ALBUM REVIEW: MISFITS - 'DEA.D.ALIVE'

There are certain things you expect when listening to the Misfits: 1950s and 60s sci-fi horror movie references, barbershop quartet style harmonies, and New York punk sensibilities.

With this latest release, you get one of those. It’s not entirely bad, but it’s not entirely the Misfits either. There’s very little, if anything, hardcore or punk about this live album. There’s also nothing from the Danzig era on this release.

Jerry does an ok job on vocals, but lacks the chops of his predecessors. Dez is listed as having vocal duties also, but well… let’s be honest, neither of them are Glenn Danzig, or even Michael Graves. (Of course, in all fairness, Danzig isn’t exactly Danzig either nowadays. We’re all getting old, man.)

The vocals come off rather flat on most of the tracks, with the exception of their cover of “Science Fiction Double Feature” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which in this reviewer’s opinion is the real jewel of the album. They’ve been doing it in their live shows for a few years now, and it makes me wonder why they never released it before now. It’s an inspired cover of a great song.

If you’re a Misfits nostalgic, this may not be the one for you. It does cover the Michael Graves era, but without Michael, it’s just not the same. Like many live releases, it lacks the polish and punch of their studio work. Chances are though; if you’ve read this far into the review you already have all or most of that material in your collection.

On the other hand, if you’re new to the Misfits, this DEFINITELY isn’t the one to start with. There’s an excellent box set of the Danzig era, and the Michael Graves stuff is easy enough to find as well. Depending on your personal preferences, there’s a lot to enjoy there.

In closing, I wanted to like this, but aside from the RHPS cover, it just feels like a cash grab. I’m giving this one 2 out of 5 skulls.