The Levellers... what's your opinion?

[Master Ray]

Levelllers were always one of my favorites, but those last few years I have been really disappointed in them.

They released 2 awesome studio albums in the last decade, which should be reason enough to be proud of. Seeing them live 3 times I learned they are stuck in the past. New songs are more or less never played, instead they play "Levelling the Land" over and over again.
Also they re-release that album in various live formats over and over again and 2018 will see the release of studio re-recordings of some of the tracks from it.

A band that records such a great album as "Static on the airwaves" should celebrate it. Instead they chose to release a super-expensive deluxe edition of it and not even include the bonus tracks, which were only available on itunes. Just to re-release the album again a few years later with all bonus tracks included. Which is nice, but a slap in the face for those who went out to buy the deluxe package.

Their discography is second to none and noone can take this away from them. But apart from that I am flat out disappointed with the band.

Rasi, I think that sums up a lot of peoples reactions... well put.  But if you're going to put out 'old product' again, at least make it worthwhile for the folks who bought it in the first place!

[Master Ray]

Oh, FFS... The Levellers get a big article in The Guardian today when that same newspaper won't even give NMA the slightest sniff of attention?  Again, I really like The Levellers, but blimey...   

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jan/31/the-levellers-30-years-interview-brexit-mark-chadwick-jeremy-cunningham

Also, I might have commented on this post...

[Anna Woman von NRW]

Also, I might have commented on this post...

Indeed - sterling work there you Long Distance Runner you     

[Ragamuffin]

Saw the Levs for the first time on Impurity in Leeds. 
I was actually blown away by the energy of the band and just the sheer catchiness of the tunes. They rapidly became my second favourite band and as they toured almost constantly, I probably saw them more times than I did NMA during the early to mid 90s. Like many on here I kinda lost my way with them after Zeitgiest. They, for me anyway, have had the odd moment since but no consistency. 
I still go to see them but it is sadly apparent just how much they depend on their earlier, stronger material.
For me NMA have evolved, the Levs had trodden water.
That said, A Weapon Called the Word is in my top 10 if not 5 albums of all time.

[Ghosttrain]

Really love Levs ,a band that have played in this music backwater called Jersey (twice).just wondering what people here think of latest album ? I am sure it won't be to all Levellers fans taste,i think it is excellent,really interesting versions of old songs.And yes,i do agree it is about time they did something new and stopped keep  recycling Leveling the Land.

[Master Ray]

Haven't heard it yet, will get around to it at some point.  I have to say that just re-recording old songs is a bit of a cop-out, especially when your last 'proper' album was years back...

Apparently, at the forthcoming Manchester Castlefield Bowl gig (with NMA and The Wildhearts in support) 'Levelling The Land' will be played in full... again...

 
 

[Anna Woman von NRW]

Apparently, at the forthcoming Manchester Castlefield Bowl gig (with NMA and The Wildhearts in support) 'Levelling The Land' will be played in full... again...
 

On the bright side at least you'll get to hear stuff you know 

[Master Ray]

Actually, one of the best Levs gigs I ever saw was in Crewe (of all places) a few years back when they only played one of their hits 'What A Beautiful Day' (last encore) and the rest of the set was almost entirely very early stuff that they hadn't played in years... imagine NMA showing up and playing a whole set from 'Vengeance - The Independent Story' with a couple of album tracks from No Rest'....