Media Blitz

This collection of the Germs' rare tracks and previously unreleased live performances gives the listener an understanding of just how chaotic and disorganized a band can be. Each track is a butchering of their usually poetic and entertaining brand of punk. Darby Crash rarely sings but chooses to slur his lyrics into an incoherent growl. The band remains consistent behind Crash, as he provides the entertainment with continuous banter with the audience. The only thing robbing this album of being a legendary car crash of a live show like Metallic K.O. is that this is a collection of live tracks from various dates and venues. It appears to be simply thrown together by Don Bolles, the Germs' drummer for the majority of the album. The congruency found on Germicide is not evident on this album, with the material drawing from several different performances. The first two studio tracks give way to a variety of live performances from the Hong Kong Café and the Whiskey. These performances are sloppy, but that is to be expected from a band with a lead singer that had to consume a cocktail of drugs to perform live. The recordings are murky, but Crash manages to give the sloppiness character and provide an entertaining album despite its numerous imperfections. ~ Matt Whalley|