Customer Reviews

Stations Of The Crass

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a mid teen in late 70s England, my character and sense of self was permanently affected and molded by this band. I saw them live only once...and I saw many punk bands of that era... the experience and impact was indelible and profound.

To have heard this album the first time, during a moment in time when punk was clearly a commoditity was to have seen punk reinfused with a sense of ideals and purpose.

There is a wisdom to many of the sentiments expressed in this album that mark it almost as a work of philosophy not just music. I was a punk in England during the heyday, and i will not slag the efforts of the marque names, cos I enjoyed them thoroughly too. For me though, Crass epitomised a midset of drastic, radical social and personal realisation, and that makes this album more personal than any I can think of from the day.

When I was a teen I listened to a lot of Crass. Mother Earth was a song that really hit me hard. There was something in the way that Steve Ignorant's voice crackled out of those drawn out cries and the way the guitar came back in... that slow rumbly bass line... Mother Earth sounded like a nightmare song. I assumed it was about the enviornment (based on the title) because I'd be damned if I could understand all but a few words of it.

Recently I was reading the lyrics to the song, because it had come back into my head after years of not really listening to much Crass. I had no idea that the song focused on the death penalty and the case of Myra Hindley (one of the two involved in the Moors Murders of the 1960s).

The lyrics were intelligent, and difficult. I say difficult because I struggle with my believe in the death penalty. On one hand I support it, but on the other hand I know that justice can and will be wrong, and is often motivated by inferior influences than we would like. But that's what Crass does. To this day a Crass song, when you really listen, not just hear it, can do that to a person.

Crass were almost like the Amish in their strict adherence to their ideals. I know I don't have the gumption to be so steadfast, I have to respect them. Crass' music is often critisized as being "subpar" but that was never really the point anyhow. Their music, like everyhting else they did, was confrontational. It was hard to ignore.

So while I'm much, much, much to the right of Crass in my ideaology, I respect this group and listen to them, and others, with an open ear. This is not just some protest band going through a phase. This is a well-thought-out execution.

Frankley, this is their best album. Get "Best Before" if you need a sampler. But "Stations of the Crass" is truly the apex of the group as a creative political force. And for the love of Crass, please READ the lyrics!

The essence of the anarcho-punk movement is found in the second release by a band who was as honest to their fans as they were to themselves. This is no posturing for the suits looking to greedily bank cash from chaos, but observations from the gritty streets, boarded up storefronts and declining neighborhoods as dreams turn to dust in any era.

With the avant-garde vision of Sun Ra, sonic power of the MC5 and poetic lines worthy of the Beat Generation, the CD was originally released as a 2-album set; three sides recorded in the studio four days after the concert tracks, which was side four. The incredible bluntness and wealth of timeless issues covered seem to be summarized when Steve Ignorant belts out: "They said that we were trash/Well the name is Crass, not Clash."

Working class hero, indeed.

This is a band who defied punk convention and just went for the jugular of social injustice. Lyrically, this album is very demanding (a lyric sheet is provided). These artists are obviously very intelligent, and they make their points in a direct and laconic manner. Musically, I like Mother Earth, Darling, and Walls, but there is plenty here to make listening to this CD end to end an absolute delight. How the girl manages normal/very high/normal/very high ... voice changes, is still a mystery to me.

i recently bought this CD. Had the album for years but hadnt played it cos I no longer have a turn table. This is by far my favourite Crass recording. Its kind of timeless and a real pleasure to have access to it all again. Ive also been feeling so jaded and pissed off and cynical the past few years so this is a bit like reliving my more optimistic youth. As far as punk rock goes...check out this band and also check out MDC, Conflict and the DKs. Quite inspiring ideals to live by.

Those who liked the intelligent, uncompromising punk of Feeding of the 5000 will likely be thrilled with this double album. This remained #1 on the British alternative charts for an unprecedented amount of time, and it's no wonder why so many have been so deeply affected by it. Crass may rub listeners different ways, but their completely uncompromising approach to their words and music is often inspiring.

Crass come out of the gate with a different style of punk than most others. The rhythms are martial, as if leading the troops out of apathy. Their politics aren't the fashionable type. Crass live in a commune south of London that abides by the principles of "anarchy and peace," and each song is a rough-hewn composition that shows extreme commitmemt. On this record, the band stretches themseves to the limit, doubling the output of their classic Feeding of the 5000 and adding a half album of live tracks.

other reviewers are spot on
this is the best crass album -for sustained interest
originally a double album, three studio sides and a live side
the studio stuff is what all the fuss is about
its anti-political and nasty
others have more catchy tunes eg feeding the 5000 (most of which appears on the live side (poor quality)) and best before 1984, but dont last as well
I still listen to stations sometimes

I am a 12 year old punk. I recently started to listen to Crass and found that they are simply amazing! They do not only produce good music, but they're message is simply amazing. I am not an anarchist and I dont hate the government, but how they talk about it is simply comvincing. They are also great and complying lyrics! I recomend this to any hardcore punk. This is a great start for this great band. But if you are into bands like
Anti-Flag, Nofx, Good Charlotte, All American Rejects, or New Found Glory and crap like that, you probably wont like Crass, or you wont understand their message.

This is an excellent record by crass. They have a good message and their music rocks. The vinyl version of this album has two records to it, with a picture of some graphiti they did during the 70's in a station, thats why its called stations of the crass. I anticipated "the feeding of the 5000" to be better, but this one is actually better. Best songs are "white punks on hope" "i'm not thick its just a trick", and "big man, big m.a.n."
buy!

crass is a great band and this is their best cd best songs are "big hands" "darling" "the gassman cometh" and "crutch of society"