BTBM's Crucial 80's Hardcore Albums, Vol. 1- Misfits- 'Earth A.D.'

[Beware the Beast Man]

This is an album both loved and hated by 'Fits fans. Kind of a radical left-turn for the Misfits, who played mostly melodic, mid-tempo punk songs up to this point. I happened upon this LP the way many kids in the late 80's did- through Metallica's cover of "Green Hell" on the "Garage Days Re-Revisited" EP. I even tried to grow a devilock, but naturally curly hair put a stop to it right quick.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Vol. 2: Verbal Assault, 'On'

From the last year of the decade, a truly crucial and boundary-stretching EP, from a band who never displyed this much talent before or since. "Anger Battery" is a stone slice of metal-hardcore crossover that dwarfs later attempts by inferior bands like Quicksand. Aggressive sludge, with chops and melody - Verbal Assault remains an 80's hardcore band ripe for rediscovery.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Vol. 3: 76% Uncertain - "Hunka Hunka Burnin' Log"

(NOTE: can't find a pic of this album online, so I'll use the cover of an earlier album by 76%)

Stratford, Connecticut's finest band since the dawn of rock itself, 76% Uncertain were another hardcore band who occasionally crossed over into metal, but just had too many ideas to be limited by either genre: five-part harmonies, THREE guitars blazing with Maiden/Allmans-style harmony leads, tempo changes out the ass, time signature follies, a singer with serious Iggy damage who sounded like he was puking (on key!) in every song. Again, this is another album from late in the decade, but it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest records ever made, in ANY genre. A musicologist, 100 years from now, who dug up "Hunka Hunka Burnin' Log," would be as stymied then as today in trying to draw a bead on it: it stands outside time and space.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. Vol. 4: 7 Seconds- "New Wind"

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.coolbotz.com/items/records/punk/&h=471&w=488&sz=58&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=INKI5DHzEruIfM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3D7Seconds%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

Yes, the only worse cover art imaginable is for this same band's "Walk Together, Rock Together." (Ugh. Truly an abomination.) But inside, the music is as poppy and bright-eyed and bushy tailed as anything by The Association or Spanky and Our Gang, except that the guitarists churn and the drummers flail like their extremities are on fire. Optimism and positivity for miles, which, back when this was released (1986), must have sounded totally unique.

[RandomKoolzip]

4. Vol. 5: Government Issue - "You"

GI lived in Minor Threat's shadow back in the early 80's DC Hardcore scene, which was understandable, since besides posessing a charismatic frontman they weren't all that distinctive back then. It wasn't until 1985's self-titled platter that they began stretching genres, slowing down the tempos, and experimenting. By the time of 1987's 'You," they'd acquired what might have been the best, tightest rhythm section in rock at the time, J. Robbins on bass and Peter Moffett on drums (Robbins would later form Jawbox, that band worth several threads of their own; and would create Burning Airlines with Moffett from the ashes of Jawbox), and were capable of songwriting that could only be described as power pop. It hurt a bit that singer John Stabb had such a limited range in his voice (his admitted favorite singer was Dave Vanian of the Damned), but their acheivement here is assured. A crucial record, by any sane standard.

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. Vol. 6- D.R.I.- "Dirty Rotten LP"

Originally released as a 7" 33 RPM EP, packed with 22 songs in under 20 minutes. At one time they were billed as the fastest band in the world, and helped usher in death metal, grindcore, etc. This is a classic, and the political lyrics are even more timely today than they were in 1983.

[GirlinContempt]

6. Why are you so negative?

:P

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

7. Vol. 7: Dag Nasty - Can I Say

Billy Joe Armstrong should channel half his earnings to Brian Baker.

[RandomKoolzip]

14. Fear of failure? Fear of reprimand?

Two big problems I've never had.

[HughBeaumont]

8. Vol 8&9: Cro Mags - Age of Quarrel/Agnostic Front - Victim in Pain

Introduced mid-westerners to the beast that is New York City Hardcore, and through two different schools of thought. Cro-Mags injected Krishna philosophy in their lyrics while pummelling through powerful crossover riffing and maniac bass lines. Agnostic Front promoted unity and railed against the Reaganite proto-fascism that strangled the working class and poor while sticking to a rawer, almost basement-recorded heavy sound at dizzying speeds.

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. You beat me to the punch on "Victim in Pain."

Damn, that was an awesome album. Much better than their "metal" offerings later on.

[HughBeaumont]

11. Ugh, AF's metal albums SUUUUUUUUUCKED

As did Suicidal Tendencies'.

[Beware the Beast Man]

10. Vol. 10- Minor Threat- LP

One of the first bands to encourage other bands to pick up the pace. Also, like it or not, they birthed the Straight Edge movement.

[Beware the Beast Man]

12. Bad Brains- Rock for Light

Hardcore punk was actualy invented by four Rastafarian jazz musicians. End of discussion.

[RandomKoolzip]

13. Actually, it was invented by Polka bands from Chicago.

Well, at least they invented its beat.

[Beware the Beast Man]

16. Right, I forgot about Vern Michalchowski and His Oompah Kings'

landmark 1977 release "Bratwurst or Death" EP.

[RandomKoolzip]

20. NEVER overlook the impact of Joe Seczeizowski and the Wurstfart Five.

Their version of "Who Stole the Kishka, Yo?" was the "Like a Rolling Stone" of its day; specifically April 7th, 1976.

What a day!

[Beware the Beast Man]

24. I think I learned to use the potty on that day.

What a day, indeed!

[tigereye]

29. I was a senior in high school

desperately waiting to leave the idyllic but stifling small town I am from....

KZ, one of my best friends in grad school actually was a female bass player in a polka band. I have no idea what she is up to now.

[tigereye]

28. that's what my drum teacher says!

I laughed hysterically after I thought about it! :

[HughBeaumont]

23. Rock for Light, or the S/T?

To me, THIS should be Volume 1.

[tigereye]

27. ah Bad Brains

I love those guys! Another band I never got to see. :cry:

[LoZoccolo]

15. Would Big Black count? n/t

[Beware the Beast Man]

17. Ahh, the dilemma of the subgenre.

I would put them in the post-punk category. But good choice. :thumbsup:

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

21. "Songs About Fucking" should be included

if only for the album cover. :evilgrin:

[CanuckAmok]

18. Must send props to the Dayglo Abortions' "Feed Us a Fetus" LP

And also

MDC's first "album", although at about 20 minutes, I use the term "album" loosely.

[Beware the Beast Man]

19. Arrrgh! Fuck! Kill!

Best Album cover ever. :rofl:

[CanuckAmok]

25. !!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it ever made it South of the Border.

"Our Prime Minister sucks dogshit through his nose,
His ex-wife gets brown showers from Mick Jagger,
The only reason we live in fucking igloos,
Is 'cuz our government makes a living licking shit-holes!"

Take that, Walt Whitman!

[RandomKoolzip]

22. Love that MDC album.

Man, the worst part about all this is that it makes me wanna go back and listen to all these recs, but all my copies are on tape, deep in a storage closet.

(Thanks for the PMs the other day, BTW - Yay Kim Mitchell!!)

[CanuckAmok]

26. Another classic:

I'm not anti-society, society's anti-me
I'm not anti-religion, religion is anti-me
I'm not anti-tradition, tradition is anti-me
I'm not anti-anything, I just wanna be free

Fascist state, no freedom
Unless you control yourself
Use self expression, lose your freedom
You're undesirable, you go straight to jail

Kill someone, in a war
Get a medal, you're a hero
Protect yourself in every day war
You're undesirable you go straight to jail

I'm not anti-Reagan, Reagan's anti-me
I'm not anti-government, government's anti-me
I'm not anti-politics, politics is anti-me
I'm not anti-anything, I just wannna be free

Innocent, never guilty
High class lawyer, you are rich
If you're poor must be guilty
Even if innocent you go straight to jail


PS: how's this for a line-up?

[Beware the Beast Man]

30. Dr. Know!

Brandon Cruz's band (the kid from Courtship of Eddie's Father, and front man of the false Dead Kenedys).

[CanuckAmok]

32. Oh, I thought it was the Dr. Know from Bad Brains...

Didn't he have a solo record out? I know H.R. had one.

[electricmonk]

31. None of the Above

Self titled

I could probably fill this thread up with choices since that's my favorite genre of music but I have to go to work now.

[Benfea]

33. Anything by Venom -NT