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Letters from the Underground (2CD) | 
| Artist: The Levellers
Label: Universal
Category: Music
New (8) Used (1) from £11.50
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 6663
Format: Limited Edition
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
EAN: 5025425101663
ASIN: B0019I167S
Release Date: August 11, 2008
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | The Cholera Well | | • | Death Loves Youth | | • | Eyes Wide | | • | Before The End | | • | Burn America, Burn | | • | Heart Of The Country | | • | Behold the Pale Rider | | • | A Life Less Ordinary | | • | Accidental Anarchist | | • | Duty | | • | Fight Or Flight |
Disc 2
| • | On The Beach | | • | The Everyday | | • | TV Suicides | | • | Burn America Burn [Video] |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
English folk-punk stalwarts the Levellers have come in for their fair share of stick over the last 15 years, with many continuously asserting they wouldn't fancy touching them with a particularly lengthy one. Much of the derision may stem from ugly social bigotry centred on the fact that they look allergic to the idea of a good sponging, but the bulk is of their own making--firstly for scrubbing up to chase radio playlists and sell-out arena tours in a misguided advance on Britpop's commercial bounty (see Zeitgeist and Mouth to Mouth), and secondly by becoming so anaemically middle of the road that fresh road-kill looked more revolutionary (Hello Pig). But with Letters from the Underground they've pulled off the ageing band's prerogative of dropping the artifice in favour of getting back to what they're good at. And they've done it with some real aplomb. It's essentially involved them throwing their classic Levelling the Land breakthrough at a wall, sticking the pieces back together and re-firing over current political blazes. So the fiddle frazzled high-kicking of "Cholera Well" and self-explanatory "Burn, America, Burn" wreak lyrical wrath on post-9/11 aggression, "Pale Rider" taking a post-7/7 UK perspective, while the didgeridoo underpinned (yes, indeed, that icon of crustiness returns too) "Before the End" is more personal, more tender, though no less fraught. They've regained their bite, like imparting these opinions and observations is a calling they have no choice but to answer. And it turns out that's better for us all than you might have thought. --James Berry
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Levellers Back On Top August 29, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you're hesitating about buying this album-Don't.Buy it now.Fantastic return to form.Say no more !!!!!
Nice! August 25, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A nice short n sweet review. Letters From The Underground is a return to form for the Lev's. In my opinion up there with their best.
 Beautiful Days returning??? August 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of the other reviewers suggested people should catch the Levellers live...
As it happens, that's just what I've just done. I spent this last weekend (15th - 18th August 2008) at Levellers very own BEAUTIFUL DAYS festival at Escot Park in Devon... I've seen the Levs many times over the years and remain a firm fan despite not having THOROUGHLY enjoyed an album since "Zeitgeist". This isn't a fezzy review though... all I'll say is it was muddy but brilliant, though Levellers themselves were oddly lacklustre considering the festival is their baby...
Which leads me on to this new album...
Let me say first, to anyone who doesn't really know much about the band... stop reading now and go and buy their first 4 albums... then buy the others and, finally, buy this... it'll put what I have to say into context.
As a fan it's hard to be objective, but I think the last few albums have been mediocre or worse... so I was expecting "Letters From The Underground" to be equally poor. Boy am I surprised!!!
The thing I loved about the early Levellers material was the rawness and energy to it. This was something I felt they lost once they made a few quid and got to fool around in much more high-tech studios. Also, I guess that as we get older the flame dampens and priorities change a bit... and it becomes hard to sustain the sense of social and moral outrage that fuels us when we are young. I believe that's what happened to the Levs.
I don't think they ever stopped caring though, and "Letters..." is proof of that. I don't think any of the songs on this album are as strong or memorable as the angry anthems of the late 80s/early 90s. Nevertheless, I am almost weeping with relief that my undoubted favourite band have finally fulfilled the promise of a return to form that they hinted at but never quite achieved on "Green Blade Rising" or "Truth & Lies".
This new album is brimming with the attitude and anger of old. The aggression and energy is restored, both in the playing, the lyrics and the singing. The band are as tight and coherent as ever. I'm amazed and delighted. I didn't think I'd be able to recommend the album and I am overwhelmed that I'm able to say, to new and old fans alike, you MUST spend your pennies on "Letters From The Underground"...
Stand-out track for me? BEHOLD A PALE RIDER..
A great album from a great band... August 17, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Think of two great bands together, then all at once. Think The Beatles, The Kinks, The Stones. Then, think The Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Pistols. Now throw `em all together and add a violin with a sprinkling of late 70s'/early 80s' anarcho-punk (Crass, The Mob, Zoundz, Poison Girls, Flux of...).
Levellers (there's no definite article) are often vilified by the media for expressing a political message in their songs, as though it's not the `in thing' to do. But, isn't this what great writers do? Blake, Dickens, Shakespeare, Defoe, Heller, Fitzgerald... the best writing embodies the socio-political climate of the time and it's this type of writing we remember. Yeah, there's a love song, but it's `barbed' and the best love song you'll hear this year.
Lyrically perceptive the songs have come at the right time, with a complacent Britain realising things are turning to shit. It's a poignant reminder; a kick up the backside for those too far up their own backsides to realise, they've never had it so bad.
Many kids today aren't exposed to a wide range of (musical) genres so they're happy with the dross that catches them. Play them Levellers and you don't get the response you expect; you are surprised they want more. Play Levellers again and you gain their respect. Education through entertainment? How many kids watch the news?
I guess what I am trying to say is this: it's the best album I've heard this year and I can see it being on the shortlist for next year's Mercury Music Prize. If you don't believe me then listen or try catch Levellers this year at a venue near you.
Yeah!!!! August 15, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Not a proper review, as I've only listened to it once. What can I say- stonking tunes, thoughtful lyrics and plenty of fiddle. Got up for a quick jig around the front room a few times, always a sign of a good Levellers track!
If you like the Levellers, buy this album.
Roll on Dec when they come to Cornwall!!!
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