Customer Reviews

Killer Lords

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my first experience into the Lords music. Being a huge Stiv/Dead Boys fan, after the initial shock at the format/content changes, the songs became mainstays in my CD lineup. However, as I grew as a fan, I began to realize how a number of these selections, "Opening Nightmares," "Dreams and Desires," "A Gun Called Justice," and "Hey Tonight" are all good songs, there are more "Lordsy" songs that should've been included. "Pretty Baby Scream," "Partners In Crime," and the biggest omission, "Livin' on Livin'," are all selections that are much better representations of who the Lords were: A great garage band, exploring new territories all the time. The other included tracks that I felt should've been omitted seemed more like studio experiments and corporate pushes ("Like a Virgin, anyone?) All in all, a pretty good anthology and great introduction into the Lords of the New Church and who they were. "Killer Lords" is a great first CD, but their self-titled debut is where the listener starts to see what kind of band they were. Turner and James inherently playing surf rock, Tregunna on bass with some of the tastiest and simplest riffs, and of course, Stiv Bators, one of the greatest frontmen ever.

Always ahead of their time, it would be great if the Lords of the New Church found their time now. The CD combines the raw and the polished Lords. It just gets better with age.

For anyone who has never been exposed to the L.O.T.N.C. this is a good place to start. Their first (and best) album is out on CD but the other two (Method to our Madness and Is Nothing Sacred) are out of print. This CD has some unreleased songs and B-sides that would be better replaced by some of the better tunes from the two out of print CD's. Since this (Best of) CD came out right after their third CD it was appropriate material at that time. In hindsight the two out of print discs should have been better represented. I would like to see a new best of CD but I'm not sure there's enough public interest to warrent one? Either way if your curious you will find plenty to interest you here. If you really like what you hear then buy there first CD and search out the other two on vinyl or tape. I think you'll be completly entertained.

The Lords of the New Church were a neglected 80's goth/punk band. This CD is a greatest hits of sorts which includes Dance With Me (which had minor play on MTV in the early 80's), Method To My Madness, and Russian Roulette (my favorite song by them). They even covered Madonna's "Like A Virgin" which is included on this cd. If you're into 80's goth such as Bauhaus, check out the Lords today!

I actually use to own this way back when and its definately worth the purchase but I need to mention something... I noticed that Opening Nightmares is included on this recording. From memory that one was only available on the single of "Live for today" previously. Its worth the purchase for that one alone. All their hits are on this record... and unless you are hardcore Lords fan you'll not notice killer tracks like Livin on Livin dubiously missing. How that didn't make the cut over the ridiculuous "Like a Virgin" is beyond me.

Anyway... killer tracks here:

Dance with me
Method To My Madness
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Live for Today
I Never Believed

As much as I like Stiv Bators and the Dead Boys, I may have to listen to this more than once to really say "I LOVE THIS ALBUM". Not to speak ill of the dead (no pun), but to sing about selling out while making music that sounds like you're sellling out is a bit hypocritical. When Stiv gets to show his twisted humor ("Like a Virgin"), the album is good, but when he tries to put on the persona of a glam star, he fails. I'm just saying, if you get this, be prepared to grit your teeth (at least for the first 11 songs--oh his covers are good).

This cd is a good introduction to a vastly under rated and almost forgotten rock n' roll band from the '80's that mixed equal parts punk, goth, metal, glam and much more. Original guitarist from pioneering UK punk band The Damned, Brian James and the original frontman Stiv Bator who lead the equally influential US punk band The Dead Boy's put together The Lords along with bassist Dave Tregunna (originally from Sham 69) and drummer Nicky Turner (originally from The Barracudas) formed this so-called punk supergroup in 1982 and released 3 studio albums over a 3 year period on IRS Records as well as a slew of singles and b-side tracks, the best of which are collected on this compilation. What you get here is 3 of the most representative tracks each from the three studio albums, two cover songs "Hey Tonight" and "Lords Prayer" recorded and produced by Steven Van Zandt (Springsteen's guitarist aka "Silvio" from The Sopranos!) specifically for the original '85 release of this compilation and 9 singles b-side tracks from their IRS era singles including the notorious and hilarious cover of Madonna's "Like A Virgin."

The Lords of the New Church. A bunch of guys from different style bands that produced a different style of music for the 80's. They were at times punk, goth, glam... a little of all those things , but always produced interesting music. Great live band, provided Stiv was not too wasted. Never heard a band that was similar since. The first two albums are the best, Killer lords is a good compilation, but some good songs from both those first 2 albums are not on this one. Still a good cd if you dont want to shell out a lot of dough to get the first two albums on cd.

The Lords Greatest Hits. Like any other LORDS album, a meaningful masterpiece and certainly significant theosophically, against the backdrop of most 80's vibrant/vapid offerings.

This CD has a few really standout songs, Open Your Eyes, I Never Believed, and Live for Today being a few. The rest of the tracks are b-sides and album cuts that might appeal more to a real fan of the group. I would really recommend buying a live album by these guys, as the studio polished them up way to much. This CD does have the best collection of hits for the lowest price though.