Customer Reviews

No Thanks: 70s Punk Rebellion

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The point of box set compilations, like this one, is to provide the listener with an overview of a particular era or type of music. It's impossible to include everything everyone, especially completists would want or even expect. The questions to answer then are "Does this set provide you with a insightful look into 70's punk?" and "When I'm finished listening, have I learned something useful?" The answer is yes, resoundingly. If you were around in the 70's, you will hear and remember some old stuff that you have probably forgotten, and if you weren't around then, you can see how punk morphed into new wave and then devolved into the pop music that often passes as "punk" today. (Devo was right!)

If you like to show off your knowledge of obscure punk bands, or if you think hair gel and a trip to Hot Topic to get a Blink 182 shirt makes you a punker, then this box set isn't for you. It's for people who are interested in, not obsessed with the music and who at least know the difference between punk and "punk." Enough said.

It should be obvious to those looking here that punk is not about the style or being bratty just to get on your parent's nerves. That would be "punk rock," aka Good Charlotte/Yellowcard/any other generic pop-punk today. Punk was a position, a radical position at the time. New wave, while there were redeeming moments, corrupted this ideal and made it safe. Early grunge and underground music made it wild again, until the former became mainstream and redundant, leaving the latter to gradually rise up in opposition. But this was where it started. And thank God.

This collection is for anyone who wants to be reassured, or potentially taught, that punk did not just mean simple, generic, almost alike songs. There may be those that say punk was the "return to the great two-and-a-half minute singles," and while this was true to a great extent, there were those exceptions that made the classification special and exciting. All of this is represented in just the right amounts, just enough simple British punk, just enough art-punk, just enough hardcore, etc. It's also a way to show anyone who writes off punk as interminal skronk as people who were seriously engulfed in their work, even if their work wasn't entirely serious. It's catchy as hell, even the artsy stuff, and even with those that "couldn't play," there are still those that can truly play their instruments. This box set shows every side of things related to the genre.

Most importantly, there are the songs themselves. Every song has a right to be on here, as they all represent something similarly primal in its spirit but different in its execution. It's incredibly difficult to pick out the best songs, as practically all amaze me; still, the ones that most amaze me are the things I had not heard before, potentially for that reason. I knew the Ramones, the Clash, Television, Suicide, Dead Kennedys, Richard Hell, X, etc. When I finally heard work of bands I had heard of but never listened to, the true revelations began: the Buzzcocks (especially "Ever Fallen In Love..."), the Germs ("Lexicon Devil" is now in my top five favorite songs), the Only Ones ("Another Girl, Another Planet" is the best power-pop song ever), the Cramps ("Human Fly" is one of the weirdest catchy songs I know), the Rich Kids (the melody of "Ghosts of Princes in Towers" is irresistable), Subway Sect (I love the synth effects on "Ambition"), X-Ray Spex ("Oh Bondage Up Yours!" is just plain fun), etc.

You could argue that the absence of the Sex Pistols is a big detriment to the credibility of these discs. And yes, sure, the Sex Pistols were the greatest punk band of them all. But if you don't own their "Never Mind The Bollocks..." then you should buy it immediately. Every song on there is indispensable, making it the first necessary punk purchase (a fact confirmed in the liner notes to this box set, actually). Once you own that, there's arguably little need for the rest of the Sex Pistols material, and then their appearance on this set would be pointless. After that, one could argue bands like the Au Pairs, the Raincoats, and the no-wave movement are inexplicably missing. And one of my personal favorite bands I didn't expect to find here but I was really hoping: Simply Saucer (their album "Cyborgs Revisited" is a true unknown noisy masterpiece that only gets better with each repeated listen). Still, this box set distills the best of the rest with their best songs, and places them together in a totally cohesive manner, that allows for repeated, continuous listening, something uncommon for box sets. This is both a testament to Rhino for being able to put together such a comprehensive collection and to the musicians present for their truly timeless music, in all its rage and joy.

Looking back to the original Punk scene you have to realise it was mostly about singles - the odd 7" you had to look forward to every friday (that was the day when my record dealer returned from his London trip). This collection has all the essentials. One might argue that one gem or the other is missing but all in all you will either get a fine replacement for all your scratched and worn vinyl items or a perfect introduction to the scene and times. One special point I'd like to make as an European: Neither the US nor the UK scene are over- or underweighted - this is just what it was like between 1976 and 1979. Plus with the last tracks on disc 4 you see where it's heading: New Wave rears its head with the modern pop of Joe Jackson and the punk/jazz/funk of The Pop Group. Buy!

Want a near-perfect primer on punk? A set of dozens and dozens of tracks by the bands who got it going? Well, you could do a whole lot worse than this four-CD set. No, the Pistols aren't here - they wouldn't allow it, apparently. But with so many great tunes by so many bands, this is more just observation than complaint.

What you do get with "No Thanks," is the Ramones, the Jam, the Clash, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Patti Smith, Generation X, the Dictators, the Damned and scads of others reminding us one more time just what you can do with a few chords, a few scruffy friends, and a dislike of the music you're currently hearing on the radio. And the tunes? Howzabout "Born to Lose," "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Search and Destroy," "Alternative Ulster," "X Offender," "Sonic Reducer" and "Hanging on the Telephone" to name but a few? In fact, plowing through these discs - and skimming the COOL book included with this set - it's amazing to think that almost all of these tunes and these bands came out within just a few short years of each other. Incredible.

But even though "No Thanks" is comprised mainly of tunes from Punk's mid-70s to 1980 heyday, there are tracks by the Stooges, New York Dolls, Modern Lovers and a few others just to show us how Iggy and his like paved the sonic path to New York and London of '76. Likewise, there's a nod to the LA punk of a slightly later vintage (Fear, X, Black Flag).

Of course, whatever it is that's represented here couldn't last. Whatever was punk rock at one time has splintered into various factions, died, been resurrected and, for better or worse, become a bigger part of popular culture than it ever was when the bands represented here were at their peak. For today's up & coming punk kids, after all, it might be hard to imagine why Blondie or Nick Lowe would ever have been considered punk to begin with. But "No Thanks" is a look back at a time when 'punk' was less about a narrowly defined style of music as it was about a certain attitude that went along with several loosely related styles of music. Which is why this set, in capturing a whole herd of prime exponents of a musical/cultural scene, is so worthwhile for both kids and their postpunk moms and dads. It's fast, catchy, wild, and just about as much pissed-off fun as you can cram onto four CDs.

where to start? how 'bout here: next to pavement's sprawling masterpiece, _wowee zowee_--which introduced me to the independent musical underground and everything that followed--this box set of tracks culled from punk's golden age is the most influential, most inspiring, most educational, most...important musical purchase of my entire life. want proof? since buying this set in march, i've bought albums by the buzzcocks, the modern lovers, blondie, elvis costello, nick lowe, two by the pretenders, t.rex, wire, sex pistols, gang of four, two by joy division, three by ultravox, five by joe jackson, four by david bowie...and on top of that, *box sets* by pere ubu, the talking heads, brian eno, the clash, the misfits, and i'm pondering laying down the dough for the jam's new set. this is not to mention the dozens of bands featured on _no thanks!_ that are still on my waiting list (the boys, iggy pop, generation x, soft boys, the damned, richard hell, x, ian dury, the vibrators, tom robinson band, x-ray spex, etc etc). even if all of these aforementioned artists weren't included on this set, references in the literature--and in the songs of the bands that were included--to their music and their influence prompted me to check them out. most of these records were purchased by selling off albums in my own collection. that's how fundamentally this music changed me.

it literally changed my world. before listening, i was indifferent punk, thought it was overrated if i thought anything at all: low on talent, low on discipline, low on melody. _no thanks!_ and the folks at rhino who put it together taught me i was wrong on all counts (well, except maybe the "discipline" bit...this music could not have been made by disciplined individuals...it is anti-discipline). everything here is essential, everything inspirational one way or another. it's all so friggin' passionate! it demands to be heard. it forces life back into an art form that had been commercialized and parodied to the point of emerson lake and palmers and grand funk railroads. not to mention disco. the accompanying literature--two historical articles and at least a paragraph on every single song included--does an excellent job of putting it all into perspective, demonstrating why the music was important then, and why it's still important today. listening and reading along, i was converted...a thousand doors opened at once.

i honestly can't recommend this boxed set highly or sincerely enough. it will change you.

Rhino Records, Thanks for this collection! Having just sold my turntable and having just burnt through my (second copy of)"Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk Rock" LP, I have been given the best gift an old punk could get. This 4 CD collection really does touch on all the major and minor bands from the time (minus one, of course). Many of these songs I already own on CD, but to have them mixed in with all thier brothers and sisters is awesome! I am not going to touch on the songs-you can read the list yourself. Nothing there not to like.
What I want to do is mention the book-The liner notes by Chris Morris are perfect. This is someone that truly loves this music and presents the history in a manner that is interesting, fun and accurate. The notes to this set really help the punk movement (in my memories) come alive again. Also, Rhino's book is the best one that I have ever found. I mean that in the sense that you can read it and it wont fall apart, no more pages coming loose and spines breaking. I knew that it could be done!
Boy, listening to this collection, and reading this book really makes me wonder what has happend to music. I know that there are some good bands out there-Interpol, White Stripes, etc., but the state of radio today and what kids will settle for. I am glad that my generation didn't judge the music by the hip-huggers. Buy this for yourself, make your chidren listen.
As Chris Morris says in the notes (I paraphrase), "maybe it'll inspire you to start a band, a fanzine or open a record store."
The key word in that sentence is "inspire". That is what this music does. I don't know how anyone could get much inspiration from Greenday.

It was a real gas to see some of the selections on this set. Rare bits like Alternative TV and Richard Hell and the Voidoids are enough to recommend including this set in any serious rocker's collection. That said, with limited disc real estate available, I was dissappointed by the amount of artists that appear two or more times each. I also feel it was off base to include some of the New Wave and pop artists like Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson (don't get me wrong; I love those two, but they don't belong here). I lived through those days, and there were more indie bands putting out great punk than you could shake a stick at. I think it would have been simple to fill all four discs without repeating any artist, as well as excluding the more main-stream ones. All-in-all great fun, but "No Thanks" only skims the surface.

I'll keep this review succinct: while one can certainly quibble about the inclusion of this song or that band, "No Thanks" provides an admirable overview of early Punk that spans several continents and stylistic trends. More critically, this isn't some "Greatest Hits" compilation intended merely to sell CDs -- whoever chose these songs knows the genre intimately. How else to explain the presence of such unknown but deserving artists as Alternative TV, the Mekons, the Dils, the Saints, and Johnny Thunders? If you never got around to picking up the 45s way back when, "No Thanks" will fill many gaps in your collection. And if you were too young to have made it past the bouncers at the Rat or the Mab or CBGBs, "No Thanks" gives a welcome feel for the three-chord catharsis that at the time could only be found in risk-taking dives like these or on a scattered handful of radio stations. For the rest of us: nostalgia for an age yet to come.

FANTASTIC COLLECTION!!!

Rhino does it again!

I'm glad to see the majority of reviewers for this have their heads on straight. Indeed no compilation made by anyone but ourselves is perfect, but Rhino, considering all the restrictions they have to deal with from other labels, have done a superb job here. Admittedly I was never fully a punk, however I've spent the majority of 20 years investigating the music of the 70's and 80's and how it's affected what's come after.

Yes indeed there are those who look at the artists and tracks listed and would say that half aren't even punk. It obviously depends on personal opinion. But opinion based on fact provides the support for this selection. Of course many are missing but knowing what's involved in a box set, that's to be expected.

A great multitude of sounds, styles and looks created the original punk scenes. It was only after time that the snarl, Mohawk, leather jacket, pogoing and slam dancing became the ideal look and behavior. Nothing wrong with it, but just because Sid did it doesn't mean that's all there was. After all Johnny called Sid a fashion victim and that should speak volumes to anyone with ears.

This compilation doesn't fit the narrow, later definition of Punk but clearly presents what Punk actually was by those who were actually there when it was born.

While I don't have this collection, I know every song on it and have most of them on other CDs or vinyl. To anybody who was into the alternative music scene in the 70's most of these songs would be familiar. That said, this not by any means a true punk music compilation. There are artists who influenced the punk movement like the NY Dolls, Iggy, Patti Smith and The Modern Lovers but who were never really a part of it. There are those that were considered to be part of the punk scene but their music is far too complex, their songs too long and their virtuosity too refined to be true punks such as Pere Ubu, Television and The Stranglers. There are post punk bands here like Magazine, Wire and Joy Division; new wave artists like Devo and The Motors and finally, a dose of artists who may have had their early roots in the punk scene but soon moved away from it (in most cases on to fame and fortune) such as The Pretenders, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello and Blondie. This doesn't make it a bad collection by any measure, but its title can be misleading for someone who is looking for a definitive collection of 70's punk.

The collection starts off appropriately enough with the Ramone's "Blitzkreig Bop". This song, with its opening line "Hey-ho, let's go" is arguably the beginning of punk. The Ramones taught a generation of kids that they didn't need to be a wanna-be Jimmy Page to take up guitar and they didn't need to be a Ginger Baker to play the drums. Just pick up your instruments, go out there and make some noise and maybe some good music will come from it. Actually great music came out of it and a lot of it is here. The Jam, Dead Kennedys, X-Ray Spex, early Clash, X, Richard Hell, The Germs and The Damned are all good examples of the 70's punk sound. The inclusion of a rare Howard Devoto era Buzzcocks song is a real treat.

This collection covers a lot of ground. As previously mentioned it not only covers punk, but its precursors and the artists and genres that punk influenced. It also covers a variety of local music scenes including British punk (The Jam, The Damned and others), the NYC scene (Blondie, Talking Heads, Ramones, Television, Suicide, etc.) , California punk (X,Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, The Avengers and The Germs), Massachusetts Avenue (Modern Lovers) and Cleveland (Pere Ubu and Dead Boys).

There are some glaring omissions. How could a supposed compilation of 70's punk not include the Sex Pistols (I'm guessing they ran into licensing issues, because it would otherwise be inexcusable), Crass and the Bad Brains? Also considering that this collection delves into post punk and new wave, artists such as The Raincoats, Human Sexual Response, Swell Maps, The Feelies, Public Image Ltd., The Monochrome Set, Television Personalities, The Yachts and Gruppo Sportivo certainly deserved inclusion.

Some of the song selection is questionable. "Little Johnny Jewel" is far from Television's best work. "Marquee Moon", "Venus" or "Elevation" would have been much better choices. I'd like to see "Up Against the Wall" by TRB instead of "2-4-6-8 Motorway". "Roadrunner" or "She Cracked" would have been a better selection from the Modern Lovers than "Pablo Picasso" and what are The Boomtown Rats even doing on here at all?

Of course as with any compilation, nobody is ever completely satisfied and to include all deserving artists would probably have taken another 4 or 5 CDs. With that in mind, this is an outstanding overview of the alternative music scene of the mid to late 70's. It is a worthwhile acquisition for any teen or 20 something who is interested in alternative rock and wants to explore its roots, as well as those of a certain age who would like to take a trip down memory lane. Just don't call it a punk collection.