The Alarm were one of the more important rock bands to come out of Britain in the ’80s. Teetering on the cusp of major stardom, they managed several radio hits and toured extensively as headliners, or opening for elder statesmen like Dylan and Neil Young. Committed and passionate, combined with years of hard work, they built a dedicated following on this side of the Atlantic. Known for their revolutionary anthems like “SIXTY EIGHT GUNS” and “WHERE WERE YOU HIDING (WHEN THE STORM BROKE),” they pounded out big meaty choruses with purposeful lyrics about the confrontation of authority and the potential conformity of their young lives. They even referred to their works as recordings of “electric folklore.” The tracks on this disc come from a variety of exciting sources including their Hollywood Palladium gig on the RAW tour in ’91 and their memorable appearance at Birmingham’s Powerhouse.