U.K. Subs - Punk Can Take It

Named after the Julien Temple-directed documentary on this long-running class-of-1977 U.K. punk band, U.k. Subs' Punk Can Take It is a mishmash compilation of demos and live tracks covering the group's initial 1979-1982 incarnation. For all but the most die-hard fans, this period was the band's career pinnacle, with the combination of guitarist Nicky Garratt and singer Charlie Harper coming across almost like a yobbish U.K. version of Joey and Johnny, right down to the Ramones-style blur of songs like "Confrontation Street." This was only one side of the group, though, as shown by the nervy new wave of the martial "Divide 8 x 5" and the almost Joy Division-like post-punk atmospherics of "Sensitive Boys." Punk Can Take It is strictly for the fans, though; the fidelity of these demos and live tracks is on the iffy side, and the polished studio versions of the songs are invariably better. Read More