Milwaukee's most famous rock band, The Violent Femmes, released their signature album about 18 years ago. Their second most popular album, and their last Top 40 hit came out way back in 1993.

That may seem like quite a stretch of time, but don't tell that to these three Milwaukee boys. The Femmes continue to tour almost non-stop around the world, and while they're not exactly selling out Madison Square Garden these days, they still put on one heck of a concert. Their newest CD, "Freak Magnet" has just been released, but fans will certainly want to first pick up their acoustic album, "Viva Wisconsin," in stores now.

In fall of 1998, the Femmes returned to their home state to do an acoustic tour dubbed "The Wisconsin Tour." These couple of shows yielded enough material to easily fill 20 tracks for the entire CD: a live, raw and classic Femmes album that any fan should add to their collection.

Long-time Femmes friend and producer David Vartanian produced the live album, which he admits was not exactly like sitting down in the studio. "Well, there's some decision making," says Vartanian. "(Bassist) Brian Ritchie was, of course, very instrumental, as he is on anything with the Femmes. That's not to say that Gordon and Guy weren't, but (the CD) was Brian's idea.

The album liner sums up Ritchie's motives for Viva Wisconsin. "October 25-31, 1998, the Violent Femmes did an acoustic tour of their home state of Wisconsin. Two guitars, two drums and three voices. Femmes back to basics, no overdubbing, no electronics, no crap. Their best songs, raw and intimate. This is the ultimate Violent Femmes recording."

The final stop in the tour was Milwaukee, at the Pabst Theater on Halloween night. The CD doesn't mention which songs were actually recorded in the Femmes' hometown, but Vartanian says "one or two were, I'm pretty sure, I just can't remember which ones. There were so many shows."

Some aficionados claim the band lost something when they traded in original drummer Victor De Lorenzo for former BoDeans drummer Guy Hoffman. "Everybody brings something to the table. But I can't say who is better," admits Vartanian, whose association with band began way back in 1986 when he engineered "The Blind Leading The Naked." Vartanian currently runs DV's Perversion Room in Shorewood and is also the web master of the Violent Femmes official web site.

Listening to the live album, it's incredible that the Femmes still play songs like "Blister in the Sun" with any heart. But they always do, pounding out the hits like "American Music," "Add it Up" and "Gone Daddy Gone." The group's lifespan is pushing 20 years, but Vartanian expects the trio to keep on rocking.

"Who knows? They've been around longer than most bands even dream of. That tells you something right there. They're continually finding new audiences and fans. It's amazing. They're not playing the venues they used to, but they're still playing, and that beats a lot of bands that are a flash in the pan for two years, then gone."

The live nature of the CD means that "Viva Wisconsin" is not the most polished recording you'll ever hear. It's acoustic and energetic but sometimes a bit bumpy along the way. Admittedly, most of the songs on the album are ten years old or even older. Is the band in its decline, or are the Femmes in a renaissance?

"You can look at that two ways," says Vartanian. They may have declined slightly, I don't know if they have or not. But they're still touring extensively, they're still selling records. Maybe their songs aren't as popular, I don't know. I don't really follow that side."

Critics say Milwaukee music, in general saw its heyday come and go back in the 1980s, but Vartanian disagrees. "Yeah, there were the Femmes, the Bodeans. There was a lot of interest. It did wane a little bit, you know, and things do go in cycles. But there have always been a lot of musicians in this town. Getting signed, or not getting signed, I don't always look at that. But I wouldn't say there's a renaissance. The talent has always been here."

Fortunately, the Femmes must be selling enough records to continue the legacy of Milwaukee's most famous band and the vibrant Milwaukee music scene, and they're never-ending energy is evident on "Viva Wisconsin."

Even fellow Milwaukee musician Sigmund Snopek III, one of the "Horns of Dilemma," shows up frequently on the CD, especially in the almost eerie "Hallowed Ground."

This is the kind of CD that will make a Milwaukeean proud. This is a CD for the serious Femmes fan. Old material or new, it captures the essence of a Violent Femmes live show.