Dance Hall Crashers - The Live Record: Witless Banter & 25 Mildly Antagonistic Songs About Love

Like a Best Of

THE BAND:
Dance Hall Crashers are a 3rd wave ska band. Unusually, there are no horns, instead 2 female vocalists. So this album is a collection of ska and punk songs with a slightly softer edge due to the female vocals. If you like Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake then you should check it out.

THIS CD:
As for this particular album, the sound quality is excellent so there's no worries that it's a live recording. And the "witless banter" between songs gives it a bit of personality. Yes, the vocals are fast and hard to understand (not unusual for this style), but you can always look them up on the web. 25 tracks means this is like a Best Of. Dance Hall Crasher aficionados will probably want all of their studio albums instead, but most other people will be very happy with this CD. January 1, 2008

Just as good as if you were seeing them in concert!!!

I just bought this CD and absolutely LOVE it!! I saw DHC in concert about 8 years ago in Hawaii and it was one of my all time favorites! This CD really brings back great memories of how GREAT they sound live! It's so upbeat and catchy! July 17, 2005

Not a great beginner's CD

This is my first intro to DHC. I am a big fan of groups with intelligent or interesting lyrics (TMBG, Barenaked Ladies, Nerfherder) and used the Amazon recommendation to look into them. I figured this would hit their better songs and let me decide if I want to pursue them further.

The problem with a live album is that it is harder to understand the lyrics so I am not sure if I would like a studio album since I am such a lyrics fan. They seem like a fun band with lots of energy and would be a good live show. However, I don't like how they drop the F-bomb a lot.

Overall, it is likely a very good album for DHC fans but maybe not a good starter's album. January 6, 2004

wow...just wow

To anyone reading this review, BUY THIS CD! I bought it after not knowing many DHC songs and it knocked me off of my feet. The CD was instantly on the list as one of my all time favorite CD's. There isn't one song on here not worth listening to. Trust me, it's the kind of CD you listen to in your car and decide to keep driving around, just so you can keep listening to..alright maybe I'm the only one that happened to, but trust me, there is not one song on here that you won't want to listen to. SO BUY IT ALREADY! June 12, 2003

Better Live than recorded, best DHC CD

If you're only going to own one DHC CD, it should be this one. It is a bit of a greatest hit compilation (though I miss Pick Up Lines and Setting Sun and some others) and many of the songs are better than on the studio recordings. I'll probably never get to see them live, but obviously they are meant to be heard that way.

If you can sit still through this CD, then something is wrong, because its mostly fast with many great lyrics.

Word of caution: DHC and the Ska sound is not everyone's cup of tea. But that is their loss.

Enjoy. October 18, 2002

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