Hated: Special Edition (MVD Music & Video Distributors ) (MVD)

I approached Todd Phillips' Hated from much the same perspective I approached George Ratliff's equally masterful and disturbing Hellhouse. Both are objective peeks into subcultures that fascinate me yet I would not to be part of or dare not want to witness.

G. G. Allin was a one of a kind transgressive performance artist/punk rocker. His music consisted of the most basic of punk rock squall (some of which was quite good), and his performances, now legendary usually culminated in the flinging of bodily matter, inter-audience violence, riots and police interruption.

I don't think anyone could ever hope for a more thorough overview of Allin and his world. In it's brief running time we get interviews with G. G., television clips, archival footage, thoughts from band mates, fans, and childhood friends and teachers. We get a short, harrowing peek into a world ruled by excess, despair, anger and crime. It's a sad, hopeless world that is more than evident is a product of all manner of social environments and ills.

Digging beneath the mire though are some wonderful insights. His brother Merle and his number one fan, Unk both very sincerely make cases for the validity of G.G.'s art and its place. The most poignant insights come from Mr. Fisher (his high-school English teacher) who sees G.G. as a product of his times and places and (almost) fondly remembers him as he ponders him both sadly and wistfully. Finally there are moments with the man himself, when he slows down for a moment and admits that this is all his own maverick lifestyle and vision and all he wants to do is express himself. For those moments this documentary stands as a fascinating testament to a troubled figure in a troubled time.-Trout

Samhain-Live 1984 Stardust Ballroom, Hollywood 1984(MVD Music & Video Distributors ) (MVD)

Sometimes we don't like our artifacts cleaned up and pretty. The grit and dirt is their charm and we want them just how we found them. Lodi, New Jersey native Glenn Danzig, who deserves a place in the Rock and Roll hall of fame for forming the legendary Misfits in the late 70's and injecting a bit of fun and melody in his contemporary hardcore scene, formed Samhain as his second project after the implosion of that legendary quartet. Maintaining some of the horror trappings of his late band, he injected a new metallic and demonic sensibility into Samhain. Here in their first show, all the intensity and terror is captured squarely. Glenn is fierce. The band sounds beautifully raw. The crowd is responding duly sweaty and amped. This disc transports you directly back to the days when great underground bands would show up in their vans to firehouses and little shitholes and pound out all their aggression of a life on the road. Leading his new band through blazing versions of such classics as " Archangel", "Black Dream" and "Die! Die! My Darling" this is a time capsule no Danzig fan should be without. Plus if you've ever had a burning desire to see Glenn Danzig tell a crowd that they are towing cars across the street, that’s an added bonus .-Trout

New York Dolls -All Dolled Up(MVD Music & Video Distributors ) (MVD)

When it comes to the New York Dolls, I cannot maintain journalistic integrity. Although I don't write about things I don't like on this site, I still try to keep an open mind. But I can't with the Dolls, I have and always will love everything about them. Their ridiculously trashy, junkie persona, their hook-laden can't get them out of your head songs, and the irrevocable damage they did to modern music from the moment they put their platforms on a stage. It's all here. Courtesy of Bob Gruen's vintage video recordings there is backstage decadence, cinema verite captures of limo rides, airports, and hotels, and one hot performance after another. There's drunken stoned out ramblings from David Johansen and Johnny Thunders, Sylvain Sylvain's endless preening and Killer Kane's ubiquitous eerie, leering glare. Like a travelogue through the hippest spots in the early 70's we seem them at Max's Kansas City, we travel with them to LA to Rodney's English Disco, and then return for their legendary halloween at the Waldorf Astoria. I never expected to see this much vintage Dolls and I thrilled that I can. Particularly the incredible hot version of "Jet Boy"- Trout