MVD Visual
Bad Brains certainly deserve their reputation as racial and stylistic barrier-breakers, and as one of the best hardcore bands of the genre's early-'80s first wave. But this chaotic, no-budget hour's worth of live footage — culled from the D.C. band's three-night stand in New York City around Christmas of '82 — isn't about that. It's neither a crucial nor definitive document. Live at CBGB is really just about the energy, catharsis and no-holds-barred crowd participation of an old-school all-ages hardcore show that just happens to feature one of that scene's most adventurous acts. And on that level, it satisfies. (www.musicvideodistributors.com) 3 stars
This article appears in Nov 8-14, 2006.