Let the Tribe Increase

Mob

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 1997)
• Original Release Date: March 25, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Broken Rekids
• ASIN: B000003868
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #179,180 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really solid stuff., August 6, 2002

By	C. Burkhalter - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Though 1983's "Let the Tribe Increase" was and is a great album, the real reason to pick this up is the collection of bonus tracks culled from the Mob's earlier singles. This is less polished material than the "Tribe" songs, a little crustier, a little more garage-y, and a lot more energetic. Songs like "Witch Hunt," "Crying Again," "Youth," and "Shuffling Souls" are essential to any good punk collection.

The Mob had close ties to bands like Crass (who they recorded with), Flux of Pink Indians, Dirt, and the ever-underrated Zounds (who they lived with). Other than those bands, the Mob gets a lot of comparisons to Joy Division and Gang of Four. My long obsession with Go4's "Entertainment!" is what eventually turned me on to the Mob, as well as Zounds. Lyrically speaking, the Mob are a bit more bleak, playing a number of horrific post-apocolyptic anti-war songs. The Mob take some criticism for not writing particularly complex, focused, or mature songs. That, to me, always seemed unfair. The Mob kept specific political agendas out of their music (partly because their handle of anarchist politics wasn't especially strong), tending instead to rely on evocative lyrical imagery. As a result, their songs have a more timeless appeal now than some of the more didactic punk of other political punk bands of their time.

This is a great and impressively comprehensive CD - well worth your purchase dollars. And for your reading pleasure, Lance Hahn wrote a great article chronicling the history of the Mob, with lots of great interviews, in the July 2001 issue of Maximumrocknroll. Check it out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MOB RULES, December 7, 2001

By	GRAEME YOUNG (uk) - See all my reviews

After reading some of the reviews of this magnificent album, I feel that some of you must have missed the point completely. The Mob depressing, downbeat, morose? Whilst I agree that these are definate aspects of their music, they are ultimately positive aspects. From the soul searing beauty of 'Our Life Our World' to the quiet anger of 'Raised In A Prison' these are ultimately songs about hope. The Mob's lyrics displayed on this album are of a rare and unique intelligence that can best be described as darkly poetic, whilst the musicianship was and is world's apart from any other band of that genre and time. Indeed, I still marvel at the bass line that defines the entire mood of album track three 'Dance On You Fool.' I suggest anyone who hasn't bought the album to do so and those of you who found it 'downbeat' to listen again. This is a moving, lush and breathtaking album. In short - The Mob rule!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I forgot how good they were, June 18, 2000

By	Sid Crowe (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

I have this album on record but it is so scratched, I still play it. Raised in prison is my favorite track, great music & lyrics. On the origanal record there are only 11 tracks so this cd is a bonus and contains another great song that was not on the origanal LP- No Doves Fly Here. Check it out one of the most alternative alternative bands I have heard.