(LP,CD) misfits records. / rykodisc. / 10 tracks / jul 2003

J (CD): ? / 2003

Three limited edition LP pressings: First US version on blue vinyl in gatefold sleeve, 1000 made. Second US version like first, but on purple vinyl, 1000 made. Euro pressing on green vinyl in regular album cover, with printed inner sleeve and lyric sheet, 3000 made. First pressing of US CD version includes bonus DVD with 10 live video tracks of the album tracks. Limited Japanese CD version with bonus 5” vinyl single with “Day the Earth caught Fire”, a Balzac cover version; B side has live version played by Balzac with Jerry Only singing.

Jerry Only on vocals now, can you believe it…? He is what Michale Graves wasn’t: a bad Glenn Danzig impersonator. His singing is actually surprisingly good, but this faux Danzig-style just kills it. The songs on this album are all punkified cover versions of 50’s songs, so the musical style is a bit lighter than their usual horror stuff, still the music sounds tight and crisp - no wonder, with Dez Cadena (ex-Black Flag) on guitar and Marky Ramone on drums. Overall, this record is kind of fun, but it’s also deconstructing a legend. [7]

Jerry Only als Misfits-Sänger, das ist etwa so wie die Beatles mit Ringo Starr am Mikro. Und er ist genau das, was Michale Graves nicht war: eine schlechte Glenn-Danzig-Kopie. Ansonsten besteht diese LP aus Punk-Coverversionen von Songs aus den 50ern; kommt aber ganz gut, Dez Cadena und Marky Ramone kriegen einen dichten, knackigen Sound hin. Insgesamt ganz lustig, aber gleichzeitig auch die Demontage einer Legende.

Tracks: this magic moment / dream lover / diana / donna / great balls of fire // latest flame / monster mash / only make believe / runaway / you belong to me