Customer Reviews

Peace Thru Vandalism / When in Rome

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thinks it's kind of lame that Joe Escalante kept the name The Vandals because he is the only one left from the original band members. Thus I coin this the REAL Vandals only album. But the music: fantastic. we'll sound even better when we've got it mixed. Is that james? Is that James in the mixing room? You've got your classics on the Peace through Vandalism part (Pat Brown, Urban Struggle, etc.) and some hilariously good songs on When in Rome as well. A lot of people don't like When in Rome as much, but I think it's just as good as Peace Through Vandalism. Not one track of filler on either of them though. Someone in another review said something about how impressive it is that they can nail down so many different styles of music, even when it seems it's just for laughs. I feel exactly the same way. If you're a fan of the post-original-line-up Vandals with dave quackekernfgrtekbush, you might not be impressed because they don't really sound that similar. But if you keep an open-mind and give this album a spin or two you'll find it's much better than anything the post-vandals have done.

Looking at most of the reviews here, it becomes instantly obvious the divide between the various iterations of the Punk phenomenon. Some (myself included) call the latest movement complete rubbish, and utterly commercial, which is at odds with the real meaning of the punk movement. However, way back when in the days I considered myself a punk rocker, the previous generation said the same of us. That being said, it's pretty clear that from the other reviews that kid's today don't know their roots. For instance, it seems unlikely that a band like say, NOFX would have its unique sound or humor without the likes of the original Vandals. Tracks like the Legend of Pat Brown, Mohawk Town, and Urban Struggle were once anthems, where now they are pretty much forgotten, and that's too bad. One review mentioned that the album has an odd cowboy theme, which begs context. When this album came out, way back in the early 80's, there was a resurgence of country music, and something called the "cowboy lifestyle", thanks in large part to a forgotten movie called Urban Cowboy, starring none other than John Travolta. Coming to the point, the Vandals decided to have a little fun with [what was then] contemporary pop culture.

Anyone that grew up in OC will recognize some of the references made in the songs, Zoomies for example is, or was, a cowboy bar at one time in Huntington Beach... The song Pirate's Life is actually about the Pirate's of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, and an LSD trip. For ultimate context, I highly recommend the original version of Suburbia on DVD, in which the real Vandals appear, which is sold here on Amazon, and for which, incidentally, I have also written a review.

If this album has you scratching your head, its because its from a different time that seems to be irrelevant to the current generation of punk rockers. There was a time when this album was cutting edge, and that time has long since passed.

The Vandals rule on this compilation...not because they rock(well they actually do) but because it's funny or sarcastic. Without hearing much Vandals I find this to be an essential punk/hardcore record. Remember...Keep this in mind though, I've only heard Fear of a Punk Planet and a few newer Vandals songs on Nitro comps and such.

The first EP is great. Starting with the fun bass line of "Wanna be a Manor". With the themes of cowboy punkers in "Urban Struggle" and rocking as a Pirate. The humor of H.B. Hotel and getting a broken heart and more I shouldn't go into in this review. It ends with the somewhat funny Anarchy Burger(Hold the Government).

The full length continues the humorous tradition of the EP, except I actually think it's better with use of the Stratch Box in Ladykiller...to the very funny cover of "Hocus Pocus"...to the trumpet in "Rico"...there's some cool instrumentation on the album. You wouldn't think this stuff is much. But it is creative and funny as heck in my mind! Plus all the funny rocking songs...there so absurbly funny...possibly for the wrong reasons.

The Vandals of old put together two albums on one CD, "Peace Through Vandalism" and "When In Rome Do As the Vandals". Seventeen tracks of psycho-punk with a touch of rockabilly. This is one of the rare bands that are together because there is nothing more fun to do then to play their music. Politically incorrect, facetious, satirical and having a good time describes the band perfectly.

There are plenty of gems on this album. From "H.B. Hotel" a take on the old Elvis standby with some really nasty lyrics about the girl that dumped Stevo, to the punked-out version of a cowboy skinhead sheriff going to a town full of mowhawks to catch a murderer in "Mowhawk Town". They even cover Focus' "Hocus Pocus", and end with the laid-back, Latin sounding "Rico". The album is all high-energy driving beats that will thrill even those with just a little punk in their roots. The classics are all here as well, including, "Anarchy Burger", "Urban Struggle", and "Slap of Love".

The best part of this album is to see how this band of 80's fame influenced a slew of bands in the 90's. From Nirvana to No Doubt to Johnny Sako, you can hear the Vandals in their music. If you like to have fun, and don't take things too seriously, and like the vicious speed of a punk sound, then this is a good place to start. Good luck in finding it.

"Peace Thru Vandalsim" is an absolute classic... All the songs are what made me love the Vandals so much in the first place...original vocalist Steve-O was the best...the Vandals now are a completely different band, save Joe E...not bad, but entirely different. "Urban Struggle" "Legend of Pat Brown" they're classics..."When in Rome" isn't as good, but it's close...listen to what made early 80's punk so great, and why this album is still on my playlist today.

This is one of my favorite punk albums from the early 80's. I saw the Vandals few years ago on the Warp Tour, but the new bad doesn't compare to when Stevo was frontin the band. "The Legend of Pat Brown" is a classic.

I love these guys! I owned both of these on vinyl and wore them out. I also wore out the cassets I made of these recordes. Yes I am old. I played these records extensively on my radio show in college. Nothing quite gets the blood flowing like "Pat Brown" or "Anarchy Burger". They displayed a great amount of humor in their country western flavored song that talks about "all the girls in thier tight fitting jeans so they don't look fat" I'm so old I forgot the name of the song.

I still bust out in stitches everytime I think about "Viking Suit" from the "when in Rome..."

I am buying now because these are timeless clasics. Besides one of the guys in the band has my first name. Nils

I am here just to clear up a few things. This is a great album for any one who enjoyed Punk in the mid to late eighties. I need to correct a few things. The bar is called 'ZOOBIES' and was in the city of Costa Mesa. The H.B. Zobbies did not open until the early 90's, well after the Cuckoo's Nest(also in Costa Mesa) closed. The Cuckoo's Nest and Zoobies shared the same parking lot. Zoobies owners got tired of the pucks that hung around so they bought the Cuckoo's Nest and turned it into Zoobies Guilded Cage'. Any way, now I'm bored, just a lil history for ya.

Plus, I got the patch, and it's on the arm of my jean jacket - and looks great! Love the Vandals!!!

Peace Through Vandalism is a must have.... When did punk start? We can argue that it started in England and was seen in The Clash, Pistols, The Damned and was rolling in 1976...but how about America in 1970? Ever heard of Iggy Pop (and the Stooges)? How about Lou Reed and a band called the Velvet Underground? New York Dolls? Ramones? In the late 70's if you were West Coast it was either LA or SF and it could have been any of the Decline of Western Civilization bands (Germs, Black Flag, Bags, Circle Jerks, X and my favorite FEAR) or The Dead Kennedys and The Hate up in the Bay Area. In the early 80's Orange County (not The OC) was ripping it up with bands like The Vandals, T.S.O.L., The Adolescents, D.I., Agent Orange, Social Distortion...Hello. Peace Through Vandalism is the flagship for The Vandals. When in Rome...well it is good but not hardcore...more tongue in cheek and may have borrowed from The Peppers (freaky style/uplift mojo party plan).

What is Punk? Is it the Weirdoz, The Screamers, Charged G.B.H., Subhumans, The Doors? In my opinion Punk is something that is not played or at least wasn't played on the radio...always exceptions (college pirate radio with balls or KROQ's Rodney B). I don't think any FEAR song will or could have played on the radio, but I hear The Killers and many others...what is the word alternative or is it punk..on top 40 radio stations...Horrible!