Goldmine Magazine - The Collectors Record and Compact Disc Marketplace

Ted Nugent - Sweden Rocks DVD
(Eagle Vision - EV 30237-9)

Diggin' this more than the CD album that came out maybe a month earlier, because the filming is multi-camera, very clear (in daylight) and you get to see Barry Sparks and Mick Brown kickin' it with Ted, all enjoying the phenom like it's 1977. Not so great is Ted's use of headset mic. There's just something about that that doesn't look rock ‘n' roll about it, like less effort is needed vs. sidling up to a mic at attention.

Two extra songs over the CD - "Klstrphnky" and "Motor City Madhouse" - constitutes a nice touch, as are the bonus features, including three live performances from 2007 (Sweden Rock was June 10, 2006), with a different bass player (sigh... I wish Uncle Ted would keep a steady band; it builds a stronger brand), bow hunting lessons for Barry, sometimes drummer Tommy Clufetos and a visiting Jack Blades, and even more lessons on ways of reducing the wildlife population, this time for his wife and son, who get to sample the joys of firing a machine gun. Barry and Tommy are interviewed as well, Tommy talking about Ted's looming legend in their shared hometown of Detroit, and Barry, about the magic of ‘70s rockers like Deadly Tedly, Aerosmith and Kiss.

And back to the show, let's give a couple ‘o credits - Ted's pretty comfortable singing these songs, playing guitar at the same time and making funny faces, and the new material is raunchy and rich, the platters backing up the chatter but good. Seriously, Ted plays nothing from all of the ‘80s and ‘90s (save for "Wango Tango" - 1980), nor should he because there's a lot of crap there, but I'm damn glad he gives us a gamey taste of Craveman and Love Grenade, because both have Ted back on track grinding out that loud ‘n' proud Detroit rock ‘n' roll, "Still Raising Hell" being particularly vicious and life-affirming.

- Martin Popoff