Christ the Album [Remastered]

by Crass

Overview

Released with unplanned irony as the Falklands War raged -- an event that would provide grist for the band's eventual masterwork, Yes Sir I Will -- Christ, another two-album half-studio/half-live set like Stations of the Crass, once again aims to take no prisoners. Ratcheting up the continued "leave no stone unturned" lyrical approach that characterized the group from the start, Crass again sounds like the group's about to explode in eight million directions. Ignorant takes over the lead vocal role again, his rough ramalama bitterly leading the charge against the loathed Thatcher government and the society that allowed it to come into power. Libertine, here appearing as Peeve Libido, adds backing vocals while De Vivre takes the lead on "Birth Control" and "Sentiment." Free's guitar work roars along with the usual vim, as does the Pete Wright aka Sybil Right/Rimbaud rhythm section, while continual spiking of the musical punch via production or sonic collages, or even almost power pop catchiness at points, prevents things from being one note. "Reality Whitewash" even has a swelling string and brass combination to propel it along. Mock and real found-sound bites, from official statements to slams at Crass itself, pepper the studio side as bridges between songs or concurrently running elements of the tunes themselves. While hints had always been present in earlier songs, Crass collectively starts wearing their hearts on their sleeves even more than before; "I Know There Is Love" is another all-encompassing rejection of societal roles in favor of a real, untainted feeling, at once impolite and passionate. The live material, recorded at a June 1981 show, is interspersed with a variety of material from other sources, including more found-sound/media snippets and, in an interesting nod to the past, two cuts from the group's very first time in a studio. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	09/27/2019
Label:	One Little Indian
UPC:	5016958995348
Rank:	32889

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Crass   Primary Artist
Paul Ellis   Strings,Keyboards
Steve Ignorant   Vocals
N.A. Palmer   Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Phil Free   Guitar,Synthesizer
Hari Nana   Vocals
Sybil Right   Bass
Elvis Rimbaud   Drums,Radio
Eve Libertine   Vocals
Joy de Vivre   Vocals
Peeve Libido   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Crass   Composer
Steve Ignorant   Composer
Penny Rimbaud   Composer
Jean Paul Marat   Liner Notes
Elvis Rimbaud   Composer
Annie Anxiety   Composer
Eve Libertine   Composer
Pete Wright   Composer
Joy de Vivre   Composer
G Sus   Composer