Customer Reviews
Levellers Back On Top - By: Paul Tinker, 29 Aug 2008 
If you're hesitating about buying this album-Don't.Buy it now.Fantastic return to form.Say no more !!!!!
Nice! - By: Ben Grimm76, 25 Aug 2008 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??? - By: Mr. T. M. Ray, 21 Aug 2008 
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 Parkin Devon... I've seen the Levs many times over the years & 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 & go & 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 & energy to it. This was something I felt they lost once they made a few quid & got to fool aroundin much more high-tech studios. Also, I guess that as we get older the flame dampens & priorities change a bit... & it becomes hard to sustain the sense of social & 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, & "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 & anger of old. The aggression & energy is restored, bothin the playing, the lyrics & the singing. The band are as tight & coherent as ever. I'm amazed & delighted. I didn't think I'd be able to recommend the album & I am overwhelmed that I'm able to say, to new & 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... - By: A. Miles, 17 Aug 2008 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 & 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 messagein 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 & it's this type of writing we remember. Yeah, there's a love song, but it's `barbed' & 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 & you don't get the response you expect; you are surprised they want more. Play Levellers again & 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 & 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!!!! - By: D. Denman, 15 Aug 2008 Not a proper review, as I've only listened to it once. What can I say- stonking tunes, thoughtful lyrics & 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!!!
