I've found myself listening to this CD a lot since I bought it. This is part of a series of compilations focusing on the early punk scenes in various cities. This compilation is a very good collection that pretty much covers the most important bands of the LA punk scene of the late 70's and early 80's. It focus on the period before punk mutated into 80's hardcore. Later LA hardcore bands like Fear, Black Flag and Circle Jerks got a lot more prominence nationwide, but it started with bands like the Germs, the Dils, and of course, X.
Some of the bands featured are obvious and necessary inclusions, especially X, but also Dickies, Germs, Dils, and Wierdos, but many of the other tracks are also excellent. The first few tracks, by bands like the Motels, do not fit the narrow mold of the punk sound. In LA, as in other places, the early scene was much more diverse than the caricature which would ultimately become a parody of itself (Think Talking Heads & Television).
There is one very notable omission from this collection, but perhaps it was inevitable. I am referring to the Screamers, one of the greatest bands of the early punk period, who unfortunately never released any records. The band used synthesizers and electronic keyboards to generate a racket to rival any electric guitars. There are examples of their material available on the usual places on the internet, and I would encourage you to check it out. Their absence from this compilation is notable. Nevertheless I don't know how feasible it would have been to include demos or bootlegs, so I can't take any points off.
I have not heard the other CD's in this series, but I can strongly recommend this one.
See all 21 tracks on this disc
