Heaven and Hell is collection of songs by the Mekons, a British punk collective started in 1977 by a bunch of Leeds University students. Over the years a lot has changed: the band has moved to the U.S. and embraced different kinds of music, to the point that they are now considered as one of the pioneers of the alternative country scene. The 1985 album "Fear and Whiskey" is a particular landmark in that direction. Importantly, whatever else changed, they have stayed true to their punk ethos and left wing politics. This 2CD compilation features tracks from about 20 albums released between 1978-2004 and is one of the more diverse collections by a single band you'll ever get to hear. Early singles "Never Been in A Riot" and "Where Were You" are pure punk, but you also get reggae-folk (Work All Week), garage-rock (Memphis Egypt), alt.country ballads ("Ghost of American Astronauts" sounds like the Cowboy Junkies), cajun-punk (Big Zombie) etc. The "Old Trip to Jerusalem" sounds like Sandinista-era Clash trying their hand at Gospel, "The Curse" like The Pogues and "One Horse Dub" merges blues and electronica years before Moby did. When Sally Timms takes the lead vocal, she sings so sweetly you'll be fooled into thinking you're listening to a love song when she's really singing about something like the drug trade as an imperialist control method from the days of the East India company to the CIA (in "Brutal'). Anarcho-popsters Chumbawamba must have been paying attention, because they have had a lot of success with the same mix of radical politics and honey-voiced pop. This compilation acts like a sampler of different periods and styles and is therefore rather uneven. It's a good point to start but you also can't go wrong with any Mekons album from the late 80's - early 90's.
**** for Hard to Be Human, Ghosts of American Astronauts, Where Were You, Millionaire, Memphis Egypt, The Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Curse, Poxy Lips
*** for Hello Cruel World, Chivalry, Oblivion. Work All Week, (Sometimes I Feel Like) Fletcher Christian, Last Dance, Empire of the Senseless, Big Zombie, One Horse Dub, Brutal, Prince of Darkness, Dancing in the Head, Insignificance, Never Been in a Riot
** for Hate Is the New Love, Neglect, My Song at Night, He Beat Up His Boyfriend, Snow, The Building, (A Dancing Master Such As) Mr. Confess, Out in the Night, Johnny Miner, This Sporting Life
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