Field Day

Dag Nasty

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 1988
• Label: We Bite
• ASIN: B000000IPY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #269,646 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understated pop-punk classic, November 14, 2000

By	Worgelm "The Grumpy" (United States) - See all my reviews

Legends of the DC Hardcore scene slow down a little and make an album for everyone. Brian Baker was a personal inspiration to me as a guitar player - save that godawful side trip into Junkyard, his riffs and solos, even on _Out Of Step_ by Minor Threat, were always above average and exploratory - always seeking but never pretending. This album and "Wig Out At Denko's" are their best, mostly because of clever lyrics and great musicianship - but of the two, this album takes the cake because of its ecclectecism and just flat-out great songwriting. Graced with Peter Courtner's smoky vocals, the whole first side of the album is almost pop-punk, its surprising, hook-y and constantly clever and engaging. The lyrics really stand out on "The Ambulance Song" ( but the blues-y Baker solo is a nice touch) and the hard-hitting "Dear Mrs. Touma". "Staring At The Rude Boys" is a raging cover tune, as well as "12XU" (Baker also covered this tune with Minor Threat) and a jaunty cover of "Under Your Influence" with original Dag Nasty vocalist Dave Smalley. "La Penita" is a brutally honest song, sad and lilting (again - complete with some nice flamenco touches from Mr. Baker), almost an anthem for a barfly. Another bonus - the CD includes some additional bonus tracks that the original casette release lacked - the sarcastic "Never Green Lane" and the incredible "Your Mine", which evokes the same kind of lyrical ambiguity that the Police do with "Every Breath You Take". If you're into "forgotten masterpieces" then you had best pull out your credit card and discover this great band.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'll take Field Day over Green Day any day......, February 28, 2004

By A Customer

Field Day is an outstanding pop/punk record that set the bar high for the countless imitators who came in Dag Nasty's wake. For one, the level of musicianship is remarkable for guys barely in their twenties in a genre not noted for the musical chops of its players. Brian Baker practically invents the pop/punk guitar vocabulary on this one--his changes/solos/accents are executed with real originality and panache. The rhythm section is also outstanding with tight drumming and bass playing. And the vocals are raggedly endearing without pretension or bs; they capture a real sense of what's it's like to be teetering in that odd place between teenager and adult. If this classic had been released in the early '90s, it would have sold millions. Forget Green Day, Field Day is your ticket.

5.0 out of 5 stars masterpiece, March 8, 2007

By	J. Simon (Canton, Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I too thought this was a sell-out when I heard it in the late 80s. It was soft and melodic and not nearly as hardcore as Can I Say or Wig Out at Denkos. In my skateboarding days this record was as blasphemous as 7 Seconds going soft with New Wind. Yet I've noticed over the years how much better this has aged than the other Dag Nasty albums. Remove this from the Minor Threat/Dischord scene and appreciate it for the songs. It's excellent, every bit as good as what bands like Husker Du were doing around the same time. In fact, Dear Mrs. Touma may be the pinnacle of American 80s college rock. Other tracks like All Ages Show, Trouble Is, and Staring at the Rude Boys are nearly as good.