If You Swear You'll Catch No F

S.N.F.U. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Better Youth Org.
• ASIN: B0000001XZ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,922 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Considered by many to be the band's finest release, If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish deservedly ranks high on many all-time punk lists. Core members Mr. Chi Pig on vocals and brothers Brent "Bunt" and Mark "Muc" Welke (providing a literal twin-guitar attack) are joined on this, their second full-length disc by a rhythm section consisting of Ted Simm (drums) and Dave Bacon (bass). Released in 1986 on the Better Youth Organization (BYO) imprint, If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish contains many classic SNFU cuts like "Forgot" and "Better Homes and Gardens." The skate punkers pick up where fellow Canadians the Subhumans left off and take extra U.S. North American hardcore to new extremes with their slapshot-fast material and thick guitars. Mr. Chi Pig takes on some serious issues, including Alzheimer's disease ("I Forgot") and the cold war's nuclear threat ("Black Cloud"), while the guitarists Welke use pop, metal, and hardcore power-chording to create their band's unique sound and vision. Despite or perhaps because of the more polished and focused approach on later SNFU releases, If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish holds up and holds on to it's lofty skate punk status, due mostly to its naïve but earnest purity. Photographer: Dean. Unknown Contributor Role: Dean. Personnel: Mr. Chi Pig (vocals); Brent Bunthoven, Muc (guitar). Recording information: Power Zone, Istanbul, Turkey (04/1986). Blister Pack

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drums & Kraft Dinner, 4 strings righteousness, A chinese boy who eats with sticks..., March 6, 2006

By 

The Tentaclepus "The Tentaclepus" (QUEBEC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If You Swear You'll Catch No F (Audio CD)

The best of the best. Canadian punkers--headed by the oriental Mr. Chi-Pig--recorded this seminal album in Turkey of all places. Bar none, the greatest hardcore album of all time. I first bought it in 1986, and have listened to it 1000s of times since. Every song is a cherished classic, from "Devil's Voice" to the irreverant "Snapping Turtle". Try to buy the vinyl version, as the liner notes and photos/artwork are amazing. This album changed my life. Buy it. Listen to it. You will never regret it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Whoa. 4.5 out of, May 1, 2004

By 

Merki (Chicagolandarea, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If You Swear You'll Catch No F (Audio CD)

I pretty much put myself out on a limb when I bought this cd. The only SNFU song I heard before this was Don't Have the Cow, an awesome song. But, that song was from their latest album that was released in '96, and this is their second album from '86. But, I bought it knowing that it was one of the most influential albums to the bands I listen to, like NOFX, Pennywise, etc. And boy am I glad I bought it. I am pretty select in the punk bands and especially old-school punk bands I listen to. Partly because some punk is too simple,and sometimes seems like it is lacking in musical talent; that is most definetly not the case with SNFU. I appreciate a band that allows melodic guitars and solos to find its way in their album. And, it is cool to see that the awesome singer (Mr. Chi Pig)doesn't always have to be singing, he allows sometimes half of a song to be just instrumental before the singing comes in. But don't get me wrong, Mr. Chi Pig is an excellent singer and is unlike ANY singers I have heard before. Sometimes he's kinda weird but that's okay. Anyway, lets get to the songs.
1. The Devil's Voice:9/10 Good way to start out the album. It gives me a Misfits vibe.
2. Where's My Legs:10/10 Awesome. So much energy, funny, and one of my favorites.
3. Better Homes and Gardens: 9.5/10 Another great song.
4. Scarecrow: 10/10 Another one of my favorites, kinda long for punk rock(4:30) but I like that. Its a bit weird but so is SNFU, this is one of those songs where the instruments really shine through, and that's what I was rambling on about before.
5. Black Cloud: 9.5/10 A slower even more melodic song. I really like it.
6. I Forget: 10/10 Yet another one of my favs. Its really catchy and packed full of energy.
7. The Ceiling: 10/10 I love this one too.
8. Mind Like a Door: 6.5/10 My least favorite. I don't like the screaming.
9. He's Not Getting Older, He's Getting Bitter: 10/10 This may be my favorite. I dunno, its way up there on my list. Great guitar solo, and lyrics. Another 4 or so something minutes long song.
10. Electric Chair: 9.5/10 I really like this song, its really fast I just don't like the ending.
11. Welcome To My Humble Life Of Dissaray: 10/10 Awesome, they should of ended the album with this and took off Snapping Turtle.
12. Snapping Turtle: 7.5/10 Not cause it is that bad, I just don't like the singing and it sounds like its a "f*** around" song. In my opinion it should of been prev. unreleased but whatever, i still listen to it.
So, overall it is an awesome album. If I could give it 4.5 I would (Amazon doesn't rate with halves). And it may get 5 if it weren't for the crappy production, that's my main complaint. But that's alright cause it gives it more of that old-school sound. If you are a fan of rock music buy it, it is not just for punk fans.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrash innovators ... figures they'd be Canadian., October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: If You Swear You'll Catch No F (Audio CD)

When I was 16 years old in 1987, I remember there were basically two cassettes I rotated in and out of my Walkman for several months -- "Garage Days Re-revisited" and "If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish". And I remember thinking how much cooler SNFU was than Metallica (even years before Metallica became the tragic joke they are today).

I was so extremely happy I discovered this SNFU CD! Finally! I found a band that played music I had been looking for in thrash bands for years! The music was fast ... but thick, chunky and creatively arranged. The lyrics were genuinely sarcastic and clever. And when I finally went to see them live in '89, I was just absolutely smitten by their hyperactive showmanship.

"If You Swear ..." was for me, the album that gave birth to bands years later like NOFX, Strung Out, No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, etc. The production of "If You Swear ..." is typical of something recorded 15 years ago, but it is in every other way, way ahead of its time.