Recorded Live at Rauls Club

The Big Boys half of this split release (the other went to fellow local legends Dicks) shows it was a smart decision to get a good live recording of the band. While some still debate whether the groups studio recordings adequately capture the Boys at their best, if reports are right, theres no question that when it came to live stuff they could slay any venue in which they played. None of the seven selections have ended up on other releases to date either, making this an even more compelling listen. Randy "Biscuit" Turners rough but ready voice pulls off both soul power and whispery nervousness just right; when he details a stalkers mind in "Psycho," the song may be a bit hammy, but as an overall performance he nails it. His occasional between-song asides can be fun and pointed as well. As for the other musicians, probably their only peers would have been Gang of Four; the same sense of fractured art-funk and punk power comes through, with Tim Kerrs skittering, abrupt guitar lines feeding off Gates bass rumble and then-new member Greg Murrays fine, perfect drumming. This said, the Boys can feel much more relaxed about what theyre doing; while "Red/Green" slams "mechanical clones without a soul," the songs breezy swing makes everything feel pretty cool regardless. Theres a lot of space in the recording as well, steering away from monolithic grind to let the more forceful moments really come through. ~ Ned Raggett