Album Review: Unwritten Law - 'Live and Lawless CD/DVD'

31 October 2008 | 6:18 pm | Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

Old dudes still know how to rock

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Unwritten Law are back with their newly released CD/DVD combo Live & Lawless. This will be the second live album for the band, having last released Here’s to the Mourning (2005) and Music in High Places (2003 Live album). 


Unwritten Law started back in 1990, playing fast punk beats and became well known for the live sets. Over the next couple of years the band got the attention of both Epic and Interscope Records and has released records here and there not really attracting the mainstream crowd until 2002 ditching their punk roots for more hard rock, radio friendly tunes. And although their sound has slightly changed over the year’s theres one thing that you have to hand to these guys, it’s their consistency with playing live. I have to admit Ive seen these guys a couple of times and they’re pretty aite. They have established a reputation as being a top live act and Live & Lawless continues this trend.


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Recorded back in March 2008, at the renowned Key Club on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip The DVD/CD kicks off with “Underground” and you immediately know its gonna be a freakin awesome gig. The energy, the sweat and the hardcore kids going mental is an awesome sight to see and brings back memories of the good ‘ol days when music wasn’t so complicated. Also the line up has once again changed, continuing on as a four piece (Rob Brewer- guitarist was fired from the band back in 2005 after disputes with the band members and was not replaced) with Scott Russo – vocals, Steve Morris – guitar, PK – bass and new addition Dylan Howard – drums.


“Rescue Me” and “Cailin” follow on in the same fashion, not stopping the tempo at all the gig rolls on and gets to “Shoulda Known Better” and man I love this song I think theres just something about it that gets me going every time and the fact that the kids are shouting/screaming along, well isn’t that what every band wants? Or is it only the ones that haven’t sold their soul to the devil. 


Other crowd pleasers are “Lost Control”, “Save Me” and “CPH”, which all show the bands different approaches to music. Some songs are more hard rock; some go back to bands roots of short fast punk. Nevertheless the band is popular with the crowd and everyone seems to be getting into it. Before getting into “Save Me” front man Scott Russo shares some words of wisdom and asks for some crowd participation and gets into the song at this point you know the gigs drawing to a close.  


The album closes with the first song Unwritten Law ever wrote, “CPK” and it’s an awesome closer, fast and loud, back to their roots.  


Two of my favourite songs didn’t make the cut on the CD, “Shallow” and “Rest of My Life”. “Shallow” being and older track from back in the day played acoustically was a fantastic song and deserved to make the list but I guess being an older song it mightn’t have appealed to the younger generation of fans?? Don’t get me wrong I like the set list but wish they'd go back into their older Oz Factor/Blue Room material.  

Unwritten Law are one of my favourite bands and I hate to sound biased but I enjoyed this album. Even though my boyfriend through my copy out the car window (The CD may have been on rotation on our trip form Melbourne to Sydney …and back), I loved Live and Lawless and say kudos to UL for raising the bar, performance wise.  It possibly may just be a fans only kinda thing seeing as the songs are just live versions of the last three albums. The DVD is also worth a look, it has a couple of bonus tracks (“Elva”, “Shallow” and a couple more) interviews and videos worthy of a look.

CD 

1. Underground 

2. Teenage Suicide 

3. Rescue Me 

4. Cailin 

5. California Sky 

6. Blame It On Me 

7. Shoulda Known Better 

8. Celebration Song 

9. Mean Girl 

10. Seein’ Red 

11. Babylon 

12. Lost Control 

13. Oblivion 

14. Save Me 

15. Up All Night 

16. CPK 

17. Shoulda Known Better (Bonus)  

 

DVD 

1. Underground 

2. Teenage Suicide 

3. Rescue Me 

4. Cailin 

5. California Sky 

6. Blame It On Me 

7. Shoulda Known Better 

8. Celebration Song 

9. Mean Girl 

10. Seein’ Red 

11. Babylon 

12. Lonesome 

13. Rest Of My Life 

14. She Says 

15. Before I Go 

16. Elva 

17. Shallow 

18. Lost Control 

19. Oblivion 

20. Save Me 

21. Up All Night 

22. CPK