The Punk Thread
Black Flag - "Nervous Breakdown" E.P. (1979)
The Californian hardcore punk legends' first studio outing offers a brisk five-minute/four-song romp with a truckload of energy, despite the pre-Henry Rollins lineup.
For fans of Circle Jerks, Minor Threat & Dead Kennedys.
3.5/5
Thrust - "Mindless" (1990)
The sole full-length from this melodic hardcore/skate punk outfit from my adopted stomping ground of the Gold Coast. It's very well produced & executed & has a bit of a heavy metal edge to it at times too.
For fans of The Ramones, Bad Religion & Motorhead.
Germs - "(GI)" (1979)
One of the earlier hardcore punk full-lengths & the sole album from this Los Angeles outfit. It's gone on to become somewhat of an underground classic over the years but I've struggled with it a little bit, mainly due to the fact that the weaker inclusions tend to taint the majority of the tracklisting which is generally pretty enjoyable without ever seeing me fully engaged. There's nothing you haven't heard a thousand times before here either.
For fans of Minor Threat, Reagan Youth & Adolescents
3/5
I tend to spin this record about once a month and this recent remaster of The Gits' classic 1992 "Frenching the Bully" album is an absolute beauty so my vinyl order has just gone into Amazon. This is one of my all-time favourite US punk albums, up there with Bad Brains first, DK's Fresh Fruit and The Ramones "It's Alive". This remaster has given it a sharp cutting edge and cements it's place as a punk rock classic. The murder of singer Mia Zapata, apart from cutting short the life of a vibrant young woman, robbed the world of one of the best punk singers ever committed to tape. RIP Mia...
While I am on the subject, here are my top ten Punk Rock albums:
1. The Stranglers - Rattus Norvegicus (1977)
2. Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980)
3. Ramones - It's Alive (1979)
4. The Gits - Frenching the Bully (1992)
5. The Clash - The Clash (1977)
6. Bad Brains - Bad Brains (1982)
7. Misfits - Earth A.D. (1983)
8. Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies (1987)
9. Subhumans - From the Cradle to the Grave (1984)
10 Discharge - Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing (1982)
Discharge - "Fight Back" E.P. (1980)
A short six & a half minute shot of adrenaline containing five high-octane tracks that whip past you in no time at all. The Motorhead influence is obvious throughout & this is all enjoyable stuff, even for someone like myself who doesn't class themselves as a big punk fan. It's interesting that the two songs on the B side are comfortably the best material so I feel that Discharge would have been better served with an alternate arrangement of the tracklisting. Still... this is a decent way to fill a very small gap in your day. I just can't see myself thinking to return to it any time soon.
For fans of Poison Idea, Negative Approach & Anti-Cimex.
3.5/5
Dead Kennedys - "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" (1980)
I came across Dead Kennedys' debut full-length at around the same time I was introduced to Slayer back in my early high school days & it was through the same school mate too. I can't say that Dead Kennedys ever resonated with me like they did for a couple of my metal mates & they still don't to tell you the truth, although I do quite like this record nonetheless. Unfortunately, it's noticeably devoid of any tracks that I genuinely love so it doesn't tend to be a release that I go out of my way to seek out when I'm looking for an early hardcore punk fix.
For fans of Black Flag, Minutemen & The Vandals.
3.5/5
Dead Kennedys - "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" (1980)
I came across Dead Kennedys' debut full-length at around the same time I was introduced to Slayer back in my early high school days & it was through the same school mate too. I can't say that Dead Kennedys ever resonated with me like they did for a couple of my metal mates & they still don't to tell you the truth, although I do quite like this record nonetheless. Unfortunately, it's noticeably devoid of any tracks that I genuinely love so it doesn't tend to be a release that I go out of my way to seek out when I'm looking for an early hardcore punk fix.
For fans of Black Flag, Minutemen & The Vandals.
3.5/5
Fresh Fruit is definitely one of my top 3 punk albums. I was turned on to it shortly after its release by a friend at work who was sadly killed in a car crash just a couple of years later. That may have some personal bearing on why I value it so highly, but I do really enjoy most of the tracks. If they had swapped "Police Truck" for "Drug Me" it would be even better though.
If they had swapped "Police Truck" for "Drug Me" it would be even better though.
I completely agree with that idea as "Drug Me" doesn't do much for me.