Customer Reviews

Filthy Lucre Live

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3 star:		(1)
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I've always found it hard to believe the Sex Pistols had one,JUST one(1)actual,legit,all-new material album.Which of course was the infamous 'Never Mind The Bollocks...' lp.I counted something like fifty-two CD compilations,live,re-edit releases,whatever... I,mean has ANY other band ever done that?'Filthy Lucre Live'(Lucre is French for 'money')is actually pretty good,I thought.It's a live recording of a reunion gig the guys did in London in early 1996,they toured the states later that fall.I've heard several negative reviews about this reunion,even remember Johnny Rotten nearly popping some MTV staff member on the chin during a TV interview.Nonetheless,rather this regrouping was simply a ca$h cow or not,as far as I'm concerned,the Pistols DID their job.Cuts I liked the most were "Bodies","Did You No Wrong",their signature tune "God Save The Queen","Holidays In The Sun","Pretty Vacant" and "Anarchy In The UK".Great sound quality.Line-up:Johnny Rotten-vocals,Steve Jones-guitar,Glen Matlock-bass and Paul Cook-drums.I just loves these reunions,don't you?

PICTURE THIS: It's 11:30am. You have a date at 12:15, that you completely forgot about. What record do you put on to get yourself out of bed? Why, The Sex Pistols' Filthy Lucre Live, of course! The pumped-up live opening, 'Bodies', gives you enough energy to run downstairs and hastily put on some safety pin infested clothes.

'Seventeen' comes on as you're putting on your make-up, singing along, 'I'M A LAZY SOD!!'. You begin putting on your boots as you hear Johnny Rotten energetically screaming 'GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!!!!'.

You run out the door (but not before grabbing your trusty iPod, still playing the album), sprinting to the mean sound of 'Holidays In The Sun'. You sprint towards your destination, hearing the screeching guitars of 'Pretty Vacant'.

It's now 12:15. you reach your destination (and your, also punk, girlfriend) while listening to the victorious 'Anarchy In The UK'. She looks up at you with a mean stare that quickly becomes a warm smile. She hears what you're listening to and says, 'The Pistols, how romantic.', and gives you a warm, light kiss on the lips.

This really is the Pistols' at their very live best. The Pistols have gotten older, but haven't forgotten how to half-assedly play their instruments.

I write this review not only to praise it for its quality, but to warn others about the inept sound of so many other live albums by the Sex Pistols. "Better Live than Dead" is a grainy bootleg with professional packaging, and the "Chelmsford" show is a joke--lousy sound, coupled with a staged "background" tape that repeats several times throughout the show. This album has quite exceptional sound, and fortunately, after an additional 20+ years, finds the Sex Pistols with a bit more mastery over their instruments...but not too much; it was their loud, clumsy abrasiveness that we love about them, right? The setlist is pretty standard, and could replace any "best of" CD that a fan might have, with such great live standards as "EMI," "Pretty Vacant," "Anarchy in the UK," and "God Save the Queen." This album also has "it"--that disturbing and riveting sound that draws you in and holds onto you. It is a bit of a pity that the Sex Pistols have never released some of their more interesting and rare material on any of their live albums (songs like "Revolution in the Classroom," "Dancing on the Dole," and "C'mon Everybody"), but this album should happily tide over most fans of the group.

Who would've thought that the Pistols would get back together for the money? There's a certain amusing irony in there. Or is it the fact that it was done because our convictions told us that they'd never do it? Well, regardless, it happened and this is the result of that.

In terms of live albums, this one exhudes ambiance. John Lydon, I mean, Rotten (it's not PiL anymore) does a good job getting through to the audience in his own particular way. The band itself, despite playing the same chords as always, sound tighter than you'd expect. The fact that the distortion exeeds that you might be expecting also shows how these aging punks won't go down without a noisy fight.

The tracklist itself is pretty solid. It takes the basic "Never Mind the Bollocks" template and appends some tracks from that era and that Monkees cover that ever punk band does. All in all, it's good.

Given the official output from this seminal outfit, this is a welcome addition to their slim line of 'official' stuff. Fans will dig it, and it will compliment the collection of anyone who isn't too keen on bootlegs. The performances might come off as automatic sometimes, but for the most part, this is a live experience that's well worth delving into.

Although I've loved The Sex Pistols ever since I hunted down an import 7" single of "Anarchy In The UK" after reading about them in Creem magazine back in 1977, I have to admit I was skeptical when I heard they were planning a reunion tour after almost 20 years. After listening to "Filthy Lucre Live," however, I'd like to formally apologize to messrs. Lydon, Jones, Cook, and Matlock and to go on record by admitting that I was bowled over by the sound of this live document of said tour. John Lydon, the hunchbacked anti-Christ with green teeth, still sounds as angry as he did back in 1977, Steve Jones and his patented "wall of noise" guitar bombast will strip the enamel off your teeth, and the rhythm section of Glen Matlock and Paul Cook make it painfully obvious what a musical liability Sid Vicious really was. It may be for the better, but after this reunion tour, the lads were gone again, making me realize we need them now more than ever.

I still remember the first time I heard "Anarchy in the UK". It was original, wild, outa control and yet fun. This band changed music FOREVER, much like Black Sabbath did for gothic metal music years before. Sabbath defined Metal, the Pistols defined Punk, PERIOD!!!!. Sex Pistol songs have more energy than most weapons and the guitar work, though mostly simple hook driven (but what hooks) blasted into multi-layered solos that brought their songs to a level of punk-sophistication beyond any thing heard at the time. John Lydon's (the best Rotten guy you could ask for) voice truley defines what a punk should sound like, their is no equal. So now they have a reunion cd that could easily have been a very mediocre grasp at the past, well it's not. This is not a sell-out band! This cd is the original band, remember Sid was not an original (and sadly not very talented) member of the band. The original bassist (Glen Matlock) was the main writer of the material and is here in all his glory. This cd is a great way to listen to this band live and and very much enjoying doing what they do best, ROCKIN OUT. The recording is above average and the band is in great form here, especially considering their age. If only I age as well.

I was around when the Sex Pistols first hit and most of it was pure hype.

They did have four good singles ("God save the queen", "Anarchy in the U.K.", Holidays in the Sun" and "Pretty Vacant"). I tried to get into "Public Image Ltd" but, after the first 2 records, I couldn't take it any more. Sid Vicious was talentless and the rest of the band never did anything.

As to their personalities, Sid was a murderer, Steve Jones got fat and obnoxious, Lydon deserves to get his butt kicked and Paul Cook disappeared from the mainstream. In all, not a very likeable group and certainly not a group to root for with an obvious, let's-make- some-money-reunion tour. I wanted to hate this and pan it but, when I listen to it, I honestly cannot.

These live versions are better than the recorded ones! The first time the Sex Pistols were launched into fame it was because of a falsely created hype. However, with many of these songs now of practically an iconic nature, a real, live band playing these classics completely does justice to them and legitimately demonstrates that the songs are genuineley endearing.

Those songs, put into a live setting, with the players now much more skilled and experienced equals an obvious improvement from the originals.

A "guilty pleasure"!

I love the Sex Pistiols. Finally I was able to buy this Cd although it has been out since I saw their first reunion show as I am 33. I ultimately love this album, as for ALL their albums and PIL !! LOVE'em !!!! It arrivbed Quickly and in PERFECT condition ! Awesomw !!!!

from the opening chorus you can feel the pistols fury and power.few have seen them but most have heard of them after this you can hear the band at their very best!well it's been 20 years at this point since they started and this is the reunion of the spear head of punk rock and if this is not enough now it's 30 years late and you can see them on dvd there's always an england(thew dvd dosn't have the power and energy this dose)after all those years this cd shines the music live like never before!

They reformed with their original bass player Glen Matlock.This is a very good recording from this tour.I played it alot when i first got it.
Bodies sounds great here and starts off procedings.All there big hits are here like God Save The Queen,Anarchy,EMI and Pretty Vacant.I love Liar,No Feelings and Holidays In The Sun,man they were a great band.I saw a documentary on them recently reminded me of this great album.