Suggest to any random music fan that an Adam and the Ants bootleg would be a worthwhile listen, and the reaction will likely be that of incredulity. But it's no joke -- In Bondage is actually a fantastic selection of studio demos and a full concert from the Ants' first years that was assembled by... [+] Expand

Suggest to any random music fan that an Adam and the Ants bootleg would be a worthwhile listen, and the reaction will likely be that of incredulity. But it's no joke -- In Bondage is actually a fantastic selection of studio demos and a full concert from the Ants' first years that was assembled by people who knew exactly what they were doing, with sound as clear as possible, brief but informative liner notes, and some fun photos of Monsieur Ant in his S&M punk days. The first four tracks are from a late-1979 demo session, just before the Ants broke through to the big time in the U.K.; it's quite interesting to hear sharp takes of "Kick" and "Cartrouble" without the Burundi-style drumming that helped the band hit the charts, while a snarling version of "Physical (You're So)" is at least the equal of the Kings studio version. The next five are from a late-1978 studio date, featuring rough takes on early numbers as "B-Side Baby" and "Zerox," with the surprising addition of harmonica on nearly all the tracks. The live songs top it all off, coming from an astonishingly early Ants date at London's Marquee Club in January 1978. While nearly all of the 16 tunes, familiar or not, are played as okay-enough glam-punk, they're infused with Adam's entertainingly dramatic vocals and between-song asides, giving a slightly hysterical edge to things throughout (especially on "Lou," where someone else adds extra shrieking). Some of the differences are quite entertaining -- the bondage fantasy "Whip in My Valise," given a slow reading in studio, here rips along at 120 mph, making lines like "Who taught you to torture?" even more funny. As a document of brattish garage rock, the live set couldn't be finer, and is reason alone for even more casual fans to keep an eye out for the disc. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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