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Celebrating 30 years of
Sex Pistols - There'll Always Be An England |
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Review by Andy Argyrakis Long before punk was relegated to slogans on a Hot Topic T-shirt or a watered down pop craze with the mall crowd, bands like the Sex Pistols represented themes of rising up from the underground, rebellion, and at times, all out anarchy. Though the act only released one proper studio project in the form of Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, it's become a legendary slice of the genre as it was truly meant to be represented and once again takes the focal point of the current incarnation's latest DVD.There'll Always Be An England celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of that acclaimed album with John Lydon leading the aging (but still entertaining) pack on top of his game. It's not necessarily a miracle considering the Sex Pistols have always been a powerful live band, but let's just say that on some tours the singer is dead on with delivery and other times he appears to be going through the motions in hopes of milking the cash cow. But the latter charge doesn't seem to be the case on this concert collection, thanks in part to filmmaker Julien Temple (Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten, The Filth and the Fury), who presents the band in a more current format with riveting camera angles and such engaging lighting on both the band and the audience that it makes the viewer feel more involved in the experience than most concert DVDs. Even with all the production bells and whistles, it's up to the band to deliver iconic fist pumpers like "Pretty Vacant," "New York," "God Save the Queen" and "Anarchy In the UK," all of which pack the Pistols' feisty spirit and impactful presentations of the increasingly provocative lyrics. Though some would argue the need for new versions considering these songs have been presented on live products countless times before, there truly does seem to be a fire lit under the players, plus the project benefits from the bonus segment "The Knowledge: The Pistols Guide To London." Whether taking a firsthand tour of where the band first rose to fame or seeing its surviving members recall one of punk's most important periods, There'll Always Be An England is an explosive anniversary celebration. |