Customer Reviews

Pietasters: 1992-1996

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

 

 

"The Pietasters 1992 - 1996" is not only a great cd, but an inexpensive way to jumpstart your Pietasters collection. This set has been re-mastered, and offers 4 (count 'em FOUR) hard-to-find Pietasters' cds on 3 discs.

Disc 1 is my personal favorite because their earliest material has a classic 2-Tone sound to it. This disc is comprised of material off of the impossible-to-find "Piestomp" and equally hard-to-find "oolooloo". "Without You", "Maggie Mae", and "Five Days Of The Week" are just some of the 23 songs on Disc 1 that showcase their early ska roots.

Disc 2 consists of the rest of "oolooloo" and all of "Strapped - Live!". "Strapped - Live!" has been widely praised as one of the best live ska recordings, not only for its superb sound quality, but for the tracks selected. The Pietasters put on an awesome live show, and this disc captures lead singer, Stephen Jackson's, enthusiasm for his music and love for his fans. In fact, on one track, "Drinking and Driving", fans are encouraged to get up on stage and sing along.

Disc 3 is a mixed-bag for me, and is the main reason why I gave this cd 4 stars instead of 5. This cd contains "Comply" as well as previously unreleased tracks. My problem with "Comply" is that is duplicated many tracks offered on "oolooloo". And so by including "Comply" on this collection, you're getting songs on Disc 3 that are already on Discs 1 and 2. But the unreleased material makes up for this one complaint.

Ususally when a band releases "Previously Unreleased Material", there's a good reason why those tracks made it to the cutting room floor. But the tracks The Pietasters have included are pretty good! "Portugese Sex Song" and a smoking cover of Cutlture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" highlight this disc. Finally, Disc 3 closes with an often-requested, live- version of "Sheila" proving once again that The Pietasters listen to their fans and deliver.

I've been a Pietasters fan since I picked up their first CD at the recommendation of a friend of mine 11 years ago. I have everything they've released since (except for the 7" vinyl between Piestomp and Oolooloo - I feel shame). So the previously unreleased material on this collection was the reason it made its way into my shopping cart, and I was not disappointed with my purchase. (The inclusion of "Shiela" was a nice touch.) In my opinion. long time fans should definitely grab this, even if it is only for the unreleased stuff.

Newer fans are no exception, and as far as I'm concerned, should be even more encouraged to listen. The sound of the band has morphed quite a bit since that first album was originally released, and the later albums can sound like distant descendants when played back to back with these (except for Comply, which kinda bridges the gap). However, the fact that they still play a good chunk of these tunes live to tremendous crowd response is a testament to how good the material contained on these discs is.

If you like anything by the Pietasters, especially if you don't already own all of these albums, you should grab this set without hesitation.

These 3 discs have been in my heavy rotation since I got them more than 3 months ago. I've owned Willis, Mix Tape #9 and Turbo for awhile, but I was never able to get ahold of the older stuff. This takes care of that... and much much more! I listen to discs 1 and 2 the most, which mainly consist of Piestomp, and the incredible live 'Strapped'. Disc 2 is easily my favorite.

Pietasters songs are catchy, upbeat straight up ska. I had several songs stuck firmly in my head after just 2 listens. Check out Freak Show, Dollar Bill, Maggie Mae, and Girl Take it Easy. If you're not singing along, you must be dead.

If you're a ska fan, and don't own the first 4 Pietasters releases, you have to buy this now! Seriously. Stop reading and go buy this NOW!!!

Great deal for you ska/Pie fans. My only knock on this is the editing. Part of the fun of "Strapped Live" is the commentary and feel of a live show between songs. It's all cut and the songs are not in order of the original.

damn your a racist mofo to say that about one of the best bands to ever play, they played with all the best universal bands back in the early 90s sublime, slightly stoopid, the ziggens, so there posers too because they play a certain style of music, and so anyone who dosnt live up to there skin color is a tool.....sorry my ignorant child you are the tool, go play in traffic if you havnt already, no one likes a biggit

As one of the seminal bands of the 90's ska movement still doing it (only the Slackers and Toasters come immediately to mind as producing contemporaries), the Pietasters are deserving of the ska/alternative music fan's respect. While their biggest hit ("Out All Night" from 1996's Willis on Hell-Cat Records) is not included in this collection, some of their best-loved song are, including "Maggie Mae," "Girl, Take it Easy," "Drinking and Driving," and "Dollar Bill."

Comprising all of the recorded material by the Pietasters between the formative years of 1992 and 1996, this collection shows the maturation and development of a band and its unique style. We see a bridge between their early ska style into their more-celebrate ska/soul hybrid that has made them worthy of being James Brown's backup band.

While the negatives are few, it is especially distressing to see that some of the between-song chatter from the Strapped Live album is missing. Lead singer Steve Jackson's rapport with the crowd was one of the crown jewels of the live record, and it's said to see that some of that was stripped away for this collection.

Overall however, this is a worthy purchase, if only because so much of the material isn't available anywhere else. Certainly, Moon Ska Records will not be producing anymore copies of Oolooloo or Strapped Live anytime soon, and while Comply and Piestomp were repressed a few years ago, there is no guarantee they will be released again.

OK, first of all, let me tell you that E. Stanchfield (see first review written) is an idiot. Ska isn't about being angry---ska is about having fun. I started listening to music like this several years ago and have not listened to any other genre since. I do not actually own this product, (I'm purchasing it soon) but know that the Pietasters are awesome, and anyone who insults them deserves to be deported to Guam. Now, of those of you looking to buy 1992-1996, let me tell you that it is a great buy. The Pietasters have great beats and melodies, and even if you like faster, ska/punk stuff, at least listen to this record. I guarantee that you'll like it.