Dig the New Breed

by

The Jam

Edit

The Jam were one of England's best contributions to the late-seventies, early-eighties New Wave. Their melding of punk and the American soul music found on labels like Stax and Motown made for some very memorable music. And "Dig The New Breed" captures all of the bristling, hard-charging energy that was the Jam, live.

"Dig The New Breed" also serves as a pretty good career summary. The recordings range from the band's beginning in 1977 through their final tour--as UK superstars--in 1982, and have the pasted-together feel of a collage. And it works beautifully.

Any great live album should offer-up definitive renditions of studio material, an inspired cover or two, and give a strong sense of what the band was like onstage. And "Dig" succeeds on all counts.

Almost to a song, the versions on "Dig" surpass their studio counterparts--the unfortunate exception being "Going Underground". As an example, "Private Hell" throbs and quakes with an intensity totally lacking in its studio incarnation. As does "In The City". And "Dreams Of Children". And "All Mod Cons". And "Standards".

And then there's the cover of Eddie Floyd's Otis Redding-tribute, "Big Bird". Re-made in typical Jam fashion, the song just burns. It's the Jam at their rousing, raucous best.

And lest I forget, "Dig The New Breed" carries an immediacy rare in live albums. There is nothing between you and the beautiful noise Messrs. Weller, Foxton and Buckler are making. One listen and you'll know why I consider never seeing the Jam as one of my life's true regrets.

Perhaps what I like best about this album is that is doesn't take the safe, color-by-numbers approach and simply offer the band's greatest hits played in front of an audience. Sure, "Going Underground" and "That's Entertainment" and "In The City" are all here, but so are lesser-known, but equally-worthy album tracks. It is a refreshing--and illuminating--change.

For beginner or I've-got-some-but-want-more fans, "Dig The New Breed" is guaranteed to please. To my mind, it ranks with "Otis Redding Live In Europe" or Van Morrison's "It's Too Late To Stop Now" as one of the all-time great live albums.

At last a Jam album to pretty much avoid, 'Dig the New Breed' is horror versions of your favourite Jam songs played lacklustre fashion in venues like Hammersmith Palais and Edinburgh Playhouse.

Imagine listening to fuzzy, out of tune interpretations with a bit of muffled crowd roar and an aeroplane starting up in the back of the hangar and you've got 'Dig the New Breed'.

An appallingly condescending selection; singles, couple tracks from each album, one 'exclusive' song - a cover version of 'Big Bird' (No? Me neither) so the completists need buy it. All bases covered in relentlessly avaricious and insultingly contrived fashion.

So how about it pop-kids - come and get your souvenir live Jam album to commemorate the lousy farewell tour.

Sound much like Weller?