio."
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LIB 2117CD
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"When punk rock began exploding in the late 1970s, more than a few fans of the new music declared the only hope for rock and roll was to throw away its past and start over, but thankfully, a few people knew better than that. Dave and Phil Alvin were a pair of brothers from Downey, CA who'd been raised on a steady diet of what they called 'American Music' -- blues, rockabilly, country, jazz, swing, R&B, and early rock and roll. The Alvin brothers formed a band called the Blasters that approached the classic styles of the past with the energy and insouciance of punk rock, and their music taught a new generation that rock and roll was hard, wild, and manic fun even before it was called rock and roll. The Blasters, the album, is divided roughly half-and-half between originals and covers, and the classic tunes cover a broad enough spectrum to show off the full range of what the musicians could do, while Dave Alvin's songs were the work of a writer who knew how to tell a compelling story with strong characters in a few well-chosen words, married to melodies that rocked hard and sweet. Phil Alvin's vocals hit an ideal grace note between reverence and gonzo passion, and with Dave's guitar, John Bazz's bass, and Bill Bateman's drums turning up the heat behind him, the Blasters took the group's tough, heartfelt music and put it on plastic for the ages in near flawless form. (It didn't hurt that they also had some excellent guest musicians on board who later became full members of the band -- Gene Taylor on piano, Steve Berlin or baritone sax, and New Orleans R&B legend Lee Allen on tenor sax.) The Blasters wasn't the only great album this group would make, but it was certainly their best, catching them when they were still fresh but with just enough seasoning to bring out their best performances; it's practically impossible to imagine the roots rock scene of the '80s and onward existing without this album as a roadmap."
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LIB 2109LP
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LP version. "When punk rock began exploding in the late 1970s, more than a few fans of the new music declared the only hope for rock and roll was to throw away its past and start over, but thankfully, a few people knew better than that. Dave and Phil Alvin were a pair of brothers from Downey, CA who'd been raised on a steady diet of what they called 'American Music' -- blues, rockabilly, country, jazz, swing, R&B, and early rock and roll. The Alvin brothers formed a band called the Blasters that approached the classic styles of the past with the energy and insouciance of punk rock, and their music taught a new generation that rock and roll was hard, wild, and manic fun even before it was called rock and roll. The Blasters, the album, is divided roughly half-and-half between originals and covers, and the classic tunes cover a broad enough spectrum to show off the full range of what the musicians could do, while Dave Alvin's songs were the work of a writer who knew how to tell a compelling story with strong characters in a few well-chosen words, married to melodies that rocked hard and sweet. Phil Alvin's vocals hit an ideal grace note between reverence and gonzo passion, and with Dave's guitar, John Bazz's bass, and Bill Bateman's drums turning up the heat behind him, the Blasters took the group's tough, heartfelt music and put it on plastic for the ages in near flawless form. (It didn't hurt that they also had some excellent guest musicians on board who later became full members of the band -- Gene Taylor on piano, Steve Berlin or baritone sax, and New Orleans R&B legend Lee Allen on tenor sax.) The Blasters wasn't the only great album this group would make, but it was certainly their best, catching them when they were still fresh but with just enough seasoning to bring out their best performances; it's practically impossible to imagine the roots rock scene of the '80s and onward existing without this album as a roadmap."
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LIB 2108LP
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LP version. "The debut 13-track album from the American roots rock band re-released with its original front and back cover, album labels and new liner notes from Chris Morris. The LP was released on independent label Rollin' Rock records in 1980. The set is a glimpse into the Blaster's beginnings with many covers of songs the band made their own from Bill Haley, Howlin' Wolf and other American music legends. Features the original versions of the band's two most popular classic tracks, 'Marie Marie' and the album title track. The groundbreaking album had been re-released by Hightone Records with a new cover and package in 1997 with both configurations unavailable for many years now. The album now makes its re-release on LP and CD in its original package from 1979. Includes new liner notes written by Chris Morris with band member interviews. Also features rare photos and memorabilia only available for this re-release."
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LIB 2110LP
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"The legendary Americana band's 1983 album re-released with brand new liner notes and band interviews written by Chris Morris with rare photos and memorabilia images. The release recreates the band's third studio album complete with a replica of the inner sleeve with songwriter Dave Alvin's lyrics. The 11-track set features the four core band members -- Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, John Bazz, and Bill Bateman accompanied by Gene Taylor, Lee Allen, and Steve Berlin. Includes band classic cuts ? 'Long White Cadillac' (a hit for Dwight Yoakum in 1989), 'Jubilee Train,' 'Red Rose,' along with deep track covers of 'Barefoot Rock' and 'Tag Along,' sung by piano player Gene Taylor. The album was critically acclaimed with positive reviews from The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Trouser Press, The Village Voice, Goldmine, and many others. The San Diego Union named it the eighth best album of the 1980s. The album marked a shift in their sound as the band incorporated more diverse influences, blending rock, rockabilly, blues, and country elements. While still maintaining the energetic roots rock style they were known for, Non Fiction also explored a more polished and mature production compared to their earlier albums. The album stands out for its mix of upbeat tracks with thoughtful lyrics and a more reflective tone than their earlier, more raw recordings. The album is praised for its strong songwriting, and although it didn't achieve major commercial success, it remains a beloved album among fans."
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LIB 2116CD
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"The debut 13-track album from the American roots rock band re-released with its original front and back cover, album labels and new liner notes from Chris Morris. The LP was released on independent label Rollin' Rock records in 1980. The set is a glimpse into the Blaster's beginnings with many covers of songs the band made their own from Bill Haley, Howlin' Wolf and other American music legends. Features the original versions of the band's two most popular classic tracks, 'Marie Marie' and the album title track. The groundbreaking album had been re-released by Hightone Records with a new cover and package in 1997 with both configurations unavailable for many years now. The album now makes its re-release on LP and CD in its original package from 1979. Includes new liner notes written by Chris Morris with band member interviews. Also features rare photos and memorabilia only available for this re-release."
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