Live CD offers more

Sporting one of the most hilarious live album titles ever, the Ziggens leave no musical genre untouched in their latest release "Live: Tickets Still Available."

Recorded over two nights at The Blue Café and The Foothill in Long Beach, the compact disc captures the incredible energy the Ziggens emit at a live show, which is impossible match in the studio.
 

The bands musical diversity continually shines through with the country influenced "Strange Way to Live", the swing tune "Waitress/Outside", and funky "Dinah Shore."

The Ziggens kick things off with a couple of cover songs including a blazing rendition of Judas Priest's metal classic "Breakin' the Law" which puts the original version to shame.

Three surf rock instrumentals, though giving the band a chance to display its musical talents, rob the Ziggens of their most appealing aspect, hilarious lighthearted lyrics.

Singing about everything from waitresses turning them on to some guy named "Fat Charlie, to "Tim the Dinosaur", the Ziggens lyrics border on absurdity at times, but never fail to entertain.

However the disc does have its faults. It is filled to the brim with live album clichés, which dilute the intensity and leave the listener frustrated and begging to yell "shut up and play."

After meandering through some of the slower, less inspired moments, the disc ends on a high note as the band roars through "Dickie Built a Halfpipe" in quintessential Ziggens fashion, blending country, funk, and surf rock.

Perhaps even more entertaining than the music itself is the multimedia included on the disc. It contains dozens of pictures of the Ziggens (including some from their very first show), five video clips, one that gives us a tour of Linda's Doll Hut, and even a game to discover what exactly a Ziggen is.

Overall the compact disc has hits and misses, providing its fair share of entertaining moments while being marred by many of the same problems which have plagued past live recordings.

The Ziggens are scheduled to return to The Blue Café on March 20.