Possibly the first serious attempt by Cherry Red at
gathering some of the best bands from ’77 through to ’82 who wore the grubby T-Shirts
of punk, in one seminal gatefold double album. As noted by many commentators who
love to state the obvious, no shows by The Clash, Sex Pistols, Banshees or The
Ramones for a history of punk seems more like lawyers from the big labels getting
involved. Although prominently a collection of UK bands there are a few
classics from the colonies with The Saints, The Heartbreakers and Dead Kennedys
keeping it real. Some of the other personal highlights hidden within the soft folds
are The Adverts, Swell Maps, The Lurkers, Spizzenergi, Killing Joke and Vice
Squad. If you want a quick and entertaining education covering some of the best
music from the punk era, Burning Ambitions has it all, well almost!