Chris Fallon
09/05/08, 10:00 PM
Unwritten Law - Live & Lawless (CD/DVD)
Record Label: Suburban Noize
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Who?
Longtime SoCal pop-punkers Unwritten Law, notable for their smash hits "Seein' Red" and "Cailin," release their first live album, complete with a DVD of 22 songs - and five acoustic versions.
How is it?
Live albums are generally throwaway releases for many bands - really, if you aren't a diehard fan of said band, you will overlook the release as a means to get one more record off the contract. It's not too much different for Unwritten Law, a band that provided some rather substantial hits in the early part of this millennium but have succumbed to radio-rock standards in recent years (for an idea of this, check out the Hinder-approved album cover). The band states they are a "live band first and foremost," hence the release of their first-ever live CD/DVD combo, Live & Lawless (the band has previously released the out-of-print Music in High Places special from MTV on DVD).
The live CD is essentially nothing special here - 16 tracks covering the band's last three studio albums (Unwritten Law, Elva and Here's to the Mourning), but no older material (say, from Oz Factor, like "Superman"?). The DVD, however, is a nice treat for any fan of the band - the 22 songs here are presented in good quality with little to no errors on the band's part. Vocalist Scott Russo is no spring chicken these days, but still manages to provide enough energy and smoothness to the songs, ranging from old favorites ("Teenage Suicide," "Lonesome") to gentle acoustic ("Rest of My Life," "Before I Go") to the obscure - but pleasant - album cuts ("CPK," "Shallow"). While there's literally nothing new here to present, for any longtime Unwritten Law fan, it's not a bad way to continue supporting their career. There's no shortage on material here - however, this is simply "for collector's only".
Unwritten Law's major-label material; live albums; digital video discs with 22 songs by Unwritten Law, performed on a stage with a crowd in front of them, having fun.
CD:
1. Underground
2. Teenage Suicide
3. Rescue Me
4. Cailin
5. California Sky
6. Blame It On Me
7. Shoulda Known Better
8. Celebration Song
9. Mean Girl
10. Seein' Red
11. Babylon
12. Lost Control
13. Oblivion
14. Save Me (Wake Up Call)
15. Up All Night
16. Shoulda Known Better (bonus)
DVD:
1. Underground
2. Teenage Suicide
3. Rescue Me
4. Cailin
5. California Sky
6. Blame It On Me
7. Shoulda Known Better
8. Celebration Song
9. Mean Girl
10. Seein' Red
11. Babylon
12. Lonesome
13. Rest of My Life
14. She Says
15. Before I Go
16. Elva
17. Shallow
18. Lost Control
19. Oblivion
20. Save Me (Wake Up Call)
21. Up All Night
22. CPKScott Russo: vocals
Steve Morris: guitar
Pat "PK" Kim: bass
Tony Palermo: drums
Official Site (http://www.unwrittenlaw.com) | Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/unwrittenlaw)Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Live-Lawless-Unwritten-Law/dp/B00192QNS6/ref=sr_1_7/105-9393551-5782066?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1220676798&sr=1-7)
Record Label: Suburban Noize
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Who?
Longtime SoCal pop-punkers Unwritten Law, notable for their smash hits "Seein' Red" and "Cailin," release their first live album, complete with a DVD of 22 songs - and five acoustic versions.
How is it?
Live albums are generally throwaway releases for many bands - really, if you aren't a diehard fan of said band, you will overlook the release as a means to get one more record off the contract. It's not too much different for Unwritten Law, a band that provided some rather substantial hits in the early part of this millennium but have succumbed to radio-rock standards in recent years (for an idea of this, check out the Hinder-approved album cover). The band states they are a "live band first and foremost," hence the release of their first-ever live CD/DVD combo, Live & Lawless (the band has previously released the out-of-print Music in High Places special from MTV on DVD).
The live CD is essentially nothing special here - 16 tracks covering the band's last three studio albums (Unwritten Law, Elva and Here's to the Mourning), but no older material (say, from Oz Factor, like "Superman"?). The DVD, however, is a nice treat for any fan of the band - the 22 songs here are presented in good quality with little to no errors on the band's part. Vocalist Scott Russo is no spring chicken these days, but still manages to provide enough energy and smoothness to the songs, ranging from old favorites ("Teenage Suicide," "Lonesome") to gentle acoustic ("Rest of My Life," "Before I Go") to the obscure - but pleasant - album cuts ("CPK," "Shallow"). While there's literally nothing new here to present, for any longtime Unwritten Law fan, it's not a bad way to continue supporting their career. There's no shortage on material here - however, this is simply "for collector's only".
Unwritten Law's major-label material; live albums; digital video discs with 22 songs by Unwritten Law, performed on a stage with a crowd in front of them, having fun.
CD:
1. Underground
2. Teenage Suicide
3. Rescue Me
4. Cailin
5. California Sky
6. Blame It On Me
7. Shoulda Known Better
8. Celebration Song
9. Mean Girl
10. Seein' Red
11. Babylon
12. Lost Control
13. Oblivion
14. Save Me (Wake Up Call)
15. Up All Night
16. Shoulda Known Better (bonus)
DVD:
1. Underground
2. Teenage Suicide
3. Rescue Me
4. Cailin
5. California Sky
6. Blame It On Me
7. Shoulda Known Better
8. Celebration Song
9. Mean Girl
10. Seein' Red
11. Babylon
12. Lonesome
13. Rest of My Life
14. She Says
15. Before I Go
16. Elva
17. Shallow
18. Lost Control
19. Oblivion
20. Save Me (Wake Up Call)
21. Up All Night
22. CPKScott Russo: vocals
Steve Morris: guitar
Pat "PK" Kim: bass
Tony Palermo: drums
Official Site (http://www.unwrittenlaw.com) | Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/unwrittenlaw)Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Live-Lawless-Unwritten-Law/dp/B00192QNS6/ref=sr_1_7/105-9393551-5782066?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1220676798&sr=1-7)