Punk rock had one heck of a magical year in 1977. After all, that was the year listeners received landmark albums by some of the genre's finest ([wimpLink artistId="9219"]the Sex Pistols[/wimpLink]' [wimpLink albumId="34454485"]Never Mind the Bollocks[/wimpLink], [wimpLink artistId="65"]the Clash[/wimpLink]'s self-titled debut, and two fine releases by [wimpLink artistId="14283"]the Ramones[/wimpLink]). And it was also the year Australia's top punk export, [wimpLink artistId="11436"]the Saints[/wimpLink], released another killer punk set, [wimpLink albumId="2935735"](I'm) Stranded[/wimpLink]. All the punkers of the era had to prove they could cut it on the concert stage, and [wimpLink artistId="11436"]the Saints[/wimpLink] could certainly hold their own, as evidenced by [wimpLink albumId="248549926"]Cabaret at the Roundhouse: Live 1977[/wimpLink]. Despite stinky sonics (it sounds as if recorded on a cassette recorder by an audience member), the group hands in high-energy renditions of most of its early classics, including "One Way Street," "Demolition Girl," and, of course, the debut album's title track. Sadly, [wimpLink artistId="11436"]the Saints[/wimpLink] are often overlooked when discussions of "top first-wave punk rockers" come up, which only makes an archival live recording like [wimpLink albumId="248549926"]Cabaret at the Roundhouse: Live 1977[/wimpLink] even more valuable. The proof is certainly in the pudding. ~ Greg Prato