Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 5, 1993)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alternative Tentacle
• ASIN: B000000F6R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,220 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
If you're going to own one DK's record, this is it. It's all here in raw, uncut form--Jello Biafra's sneering vocals, the satire that poked like a stick in the eye, and the instrumental blitz that joined East Bay Ray's surf guitar with slaughterhouse rhythm. Soon after this debut, Biafra would fall into Lenny Bruce's trap of parading his legal hassles instead of making art. On Fresh Fruit, though, he throws firebomb after firebomb, hitting every chosen target with "I Kill Children," "Holiday in Cambodia," "California Uber Alles," and "Let's Lynch the Landlord." Dated? A little, sure, but it remains a landmark of lefty politics and violent music. --Michael Ruby

Product Description
1993 reissue on Alternative Tentacles of the hardcore punker's 1980 debut for the label. Hailing from San Francisco & led by Jello Biafra, the album features 14 tracks, including their amusing remake of 'Viva Las Vegas', plus 'Kill The Poor', 'Holiday In Cambodia', 'Let's Lynch The Landlord' and 'California Uber Alles'. The full title is'Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, May 6, 2000

By	daibhidh "daibhidh" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

I love DK. They are one of my favorite American punk bands. With their driving surf guitar music over would-be Green politico Jello Biafra's nagging vocals, they hit just the right notes. To appreciate this band, you need this album. One drawback of the band is their references are often dated ("Jane Fonda" and "Governor Jerry Brown", for example), but the tunes as a whole remain fantastic.

This band was political as hell, or at least Jello is. Some critics have slammed the musical ability of DK, but I've never had any complaints, myself. They get the job done, and they do it fast and furious - most of the tracks will make you want to slam dance in your living room. My favorite tracks are "Kill the Poor", "When Ya Get Drafted", "Let's Lynch the Landlord" (my absolute favorite), "Chemical Warfare", "California Über Alles", "Stealing People's Mail", and of course "Holiday in Cambodia", which sometimes makes me think of Bauhaus, in terms of the music. On top of everything else, you get a nifty mini-poster collage inside. I hope they still include that.

You can race through this album in no time at all; it's not even 33 minutes long. DK just dove in, got down to business, and moved on, in classic punk style.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a punk classic, August 14, 2001

By	Jonathan Henry (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

I'm not an expert on the Dead Kennedys, but what I do know is that I like this disc a lot. The Kennedys are probably one of the most influential and famous American punk bands in history, and this CD will let you know why.

"Holiday In Cambodia" remains possibly my favorite DK song of all time, and combined with other great ones like Kill the Poor, Viva Las Vegas and Chemical Warfare, it makes for one killer album.

Some people take offense at their lyrics, but you just have to realize the DK are one of the most sarcastic, say-the-opposite-of-what-you-mean bands ever. They obviously aren't advocating blowing up the poor or lynching the landlord. Just listen to Jello's (heck, just look at his name) voice, it's obvious.

Anyway, this is a great CD and belongs in the collection of any punk fan.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spitting Venom..., October 28, 2004

By	J. Brittman "The Bottom Line" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

THE landmark debut from Jello Biafra and Co. takes on all comers. Biafra spews fire on classics California Uber Allies and Holiday in Cambodia challenging right wing politicos and second year college students to find some semblance of a soul in this modern society. "Your a star-belly sneech you suck like a leech You want everyone to act like you, Kiss ass while you bitch so you can get rich, But your boss gets richer on you", you just can't find any more potent or eye opening lyrics than Biafras. No one has written better lyrics with more sarcasm or wit, just check out I Kill Children or Kill the Poor. "I kill children, I love to see them die, I kill children, And make their mamas cry, Crush 'em under my car, I wanna hear them scream, Feed 'em poison candy, To spoil their Halloween." In sheer terms of accomplishment, this is the best album that DK ever put together, it's also their most consistent piece of work. Some standout tracks (other than the aforementioned) are: Stealing People's Mail, Funland at the Beach, Chemical Warfare and Let's Lynch the Landlord. This is a punk album that any self respecting fan should own, it is vital and essential stuff. Eventhough the music may sound dated, the fury and passion of Biafra's lyrics make this stuff timeless. Highly Recommended.