Intense, yet remarkably childlike at the same time
mianfei | 09/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The original ESG compilation A South Bronx Story revealed one of the most distinctive groups around in the early 1980s new wave era.
If much too much of the "punk revolution" was little more than self-conscious, childish thuggishness that is terribly difficult to listen to, the Scroggins sisters achieved a remarkable feat in maintaining and even extending the simplicity so praised without in any way falling into the dreadful trap of self-consciousness. A South Bronx Story, Volume 1 was extremely innocent and quirky, but the second supplementary volume released six years after the original shows ESG in a much more intense, passionate light.
This is evident from the first two tracks, the previously unavailable 1987 EP track "Bam Bam Jam" and an alternative take of the 1991 "Erase You". On both the sound is totally recognisable but the intensity with which the Scroggins sisters play is a delightful surprise. Rene's chant-like vocal on "In The Street" is beautifully touching, and even the guitar solo seems to work well. "There Was A Time" showed another side of ESG unheard on the first South Bronx Story with a long jam that still sounds as utterly distinctive as anything they did even with the haunting, atmospheric vocal. This newfound intensity is also seen on "I Wanna Dance" and especially the fiery "Standing In Line" that seemingly makes good of the worst clichés found from music in the late 1970s and 1980s - simple, bare playing and touching vocals do it all. The sisters' first single "Six Pack" features a really dreamy and beautiful vocal that must be heard.
To sum up, this is both a welcome addition and a pleasant surprise for those thrilled by the reissue of most of ESG's masterful 1980s work on the first South Bronx Story."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1