Customer Reviews

Static Age [Vinyl]

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's interesting to think that punk rock, the once innovative and vibrant style of music has been degraded to either bands who are too bubblegum (like Blink 182), or too hardcore (CKY). Classic punk by artists such as the Ramones, the Clash, the Sex Pistols, and the Buzzcocks were great because they were anarchistic while remaining intelligent and relevant to politics and social issues. Of all the hardcore punk bands I've heard, the Misfits are the best. Static Age is a perfect example of classic punk at its peak. The lyrics are outstandingly intelligent while remaining campy and fun. Being 15 years old, I wasn't alive during the late 70's and early 80's when punk was at its best, but my discovery of the Ramones on the internet led to my love of classic punk rock.

Static Age has what I believe to be one of the best songs of the punk rock scene in the 70's: Last Caress. Being a keyboardist and drummer, I learned chord progressions for blues, jazz, and rock standards. For years, it seemed like most rock bands kept going back to these same progressions. The Misfits, however, have invented and perfectly executed some of the most melodic and unique chord progressions in rock music. Lead singer Danzig also sings with a fiery ferocity of passion, only screaming to emphasize. Screaming is what makes up 99% of today's punk music, but Danzig knew when to hit his anarchistic high notes, and when to hit his ghoulishly haunting low notes. The rhythm section (guitar, bass, drums) does a phenomenal job on this album. There speed, accuracy, and synchronicity is perfect with Danzig's vocals.

I have nothing against today's punk rockers who call themselves punks and listen to Blink 182 and Avril Lavigne. Music is entertainment, and to get into the fine points of what it should and shouldn't be ain't right. But if you say you like punk, I suggest you study its roots and buy Static Age.

Enjoy listening!

As many of you know, this album was originally recorded in 1978 but not released until 1997. This delayed release has had a big impact on a few of the other Misfits CDs and could potentially cause some confusion for newer fans. If Static Age had been properly released in 1978 things would be a lot different. Let me try to explain:

The 1985 album "Legacy of Brutality" would basically not exist...NINE of those songs were Static Age material that were poorly remixed for "Legacy" Now that Static Age is out, I'm surprised that "Legacy" is even still in print.

Collection I featured a few more Static Age songs such as "Hollywood Babylon" "Bullet" and another duplicate of "She" These are suffer from an inferior remix, thou not as bad as "Legacy"

Collection II contains "We Are 138" "Attitude" "Last Caress" and "Return of the Fly" which all sound almost identical to the Static Age versions except the noticeable reverb on "Last Caress"

Using these three compilations you can actually piece together "Static Age" and it would be virtually complete except for "Teenagers from Mars" (The version on Collection 1 is taken from the Horror Business 7" and not Static Age sessions)

Now that Static Age is readily available, I question the necessity of those older CDs. [Although Collection 1 remains a popular "Best of" compilation with many people]

A Compilation CD of all their 7" singles would be the perfect way to complement The Misfits three studio albums "Static Age" "Walk Among Us" and "Earth AD" Until then, you are going to be buying all these other compilation CDs and ending up with a lot of repeat songs.

Bottom Line: Buy Static Age. Avoid Legacy of Brutality.

It's too bad Danzig never got his due back in the day when it really mattered, and I don't mean 87'/88'when I first got into the Fits and they were enjoying a rebirth among punks,skaters,metalheads,goths,etc. due to Samhain/Danzig hysteria and Metallica covers, but the late 70's second wave of punk ...as this album was every bit as classic, but in my opinion, far more complex and innovative than the Ramones debut on Sire records. However, the poor sells on the Fits own Cough/Cool 7"(Blank/Mercury Records 1977),Ramones S/t,Ramones "Leave Home",and Ramones "Rocket to Russia along with the debuts of Blondie,Television,Richard Hell,Talking Heads,Dead Boys,Dictators,etc.(most of the New York,New Jersey scene)virtually shelved any prospects of "Static Age" being released on a major "mainstream" record label(i.e. Mercury Records)! Even if Mercury had decided to invest in and promote the band, Danzig would of had to "revise and edit" some of the most obscene(even by today's standards)lyrics to ever have been laid to paper! Today's supposed punk bands, with mabye the exception of the Vandals, and a few other more "underground" bands, would'nt dare touch the lyrical anarchy and quintessential Lo-Fi production of these pioneers...as the legacy of punk has...

do not delude yourselves, nu-schoolers...been tarnished by a 3rd

and 4th generation of punks who frankly, don't understand the concept of D.I.Y. integrity and values, having basically "sold out" the philosophical spirit of the original movement! None the less, the failure of "static"

being released inspired one of the first truley D.I.Y. labels, PLAN 9,created by Glenn with little or no funds, but a lotta heart and ambition! Ahh, Now that I'm finished with my history lesson rant, Static Age can finally shed light on the glory of the original sound of the 'Fits, as the tracks on Legacy of Brutality and Collections 1 & 2 were dubbed over by Glenn...guitar and bass...

in the mid 80's to give a bigger,brighter,punchier/atmospheric sound...?... which enhanced a few tracks, but mainly handicapped most of them...Spinal Remains, Hybrid Moments, Comeback, T.V. Casualty, Angelf**k, Last Caress, Return of the fly as an example...On "Static" their crisp, tight, and clear(especially Jerry's Bass, finally) and the subtle Elvis-esque, Morrison-esque, and Orbison-esque nuances on the vocals that really shine

and validate the legend of Glenn Danzig's vocally haunting, mesmerizing pipes! If your a nu-schooler lookin' for somethin' authentically old-school, but unlike anything you've heard in today's already been done before, rehashed, over-polished, ready for a movie soundtrack sonic mess that passes as music...somethin' raw and untamed...look no further than Static Age!!!

I own every Danzig-era Misfits release and to me this is hands down the best one of them all. A solid album with 17 awesome tracks plus a bonus track of studio screw ups. Every song on here is a great listen plus the sound quality isnt that bad compared to his other recordings. There are alot of reviews claiming Walk Among Us is there defining masterpiece but I disagree; its great but not as great as Static Age.

The Misfits is just a great rock and roll band. I m very enthusiatic with bands that put in first place, not matter what, to the songs,.. such as Nirvana, Ramones... I think "The Misfits" is among them. Static Age is the best example of The Misfits' songwriting ability. Misfits' songs are complete: good lyrics, catchy groove, balls, edgy, original, intellectual, violent, honest,...and (what most rock and roll bands forget..) FUN!!!!

Simply put, this has to be the best album the Misfits have ever put out. Every song on this album is a classic, from Last Caress, to Attitude, to Angelfuck, this CD has nothing but the best to offer. And, the songs She and Spinal Remains are presented in their original form (much better than Glenn's remix on Legacy of Brutality, I might add), as well as In the Doorway, an old tune that was unreleased until now. This is essential Misfits material. If you only buy one of their albums, make sure it's this one.

I can't add much that others haven't already added emphatically, but I'll say this: Static Age houses some of the most retardedly catchy and thrilling songs I've ever heard. "Some Kinda Hate", "Last Caress" and others run barely over the two minute mark, but they somehow seem to squeeze in the energy and thump of a hundred five-minute hardcore songs combined. They're so perfectly written and executed that they have no competition, in hard rock or punk of any hybrid inbetween (except maybe The Pixies "Doolittle"). My antiseptic description does nothing to convey how easily these songs get your blood boiling; listening to them is like ingesting steroids aurally.

I've played these two minute masterpieces over and over and somehow they never loose their edge, which is amazing considering how short and condensed they are. I mean, there's nothing new you'll hear in them the more you listen, no new sounds or qualities that spring to your ear with repeat listens, and yet they're endlessly rewarding. You don't need twenty layers of sound or subtle texturing to warrant more spins, the songs are the reason in and of themselves.

Music is music. If you like something, then its good to you. If someone else doesn't like it, it doesn't mean they're posers or something. You don't like something because it's punk. You like it because you like it. You people get so concerned with genres that you forget that its just music! Stop argueing over whos punk and whos not, who cares! By the way, this is a good cd.

The same famous quote about the Velvet Underground can be used to described the Misfits: "Only a couple thousand people bought their albums, but every single one of them started a rock band."

This album matches the rage of any album that ever followed it by anyone. It is a good kick in the teeth and it never lets up...but what makes it even better is that it is CATCHY. Even my little sisters who hate punk can never get the 'fits out of their heads after I listen to them.

Although it might now be the best guitar playing, the sheer agression of it sure made me pick up a guitar! This album can stand up to any punk classic and hold its own. An ESSENTIAL to any punk or hard rock fan's collection.

Static, Static.....

Since I've first put this cd into my cd player,it is the ONLY thing I've been listening to.I fell in love with this right after I put it in.Of course,you can find most of these tracks on "Legacy Of Brutality".But it does not compare to this cd.This has to be by far the best Misfits cd that you can listen to from start to finish.Even though Walk Among Us and Earth A.D. have some of the good hits,it still doesn't compare to this.