Customer Reviews

Not So Quiet on the Western Front

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No, it ain't the music of back-woods hillbillies or lonesome cowboys out on the range, but it's no less authentic or expressive of a unique moment in American culture. Perhaps we are still too close to this era to recognize what a spontaneous and authentic musical phenomenon took place in the days before hardcore punk became mired in its own cliches and formulas. I myself was a part of this scene, and my band, the Church Police, is one of the 49 groups from California and Nevada that fill this CD. Not all of the bands, but many, were what I call "suburban subdivision bedroom bands," because that's where we played some of our best music and, in a few cases, where some of these recordings were made.

It's hard to imagine a compilation that could have done a better job at representing what was happening in the punk scene at the time. There are a few of the big name S.F. bands, the Dead Kennedys and Flipper, that were main players in that era, but they don't dominate the collection (though Flipper's cut is probably the longest.) Instead, what strikes me most vividly now is the fresh sound and brashness of these bands. It's kind of funny listening to them, such a blend of hyped emotions, serious anger and alienation, but tempered by irony because most of the bands knew that they really weren't gonna go anywhere as far as a "career" was concerned. We were as interested in getting into the shows for free ("put me on your guest list!") and maybe winding up the night with 25 or 50 bucks in our pockets after all was said and done. You gotta love the spontaneity and craziness that these kids brought to their music. It would be incredible to have a reunion of these bands, not that too many of them are doing much with music these days, I imagine. I don't listen to a whole lot of underground hardcore these days, but if you want a top-notch sampler of the "real stuff" I recommend this without reservation.

I've been waiting for years for this to be issued on CD! I don't know what happened to my record. This CD is a great document of the N. California punk scene of the early 80's. I was there and I saw probably 35-40 of the 47 bands on this recording. There's a wide variety of styles on this CD and if you like punk, you're sure to find something to like here. If you don't like punk, go check out the Kenny G selection.

BUY IT TODAY! You won't be disappointed.

This album spawned more punks than any other! It is a definitive collection. Every punk worth his boots was reading Maximum Rock'N'Roll, even if they hated it, and this was the definitive release by Maximum Rock'N'Roll and Alternative Tentactles. I'd list the standouts, but they ALL stood out. Buy this album. Buy it. Buy it.

This album was just amazing! While most of it was predictable top-notch 80's hardcore, there was also some cool noise and other stuff mixed in. Almost every song on this is great. It reflects the anger and intensity that existed back then. The Reagan Cultural Doctrine did not leave room for a few of us in scattered pockets in the US, and this music made an awful decade tolerable. This record was my soundtrack for delinquency.

Having lived in the era, the CD seems like a time capsule. Not essential unless you want a history lesson and can deal with all of the era-specific references. The Church Police song was the best one and it was not even hardcore.

This is it; this is the music that liberated thousands of my fellow Northern Californians. There's some truly kick-ass $hit on here. And while the styles range tremendously, every song on this album is good. And then some are GREAT, like "Pay Salvation" by Los Olvidados or "Breakout" by UXB. If you like Maximum Rock and Roll, you will love this album! This is a monument to nonconformity and I highly recommend it.

When it was initially released in 1982, the chunky compilation of 47 bands that swept through the bleak landscape of Reaganomics was not simply a chronicle of West Coast punk, but a coming out blast from an underground movement that was not going to be silenced by the growing pop culture robotics of the new wave sound.

The 48-page booklet - which includes a slick essay by Jeff Bale - is worth the price of admission, with the songs in the same order and the artwork very close to its original form. For the uninitiated - even back in the day - the hook may be the Dead Kennedys and Flipper, but the wealth of talent is extraordinary, with Social Unrest, Capitol Punishment, 7 Seconds, Karnage and Free Beer unleashing a timeless assault on the puppeteers of political/societal norms.

What did you know, what did you care......

oi i have the LP from way back when but no longer have a record player so hearing alot of old stuff brought back memories of when music was art and said something

If you don't own this classic compilation of West Coast punk rock, you don't know punk. Tons of great songs in a wide range of styles from the cream of erly 80s Cali hardcore. I think one of the best tracks is by Fresno's own MANIAX, "OFF TO WAR" - amazing these young teens were only 13 years old when they recorded this in their living room. If you want to get more MANIAX, check out their new website and the upcoming release of their long-awaited "MANIAX - THE LOST TAPES" CD due out Winter 2007 featuring over 30 (!) unreleased tracks from the vaults and nearly 80 minutes of DIY punk spirit homegrown in the Central Valley circa 1980-1982 - go to www.maniaxmusic.com to check 'em out! Sorta PLASMATICS meets THE CLASH with some BLACK FLAG and MINOR THREAT thrown in for good measure - get it now!

Along with "Let Them Eat Jellybeans" and "New York Thrash", this comp introduced thousands of wayward youths in the '80s (myself included) to all the great bands that comprised the underground punk/hardcore scene. This one was a regional comp (like most of the time) that focussed Northern California and Nevada bands. Sure, I had heard some of these groups already, like Dead Kennedys, MDC and Fang, but there were a bunch of bands that I had never heard of before that were absolutely incredible like Social Unrest (over the years I sought out all of their great records--the ep and first three 12"s), Los Olvidados, No Alternative, Impatient Youth, etc. Even among some of the bands I already knew, there were tracks I hadn't heard yet. The best example of this would be "F**k your America" by 7 Seconds.

Another vital component of this record was the insert booklet that came with it. This is considered to be the first issue of Maximum Rocknroll magazine, which was and is still the most relevant punk zine for those who dig punk beyond the poser appeal that unfortunately dominates the majority mindset in music today. I remember reading the lyrics while listening to each song and drifting off into my escapist fantasy world of a punk utopia were I knew other people were out there that felt like I did. The punk scene was my religion in a way, for it gave me mental sanctuary from the stupid society that I lived in (and that hasn't changed at all!). None of the songs were too deep or complex, but they very much appealed to the teenage punk angst with lyrics about hating dumb rich people, rednecks, war, religion, etc. And that's the way it should be. Get your profound words in literature, but hardcore works best with in-your-face simplicity.

This record, and the lyric booklet that became MRR, is now available on CD for people who weren't around at the time (or since lost their vinyl). Alternative Tentacles did a cool job keeping the original aesthetic quality by repackaging the lyrics/zine into a CD-size booklet that still devotes an entire page for each band (plus a cool intro to the reissue by Jeff Bale).

Sure, some of the bands/songs on here are super generic and haven't held up with time, but the majority are still great to crank loudly today - and not just for nostalgic value.

Obviously this isn't for dumb sheep that think Urban Outfitters' clothing and a Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD makes you punk. You either get it or you don't. Assuming you're reading these reviews, you probably get it. And if you dig old American (California sound) punk/early hardcore at all, then this is absolutely mandatory.

I've listened to this everyday since i bought it earlier this month! Its definately right up there with Punk and Disorderly as far as old school hardcore punk goes!!!Not that shitty Blink 182 crap!!! This is the real deal,especially if your into political hardcore punk!You must own this!!!