The Image Has Cracked - The Alternative TV Collection

A true historical document, this reissue of the first LP by British punk pioneers Alternative TV includes 11 — eleven — bonus tracks, comprised of all the band’s A & B sides, including their debut 1977 flexi-single, “Love Lies Limp.” Founding member Mark Perry has taken ATV through countless permutations and hiatuses over three decades. He was the thinking man’s punk, publishing one of the first zines ever — Sniffin’ Glue — and chastising punk posturing with lyrics like, “Talk about anarchy, fascism and boredom/you don’t know nothing/but you don’t really care!” (from the 1977 single, “How Much Longer?”). Their most widely known song, “Action Time Vision,” is a stellar example of the compact, razor-sharp sound of classic ‘70s punk. Scattered throughout are peerless examples of blues-punk (“Why Don’t You Do Me Right,” “Nasty Little Lonely”), well-delivered live tracks (“Splitting in Two” is downright thrilling), and indications of the experimental artist that Perry would later reveal himself to be (see 1979’s Vibing Up the Senile Man). For punk fans of all ages, there is much to (re)discover here.