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 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

The Residents Featuring Snakefinger - Live In The USA - 13th Anniversary [Klanggalerie - 2015]

Live In The USA - 13th Anniversary ( aka 13th Anniversary Show) is one of the key & classic live recordings of The Residents from the 1980’s. It features a selection of classic Resident’s tunes, dating back to earliest work all the way to material from the mid 1980’s, and most importantly it featured the distinctive & one off guitar talents of Snakefinger.

This well deserved & long needed 2015 reissue on Austrian experimental label Klanggalerie- it comes in the form of a double CD set which takes in the whole of this celebrated performance.  Sadly over the years this releases has received an ltd releases- so it’s great this un-limited version out there for all to hear. The album was first released in 1986, as a two cassette edition on Ralph Records- this first issue came in two ltd versions, a 200 & a 300 copy edition.  The only other re-issue of the album happened way back in 1993, when it appeared a double CD set on the bands fan club label Uweb in an edition of 500 number copies- so as I said this is most certainly a long needed reissue.

So moving onto the music it’s self, and the show here was recorded on 10th of February in Minneapolis( save for “Kaw-liga the final track which was recorded in Europe). The release takes in total 29 tracks, and these move from very early tracks like "Smelly Tongues"( off the bands  1974 debut Meet The Residents), onto rendition of classics like "Lizard Lady" & "Hello Skinny" ( both from their break through odd pop classic 1978’s Duck Stab / Buster & Glen). Moving onto a selection of shorter  tracks from 1980’s Commercial Album, through to classic Resident’s covers like "This Is A Man’s Man’s World" & "Jail House Rock".  Sound-wise we get the mix of that classic odd yet often memorable Resident's sound from the 1980’s, mixing together the bands churning & off-kilter synths/ electronics, the singing Resident’s  wonky/flamboyant & at times unhinged vocals. All topped off with Snakefingers guitar work which goes from quirkily inventive, playful, onto manic.  Added to this is a nice clear recording( where you can barely hear crowd), with the band giving often smoking & highly rewarding renditions of old & new tracks alike.

Apparently the whole thing has been given a remastered, and I must say it sounds a lot more clear & defined compared with the bootleg copy I previously heard. The singing Resident’s voice roars & oddly croons, while Snakefingers playing is nicely roasting & searing- I guess the only thing that does often get  lost in the mix is the keyboard/ electronic elements; but you do get peaks & valleys in the guitar & vocal elements, so from time to time these lower mix elements do get more clearly heard.

The two discs come in a fold out six panel glossy CD folder, and this takes in effect mangled pictures from the time, & a short page of linear notes. I guess it would have been nice to have maybe a proper inlay booklet, but it’s only a minor quibble & it's more than great to have this classic live recording back in print.

So in summing this is truly one of the great live recordings of The Resident’s career, but as with most live albums I’m not sure if this is the ideal entry to the bands discography (as some of the track versions here are a little raw). But if you’ve already checked out classic period Resident albums like: Meet The Residents, Duck Stab / Buster & Glen, The Commercial Album, Fingerprince, or Not Available this is a must have release, as you get to hear many album tracks  live with raw vigour, seared by quirky flair, and good old strange-ness( as only The Residents can do).

Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5

Roger Batty
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