Radio Birdman - Essential Radio Birdman: 1974-1978 (CD)

All Music Guide

With the release of The Essential Radio Birdman: 1974-1978, Sub Pop ends the 20-year absence of any product from the Australian punk icons in the U.S. Included in its entirety is the group's impossible to find debut LP Radios Appear (here sounding as if mastered directly from vinyl), as well as choice tracks from the follow-up Living Eyes and the live More Fun and debut Burn Me Eye EPs. Simply put, this disc is a godsend to serious punk and indie rock fans. Every gritty, sputtering riff sounds positively alive. At its best, the group had a communal political ethos that bridged the gap between the MC5 and the emergence of hardcore in the 1980s. At its most basic, Radio Birdman was as good as garage rock could get before taking itself too seriously. Mellower tracks like "Man With Golden Helmet" and "Love Kills" exhibit a Doors influence in addition to guitarist/songwriter Deniz Tek's unapologetic fascination with the MC5 and Stooges music of his Detroit youth. For all but the most insane... collector, this is all the Radio Birdman you will ever need. Even if the title is slightly misleading (no music here was recorded before 1976), one no longer need shell out big bucks for vintage Radio Birdman wax anymore. - John Duffy, All Music Guide Read more Less