Become the Media

Jello Biafra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Alternative Tentacles
• ASIN: B00004Y6T0
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,835 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intelligent View of Current Events., November 7, 2001

By 

"princessali1027" (Bedford, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Become the Media (Audio CD)

I've been a long time fan of Jello Biafra. For about two years of the 17 years I've had on Earth. I have all of his albums, I've met the guy and heard him speak.
The first thing I said when the 3 CDs were done playing was: "Wow. Jello really has grown up..." It's perhaps a funny thing to say, since Jello has been a mature vocal commentator for years, and yet in my opinion, he really has grown within this new album. Notice there's none of the fun little tracks like on the last albums, some examples being "Names for Bands" and "Half-time". In my opinion, Jello's best is in this album, his most mature insightful commentary, no filler, no bull, is in this album. I highly, HIGHLY reccomend this album. I'm so glad to see Jello making such an incredible album, same as always, after all these years.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, as always., April 24, 2001

By 

Jack Dempsey (South Miami Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Become the Media (Audio CD)

You never have to worry about what you're in for when you invest in something featuring Jello. With this, his latest installment, he (once again) does not fail to deliver the goods.

Perhaps I should note that I am a bit biased when it comes to ANYTHING by JB. He has been part of my life for the last 20 some odd years. I remember being far younger, skating the streets of San Jose and San Francisco (and the eventual half-pipe in my backyard) on either a 1st model Rob Roskopp, a Gator, a Slasher, a Caballero, or whatever else I could manage to slave away for as I mopped floors. In my mind, I would play over and over and over again all the songs off "Fresh Fruit..." or "Plastic Surgery..."

Then, came my copy of "Skateboard Party" and I was in heaven. Of course, I remember having to dutifully hide my copy of "Frankenchrist" so my folks wouldn't find it, or more specifically, the "harmful matter" a la Geiger within it. I remember being tremendously jealous when a friend of mine (who also had a ramp) claimed (i.e., lied) that East Bay Ray happened to come by and skated with him.

It was between DK, any of the Bones Brigade videos, and the occassional Faction record, Black Flag record, and later, DI, Descendents, and Adolescents, that I could be found.

Flash forward almost two decades. Now I am an attorney (that still sounds odd to me, even after 6 years), trying hard to take down some of the biggest theiving corporations in the business...health care. In these days, I cannot express what comfort I find in seeing Tony Hawk still skating, and Jello still delivering his best.

After straying FAR off the subject at hand, let me say that this release is awesome. JB sounds even more finely honed and razor sharp. If you're reading this review, I would wager you at least know (kind of) what to expect. In that respect, be prepared to be blown away.

I haven't enjoyed something more since his "High Priest..." and "No More..." releases. But, do not let that imply that you should skip over anything in between. Get it all. But, try to get it directly from A.T. or your local (starving) mom and pop store.

And, if the man himself should happen across this (as he has been known to do in other reviews), good luck with all the crap you are currently being forced to endure. And, of course, thank you for all the years of support (and enjoyment) that you have provided me and countless others.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Satire Which Is Life, August 1, 2001

By 

Chip (Tewksbury, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Become the Media (Audio CD)

Okay, apparently not enough people picked up this release prior to the atrocity..excuse me, election which put Bush in office, but maybe more people should have. Even though much of this album touches on the "King George" and "Prince Albert" evils, there is a lot of relevance to other current events. The track "Hellburbia" may be one of the greatest spoken word pieces ever recorded, touching on the mayhem of school shooting, while "The Philadelphia Stories" and "If You Liked Tipper, You'll Love..." deliver an extremely humorous look at how Bush and Gore campaigned, and a less humourous look at how they'd run things. Also, anyone interested in the whole DK Levi's incident will be well informed on this album. Some people call Jello an "commie," some call him a whiner, but those people are just afraid to face the fact that he, when the cards are on the table, is right.