Mini Album, The

And indeed that's what it is, at 20 minutes long. Consisting of six late July 1976 demos, The Mini Album is mostly notable for being a recording with Glen Matlock and...well, that's about it. Nothing against what's here, it's just that what is here either turned up to more brutal effect on Never Mind the Bollocks or elsewhere, and is mostly notable for the slight differences. The use of extra echo on "Submission" adds what could almost be a hint of dub (if you squint and look sideways) while most of the other differences can be heard in different vocal approaches for Johnny Rotten. He's almost conversational on "Satellite," "Seventeen" doesn't completely drown in his own extreme gargling as on Never Mind, and so forth. Similarly the music is loud but politely loud, a mix that's rocking but by no means anything close to revolutionary (as thought of by the band or any rhetorician). The version of "Anarchy in the UK" is the most emblematic -- Rotten hasn't got the famed opening cackle down, favoring a few random groans and noises, while the verses are downright formal when it comes to the band. Steve Jones riffs away but doesn't explode and the whole thing could almost be cheerful. Interesting for a hardcore fan, otherwise not really much to remark on. ~ Ned Raggett|