Customer Reviews

All Rise

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

 

 

This is, without a doubt, Naked Raygun's best release. This is the first album to feature the "classic" Raygun line up of Pezzati/Haggerty/Kedzy/Spicer. From beginning to end, every song is great. The bonus tracks are "Slim", the b-side to the group's legendary "Vanilla Blue" single and tribute to actor Slim Pickens, and "Rocks Of Sweden", and song Raygun covered that was originally written by Pierre Kezdy for his old band, Trial By Fire. This is classic Chicago punk rock. If you're looking to get into Naked Raygun, start here.

In the early 80's, like many large cities, Chicago had a punk scene. bands like Big Black, Screeching Weasel, The Jesus Lizard, and of Course, Naked Raygun. Four guys from Chicago, Ill. with new dreams that they were gonna make real(pun intended). With Jeff Pezati on vox, Pierre Kezedy on bass, Eric Spicer on drums and tools, and of course John Haggerty on guitar, they crafted a sound that struck a balance between the English punk of the Buzzcocks and the industrial noise of Chicago heroes Big Black(in which lead singer Jeff Pezati played bass in; on a side note, producer Steve Albini was in that band too). This 1985 album was a strong point for the band, featuring the moving, anthemic opener "Home Of The Brave". The album then goes in the mambo meets machine rhythms of "Dog At Large" strangely, no lyrics listed in the CD booklet. The semi-folky, semi-punky love song "Knock Me Down" follows, but doesn't really connect. The album then goes in the Chicago-blues influenced rocker "Mr. Gridlock", which features some power drill sounds in the intro courtesy of drummer Eric Spicer(it was hard not to be influenced by the city's blues scene, even if you were a punk, The Jesus Lizard display this influence blatantly on their 1991 albums, Goat). "The Strip" follows after an electronic swish, a kind of hardcore punk meets bar-band song about strip clubs and male bonding. "I Remember" is a bittersweet recollection of life and it's trials, while "Those Who Move" is (I think) about the fear of change. "Backlash Jack".....well I don't know what that song's about, it kinda speaks for itself. Sample lyric: "Backlash Jack...oh waht happened to me....whoa oh." "The Envelope" comes next....it reminds me of the movie "Office Space." The CD version has a tribute to comic legend Slim Pickens, which is mildly funny, I guess. "The Peacemaker" is blatant nod to Big Black, except more machine-like and less melodramatic. "New Dreams", written by Big Black member Santiago Durango, was written for singer Jeff Pezati's old band Trial By Fire. An okay song at best, but not bad either. Overall, a great album. standouts include , "Home Of The Brave", "Dog At Large", "Mr. Gridlock", "The Strip", "The Envelope", and "Backlash Jack." If you don't have this album...bow your head in shame.

This one brings back the memories! Me and the boys headin down to the "Riv" (the Riviera) to see Raygun play... skankin in the pit... plastic rayguns falling from the cieling... the good old days... This album is one of the quinticential albums of the 80's Chicago punk scene, along with Big Black and The Jesus Lizard. An absolute must have!

This piece is one of many sonic documentations of the awsome prowess of Naked Raygun. If you're into new school formula punk, you'll hate this. Naked Raygun don't play by the rules. They simply marched to their own drummer (literally). The 80's were a great period for punk. There were no rules. And NR prove this by inventing their own brand of sonic-fury. Always on the cutting edge, taking chances both musically and lyrically and often poking fun at their own genre (in a good way) and society as a whole. Politically correct? Not by todays standard, but they were sure politically (and apolitically) conciense. A musical feast for those who are sick and tired of the greendays, guttermouths, offspring and all that pop-punk being forced fed our unsuspecting p-rock youths. I am a fan, and I cite them as a major influence for my band "riotgun." Take a chance and take a listen...

Other than Big Black, Naked Raygun define Chicago punk more than anyone else. A great album to make you bust out your dusty skateboard and hang out in front of the house harrassing the neighbors (even if your pushing 30).

I put a cassette of this album through its paces when I was in high school (coff) 20 years ago. The songs are still just as good now - that guitar sound still hits right in the middle of the chest. I wish all those mock punk bands would take notes from these guys.

Power.Melody.Noise.Structure.Chants.Feeling. Naked Raygun possessed this in bucketloads,and never more so than on this,their finest album.I fell in love with this band after hearing "Home of the Brave" and "Treason" on an old skateboard video, and finally I can get a hold of it.The songs on this album are stripped down to pure lean power,from the opening chords ,right through to Santiago Durango's classic "New Dreams",a mere 26 minutes later.If you want to hear punk at it's best,get this now...

Unfortunately, I was a little young to be heading for Chicago to hear these guys live(a true regret of my life!) It all started to me when I heard Peacemaker some guy had on tape. It was all uphill from there. The song made me want to go out and listen to more NRG. It wasn't long before I had all the albums. Although that was awhile ago, all the CD's still spend a lot of time in my CD player. Great music in which to drive, relax or get a mosh pit going at a keg party. 'All Rise' is probably the best album, it's fast,loud and heart pounding music(although all the albums deserve to be listened to very liberally).

Arguably the best album from arguable the best band in the midwest punk thing. Loud, crunchy, GQ, testosterone-fueled greatness!!! See also Jeff P's new band "The Bomb", with the mighty JP Maxwell (formerly of the Mangos) on geetar. Superduper.

Essential punk/alternative, hard edge, rythymic, pounding rock sound. NR helped start what's on the radio today. If you like heavy bass lines and anthem like vocals...these albums are a definite purchase. Any band that lists their members as "the Voice", "Battery", "Bass...Large Mouth", etc... know how to put on a show. There's no better band to get in "the pit" with. The only thing that would make these re-releases better is if they came with the "FREE S#!T" thrown to the crowd during their shows. It's a shame they're not still together playing. I guess we can only hope to hear Jeff Pezzati (The Voice) in his new band THE BOMB.