Customer Reviews

Under Attack

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the unforgettable opening riffs of "Superchannel" all the way through the final acoustic note of "This Is The Way We Are" this 21st Century version The Alarm prove they are one of the most underrated bands in the world. Everything the band won and lost between the years of 1981-1986 is encapsulated on this one fantastic album, but it doesn't stop there. The band has never rocked like they do on "Few And Far Between", or soared like they do on "Be Still". In fact, far from matching previous efforts, this album greatly surpasses them. However, it doesn't stop there. Songs like "Superchannel" and "Zero" show that the band can sound current, while still retaining all the qualities that fans loved about them in the first place. This is a supercharged new album from a revitalized band that should have "Never Left" in the first place.

For a while I have been reading the oversea reviews on Under Attack. It was supposed to be a return to their early rocking pseudo punk form. I found this hard to believe.

Not anymore.

Hard hitting and with a swagger, this version of the Alarm could likely play the socks off the original line up. Mike Peter's voice sounds really fit as well.

I was dissapointed with their last album which was billed as a return to form. This is actually the real return of The Alarm.

When I first heard a sample from this 2006 album in a store, I couldn't believe how the Alarm still rocked. I went crazy with joy in the store, and the clerk ordered it for me. It took me back to university days when we'd play hackey sack to the driving beat of the infinitely long "Howling Wind," the climactic finale to the Alarm's anthemic I.R.S. album, Declaration. Yes I miss Mike's mates, Dave and Eddie and Twist, but Under Attack serves notice that Mike Peters still rocks.

This CD was previously available only as a UK import, but this is a US version distributed by Eleven Thirty Records. It's a baker's dozen of songs, but there's also a bonus DVD with videos of all thirteen songs. The UK DVD was released in PAL format, but the US DVD played fine in my Toshiba player. The opening song, "Superchannel" was number one in the UK, but there's also an extra feature of a different video, which was likely the UK version. There's also an "on location" feature on making the videos, with Mike Peters providing commentary. All thirteen were shot in a hectic two weeks, which may be a Guiness record. On top of all that there's a booklet with the lyrics to all the songs.

Arguably, the set lacks something of the finesse and chemistry of the old Alarm. But think of this as an entirely new thing, the Alarm recast as garage band, stripped to its roots, Mike Peters at the top of his form, at home in the influences he loves. There are crazy, acid nods to the best of his solo album, Rise, to songs like "Transcendental", "My Calling", and "You Are to Me". But also bits recalling the Clash. The video for "Without a Fight" has a punk look and the "A" for "Alarm" on the drum suggests the graffito "A" for "Anarchy". Other vids recreate the black and white stage of the Ed Sullivan Show, the US stepping stone for the Beatles and the Brit musical invasion.

Peters is far more vulnerable than most rockers, and his lyrics more self-disclosing. He brings passion, not posturing to the footlights, as if rock was really about something. "My Town", filmed in his native Wales, recalls the Alarm's first single, "Pavillion Steps", which mourned the destruction of a local landmark. Mike's songs don't fit prefab pop: they don't always rhyme, the lines don't neatly fit; they seem wrung out of him on the spot, and they catch you off guard, as in "My Town": "I can't take back the bullets fired in the name of God". The final song, "This is the Way We Are", is even more ambitious. It begins as a ballad, reminiscent of "The Spirit of '76", and ends as the album's hardest rocker. But the footage was shot first, and Peters wove the visual kaleidoscope into an accompanying musical montage.

Besides "Superchannel," there are some major rockers on this album, which scream "radio". "This is Life (Get Used to It)" and "Cease and Desist" seem made for alt rock stations like Seattle's The End. In many of these videos, Peters reminds you of no one so much as Kurt Cobain. And after so many downer songs on the radio, aren't we ready for Peters to remind us in "Zero" that "Everybody is something to someone somewhere"?

So, you may be saying, why haven't I heard of this rocking Welsh band? Because corporate radio wouldn't know classic rock if it bit them in the tailpipe. As far as they're concerned, it ended with Credence Clearwater Revival. But if you're tired of the same old cookie cutter pop, here's your wake up call, courtesy of the Alarm.

The Alarm are definetely back. Straight from their #1 hit on the UK Rock chart with the hard-hitting "Superchannel", from the album "Under Attack", the band is tighter and more cohesive than ever.

Lyrically the songs are in-your-face, poignant, anthemic and ring of the optimism that is the hallmark of Mike Peters incredible song-writing talent.

In a music world full of one-hit wonders, it is refreshing to see the Alarm as fresh and innovative as ever in a long 25 year career run.

Highly suggest the version of the album with the bonus dvd featuring the 12 videos to accompany the album. These 12 "mini-films" brilliantly capture the energy and innovation of the band.

Required listening and viewing for any Alarm fan and beyond.

I have to admit I wasn't really thrilled with Mike Peters being the only REAL alarm member, but I bought it anyway....Superchannel starts out with a very catchy guitar, but it's the Peters vocal that grabs you and pulls you in. Just like all those years ago, the voice is still there, sounding just as youthful and energetic as ever. (despite an ongoing battle with cancer) After listening to a few songs, and seeing if I could pick out the rest of the band... I picked out Ex-Gene Loves Jezebel guitar god James Stevenson, and his tone to die for. I did however miss Craig Adams (Mission UK, The Cult) and Steve Grantley (Stiff Little Fingers) The whole CD ROCKS!! and the more you play it, the better it gets. Sure it's not the original Alarm, but there are alot of the same elements in this CD, that Mike Peters put into the original Alarm...I would deffenantly get it, I also got the 2 CD version, with the DVD, and it's awesome.!!!!I believe the stand out tracks are Superchannel, My Town, Rain Down, This is Life, Get Used To It.Zero. and Few and Far Between. BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT !!!!

Now this review is going to be a little skewed because of the fact that I am a HUGE Alarm fan and have been since thier inception, but this is truly Mike's best work to date. The band is alive with passion for music and it shows in their performance. I love the fact that Under Attack is a little more agressive, a little more punk but still true to The Alarm roots of brilliant song writing and just plain good music. Most of the crap on the radio today would never have the staying power of a band like The Alarm, nor the true to their band fans like Alarm fans. For me, there's really nothing more to say. If you even like or have heard one Alarm song, go buy Under Attack, you won't be disappointed...and if you don't know them, go buy it anyway...!!! Greg Domenick a.k.a. Greg from NJ

I'm really pleased with this album. It took a few listens but it really grew on me.

Listen to "This is the Way We Are" and you'll immediately know its the Alarm. There are also some shades of early U2.

They have the energy level of their early stuff, but it I think the guitar work is much better than the old Alarm.

Each year Mike Peters and The Alarm hold an event in North Wales close to where the original Alarm formed. The event called The Gathering has for 14 years brought together the die hard fans for a weekend of performances and swapping stories. At this years event, held in late January, Mike and the band premier this new album. While I have only heard it once, and a few of the tracks live, it's impact is undeniable. This version of the album comes with a DVD with videos for each song on the album. As always the lyrics drive the passion that is undeniable The Alarm. To describe the music you need only to know that the guitars are turned up and the rhythm section hits you straight in the stomach. At one point during the live premier of this Album Mike declared " It sounds like 1977 again". There is no better way to describe the music here.

Maybe after over 20 years of making passionate and misunderstood music, The Alarm will start to gain the respect they so rightfully deserve.

Okay let me lay my "Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?, cards" on the table...The Alarm carried me through my high school years, and within the lyrics of Bono and Mike Peters I found my way by Amazing Grace to the Mercy Seat...in my thirties now I feel just as I did in high school following one of my all time favorite lyricists as well as one of my favorite bands, even if the members have changed...so that's where this review/er is coming from..biased? probably, but i pride myself on being fair..two months ago I walked from The Village to Times Square to buy an import for thirty bucks, and here's my review...The cd opens with the single SUPERCHANNEL...not the song I would have chose as the first single,lyrically I can't get a grasp on what Mike's trying to convey, BUT you do notice from the first chord the production quality of this cd. By far it has to be the cleanest, most crisp, well produced ALARM cd to date, every instrument is loud and present, and you quickly realize this is a band effort and not a Mike Peters solo album...Next is WITHOUT A FIGHT and with this song the cd presents its greatest attribute in my arrogant opinion, the sing song chorus and/or refrain, this nuance appears on several tracks and leaves you singing or screaming long after the song is over and well into the next one...MY TOWN is another great energetic track and by this point the cd is steamrolling, which then brings us to track 4 and again in my arrogant opinion (IMAO) the best song on the whole cd...I have been drawn to rock and roll spirituals since The Stand (What do you mean it's about the Stephen King book?)..I haven't found a church yet that plays with as much spiritual passion as Mike or Bono or Johnny Cash or Robert Randolph..this song is a great rock and roll spiritual conmplete with a great gospel ending with the boys singing over and over acapella "Let It Raindown, Let It Raindown..." if you see someone driving on I-95 with their eyes closed, hands raised, and radio blarring it's me milking this song of each spiritual moment it has, this song also marks the first of 4 songs brought over from THE POPPY FIELDS recordings...IT'S ALRIGHT IT'S OK..I first heard this song last summer when I saw MIKE play 3 sets at ELECTRIC LADYLAND STUDIOS, he gave us a preview, and I remember even then taking notice of the crisp production...BE STILL, the second song brought over from THE POPPY FIELDS, and also another spiritual to my ears, Mike adds some punch to this version,and it's a welcome fit to the cd...THIS IS LIFE(GET USED TO IT)...as essay on modern life if you will, starts off slow, works its way up..is this Mike being cynical?..Now the hype leading up to this cd had a lot of CLASH references from critics, hearing some early clips I bought into it, this could not be further from the truth...the only song that comes close is the straight ahead punk song CEASE AND DESIST, which reminds one of 45 R.P.M from THE POPPY FIELDS...this type of punk song reminds me more of RANCID, SOCIAL DISTORTION or BAD RELIGION..great punk vibes without teenage whining, the only problem I have with this song is the lyric.."Prime Ministers and Presidents have started a war without end..." I believe, Mike, the terrorists have started a war, but then what's a rock and roll conservative to do? Pogo to Ted Nugent?...the guitar of ZERO sucks one right in, it's so out there innovative, simple yet catchy, and here we have the eternal optimist singing cynical hopeless lyrics, for the first half anyway, and then he turns it around after the chorus to fill the song with hope and into a life affirming number...SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE, my ears hear yet another spiritual, like DAVID putting some of the PSALMS through an electric guitar..."I want all the Love you can give me, I want all the Love you can spare...", keeping with the spiritual theme is the third song revamped from THE POPPY FIELDS sessions, I NEVER LEFT I ONLY WENT AWAY..to me I definetly hear/see this as a song from The Savior to His children, but that's just me...the fourth reworking brought over from THE POPPY FIELDS is a 2 for 1 deal, FEW AND FAR BETWEEN takes its last stanza from the song entitled MY DEFENCES...and is another psalm laden, guitar driven, soul song crying out and up...THE POPPY FIELDS was originally a 5 cd set, and from these cds Mike asked his fans to pick the songs for one major released cd. The odd thing here for me is that the songs he chose to rework are the songs I chose for the POPPY FIELDS cd, making this a personal cd to me...So how do you close such a soul drenched, guitar driven cd? Mike chooses to slow down and take a look back, a look around, and a look ahead, and write an homeage to the place he calls home, be that a city or family..I sense the birth of his son Dylan gave inspiration to this song and maybe his medical battles..It's both a song of reflection and inspiration..this song starts off sounding something like THE SPIRIT OF '76, the acoustic guitar and the harmonica, Mike's narrative lyrics and a slow musical build..at first I didn't like this one much, but i must admit it's growing on me..the greatest testimony to this cd is that it must sound incredible live! ENERGY, PASSION, SPIRITUALITY,AND GUITARS, what more can you ask for?