Customer Reviews

1039 / Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (Reis)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even in their early days, Green Day didn't have a particularly aggressive or uncommercial sound- they were their some jumpy, poppy selves, a virtual assembly line of pop-punk crunchiness, with crunch three-chord melodies and nasal vocals. Back then, Billie Joe and company still wrote songs about girls and laziness and boredom, with shades of humor and angst shimmering through the mix. The only thing that was particularly different (aside from the somewhat muddy sound quality) was that Tre Cool had yet to become the band's drummer- his predecessor, a fellow by the name of John Kiffmeyer, isn't bad by any means. He doesn't have Cool's explosive approach, but he knows how to keep a rhythm just fine, and he's got more than enough punky energy.

This disc offers plenty of proof of that. It's a compilation that includes their entire first album (39/Smooth, which makes up the first 10 tracks), as well as two E.P.s (1000 Hours and Slappy, which, respectively, make up tracks 15-18 and 11-14 of this record), and the compilation track "I Want To Be Alone." All of it was released on Lookout! records, and all in all it comprises about half of their pre-major label output. It's all fine stuff for a fan of the band. If you hate Green Day based on records like Dookie and Insomniac, this probably won't change your mind very much. If you've never listened to them before, this isn't really the best place to start: the aforementioned two records are a better bet. Or you could go for the wonderful International Superhits compilation.

As far as highlights go, I really like the rollicking "Don't Leave Me," as well as the exuberant "Going To Pasalacqua." There's also a wonderfully emotional four chord romp called "Only Of You," and a deathlessly catchy song by the name of "1000 Hours." It isn't perfect- "Why Do You Want Him?," "The Judge's Daughter," and others sound more generic than anything, and the cover of Operation Ivy's "Knowledge" sounds like more of a bad joke than anything else. But it's still a fine collection, if you're into this kind of thing (and I certainly am).

It's rare that a young band's first album is extremely good but with Green Day, anything is possible. I wasn't expecting much from this album when I was first getting into Green Day's music, but it completely blew me away. I definitely recommend this album to anyone and if you're a Green Day fan this is a must-have.

I really did like American Idiot, as I'm a fan of the longer songs in any genre (Type O Negative, Frank Zappa, etc.). But this album still held onto it's top position in my collection. It really upset me to see that these "punks" decided to remove any of these classics from their current "Idiotic" setlist at their live shows (save for "Knowledge", which doesn't count as it's a cover tune). "Paper Lanterns" has been a fan favorite since they began playing it in 1989, how can they deny that?!

Other great tracks are; At the Library, Don't Leave Me, I was There, Green Day, Going to Pasalacqua, The Judge's Daughter, 1,000 Hours & Dry Ice.

Tracks 1-10 - 39/Smooth (1st LP)

Tracks 11-18 - 1,000 Hours and Slappy EPs

Track 19 - Flipside: The Big One (Compilation)

My daughter Bailey turned me on to Green Day in 1994 when "Dookie" first came out; I was blown away and bought everything these guys have released since. But I have to diverge from Bailey's opinion on "1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" which she owned before "Dookie" was released (I have the 2007 Reissue). She found it raw, intense and superior to "Dookie"; I find it to be the garage band beginnings of a group that achieved mega-success through hard work, talent and determination.

These freshman songs do have the driving music that would become the band's signature, especially `At the Library', `I Was There', `16', the absolute rockin' `I Want to Be Alone', the very playful `Knowledge' and - even a ballad - `Rest'. There's also some of the humor, clever lyrics and wordplay in it's infancy; songs like 'Judge's Daughter' ("Today I kept on falling down / I thought it was the street / So I looked down at my shoes / They were on the wrong feet"), 'Dry Ice' ("I'll send a letter to that girl / Asking her to be my own / But my pen is writing wrong / So I'll say it in a song") and the signature track 'Green Day' with it's salute to self-inflicted herbal adjustment.

But most of the songs are about love gone wrong, break-ups and longings for the lover you can't have... and anybody that's been 15 years old can relate. For me it's very listenable beginner stuff. But to sweeten the deal, the CD has computer extras with Old Photos, early Flyer Art, Live Radio Performances and 3 Video Clips ("from some kid's crappy camcorder").

Essentially the CD is ok; I'm mainly interested in it as a point of reference from where they started before they perfected their sound and content. I have read opinions from others who swear that "1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" is Green Day's best work and now they can't stand the band. It's all a matter of taste but I recommend anything these guys have done.

Green Day was my band in Junior High. When I first heard "Basket Case" I totally fell in love with Rock n' Roll and I promptly went out and bought the tape cassette since back then I couldn't afford a CD player. I listened to that tape until my mom heard "Long View" and living in a extreme christian household my mom took scissors to it. Which in my mind made them so much cooler, my dad snuck out and bought me another since he liked Green Day and told me to hide it. Without Greenday I wouldn't have listened to Aerosmith, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Dead Kennedys, the Clash etc. Anyways since I was a fan of the band I saw this tape and bought it. I was blown away and the songs stuck in my head. Now I won't parse words here this is awesome pop punk music and for the most part I think all these new crop of pop punkers ripped off Green Day to very bad effect. When I have gone to "geniune" punk shows the hipsters usually stuck up their nose at me thinking me "uncool" because I liked the band. All up until Nimrod after that they lost me. I didn't give a damn and think most of those hipsters didn't want admit Green Day made good catchy songs because it wasn't hip to like the band. This album is just great and it is the second one I bought by this band. You can't go wrong with this one and yes there is good pop music, this album is testament to that fact.

Any true GreenDay fan has heard these songs, knows the lyrics by heart, and loves it as much as any of their other albums. The music on this CD truly are the roots of GreenDay. This is where it all started, where they came from, and what they built on. A definite listen for anyone that loves the band and the way they have evolved over the years. This album really makes you appreciate what the band has done for the world of music!

1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours was released on July 1, 1991 through Lookout! Records. Slappy Hours obviously paved the road to Kerplunk,as their second album sound very similar to this one. but it is important to know, must of the songs on this record were first performed at Green Day's pre-record label days. They first played gigs/concerts throughout California as Sweet Children before being signed by Larry Livermore, Lookout! owner and changing their name to Green Day. This record is indeed the evidence needed to prove that Green Day deserved to become the most sold/most popular punk/rock band of all time.

I will begin by explaining my review title.

Surprisingly good due to the fact that such an early album from young guys like this shouldn't be this damn good.

(Not So) Surprisingly good due to the fact that we all know that Billie Joe Armstrong can apparently write an endless amount of catchy songs!

That being said, I basically grew up with Green Day albums, 1st hearing "Kerplunk" then of course "Dookie" and so on. Always finding something to love on each album, if there's one thing you can say about Green Day, they are consistant. Each album has worked right into the next one with a flawless attempt to become more and more serious and broad when it comes to songwriting. While all the same, never (ever) sounding quite like anybody, but Green Day, when you hear the songs you know who it is.

Well, here's where it all started, with "1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours", and the amazing thing is, IT'S ALL HERE (except for Tre Cool that is), but everything that makes Green Day popular is present on this early album. How as a young kid Armstrong could concoct such catchy melodies as "Going To Pasalacqua" is beyond me, that damn chorus has been in my head since the second I heard it.

Sure, upon 1st listen it might sound amateurish, and under produced, when compaired to everthing else they have done, but that is exactly the appeal of it, it's them being themselves at the time without any big production, just good old fashion garage band jamming! The only difference between this and just any old everyday run of the mill garage band, is that something golden is happening here. If listened to closely you can really hear a band that has got something different going on, in terms of how they construct a song and execute it. The passion is at the forefront and doesn't let up. They are playing like they have nothing else to fall back on, and maybe that was the case, i don't know, but it sure sounds like it here.

There are so many good songs on the album, but I place my emphasis on "Going To Pasalacqua" because it exemplifies all my points, the passion, the agression,and the catchiness! If you want a good sample of what the album has to offer, give this song a listen. If you like it, your in for a treat the rest of the album goes along that path and doesn't let up, much like the band it's self.

It's just really interesting to see where these guys came from musically. And, like I said, the fantastic thing is that these songs were written early on with out the help of big producers or commercial success, straight from the heart and gut. Bigger things were to come for Green Day, but here was the launching point.

These guys are one of my favorite bands, primarily based on their output over the past ten years or so. I did start collecting with "Dookie" however, but still, today, now have everything on CD and DVD Billie Joe and the boys have done. I have to say that this is more for completists or those wanting to dig deeper into the Green Day catalog. More than anything, it simply reflects a significant force in modern music taking some early (but reasonably solid) baby steps before catching its stride.

This is one of my all-time favorite CDs. Love it. Very raw. I also love AI, Dookie and 21st. Warning is another good one and really underrated. Kind of a transitional cd. All of the Green Day cds are worth buying, but this is essential GD along with Dookie.