Customer Reviews

First Demo Tape

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

 

 

As the story goes, Ian and Guy were digging through the archives of Dischord Records to put together the "20 Years of Dischord Comp" and found this, Minor Threat's first demo tape, still unmixed after twenty or so years. They have mixed it, packed it in a gatefold CD sleeve, and made it avilable to all you Minor Threat fans.

The songs are almost just like you remember them, with two exceptions. Lyle's guitar tone is amazingly better; it actually sounds like a guitar now and not a buzzsaw (not to slag the other versions). This is how a Les Paul Standard is supposed to sound. The other thing is Ian's vocal performance. It seems that in the month between when MT recorded this and the sessions for the Minor Threat 7", Ian practiced a lot and altered his style a bit. Sure, it still sounds like Ian, but there's not as much energy, not as much anger. But it doesn't make too much of a difference, and even if it does, it's not intended to be perfect. This was recorded only three to four months after the bands formation, and you can tell that great things are to come. And trust me, being part of a scene myself and seeing many bands, this is as good as a four-month-old band gets.

The packaging is also really cool. It's a simple gatefold CD sleeve, but it's got quite a few pictures and a short history of the tape. Also, singing backup for this was none other than Henry Garfield, who would later change his last name to Rollins. Inside, there's a picture of Henry at the sessions, and he's wearing a dress! Come on now, if Henry Rollins in a femenine white dress isn't worth $... sent to Dischord, I really don't know what is.

So to all the Minor Threat fans wondering if they should buy a CD of songs they've already heard, just get it. It's super-cheap and the music is great; another worthy chapter in the legacy of the best hardcore band of all time.

This ep is good my favorite song on it is Guilty of being white
this ep was also released on 7", buy this it is good.

Minor Threat is arguably the greatest and most important band in hardcore. Their songs and riffs are truly timeless and their influence on music is still felt to this day. They are one of my favorite punk/hardcore bands of all time, so I was quite excited when I heard that they were releasing an old demo tape of their's for a nominal price. I bought it shortly after its release, eager to hear Minor Threat's earliest days.

However, I was somewhat disappointed with my purchase. The tape's nine songs are undeniably classics, but a much better version of every one of them is already available on Minor Threat's Complete Discography, a one-disc compilation containing every song the band ever wrote. There is absolutely nothing new or different music-wise on First Demo Tape, except for Ian's vocals, which are considerably less aggressive, angry, and exciting than the ones on Complete Discography. I wouldn't even recommend this for completists; anyone who owns Complete Discography has already heard First Demo Tape many, many times.

First Demo Tape makes a pretty good, very cheap introduction to Minor Threat for new fans, but other than that, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, save rabid MT fans.

Very cool album. All the songs are alternative tracks that are different on the "Complete Discography" and pretty much just sound really good.

Though I have always been somewhat of a Minor Threat fan (I think all fans of hardcore have some level of respect for Ian and crew), I have never really saw them as a "great" band, always getting lost in a lot of the music; but their first demo tape is without a doubt one of the shining examples of early 80's hardcore. It is raw, simple, intelligent, and undeniably original. Granted, all of these songs are found on their 'Complete Discography', the songs on here sound much more authentic and heartfelt. The guerrillia style recording (done in the basement of Don Zientara) brings out the true meaning behind the songs, all of which are played to a loose perfection on here. Listen, there is not much to say that hasn't already been said. As brilliant as anything they've done, not to mention one of the most influencial demo in hardcore.

Minor Threat was a band that I became familiar with when I was 16, and they immediately blew me away with their ability to make a point and to change the way I feel about my life as a teenager. If you're a fan of hardcore and/or straight edge, then this release is essential simply because it demonstrates the essence of what the very early days of Minor Threat (and many other hardcore acts at he time) were all about; having a blast with your friends and standing apart from the abyss of adulthood.

This is the earliest recorded works of Minor Threat, only a few months after the band formed and it sounds very similar to their first 7", which in my humble opinion sounds superior their s/t release. The guitar is much more defined and discernable on this recording than on their s/t release.

Playing time: 9 minutes, pics: 5, case type: gatefold

In short: get it. Minor Threat is, unlike certain other "punk/hardcore/fusion" bands of today, truly legendary, breaking more ground with less support at a younger age.

uhhh NO ,,,,dont get this.... get their best of CD. thats all you need ... oh....and get Fugazi 'margin walker' and '12 songs'.... and download the song 'public witness program' (only the song, i hated the rest of the CD personally)