Alex Chilton
wasn't in particularly good shape in the early '80s. His recording career had hit the skids, and his personal life was, if anything, even worse than his professional life. As a result,
Live in London
, which was recorded at his nadir in 1982, isn't exactly one of his finest moments. It's certainly more coherent than
Like Flies on Sherbert
, the studio album that preceded it, but it's not an inspired performance, even though his band features members of
the Soft Boys
,
the Vibrators
and
the Psychedelic Furs
. In fact, it's often shambolic and listless, providing just the merest suggestion of why
Chilton
is so revered by so many. Live performances are rarely
's forte -- he's so moody that he's either good or terrible -- but
captures him at his weakest. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine