Aside from lining the coffers (he says cynically), what's the point of STEREOPHONICS releasing a live version of a new song? Is it to remind us what a commercial colossus they are? Is it to prove there's life post Stuart Cable? Is it because they need to prove they can record songs in a fashion less flatulent than the gazillion months they took over the last LP?
Whatever, "Moviestar" (allegedly initially written and demoed in only three hours) is definitely an improvement on the scandalous trail of studio-recorded singles from the 'Phonics horribly flabby "You Gotta Go There..." album and does restore a certain ragged rock credibility, with a beefy, slightly desperate sound prevailing and Kelly Jones wailing his lungs out like the good 'un we used to think he was before the private jets and Rod Stewart references started to kick in.
A vicious rendition of "The Bartender & The Thief" claws back further Brownie points (despite a dubious reference to Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades") and reminds you that Jones the song once wrote bloody interesting personal vignettes with both teeth and the emphasis on getting out around the three minute mark.
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A shame then, that they have to tear the whole thing down with a nasty, uber-sprawling 10-minute indulgence-fuelled take of "Help Me (She's Out Of Her Mind)", with all the wanky wah-wah and leather-lunged rock chick backing vox that entails. Kelly's penchant for AC/DC and Creedence Clearwater Revival may be well documented, but both these bands would birch him skinless for the crude OTT bollocks this track proffers as 'soul.' A 21st Century Bad Company, anyone? Er, nein danke, guys.
Finally, there's also a video snippet of the band backstage at the enormodomes they call home these days. This could be interesting, but it's a missed opportunity as - after only two minutes -it terminates before you get anything other than the standard behind the scenes waffle. In case you didn't realise, Stereophonics' crew now numbers 75. Not a lot of people knew that. Bet you're glad you do now, though.
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