Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three [Amazon.com Exclusive Limited Edition]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Holy countercultural confluence! For the cause of fundraising for the defense of a trio of legally bound Arkansas headbangers--one of whom is currently on death row on the basis of hearsay testimony--Henry Rollins has resurrected the sacrosanct songs of his legendary former Los Angeles hardcore band Black Flag. Much as he first joined the popular Flag by jumping on stage and grabbing the microphone, Rollins here assigns lead vocals to a bewildering array of guests, including Iggy Pop, Dean Ween, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Tom Araya of Slayer, Queens of the Stone Age, and Ice T. The Rollins Band convincingly serves as caustic backing band throughout. Protest music godfather Chuck D. of Public Enemy appears as well, though simply to introduce the album. Many of the singers, whether inspired by the cause itself or the muscular caliber of Black Flag's music, deliver the rebellious message with heartfelt intensity. Motorhead leader Lemmy's ripping version of "Thirsty and Miserable" is a stunning highlight, as is Hank Williams III's psychotic "No Values." Former Flag singers Keith Morris and Chuck Dukowski bring their veteran intensity, and Rollins himself shouts "My War," "TV Party," "Black Coffee," "Annihilate This Week," "Slip It In," and the title track. (Flag guitarist-lyricist Greg Ginn is notably absent, though his trademark clear Lucite guitar joins the West Memphis Three defendants on the cover artwork.) The participating musicians' anger and frustration over the West Memphis Three case, which has been detailed in HBO's Paradise Lost documentaries, is well matched with the giant fury of this band. --Ian Christe

Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good Music For A Bad Cause
  • Great Songs, Great Cause!
  • Truth or complacency? The choice is yours.
  • English as a second language for Americans
  • a testament to the surviving power of music
 Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Broken Summers
  2. The End of Silence
  3. Slip It In
  4. My War
  5. Damaged

ASIN: B00006JBKR
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

  1. Rise Above - Chuck D & Henry Rollins
  2. Nervous Breakdown - Keith Morris
  3. Fix Me - Iggy Pop
  4. American Waste - Neil Fallon of Clutch
  5. I've Had it - Cedric Bixler Zavala of The Mars Volta
  6. I've Heard It Before - Jeff Moreira of Poison the Well
  7. Room 13 - Corey Taylor of Slipknot
  8. Wasted - Exene Cervenka
  9. Jealous Again - Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age
  10. TV Party - Henry Rollins
  11. No Values - Hank III
  12. Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie - Dean Ween
  13. Depression - Casey Chaos of Amen
  14. Six Pack - Mike Patton
  15. Police Story - Ice T
  16. Revenge - Tom Araya of Slayer
  17. Thirsty & Miserable - Lemmy
  18. What I See - Chuck Dukowski
  19. No More - Tim Armstrong & Lars Frederiksen
  20. Black Coffee - Henry Rollins
  21. Slip It In - Henry Rollins & Inger Lorre
  22. Annihilate This Week - Henry Rollins, Kira Roessler
  23. My War - Henry Rollins
  24. Nervous Breakdown - Ryan Adams (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

Holy countercultural confluence! For the cause of fundraising for the defense of a trio of legally bound Arkansas headbangers--one of whom is currently on death row on the basis of hearsay testimony--Henry Rollins has resurrected the sacrosanct songs of his legendary former Los Angeles hardcore band Black Flag. Much as he first joined the popular Flag by jumping on stage and grabbing the microphone, Rollins here assigns lead vocals to a bewildering array of guests, including Iggy Pop, Dean Ween, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Tom Araya of Slayer, Queens of the Stone Age, and Ice T. The Rollins Band convincingly serves as caustic backing band throughout. Protest music godfather Chuck D. of Public Enemy appears as well, though simply to introduce the album. Many of the singers, whether inspired by the cause itself or the muscular caliber of Black Flag's music, deliver the rebellious message with heartfelt intensity. Motorhead leader Lemmy's ripping version of "Thirsty and Miserable" is a stunning highlight, as is Hank Williams III's psychotic "No Values." Former Flag singers Keith Morris and Chuck Dukowski bring their veteran intensity, and Rollins himself shouts "My War," "TV Party," "Black Coffee," "Annihilate This Week," "Slip It In," and the title track. (Flag guitarist-lyricist Greg Ginn is notably absent, though his trademark clear Lucite guitar joins the West Memphis Three defendants on the cover artwork.) The participating musicians' anger and frustration over the West Memphis Three case, which has been detailed in HBO's Paradise Lost documentaries, is well matched with the giant fury of this band. --Ian Christe

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good Music For A Bad Cause.......2007-03-07

Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three is a case of good music being used to support a bad cause. The music, contributed by the likes of Henry Rollins and other leading musicians is pretty good on the whole. However, there is quite a bit of pro-West Memphis 3 stuff on this CD and all of the profits from sales of this CD goes to help legal efforts on behalf of the WM 3.

This would be a good thing if there was good reason to believe that the WM 3 really were framed for a crime that they commit. Problem is the pro-WM 3 material on this CD contains many factual errors and fails to make a persuasive case to believe in the innocence of the WM 3.

If you want to listen to this good music, then the thing to do is to look for it at your local public library, secondhand music shop or borrow it from a friend. Don't let your good money go to support a bad cause like the West Memphis 3.

5 out of 5 stars Great Songs, Great Cause!.......2007-02-16

Black Flags is undeniably one of the greatest punk bands ever and it is great to hear artists sush as Hank Williams III pay tribute to this great band. Plus it gives attention to a great injustice. Help support the West Memphis 3!

5 out of 5 stars Truth or complacency? The choice is yours........2005-01-23

Those who will enjoy this disc are people who have both an understanding of great music and a respect for the law. Those who do not care about either probably will not care for this. Certainly this is for fans of Black Flag, Henry Rollins, and all the artists compiled here. (Ryan Adams contributes a great version of "Nervous Breakdown" and Hank III does "No Values," which is simply incredible.)

This is not for fans of ignorance or complacency in any of its forms. Certainly NOT for fans who think Henry Rollins is just trying to "free convicted murderers." And certainly NOT for fans who think that people who read Stephen King books are all Satanic killers.

Watch the "Paradise Lost" HBO documentaries, read "Devil's Knot" and "Blood of Innocents" and form educated opinions. Don't impugn Rollins or any of these musicians for having higher standards for OUR legal system and wanting to make sure we have the truth. When three people are convicted on hearsay and circumstantial evidence and one is sentenced to death, you can expect people from all over the country to take notice and want to get involved, because some of us still believe in justice and the separation of church and state. Anything less is un-American.

This is Henry Rollins' attempt to raise money for the truth, whatever it may be. Rollins told one victim's family as much. If the WM3 are proven guilty, at least we will have more to rely on than hearsay and Satanic Panic (you know, like actual, concrete evidence, which has been absent from this case since the start). The phrase "innocent until proven guilty" simply does not apply to this case. The prosecution proved nothing, except that West Memphis, Arkansas is a place free-thinking people probably shouldn't visit. Pardon the rest of America for thinking Metallica CDs aren't quite enough to prove someone is a murderer.

This is a great effort on the part of all the musicians involved, and it proves that ignorance still has opposition in America.

5 out of 5 stars English as a second language for Americans.......2004-05-31

(...) The WM3 were convicted of the crimes. This is true. They were convicted based on hearsay and circumstantial evidence, not to mention a healthy dose of christian (ugh) fundamentalism. The truth is out there, but the ignorant sit in their churches and ignore it because it is easier to do.

This a compact disc full of MUSIC, however, and that is the real point here. You can't get much better than this with Henry Rollins being joined by Black Flag alums like Chuck Dukowski and Keith Morris, as well as Hank Williams III (the best REAL country musician working today), Lemmy from Motorhead, Exene from X, Ryan Adams, Tom from Slayer, Nick from Mondo Generator, and plenty more. The music is all provided by Mother Superior, a terriffic caustic rock trio with plenty of CDs of their own out there. They are best known as the Rollins Band, mach II, of course. They became his backing band a few years ago, although this is no longer the case. Henry is set to reveal a new band soon. They tear it up here, and the guitar sound is nearly perfect since the Dan Armstrong guitar donated to the cause was used for the recording, getting close to that classic Greg Ginn sound.

Black Flag are one of the ten most important bands in the history of music, and these songs should not be missed. Check this disc out, then check out some of the original releases for a real lesson in rock and roll.

And check out the Paradise Lost films for a lesson in how easily the US court system can break down when it is allowed to be placed in the hands of ignorant rednecks who don't understand that church and state are required BY LAW to remain separate and distinct.

If the victims in this case were my family, I would want the real killer or killers to be found. I would not want to find the nearest scapegoat and ruin that person (or in this case persons) life. Punishing scapegoats is what the nazis did, isn't it?

5 out of 5 stars a testament to the surviving power of music.......2003-12-24

I had never heard of the west memphis three case until this benifit CD came out. It wasn't until recently that I bought the CD, and ever since I've purchased it, I've been blown away by the intensity and quality. I think it's a testament to the still surviving power of music, and especially Black Flag style punk rock that so much talent has come together for such a controversial but noble cause. If you're a Black Flag, Rollins Band, Henry Rollins, etc., fan, buy this CD. If you're not a rock fan, at least check out the case, or at least how it's laid out by the CD insert. Without voices like Rollins, there will never be hope for justice in America.
Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three [Amazon.com Exclusive Limited Edition]
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great album
  • This is a wastey one
  • WHOAH!!!!
  • best benefit album ever!!
  • Wow!
 Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three [Amazon.com Exclusive Limited Edition]
Various Artists
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006MLT2
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

  1. Rise Above - Chuck D & Henry Rollins
  2. Nervous Breakdown - Keith Morris
  3. Fix Me - Iggy Pop
  4. American Waste - Neil Fallon of Clutch
  5. I've Had it - Cedric Bixler Zavala of The Mars Volta
  6. I've Heard It Before - Jeff Moreira of Poison the Well
  7. Room 13 - Corey Taylor of Slipknot
  8. Wasted - Exene Cervenka
  9. Jealous Again - Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age
  10. TV Party - Henry Rollins
  11. No Values - Hank III
  12. Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie - Dean Ween
  13. Depression - Casey Chaos of Amen
  14. Six Pack - Mike Patton
  15. Police Story - Ice T
  16. Revenge - Tom Araya of Slayer
  17. Thirsty & Miserable - Lemmy
  18. What I See - Chuck Dukowski
  19. No More - Tim Armstrong & Lars Frederiksen
  20. Black Coffee - Henry Rollins
  21. Slip It In - Henry Rollins & Inger Lorre
  22. Annihilate This Week - Henry Rollins, Kira Roessler
  23. My War - Henry Rollins
  24. Nervous Breakdown - Ryan Adams (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

  1. Rise Above - Chuck D & Henry Rollins (w/introduction by Henry Rollins)
  2. Nervous Breakdown - Keith Morris (w/introduction by Henry Rollins)
  3. Six Pack - Mike Patton (w/introduction by Henry Rollins)
  4. TV Party - Henry Rollins (w/introduction by Henry Rollins)
  5. Thirsty and Miserable - Lemmy (w/introduction by Henry Rollins)

Amazon.com

Holy countercultural confluence! For the cause of fundraising for the defense of a trio of legally bound Arkansas headbangers--one of whom is currently on death row on the basis of hearsay testimony--Henry Rollins has resurrected the sacrosanct songs of his legendary former Los Angeles hardcore band Black Flag. Much as he first joined the popular Flag by jumping on stage and grabbing the microphone, Rollins here assigns lead vocals to a bewildering array of guests, including Iggy Pop, Dean Ween, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Tom Araya of Slayer, Queens of the Stone Age, and Ice T. The Rollins Band convincingly serves as caustic backing band throughout. Protest music godfather Chuck D. of Public Enemy appears as well, though simply to introduce the album. Many of the singers, whether inspired by the cause itself or the muscular caliber of Black Flag's music, deliver the rebellious message with heartfelt intensity. Motorhead leader Lemmy's ripping version of "Thirsty and Miserable" is a stunning highlight, as is Hank Williams III's psychotic "No Values." Former Flag singers Keith Morris and Chuck Dukowski bring their veteran intensity, and Rollins himself shouts "My War," "TV Party," "Black Coffee," "Annihilate This Week," "Slip It In," and the title track. (Flag guitarist-lyricist Greg Ginn is notably absent, though his trademark clear Lucite guitar joins the West Memphis Three defendants on the cover artwork.) The participating musicians' anger and frustration over the West Memphis Three case, which has been detailed in HBO's Paradise Lost documentaries, is well matched with the giant fury of this band. --Ian Christe

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great album.......2007-06-16

If you're here looking at the Amazon.com Limited Edition, there's a thing or two you should know. This was on my Wish List for a long time before anyone sold it here. When I finally ordered it, I got a promo CD in a slipcase that has the interviews and introductions (which make up disc 2 above). I'm not mad, I just wish I had the Rise Above album with it. I'll just go to Henry's website and buy another copy. So just so you know, that's an issue.

5 out of 5 stars This is a wastey one.......2005-01-23

This is pretty much third on my Black Flag list. I saw them in Seattle in 83 and 84, and I saw Rollins tour with Tool in a discotheque under the Space Needle. I saw him do the talking thing, too.
Number one will always be Damaged. It got me through high school without killing myself or others, rough times.
Number two is "Who's got the 10.5" because, well, have you ever thought about getting yourself some? You know what I'm talking about.
This one is number three. The guitars sound too clean and controlled, not enough screw ups to make it have the real "wheels flying off and sparks spraying out about to blow" Black Flag feel. But it still destroyed anything that came out on a major label. Henry is middle aged and he is still on the high hard road. I wish Greg Ginn would have sucked it up and played some skanky guitar on some of these tracks, but no, and after reading "Broken Summer," and having listened to "Get in the Van" on cd, I guess maybe that's not realistic.
This is a must own. Buy it now. Or wallow in your own filth, weakness and failure.

5 out of 5 stars WHOAH!!!!.......2004-02-17

I'm not that big of a fan of Black Flag. I mean they kick ass and I have three of their albums, but I'm just not that big of a fan. Anyway, I went down to my local record stor a few days ago to check out what they had, and I saw this Black Flag CD sitting in a clear case with no cover art. I ask the guy what it is and he says "some sort of promo thing". I ask what he wants for it and I get it for $5. Then I go home, pop it in, and hear the best versions of all my favorite Black Flag songs ever! I didn't even realize it was someone else singing until I came on here. Wow! What a find!

5 out of 5 stars best benefit album ever!!.......2002-12-24

although most of the songs can hardly be done better than the originals there are some tracks that really stand out as 'taken from a fresh perspective', and i'm not talking about lemmy struggling to keep up on 'thirsty and miserable' but Hank the 3rd really nails 'no values' and hearing Lint say 'survivor' on 'tv party' cracks me up every time, and the bonus disc with rollins's gushing praise of the artists who gave of themselves for a worthy cause was worth the price of admission by itself!

5 out of 5 stars Wow!.......2002-12-14

Oh my god! I ordered this from Rollins' website about a month ago. It's still in my car and I love cranking the volume to 11. I like every song on the album and am amazed how Mother Superior did Greg Ginn justice! Henry's vocals are great! The guest vocalists are wonderful. This is my pick for album of the year (and it's for a worthy cause!). Henry you have outdone yourself with this project. Way to go, man!

I really liked the way TV Party was updated with shows such as Rosie O'Donnel and Ally McBeal. Hank III does a kick ... job on No Values. Tom Araya explodes on Revenge. Ice T was perfect for redoing Police Story. Ryan Adams' version of Nervous Breakdown is sublime. I often listen to that track twice. The intro by Chuck D is chilling and Rise Above has never been more rockin'.

I've been listening to Black Flag since 1981 when I was a Freshman in High School. This album has really brought back some fond memories. You owe it to yourself to buy this one immediately and buy a few for your friends and relatives!

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